Chapter 8: Demonstration or Trial

Qiao Xinwei put down the pot lid and instinctively covered her mouth and nose. She frowned in frustration, wishing she could find a hole to hide in.

Jiang Hao gentlemanly handed her a tissue and asked, "Still want to eat hot pot?"

"Thank you... I'm not eating anymore." Can I still eat this? How can I face him when I'm feeling so embarrassed?

"Oh, then we won't need to change the order," Jiang Hao signaled to the waiter nearby, "We'll pay the bill."

This hot pot restaurant was known for its excellent service. The waiter, puzzled by their request to pay so soon after the food was served, asked, "Is there anything unsatisfactory about our restaurant? Please let us know, we will definitely make it right."

Qiao Xinwei felt so embarrassed. She didn't have the face to explain anything, so she wiped her nose with the tissue, head hanging low.

"There's nothing unsatisfactory, we just have something urgent to attend to," Jiang Hao's words timely defused the awkward situation. He then took out two banknotes and handed them to the waiter, saying, "Thank you for the coffee last time. I'll pay for this one."

Qiao Xinwei was speechless. No wonder he was so proud. She felt like she had lost face.

"The rest is for the tip, no need for change."

The waiter took the money, bowed with a smile, and said, "Alright, please take your time, sir and madam."

Qiao Xinwei stood up and suddenly felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. Oh no, it must be because she drank too much cold tea while waiting for Jiang Hao. "I'm sorry, I need to go to the restroom first."

Jiang Hao furrowed his brow slightly. This woman is really troublesome. He stood up, then sat back down. "Okay, I'll wait here for you." He didn't want to wait outside the women's restroom or the hot pot restaurant.

Qiao Xinwei ran towards the restroom, holding her lower abdomen in pain. She scolded herself in her mind but also comforted herself: Oh, it looks like it's over. But it's okay, I don't have to be with him. After this meeting, we won't have any contact.

However, she never expected that the pain in her lower abdomen was not from drinking too much cold tea, but from her monthly period. To make matters worse, she didn't have any sanitary products with her, and her tissue supply in her bag was running low due to her cold.

Oh my, why is this happening to me!

"Is anyone there? Is there anyone outside?" She had to send out a distress signal.

After what seemed like a long time, there was finally a response from outside. Someone came in. She called out for help as if she had found a lifeline, "Miss, can you help me with something?"

"What's the matter?"

It was a young girl's voice, which was good. She said, "My period suddenly came. Do you have anything for that?"

The girl shook her head, "I don't have... but my friend does. Wait here, I'll go get it."

"Okay, thank you, thank you." She was truly grateful. There are still many kind-hearted people in this society.

Soon, the girl came back with sanitary products and also brought some shocking news for Qiao Xinwei. She said, "Your boyfriend is really handsome, he looks mature and dignified. He was anxiously looking inside, so I told him that you're fine, just that your period came and you didn't have anything with you."

"... " Qiao Xinwei desperately shouted in her mind: Can I not go out? Can I? Can I? Can I? Is there a back door here? I don't want to go out!

---

The recent heavy smog in the capital city had caused enough trouble, making today's clear weather even more precious. Looking up, the sky was a deep blue, with very few clouds. The glass exterior of the Imperial Tower reflected the clear sky like a giant mirror. If you didn't look closely, you would think the Imperial Tower had disappeared.

After leaving the hot pot restaurant, Xinwei thought they would say goodbye and have no further contact. However, Jiang Hao had already made reservations at another restaurant, inside the Imperial Tower across from the hot pot restaurant.

The Imperial Tower was a place that ordinary people could only look up to.

"Director Jiang, your table is ready. It's the usual place, please come this way." The waiter at this top-notch restaurant was dressed more elegantly than the executives of the Far East Group.

Xinwei followed Jiang Hao inside, and everywhere she looked was grand and magnificent. This was a century-old famous restaurant, and even the inconspicuous decorations were precious antiques with a well-known reputation.

As far as she knew, this place wasn't chosen by the customers, but rather the restaurant chose its customers. Even the selected customers had to make reservations at least ten days in advance. When she was an intern at the Far East Group, her boss, Ruan Bin, had her make a reservation for his mother's birthday, so she knew.

But this Jiang Hao, he could come here on short notice.

She walked in with Jiang Hao, and he occasionally glanced at her from the corner of his eye. He was observing her. A woman, especially one who could become his wife, needed to have some basic qualities in addition to being interesting.

Perhaps due to her many blind dates, Xinwei had some small experience. Although Jiang Hao didn't say much, she knew that he was definitely observing her at this moment.

"Do you come here often?"

Jiang Hao raised an eyebrow and said, "I choose this place for every blind date, so I'm quite familiar with it. I just like the quietness here."

Qiao Xinwei was quick-witted and quick-spoken, "Is that so? I actually prefer a bit of liveliness. Blind dates are already a serious matter, wouldn't it be even more solemn in such quietness? Why bother? It's just a blind date, not a life-or-death situation."

Jiang Hao, who usually remained unruffled, showed a hint of surprise on his face for the first time. It was the first time someone dared to contradict him indirectly. He smiled slightly and said, "Don't get me wrong. I don't dislike hotpot restaurants. If it weren't for you... I think we would have been almost full by now."

Qiao Xinwei was taken aback. This dignified man, when he smiled, was surprisingly charming. It turned out that he could also smile and speak gently. She also smiled, showing deep apologies and embarrassment on her face, "I'm sorry, it's my fault."

This smile dissolved the distance between the two.

"You should smile more. You look much prettier when you smile than when you have a straight face."

This compliment was quite effective for Qiao Xinwei. Women love to be praised, "Hehe, likewise."

In the private room, Jiang Hao gallantly pulled out a chair, "Miss Qiao, please have a seat."

Xinwei thanked him and then placed her bag aside before sitting down gracefully. No matter the situation, she would never belittle herself because of the other person's noble status, nor would she elevate herself because of the other person's humble status. Modest and composed, this was her principle in life.

And this was exactly what Jiang Hao admired the most about her.