Chapter 67 - You aren't like other women

While they were looking at the menus, Angela said, "I heard that this place is one of the best restaurants in Imperial City for pasta, and their creamy tagliatelle with bacon, portobello mushrooms, and truffle oil is their bestseller."

Han Ye smiled. "Well, then I'd go with your suggestion then."

Once the waiter walked away, Han Ye started to talk with Angela. It was awkward at first as he was afraid that he would say the wrong thing. Given that he had been out of the dating world for quite some time, he was afraid that he might make a fool out of himself. Thus, he had done a little research on the first date, particularly things to talk about when one was on a first date.

He had memorized some of the things, as well as what kind of questions he could ask. Things were moving slowly at first; however, once the food arrived, the woman started to feel more relaxed and she was more forthcoming with her information.

Among other things, they found out that they both liked dogs, worked in a listed company, did not have a favorite genre of movies, and most importantly, they were both looking for a serious relationship.

In the next hour of dinner, Han Ye found out more things about her. Angela Zhang was 5 years younger than him.

Suddenly, Angela Zhang hesitated for a moment before asking, "I hope it's not too rude of me to ask this, but may I know when was your last relationship?"

Han Ye was slightly taken aback by the question, but he soon regained his composure. After all, he could understand that she might be afraid that she would only be a rebound. And so, he said, "Around 2 years ago… I was married, and my wife passed away…"

Angela Zhang placed a hand on her chest as she muttered, "I'm sorry…"

Han Ye smiled. "It's not your fault. Anyway, I've got no children if that's your next question."

He then added with a joke, "Working for President Du doesn't really afford me any time for dates."

Angela Zhang chuckled softly. "I get what you mean. My boss is pretty tough as well, and OT is very common."

Han Ye smiled as he finished his glass of wine. He noticed that her glass was almost empty as well, so he asked, "More wine?"

"Yes, please."

After gesturing for the waiter to refill their glasses and to bring the bill, Han Ye looked at Angela Zhang and asked, "Since you asked first, I think it's fine for me to ask…"

Just by the way he phrased his sentence, Angela Zhang knew what he was going to ask, and she replied before he could complete his sentence, "3 years."

"Oh…"

Even though Han Ye did not ask, Angela Zhang said, "It was a mutual agreement. He wanted marriage, but I wasn't ready yet."

"Well, I think that man is pretty dumb to let such a capable woman like you get away…" Han Ye said. He then took out his credit card and gave it to the waiter after he refilled their wine glasses.

"Perhaps…" Angela Zhang shrugged elegantly. "Anyway, it's over... He's moved on, and I'm ready to move on as well..."

Han Ye raised his glass and said, "You aren't like other women…"

After they toasted, he added, "So why are you looking for a relationship now?"

"It's about time for me to settle down…"

….

After dinner, Han Ye took her to the mall nearby and they went toward the indoor water fountain. Since it was Saturday, there were lots of kids running around as they played with the water that was spraying out periodically from the floor.

There were even some a.d.u.l.ts who joined in the fun by chasing the water that was shooting out from different holes in the floor.

After they found a place to sit, Han Ye then went to get them some snacks. When he got back and handed her the can of Coke and some fish balls in a cup, their fingers brushed slightly against each other. Han Ye blushed a little from that, and he muttered, "I'm sorry."

The woman smiled. "It's fine…"

She then took his hand and said in a hushed tone, "I'm no longer an 18-year-old kid..."

It startled Han Ye a little when she took such an initiative, but he quickly relaxed. She was right. She was no longer an 18-year-old kid, and neither was he. They were both mature a.d.u.l.ts who had stable careers, and they were able to take a faster step in a relationship if that was what they both wanted.

He then smiled at her before turning back to look at the kids who were shooting at each other with their water guns.

When Angela Zhang saw that Han Ye did not reject her advances, she smiled.

Even though he did not pull his hand away, Han Ye's other hand was touching the rings underneath his shirt. "Yuexue, is this alright with you?" he thought while he glanced at Angela Zhang.

They then chatted for a while.

"Argh!"

Angela cried out when a kid who was running in front of them earlier suddenly shot her with his water gun.

"Hey, kid!" Han Ye warned as he shielded her with his body by hugging her with one arm. "Stop that! It's rude to shoot a woman with your water gun."

The mischievous boy stuck his tongue out at him before he shot Han Ye next. "Idiot a.d.u.l.ts!" the kid yelled gleefully before he ran off.

Han Ye glanced down at his wet shirt. He then released her from his hug as he chased after the kid.

He ignored the a.d.u.l.ts who were laughing at him as he ran into the water area with the kid. At first, he was going to chase the kid and take him to his parents. However, before long, he ended up buying himself a water gun from a vendor nearby and joined the kid in a water fight against the other kids.

By the time he had enough and remembered about his date, he was already completely drenched. As he stood in front of her with a guilty look, he said with an apologetic tone, "Sorry, I got carried away…"

She laughed softly. "It's fine, but you better go and get changed. There's a store there. I think they sell men's clothes."

She then pointed to one of the stores toward her left and said, "It's almost closing time. Why don't you go and buy something to wear before you get sick?"

Han Ye nodded and they went to the store. He picked a simple set of clothes - a black T-shirt with Nirvana on it and a pair of black pants - off the rack, and once he paid for it, he went to change in the changing room.

When he walked out, his hair was still drenched and despite his efforts to wipe off his body, some of the water still got into his new set of clothes.

When Angela Zhang suddenly appeared in front of him with a towel in her hand, he was slightly startled.

Unknown to him, while he was changing, Angela Zhang went to the HOME store next door and bought the towel. She figured that he would not be completely dry just by changing out of the wet clothes.

She then reached out to help him dry his hair. Her actions caused him to blush, and he wanted to stop her at first, but in the end, he didn't.

Her action reminded him of the old times with Wu Yuexue, and he wanted to savor the moments.

Instead, as she was drying his hair, he stared into her eyes. He did not know what came over him, but he suddenly said in a hoarse voice, "Angela…"

"Yeah?"

"I want to kiss you…"

Angela stopped moving for a second. When she blushed but did not turn away, Han Ye leaned down slightly and kissed her on the lips. After a while, they parted slightly and there was a confused expression on his face as he murmured, "I'm-"

She stopped him from talking by returning a kiss to him.