"Xu Bin, you're so observant," Yang Siying suddenly looked up and said with a meaningful smile.
"Just paying attention, I wouldn't say I'm observant," Xu Bin stretched and said, "You'll be back in the city in a couple of days. I'm sure you'll have plenty of guys chasing you. Your sports academy must be full of muscular guys, right?"
"Please, our campus is divided into sections, and there are mostly female athletes. Hardly any guys," Yang Siying rolled her eyes and said, "Athletes are mostly... well, let's just say there are a lot of horny guys. Our campus is basically an all-girls school."
"Sports students, huh? I've met a few, and they all have short fuses. I've heard stories of girls dating guys from the same school and getting beaten up, even sexually assaulted."
Yang Siying looked at Xu Bin with a smile, "I want a boyfriend like you, someone gentle and caring."
"Not necessarily. They might be sweet at first, but once they get what they want, they show their true colors."
Xu Bin was a bit flustered. In his past life, he was poor but good-looking. Maopu women were brave enough to love him for who he was. Besides his wife, he hadn't been with anyone else until he got the system. He wasn't used to such direct flirting.
"I admire you even more, Xu Bin. You're not afraid to tell the truth," Yang Siying smiled seductively, "You're so gentle with me, but you were so dominant with that jerk, Mr. Zhu. You have two different sides, and I like both."
This was a clear invitation. Xu Bin felt his heart race.
Just as he was about to respond, the door opened and David walked in with his family, greeting them enthusiastically.
Xu Bin stood up to hug them and started a lively conversation. Yang Siying, who had been flirting shamelessly, suddenly became shy and well-behaved, her earlier seductive expression gone.
Yang Siying didn't understand English, but watching Xu Bin interact effortlessly with David and his family, including their ten-year-old child, she was starstruck.
Most athletes from her academy had low cultural backgrounds and resented it. International sports required strong language skills, and athletes who became professionals knew this all too well. Not understanding international rules put them at a disadvantage.
Her academy had several English teachers, but their proficiency was limited. Yang Siying had seen a teacher, supposedly highly skilled, sweat profusely while trying to give directions to a foreigner. The language barrier was indeed formidable.
Since gaining his skill, Xu Bin's American English was flawless, indistinguishable from a native speaker. He could even mimic regional accents and use slang that wasn't yet in dictionaries.
"This is insane... like having a personal translator," Yang Siying thought, mesmerized.
Xu Bin took the menu and translated each dish for David's family, who were excited and laughed heartily. After a while, Xu Bin called the waiter to order: "Ten skewers of lamb testicles, ten of lamb penis, ten of bull penis... ten of silkworm pupae, and ten of fried scorpions..."
He skipped the usual items like chicken wings and went for more exotic fare. The list included pig eyes and pickled eggs, with oysters being the most normal item.
Beer, a local brew, was served next. David's family cheered, and after a toast, Yang Siying asked, "Why didn't you order any meat skewers?"
Xu Bin shook his head, "This family is unique. Each region has its own customs. Foreigners have things like canned sardines and pickled puffins that we can't comprehend."
"David's family did their research. They thought animal offal was the limit. But then they tried century eggs and other exotic foods ranked online. I even had the shop buy some pickled mustard tubers to satisfy them."
"Local delicacies like soy milk and beef intestine hotpot aren't available here, but I told them about our unique foods, and these guys... they're not your average foodies."
"They call themselves adventurous foodies, always seeking the unusual. The shop owner is from the southwest and has things like pig teeth and pig eyes, which should satisfy them."
Xu Bin smiled, "Besides, you're treating, so it won't cost much."
"You're so thoughtful," Yang Siying blushed, "I was worried you'd choose an expensive place. I looked it up, and David is a high-ranking manager for the Asia-Pacific region. I didn't expect him to come to a place like this."
As they talked, cheers and applause erupted from the table. David's daughter was the first to try the fried scorpions and was met with applause. Xu Bin and Yang Siying exchanged a smile and joined in the applause. David's daughter, not particularly beautiful but not ugly either, wiped her mouth and smiled proudly.
David suddenly raised his glass and spoke enthusiastically. Yang Siying, though tipsy, felt a bit uneasy, sensing that the conversation involved her.
Xu Bin stood up and clinked glasses with David, who laughed heartily. His daughter seemed unhappy and said something more.
"What did they say?" Yang Siying, slightly drunk, pulled at Xu Bin's arm curiously.
Xu Bin had downed three glasses and was already flushed. He smiled and said, "David's daughter is interested in me. She said if she could change her graduation trip plans, she'd love to travel with me for a month or two, all expenses paid by her father."
"How forward!"
"Foreigners are direct and don't beat around the bush," Xu Bin replied, his fingers lightly touching her chin, "She also thinks you're great and wants to know if you'd join us. She thinks you have a great body."
"She's crazy!"
Yang Siying blushed deeply, unfamiliar with Western attitudes toward sex.
"What about David? You two talked for so long!"
Yang Siying asked again.
Xu Bin tapped her head lightly, "You're asking too much. My translation services aren't free, you know. My wife doesn't ask me this much when I go out for meals and drinks."
"I... I..."
Yang Siying, also tipsy, bit her lip and said, "Then I'll be your wife for tonight. I want to know."
Seeing her slightly drunk and dazed, Xu Bin teased, "If you're my wife, it's not just words. There have to be some actions."