Free Web NovelChapter 12: Chapter 6: Going Official for a Steak
It was probably quite late, so there were only a few scattered tables in the main dining hall. Jiang Li led Shen Yanzhi to a table by the window.
The restaurant was located by the river. At night, you could see the brilliant lights and the river view through the glass—a complete visual feast.
As soon as they sat down, a waiter approached. "Good evening. Who will be placing the order?"
Shen Yanzhi nodded. "Ladies first."
The waiter respectfully handed over a tablet. "Excuse me, are you two a couple?"
Jiang Li took it, a suspicious look on her face. "What? If we’re not a couple, we can’t eat here?"
"That’s not what I mean." The waiter quickly explained, "Because today is Christmas, our restaurant has a Christmas event for couples. If you aren’t one, then you won’t be able to participate."
Hearing this, Jiang Li looked at Shen Yanzhi. "Bring out the marriage certificate!"
Shen Yanzhi froze for a moment, then pulled the marriage certificate from his suit pocket. "We’re not a couple. We’re newlyweds."
The waiter was clearly rendered speechless by their display. Who on earth carries their marriage certificate around, ready to show it off at a moment’s notice?
However, his professional training kicked in, and he managed to say, "Would you two like to participate in our restaurant’s Christmas event? You can get a complimentary filet mignon."
Jiang Li was suddenly interested, not just because she longed for a free steak, but also out of curiosity about the event.
Usually, for holiday events, especially those involving couples, the restaurant would surely require some kind of intimate act.
’I was just wondering how to get closer to Shen Yanzhi, and now here’s my chance.’
She gestured for Shen Yanzhi to put the marriage certificate away. "How do we participate?"
"It’s very simple. You just need to kiss for one minute, post a photo or video to your social media feed, and get nine likes to receive a steak."
A kiss!
For one minute!
Posted on social media!
’Holy crap. Isn’t this just a public declaration of our relationship?’
’I don’t really mind. After all, I’m already married to Shen Yanzhi, and we really should go public. This way, Zhao Sinian won’t think I can’t live without him.’
’But Shen Yanzhi... I’ve never seen him post anything before. Would he really go public just for a steak?’
Jiang Li was a bit hesitant, so she left the decision to Shen Yanzhi. "What do you say? Want to do it?"
She asked while sipping her warm water, her tone casual, as if it were just an offhand question.
Only her pounding heart knew how nervous she really was.
Shen Yanzhi’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and a deep glint flashed in his eyes. "If you’re okay with it, then I have no problem."
’Hearing that, Jiang Li knew this was going to happen.’
She turned to the waiter. "Do you need to use our phones?"
"That works too."
Jiang Li unlocked her phone, opened the camera app, and handed it to the waiter. Then she stood up, looking at Shen Yanzhi with the air of a martyr going bravely to her death. "Let’s do this!"
The corner of Shen Yanzhi’s mouth twitched. He followed her lead, handing his own phone over before walking up to stand in front of her.
’Sure, they’d kissed at the wedding, but that was just a light peck. It was nothing like a real kiss.’
Shen Yanzhi stared at Jiang Li intently. "Are you sure you can handle this?"
Jiang Li didn’t want to explain further. She stood on her tiptoes, cupped Shen Yanzhi’s face with both hands, closed her eyes, and pressed her lips against his.
Shen Yanzhi immediately went from passive to active. One hand cradled the back of her head while the other wrapped around her waist, as if he wanted to devour her whole.
The waiter stood there holding both phones, snapping photos and recording videos, a fond, knowing smile appearing on his face from time to time.
’Indeed, watching other people fall in love is the best!’
A minute passed, but the two were still kissing, unwilling to part.
Three minutes passed, and they were kissing so hard they were breathless.
Five minutes passed before Jiang Li finally pushed Shen Yanzhi away.
’Any longer and she felt like she might have actually suffocated from his kiss.’
’I have to admit, this damn man was a good kisser. I wonder how many people he’s practiced with.’
With that thought, she shot Shen Yanzhi an irritated glare, took her phone back from the waiter, and found the most atmospheric photo of their kiss to post on her social media feed.
Smitten. Loyal. Devoted. Finally.
Smitten by love, loyal through the years, devoted to responsibility, and finally, complete.
’This was a caption she had saved for when she got her marriage certificate. She’d originally planned to use it to blow up her feed when she married Zhao Sinian; she just never expected the groom would be someone else.’
Her post had been up for less than two minutes, and it already had 10 likes.
Jiang Li held up her phone, asking excitedly, "Does this mean we can get our filet mignon now?"
’Getting free food through my own skill and cleverness... I’m so brilliant!’
The waiter checked and nodded. "We’ll bring it to you with your meal shortly."
Jiang Li looked at Shen Yanzhi curiously. "How’s it going on your end?"
Shen Yanzhi licked his slightly dry lips. "I’m done too."
Jiang Li excitedly went to his social media feed to see the post, only to find no new updates from Shen Yanzhi. She frowned. "Did you really post it?"
Shen Yanzhi showed no embarrassment at being caught. Instead, he looked at Jiang Li apologetically. "Sorry, I had you blocked before."
Jiang Li had a look of utter confusion on her face. "Wait, Shen Yanzhi, since when were you so petty?"
Shen Yanzhi frowned. ’Petty?’
’Forget it,’ he thought. ’After all, today is the day we got married. We’re in such a nice restaurant with a great atmosphere; I can’t be a killjoy.’
He fiddled with his phone for a moment. "Okay, it’s done."
Although Jiang Li was a little bothered by the fact that Shen Yanzhi had blocked her, her curiosity got the better of her, and she opened his social media feed.
It was a video of them kissing, with the caption: With love, with reason, with legality, and with you.
He had even added a red heart emoji at the end.
Jiang Li swallowed. She had to admit, she almost got lost in Shen Yanzhi’s caption.
But the moment she remembered this caption was all for a steak, the steak suddenly didn’t seem that important anymore.
Perhaps because it was late, and also because Shen Yanzhi—a man who never posted anything—had suddenly posted, he got 20 likes in a minute, successfully securing the free steak.
After confirming there were no issues with either of their posts, the waiter asked, "Mr. Shen, Mrs. Shen, would it be alright if we put your photo up on our Wall of Happiness?"
’Mrs. Shen!’
Jiang Li’s face instantly turned red. She composed herself and jutted her chin toward Shen Yanzhi. "You should ask him!"
’Just for the sound of those two words, ’Mrs. Shen,’ there was no way Shen Yanzhi would refuse.’
Once everything was settled, Jiang Li finally started ordering.
She ordered all the most expensive items, looking as if she were eating her last meal and had to get her money’s worth.
After the waiter left, Jiang Li propped her chin on her hands, a dreamy look on her face, and said, "From now on, I’ll call you Mr. Shen, too."
’The word ’hubby’ is just too cheesy. I can’t bring myself to say it to his face.’
