Chapter 579: Chapter 577: Unexpected Encounter with Lin Zhenhai at Hotpot Restaurant

Lin Xi elegantly picked up a piece of beef tripe, placed it in her mouth, and savored it. A satisfied smile spread across her face. "Mmm, this is delicious."

Seeing this, Xue Yang felt a warmth in his heart. He continued to pick up the cooked beef, shrimp paste, and other ingredients, gently placing them into Lin Xi’s bowl. Seeing Lin Xi eat with such contentment, Xue Yang also felt deeply satisfied.

When she saw he was about to continue cooking, Lin Xi quickly said, "You work so hard. Let me take care of you for a change." Before he could reply, Lin Xi took the tongs from his hand. Imitating his earlier actions, she began to add ingredients to the pot for him. Her movements were a bit clumsy, but her eyes were filled with tenderness and love.

Xue Yang sat back, quietly enjoying this rare moment alone with her and basking in her meticulous care.

At first, Lin Xi was a little flustered, but she soon found her rhythm. She cooked the ingredients perfectly, preserving their natural essence while adding a delightful layer of flavor. Seeing how happily Xue Yang ate, Lin Xi’s heart filled with satisfaction and joy. She knew this was the life she wanted—simple and blissful.

Just then, however, Lin Xi sensed an intense gaze on her. She looked up and was startled to see an extremely familiar face—her father, Lin Zhenhai.

Lin Xi froze for a moment before softly calling out, "Dad?"

Xue Yang, who had been enjoying Lin Xi’s attentive care, looked up when he heard her. He saw Lin Zhenhai standing nearby with a deep frown. He immediately stood and greeted him politely, "Hello, Uncle."

Beside Lin Zhenhai stood his secretary, Jiawen Li, along with two high-level executives from Lin Corporation. While they recognized Lin Xi, they had no idea who Xue Yang was, which left them puzzled.

Seeing the situation, Jiawen Li quickly stepped forward to greet them. "Good evening, Miss Lin. Good evening, Young Master Xue."

Hearing Jiawen Li’s words, the two executives finally understood and hurriedly echoed her greeting. "Good evening, Miss Lin. Good evening, Young Master Xue."

Young Master Xue? They couldn’t help but wonder. They had never heard of such a person. Yet, the scene before them demanded respect—after all, Miss Lin herself was serving him. Could he be her boyfriend? But as far as they knew, there were no prominent families in Yancheng with the surname Xue.

Lin Xi gently set down her utensils and walked elegantly over to Lin Zhenhai. She affectionately took his arm and said with a smile, "Dad, I didn’t expect you’d be here for hot pot too! This is perfect. Why don’t you eat with us? Sister Jiawen, and you two gentlemen, please join us as well. The more, the merrier."

Jiawen Li hesitated for a moment, glancing at Lin Zhenhai before responding politely, "Miss Lin, we already have another room reserved, so we won’t intrude on your time with Young Master Xue. Thank you for the invitation."

Hearing Jiawen Li’s reply, Lin Xi didn’t insist. She gently guided Lin Zhenhai toward their table. "Dad, it’s been so long since we’ve had a meal together like this. It’s a great chance for us to catch up." As she spoke, Lin Xi helped her father into his seat. She then helped him off with his heavy coat, hanging it on a nearby chair. Once he was settled, she shot Xue Yang a playful smile.

She knew her father must be displeased after seeing her serve Xue Yang. Since she had caused it, she would be the one to appease him.

Lin Xi picked up her utensils again and carefully selected a few slices of tender beef. She placed them in a ladle and gently submerged it in the bubbling, spicy broth. Timing it perfectly, she quickly retrieved the beef once it was cooked through.

"Dad, I remember beef is your favorite. Try this and tell me what you think of my cooking," she said with a smile, holding out the beef to Lin Zhenhai and watching him with anticipation.

Lin Zhenhai frowned, gazing at the daughter standing before him. He had noticed that since she started dating Xue Yang, she had become more mature and considerate. The change was so significant that it felt almost unreal at times. Is this really the same carefree, innocent daughter I once knew?

"Dad, hurry and try it. It won’t taste as good if it gets cold," Lin Xi urged.

Lin Zhenhai snapped out of his thoughts, picked up his chopsticks, and put the piece of beef in his mouth. It was cooked perfectly—neither too rare nor overdone.

"Very nice."

Hearing her father’s praise, a radiant smile bloomed on Lin Xi’s face, her joy palpable.

Seeing his daughter so happy, Lin Zhenhai’s tense expression softened. It was as if an iceberg in his heart had begun to melt under a warm sun. Even his gaze toward Xue Yang lost some of its earlier coldness and scrutiny, becoming much gentler.

Xue Yang poured Lin Zhenhai a cup of the hot pot restaurant’s specialty fruit wine. "Uncle, please have some."

"Mm." Lin Zhenhai picked up the cup and took a sip. The fruit wine was sweet on the palate with a pleasant, lingering aftertaste.

Jiawen was right, this hot pot place is quite good. It was the first snow of winter today, and he’d had a sudden craving for hot pot after work, so she recommended this place. But the moment he walked in, he saw the very daughter he had doted on since childhood serving Xue Yang. A surge of anger had led to the earlier scene, but it had mostly dissipated by now.

While he was lost in thought, Lin Xi had finished cooking the shrimp paste. She served a piece to both Lin Zhenhai and Xue Yang. "Dad, their shrimp paste is delicious too. You should try it."

Lin Zhenhai’s gaze unintentionally swept over to Xue Yang’s bowl, where he saw the young man unceremoniously pick up the piece of shrimp paste and eat it. Lin Zhenhai looked away and lifted his own chopsticks to try the piece in his bowl. Still, he felt a strange pang. Why should the shrimp paste his own daughter cooked be shared with another man?

As if sensing her father’s thoughts, Lin Xi deliberately cooked two more pieces of shrimp paste and gave both to him. Seeing how considerate his daughter was, Lin Zhenhai’s discontent and sense of loss vanished.

Once Lin Xi was done, Xue Yang took the utensils from her and began to serve the father and daughter. Seeing this, Lin Zhenhai’s last reservations melted away. A warm atmosphere settled over the three of them in the hot pot restaurant.

「Two hours later.」

The three of them had nearly finished their meal. Lin Xi looked at Lin Zhenhai with concern. "Dad, are you heading home now?"

Lin Zhenhai nodded. "Yes, I’ve already called for Lao Liu to pick me up."

Hearing this, Lin Xi said coaxingly, "In that case, Dad, Xue Yang and I will come visit you at home this weekend."

The three of them stepped out of the restaurant. Snowflakes drifted down from the night sky, adding a poetic touch to the heartwarming moment.

Lin Zhenhai turned to Lin Xi. "Are you adjusting well at your new school?"

Lin Xi replied with a smile, "Yes, the students are all friendly, and the upperclassmen are very kind."