Chapter 20: Is This What You Call Spinning?

“Mentor, do you know this guy?” Qin Xuan glanced at Su Muqing as he asked. He didn’t bother to shake hands with Li Shihao, choosing instead to stand with his hands behind his back, leaving Li Shihao hanging awkwardly. Qin Xuan was not interested in pretending to be friendly with someone like Li Shihao. After all, the man had already threatened him; why should he put on a pleasant face?

“Yes, I’ll go get the car first. Qin Xuan, why don’t you come with me?” Sensing the tension between the two men, Su Muqing quickly interjected and turned toward the parking garage. Qin Xuan gave Li Shihao a half-smile, then followed the beautiful woman away.

“Interesting,” Li Shihao calmly withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened, but he was already making a mental note of Qin Xuan. This was the first time someone had so blatantly ignored him, and in front of the woman he was pursuing, no less.

“Dinner together? Very well.” A cold smile crossed Li Shihao’s lips as he walked away, his mind already at work.

***

“Qin Xuan, have you met him before?” Su Muqing asked casually as they made their way to the car.

“I have. It wasn’t a pleasant meeting,” Qin Xuan replied with a shrug.

“If he ever gives you any trouble, just let me know. I’ll take care of it,” Su Muqing said with a smile, a hint of delight in her eyes.

“You almost sound like you hope he’ll come after me.”

“Not exactly. I’ve been wondering how I could ever repay you, and now an opportunity has presented itself,” she replied, clearly amused by her own logic.

Qin Xuan couldn’t help but be impressed by the way her mind worked.

“Let’s get in. Where would you like to eat?” she asked, stopping beside a rather unassuming Chevrolet and gesturing for him to get in.

“I’m not familiar with Jinling, so I’ll let you pick the place,” Qin Xuan said as he settled into the passenger seat. A subtle, fresh fragrance filled the air, making him instantly relax.

“Then how about Tenglong International?” Su Muqing started the car, and from Qin Xuan’s vantage point, he could see the graceful curve of her silhouette, her delicate blouse doing little to conceal her allure. Her long, fair legs radiated an irresistible charm.

Qin Xuan couldn’t help but marvel—she truly lived up to her reputation as the most beautiful woman at Jinling University. The title was well-deserved.

Qin Xuan had been to Tenglong International before, but only to its shopping mall. He’d never experienced the dining there. As luck would have it, he’d recently received a VIP card from Zhang Tianyu—this was a perfect opportunity to use it.

“Tenglong International it is,” he agreed with a nod.

“Is this your first time in Jinling?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go to the revolving restaurant on the top floor. You can see half the city from up there—the night view of Jinling is really something,” Su Muqing suggested with a gentle smile as the car finally glided out of the lot.

A revolving restaurant? Qin Xuan felt a spark of curiosity. He’d heard about such places, but never seen one for himself. This would be interesting, he mused.

The drive from Jinling University to Tenglong International usually took about twenty minutes, but with rush hour traffic, it was half an hour before they arrived. By then, the plaza was packed with people headed to dinner. Nearly everyone in sight was there to eat.

“Let’s go. The restaurant is on the fifty-sixth floor,” Su Muqing said, leading the way with an elegant smile. Inwardly, she wondered if tonight she could uncover all of Qin Xuan’s secrets.

“Fifty-six stories? That high?” Qin Xuan was surprised.

“How else could you look out over half of Jinling?” Su Muqing laughed, her hand covering her mouth in a gesture full of charm. A few men nearby stared at her openly, swallowing hard, on the verge of approaching her.

But before they could muster the courage, Su Muqing had already led Qin Xuan into the elevator, leaving the would-be admirers in her wake, sighing with disappointment.

***

Though fifty-six floors sounded daunting, the elevator ride was over in moments. Soon, they stepped out into a tastefully decorated corridor where a beautiful hostess in a white shirt came to greet them.

“Good evening, sir. How many in your party?” she asked politely. Though her eyes flickered in surprise at Qin Xuan’s traditional robe, her demeanor never wavered—a testament to the establishment’s excellent service.

“Two, by the window, please,” Su Muqing replied.

“Right this way,” the hostess gestured, leading them inside.

“Let’s go. We’re lucky we arrived when we did; window seats can be hard to come by,” Su Muqing said with a smile, following the hostess. Qin Xuan hurried after her, taking in the elegant decor as they walked. Before long, they reached the heart of the revolving restaurant.

It was a spacious, circular buffet with glass walls that offered sweeping views of the city—an ideal setting for either a romantic date or a gathering of friends.

“Here are your seats. If you need anything, just call for a server. Please enjoy your meal,” the hostess said with a bow before leaving, casting a curious glance at Qin Xuan’s striking attire—his robe was certainly an unusual sight in the heart of a modern metropolis.

***

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask,” Qin Xuan said after settling into his seat, feeling an odd sense of unfamiliarity.

“What is it?” Su Muqing looked at him curiously.

“They call this a revolving restaurant—but how exactly does it revolve?” Qin Xuan glanced around as he asked.

Su Muqing gave him a puzzled look. “You haven’t noticed the entire restaurant is turning?”

Qin Xuan sounded a little frustrated. “I guess I did notice it moving a bit. But that’s what you call revolving?”

“What kind of revolving did you expect?” Su Muqing was even more surprised.

“I thought—well, you know, it would spin really fast. Maybe that’s a bit much, but it shouldn’t be this slow, right?” Qin Xuan scratched his head.

The reality was nothing like he’d imagined. The restaurant turned so slowly it was almost imperceptible—like a snail. Most people wouldn’t even notice. Fortunately, his senses were sharp enough to feel the gentle movement the moment he entered.

Su Muqing couldn’t help but burst into laughter at his answer. “What, did you think it was a roller coaster? This is a restaurant, not an amusement park—it can’t spin that fast!”

She nearly doubled over with laughter, her delicate shoulders shaking, her whole being radiating irresistible charm.

“So that’s how it is,” Qin Xuan said helplessly.

“I just came down from the mountains, so please forgive me, Teacher,” he added.

“Don’t worry about it.” She tried to compose herself, but his comment had already reminded her of her true purpose for the evening.

“Wait, did you say you came down from the mountains? Are you some kind of martial arts master?”

“If you really want to call it that, I suppose so. Anyway, where’s the food? I’m starting to get hungry,” Qin Xuan replied, glancing around to change the subject.