The two departed at half past nine in the morning and, around noon, exited the expressway to reach the downtown area of a nearby county-level city. They sampled several local specialty dishes.
While novel, the flavors were not particularly stunning.
After eating their fill, they asked locals for directions and drove to visit the city's most famous attraction, taking a few photos.
The so-called most famous attraction was, in reality, a site built around a local ancient scholar as a gimmick.
Aside from a few tourists, there were hardly any locals visiting.
After a casual stroll, the two, feeling rather uninspired, drove away, rejoining the expressway and heading directly towards Xingcheng.
It was only about an hour and a half's drive. Coupled with their experience in the city at noon, they had no inclination to exit the expressway again to find places to visit.
By a little past four in the afternoon, they had exited the expressway and entered Xingcheng.
Qin Tian navigated towards a hotel near a plaza; their room had already been booked. The hotel was conveniently located near several renowned food streets, making it easy to sample local delicacies and explore.
Following the navigation, the urban scenery outside grew increasingly prosperous, and the traffic on the road began to get congested.
Through the car window, Xia Nuannuan could already see numerous local specialty food stalls, with long queues outside some of the shops.
"Nuannuan, want to find a place to eat something first?"
Qin Tian, sensing her eagerness, suggested with a hint of amusement.
Upon hearing this, Xia Nuannuan immediately withdrew her gaze and said earnestly, "No need, what's the rush? Let's go to the hotel and leave our things first!"
"Really no need?"
Qin Tian confirmed with a smile.
"Really no need. What are you doing? Do I look that greedy?"
Xia Nuannuan shot him a playfully reproachful glance.
"Alright, then let's head to the hotel first."
Qin Tian smiled, ceasing his teasing.
Upon reaching the hotel, the two checked in at the front desk and then took their luggage upstairs.
They had booked a king-sized room. With what had already transpired between them, there was no need for excessive formality.
Given their current financial standing, the hotel they booked was naturally of good quality. The room was exceptionally clean and tidy, with all amenities being new.
Being on a high floor, in the twenties, the view was excellent. Looking out through the bright floor-to-ceiling windows, they could see a large expanse of the bustling city.
It wasn't dark yet. When the various neon lights lit up at night, it would surely be quite a sight.
"Brother, this room is really nice!"
Xia Nuannuan praised with a smile, clearly satisfied.
"It is nice!"
Qin Tian nodded in agreement with a smile and walked over to collapse on the bed.
Having driven for most of the day, he was quite tired.
"Do you want to rest a bit?"
Xia Nuannuan asked with concern.
Qin Tian rolled over, lying on his back and spreading his arms. "If a beautiful woman were to hold me, my recovery speed would double."
Xia Nuannuan's face immediately flushed red, a look of conflicted shyness on her face.
"Sigh, if only I could recover faster. There are so many delicious things on that food street tonight. I saw so many people eating as they walked earlier, it made me drool. But I'm really a bit tired and don't want to move!"
Qin Tian remained with his arms spread, looking up at the ceiling, talking to himself.
Xia Nuannuan lightly bit her lip, her cheeks rosy, and walked over, lying down quietly beside him, her body curled up nervously and shyly.
Qin Tian chuckled, turned, and pulled her into a direct embrace. He could feel her body tremble slightly.
"Just, just can hold me for a bit!"
"Mhm, just for a bit!"
After a moment.
"Your hand!"
"Uh, sorry, sorry, it's a habit."
"Let go!"
"It's okay, just let me play around a bit, it'll help me recover faster!"
"Mmm... you're too naughty."
...
...
It wasn't until the sky outside had darkened that the two left the hotel, hand in hand.
Traces of a blush still lingered on Xia Nuannuan's pretty face, and she pouted, glaring playfully at the person in front of her.
It was evident that she had been "teased" by him again just moments ago.
Xingcheng's liveliest food street was only a few hundred meters from the hotel where they were staying, so Qin Tian didn't drive. He walked hand in hand with Xia Nuannuan to the food street.
The street was at its peak evening foot traffic, with crowds of people and the enticing aroma of various foods filling the air.
Upon entering the street, they could see shops lining both sides, selling all sorts of food and snacks, with customers queuing in front of almost every shop.
Many of the passersby were also holding various foods, eating as they walked, their eyes searching for other delicacies.
Looking around, the street was almost entirely filled with young people, with couples, just like them, holding hands or linking arms.
There were too many people; it would be easy to get separated if they weren't careful.
"Nuannuan, what should we eat first?"
Qin Tian turned his head and asked with a smile.
In this lively scene, and amidst the temptation of the various foods around them, Xia Nuannuan's slight displeasure from earlier had completely vanished.
"Over there!"
Xia Nuannuan's eyes brightened as she raised her right index finger, pointing towards the shop with the longest queue to their front left.
From the direction of the shop, a familiar yet somewhat unique pungent smell emanated.
"Luo Ji Stinky Tofu!"
Upon seeing the signboard, Qin Tian smiled and nodded, "Then let's go try it."
Xia Nuannuan pecked her head.
The two arrived outside this stinky tofu shop and took their place at the end of the queue.
"Brother, waiting here together might be a waste of time. How about I go get us two drinks?"
Xia Nuannuan suggested, pointing to a milk tea shop ahead.
"That's fine too!"
Qin Tian agreed.
"Then, what do you want to drink?"
"You pick, anything is fine."
"Okay, then I'll go!"
"Mhm, just line up there for milk tea. Don't go too far, so I can see you. There are too many people here, and the phone signal might be weak. It would be troublesome if we get separated,"
Qin Tian cautioned her carefully.
"Got it."
Xia Nuannuan replied, then quickly walked towards the milk tea shop.
There was also a queue at the milk tea shop, but the crowd was noticeably smaller than at the stinky tofu stall.
After Xia Nuannuan joined the back of the line, she cheerfully raised her right arm and waved at Qin Tian.
Qin Tian had been watching her, and seeing her gesture, he smiled and gave a thumbs-up.
Then, they each began queuing.
Qin Tian took out his phone to check. The signal was indeed very weak, only one bar.
He looked up towards Xia Nuannuan's direction, and his brow immediately furrowed.
He saw that next to Xia Nuannuan, two young men were chatting her up with grinning faces.
Xia Nuannuan wore an impatient expression, as if trying to get them to leave. She even raised her finger and pointed in his direction, likely indicating to the young men that her boyfriend was nearby.
However, the two young men merely glanced in this direction before shamelessly continuing to strike up a conversation with Xia Nuannuan.
From this distance, there were many people in between them, and the two young men were slightly shorter. They might not have even seen Qin Tian.