1995: From a small restaurant to a culinary genius

Chapter 42 The Unexpected Ice Cream Set Meal

The atmosphere was so awkward after lunch that Jiang Wan wished she could disappear into the ground. It was just too embarrassing.

Xu Liang froze on the spot, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.

After saying those meaningful words, Jiang Wen turned and walked towards the restaurant entrance without looking back.

As Jiang Wan watched Jiang Wen's figure disappear behind the glass door, her shoulders instantly relaxed, and she let out a long sigh of relief.

Her cheeks were still flushed, and she felt both ashamed and annoyed.

His mind was filled with the helplessness he felt from Jiang Wen's haphazard matchmaking.

She looked up at Xu Liang, who was looking down, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing his chopsticks, his expression restrained and complicated, clearly still not recovered from Jiang Wen's words.

"Brother Xu, that's just how my brother is. He's always outspoken and prone to overthinking. Please don't take it to heart. What he said was all a misunderstanding. You and I are really just ordinary friends."

Jiang Wan hurriedly spoke up to explain, her voice soft and anxious, as if afraid that Xu Liang would actually believe her brother's nonsense and that they would not even be able to remain friends in the future.

She clutched the hem of her clothes, looking at Xu Liang with trepidation. Her face was full of embarrassment; the panic from being teased by her brother in public hadn't completely dissipated, and she was even stuttering unconsciously.

Upon hearing this, Xu Liang slowly raised his head and met Jiang Wan's clear yet flustered eyes, which stirred up new ripples in his heart.

Xu Liang opened his mouth, intending to say "It's okay".

But when the words were on the tip of my tongue, I found it difficult to say them.

He could only manage a wry smile, his eyes inadvertently avoiding Jiang Wan's gaze.

Then, Xu Liang thought for a moment and replied softly.

"I know, I didn't take it seriously. Your brother meant well, don't worry about it."

At this moment, he couldn't be as composed as he claimed; his mind was filled with Jiang Wen's words.

"My daughter Xiaowan has a gentle nature, so you must treat her well."

And Jiang Wan's flushed cheeks.

Seeing Xu Liang's expression, Jiang Wan knew he was still bothered. Not knowing how to explain, she could only lower her head and softly hum in agreement. Then, a silence fell between them.

The restaurant was bustling with people, and the sounds of diners talking filled the air. However, both of them were preoccupied with their own thoughts and didn't know how to break the deadlock.

Just then, the glass door of the restaurant was pushed open again.

A familiar figure walked in. It was none other than Jiang Wen, who had just left.

Jiang Wen didn't go far at all. After leaving the restaurant, he stood not far from the entrance, looking at the two people at the table through the glass door.

He knew his younger sister Jiang Wan too well. On the surface, she was shy and gentle, and she would blush even if she talked to a boy for a few more minutes. But now she could spend so much time alone with Xu Liang, go to an art exhibition together, have a meal together, and the atmosphere was so harmonious. She was definitely not just an ordinary friend.

Just now at the dinner table, he deliberately said those teasing things to test the feelings of the two of them. Seeing Xu Liang's flustered and Jiang Wan's embarrassed appearance, he was even more convinced that the two of them clearly had feelings for each other, but neither of them had made it public.

After he went outside, he immediately saw a cold drink shop diagonally opposite the restaurant.

There was a short queue outside, and the sign read "Freshly Made Handmade Ice Cream Set".

Jiang Wen smelled a sweet aroma from afar, and his eyes lit up. He immediately joined the queue, thinking of buying an ice cream set for the two of them. This would ease their tense atmosphere and also subtly create an opportunity for them to spend time together.

While queuing, he specifically chose the strawberry flavor that Jiang Wan liked, and since he didn't know what flavor Xu Liang liked, he just randomly picked a nice-smelling matcha flavor.

The ice cream comes in two flavors: a scoop of soft and chewy taro balls, crunchy pops, and creamy cream.

It even thoughtfully includes two small spoons.

After the ice cream set was ready, Jiang Wen held the two ice creams and walked quickly back to the restaurant.

With a knowing smile on his face, he walked straight toward Jiang Wan and Xu Liang's table.

Jiang Wan and Xu Liang were immersed in an awkward silence when they suddenly saw Jiang Wen return. They were both startled and looked up at each other.

Jiang Wan's heart skipped a beat. The relief she had just felt instantly turned into anxiety again. She wondered what her brother was about to say that would make her feel even more ashamed. She hurriedly and nervously spoke up.

"Brother, why are you back again? Didn't you leave already?"

Xu Liang quickly stood up and respectfully greeted, "Brother Jiang Wen."

Jiang Wen walked to the table with a smile, without making jokes like before.

She simply handed the ice cream set she was holding to the two of them.

"I just went out and saw some nice ice cream at the ice cream shop across the street. Since we just finished eating, I figured I'd want something sweet to cleanse my palate, so I bought a two-person ice cream set. You two get one!"

Jiang Wen spoke naturally, as if he had simply done something perfectly ordinary.

He didn't sit down, but stood by the table.

His gaze swept over the two of them, but he couldn't hide the smile in his eyes.

"Wanwan, you've always loved strawberry flavor since you were little, so I picked this one especially for you. As for Xiaoliang, I don't know what flavor he likes, so I ordered a nice-smelling matcha flavor."

"A double flavor, everyone, try it quickly. It's freshly made ice cream; it won't taste good once it melts."

Xu Liang got the matcha flavor and said he wasn't picky.

"Actually, I like it no matter what it tastes like!"

This unexpected ice cream set surprised both Jiang Wan and Xu Liang.

Looking at the gentle smile on her brother Jiang Wen's face, Jiang Wan's tension and pressure gradually dissipated, replaced by a sense of warmth.

"Brother, you didn't need to buy it specially. We just ate, so we're not thirsty or hungry..."

"I just ate a hot meal, so I'll have something sweet to cleanse my palate. Don't be shy, sis."

Jiang Wen interrupted her, then turned to look at Xu Liang, patted him on the shoulder, and his tone clearly carried a hint of invitation.

"Xu Liang, don't be shy, make yourself at home. Wanwan is shy, so please take good care of her. Enjoy your ice cream. I have something to do, so I'm really leaving now and won't bother you any longer."

Then, the two sat down and slowly began to eat their ice cream.

The sweetness of strawberries and the fragrance of matcha melted on their tongues.

Jiang Wan ate her ice cream in small bites, still thinking about how good her brother Jiang Wen was, but the sweetness in her mouth had already calmed her down.

Xu Liang took a big bite of matcha-flavored ice cream.

During this process, his gaze would occasionally fall on Jiang Wan.

Watching her lower her head and sip her ice cream, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

He stopped having those random thoughts and looked at Jiang Wan beside him.

At this moment, I inexplicably felt that if it were really as Jiang Wen said, it might not be a bad thing!

That unexpected ice cream set meal, however, was like a sweet candy, melting between the two of them.

The seeds were sown in pure friendship.

Jiang Wen's dedication is evident in this cool and sweet ice cream.

He knew he needed to create a private space for them, so he didn't say anything more.