Chapter 1320: YAN YAN'S 19TH BIRTHDAY (II)

LUO YAN felt a flutter of excitement in his chest. Shen Ji Yun had said they would have dinner first, which meant he had more planned after they ate. He must have put together a whole evening for them. The thought made Luo Yan smile. He looked out the window as the car drove out of the university gate, already looking forward to whatever Shen Ji Yun had in store for them.

He didn't know where they were going. Shen Ji Yun kept his eyes on the road and answered all of his questions with vague smiles that gave nothing away. After about twenty minutes of driving through the city, they turned into the underground parking of a tall commercial building. Luo Yan looked up through the windshield but couldn't see much from below.

They found a spot and took the elevator up. The whole ride, Luo Yan kept glancing at Shen Ji Yun, trying to guess where they were going. Shen Ji Yun just smiled and held his hand a little tighter.

The doors opened on the thirty-ninth floor, and they stepped out into a narrow hallway. A sign on the wall pointed them toward the restaurant. They followed it and walked through a doorway into a space with floor to ceiling windows that looked out over the city. Luo Yan's steps slowed as he took it in.

The restaurant was quiet, with soft lighting and tables spaced far apart. Luo Yan stood near the entrance and looked around. The floor was dark wood, polished to a shine, and the walls were a deep, muted gray. A long bar ran along one side, lined with bottles that caught the low light. Most of the tables were occupied, but a few near the windows were empty.

A woman in a fitted black dress approached them, her posture straight and her hands clasped in front of her. She gave a polite bow and smiled.

"Good evening. Do you have a reservation?"

Shen Ji Yun nodded. "Yes. Under Shen."

The woman checked a small tablet in her hand, then nodded. "Right this way, please."

She led them through the restaurant, weaving between tables until they reached a spot near the windows. The table was set for two, with a small candle in the center. No other tables were close to it.

"Your server will be with you shortly," she said as she gave another small bow and left them alone.

Shen Ji Yun pulled out the chair for Luo Yan. Luo Yan took his seat, and Shen Ji Yun walked around to the other side of the table and sat down across from him.

"This is a nice place," Luo Yan said, looking around the restaurant. Then his gaze shifted to the window, and he fell quiet.

Now that they were sitting near the window, he had a good look at the view outside. The city spread out beneath them like a blanket of lights, each building glowing against the night sky. Taller towers rose in clusters, their windows bright against the dark. Roads curved and crossed, lines of car lights moving slow and steady through them. Further out, the lights scattered and softened, blending into the dark hills beyond.

"It's beautiful," Luo Yan said, letting out a soft sigh.

"I'm glad you like it," Shen Ji Yun said. "I wasn't sure where to take you. We've been to a lot of places around the city already. I wanted somewhere we hadn't been before. Luckily, Uncle recommended this spot."

It was true. Since he started school here, he and Shen Ji Yun had eaten at plenty of different restaurants across the city.

"Well, let's wait and see if you picked the right place," Luo Yan said with a teasing smile. "The food will be the actual test."

As if on cue, their server approached the table. He was a young man in a crisp white shirt and a black apron. He gave them a polite smile.

"Good evening. Can I start you with something to drink?"

Shen Ji Yun glanced at the wine list. "The 2019 Château Margaux."

The server nodded. "An excellent choice. I'll bring it out shortly. Would you like to start with any appetizers while you look over the menu?"

Shen Ji Yun turned to Luo Yan. "What do you feel like having?"

Luo Yan shook his head. "You choose. I want to see what you pick."

Shen Ji Yun gave a small nod and looked back at the server. "We'll start with the oyster platter and the foie gras terrine."

The server noted it down. "And for your next course?"

"The lobster bisque and the truffle pasta."

"Very good. And your mains?"

"The grilled Wagyu beef with roasted vegetables and red wine reduction. Well done for both."

The server made a note. "Of course. And for dessert?"

Shen Ji Yun looked at Luo Yan. "Do you want to decide later?"

Luo Yan nodded. "We'll decide after."

The server gave a small bow. "I'll bring out the wine first."

He walked off, leaving them alone. It didn't take long for him to return, carrying a bottle of wine in a white cloth. The server filled both their glasses to the proper level, placed the bottle in a cooler stand beside the table, and stepped back.

"Your appetizers will be out shortly," he said, then left them alone again.

Luo Yan stared at Shen Ji Yun as he lifted the glass to his lips. The dim light from the candle flickered across his face, catching the sharp line of his jaw and the easy way his fingers wrapped around the stem. He looked like one of those northern dukes from the web novels Luo Yan sometimes read. The kind that were cold to everyone but soft only for the person they loved.

Shen Ji Yun noticed him staring. "Is there something on my face?"

Luo Yan smiled. "No. I was just thinking my boyfriend is very handsome, and I'm lucky he's all mine."

Shen Ji Yun's face turned a shade of red that even the dim light couldn't hide. He looked down at his glass for a moment before meeting Luo Yan's eyes. "I'm luckier being yours."

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