Chapter 67 - I can hold more spice than you!

"I love it." Those words left her lips quickly. She was not regretful to say them. She really liked the whole scenery. The place had touched her heart deeply and she was unable to hide her true feelings. "I can't thank you enough for taking me here. It had always been my dream to visit someplace like that. But I couldn't find the time."

Li Zhiqiang smiled and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed in front of him. "Does that mean we are not even anymore? So you owe me one more. We'll have to settle that in the future. How about this? In the future, I take you to the terrace of Sunsquare apartments?" He didn't waste the opportunity to create new excuses to meet her for the future.

Jing Lihua's lips curled up but she didn't say anything. She was lost in the scenery. After quite some time, she walked back to the table. The setting created a perfect date atmosphere for a couple. This was wrong. She had only agreed on dinner. Not a date. But no matter how she would complain, the meticulously thought out setting would make it into a date.

"Let's order the dishes." Li Zhiqiang picked up the menu and placed it in Jing Lihua's hands. The strange names on the menu gave Jing Lihua a spin. After much search, she found a familiar name. She gave a few names. When it was Li Zhiqiang's turn, he said he would have the same things as Jing Lihua.

"Are you sure? What I ordered might be too spicy for you. Can you hold the spices?" She laughed.

"Try me."

"If you say so." Jing Lihua's eyes glinted darkly and she gave a few more names. Let's see how are you going to act so cool once you taste that all. Jing Lihua could hold spice better than others. She had always loved spicy food. So she was confident that she would beat him.

Until the food arrived, they chattered about hobbies and likes. But the dishes arrived quick. Jing Lihua didn't know whether it was the quick service of the restaurant or the Li Zhiqiang influence that caused the change.

When the spicy dishes arrived, Jing Lihua threw a smug look at Li Ziqiang. Li Zhiqiang only smiled back in response. Under the challenging atmosphere, they started dinner.

Thirty minutes later.

Jing Lihua's eyes were watering profusely. Her face was flushed red. "Oh, God. Why did I have to act so immature just to see him lose." She chucked down big gulps of cold water. Her face was red as a tomato. Her tongue was burning. She had sworn not to stop eating before he gives up. So even if her tongue was burning, she didn't give up. She forced herself to eat more and more. And so did Li Zhiqiang. But she reached her limit far before he reached his.

"You lose." Li Zhiqiang graciously wiped his lips with a tissue paper. His face was also red from the excess of spice but his condition was much better than Li Zhiqiang. At least he was not sweating profusely and gulping down glasses of water.

"You wish." Jing Lihua forced herself to pick the fork once again. But looking at the spicey dish, her heart trembled. But she wouldn't let him win.

"Don't force yourself. I don't want to accompany you in the hospital. Let's enjoy our time here." Li Zhiqiang was genuinely concerned witnessing her reddening face. If he had known she was so stubborn, he would have voluntarily let her win.

Alas, she had grown stubborn. The last her was so docile and obedient. But strangely, he liked the new her more. She was feisty now. More fun to mess with.

"Who is ending up in the hospital? If you don't put away that silly smile from your face you'll be the one ending up in the hospital." Jing Lihua glared at him.

"What? Why?" Li Zhiqiang felt seriously wronged. He was just concerned about his JingJing and she threatened him.

Looking at his bullied face, Jing Lihua felt at a loss. "Forget it. I just give up." She put away the forks. "I'll let you win on this on. But let me tell you, the next time, I won't be easy on you."

"Next time?" Li Zhiqiang raised his eyebrow.

Another slip of the tongue. Oh... f.u.c.k it. She didn't care anymore. She just wanted to make him lose. "Yes, next time! I'll be taking you to a place far better than this in Beijing. They have the spiciest food. Let's see who wins then!"

She will properly practice before that and make him lose.

"I'll look forward to it." Li Zhiqiang looked at his watch. It was time. "Come with me." He rose from his chair and grabbed Jing Lihua's arm to drag her away.

"What? Where?" Though Jing Lihua questioned she followed his lead.

"Shh. Just watch." He looked out at the city through the huge pane.

Jing Lihua was reminded of a Koren drama she had watched on Zhao Liying persuasion. She felt weird. It couldn't be true right? Such things were possible only in dramas. There was no way a man would do something so ridiculous for a girl on the first dinner.

"Don't tell me you..." And the fireworks started making Jing Lihua lose her words in her throat.

"You actually did that..." Her voice died out as she stared outside. She didn't know what to even feel anymore. The fireworks filled the night sky and created an even more wonderful view. The view was breathtaking would be the least to say. And to be able to enjoy the view from such a nice spot, she felt even more fortunate.

Jing Lihua glanced at Li Zhiqiang. Strangely, he wasn't looking at the fireworks but instead he was looking... at her. Jing Lihua felt her heart thump and she looked away. She pretended to focus on the fireworks and averted her eyes. She pretended she hadn't felt that strange atmosphere. But her tries failed as slowly a hand reached out to her face.