NOVEL WEB Chapter 20: Baited
"Excuse me, Miss," the waiter said politely as An Rong gestured for him to proceed. He carefully placed the plate before her and announced, "Grilled Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce."
The salmon fillet glistened under a delicate layer of golden lemon butter sauce, elegantly presented on a pristine white ceramic plate. Perfectly seared with subtle charred grill marks, its soft coral-pink flesh contrasted beautifully with the bright green baby asparagus spears nestled beside it. The sight was so striking that An Rong instinctively swallowed, taken aback by the dish's tantalizing appearance.
It wasn’t just the visual appeal that left her astonished but also…
“B-Brother…” she stammered, glancing up at the calm and observant Shen Zeming, who watched her with a faint smile. 'How… how did he know I liked this dish?' she wondered, her thoughts racing. As she tried to process whether this was mere coincidence, the beverage arrived.
"Here is the Chilled White Wine Spritzer with a Twist of Lime," the waiter announced as he carefully set down a tall, slender wine glass. The spritzer held a faint golden hue, almost transparent, with tiny bubbles clinging to the surface. A thin lime slice floated at the top, while condensation adorned the outside of the glass, hinting at its refreshing chill.
By now, An Rong—who had initially come to observe and gather information about Shen Zeming—found herself covering her mouth with both hands, her wide eyes darting between the smiling Shen Zeming and the exquisite dish before her.
"Shall we eat, then?" Shen Zeming offered smoothly. For him, neither the dish nor the drink was particularly noteworthy—his real objective was to impress An Rong, or more specifically, Wei Feng’s friend. After all, Wei Feng was the crush of this body’s original owner.
A faint growling sound escaped from An Rong's stomach, causing her cheeks to redden. “S-sure,” she stammered, replying for the first time with genuine embarrassment. She carefully picked up her fork and spoon, but her eyes and thoughts couldn’t help wandering to Shen Zeming.
'Is he actually interested in me?' she wondered for a fleeting moment before shaking her head, chastising herself. 'No! What am I thinking? I’m a detective!'
Meanwhile, Shen Zeming, savoring his food, couldn’t help but enjoy the sight of a flustered An Rong. It was a rare moment, brief but satisfying, before she finally regained her composure.
Her usual faint and sultry smile returned as she chewed the food, her expression brightening. “Brother Shen… it’s amazing. How did you know this is my favorite?” she asked, humming softly as she spoke between bites.
As though he had anticipated her question, Shen Zeming’s eyes squinted slightly with a knowing look. “Salmon is elegant but not pretentious," he began smoothly.
“Light yet packed with strength—perfect for someone on-the-go like you, who needs fuel without feeling weighed down. And if I know you well enough, it’s probably paired with something fresh and simple, like lemon butter sauce or lightly steamed vegetables. A dish that speaks sophistication without screaming for attention. Sound familiar?”
As he finished, Shen Zeming calmly brought a forkful of his food to his mouth, savoring it deliberately. Yet, his gaze never wavered from An Rong, who paused mid-bite, momentarily stunned, before resuming her chewing.
An Rong was a police officer, and their first encounter had been anything but ordinary. It was during the early days of his transmigration when she had tried to seduce him.
'That was her first side,' Shen Zeming reflected inwardly. His mind drifted to another memory: the solemn, concerned expression she had worn when she later questioned him at the police station. It was a striking contrast, a glimpse of the depth behind her usual facade.
'That’s her second side,' Shen Zeming continued to muse inwardly. With these two pieces of information, he began to form a clearer picture of An Rong. 'She’s fascinating—constantly juggling two distinct personas.'
'There’s the hardworking, disciplined professional who likely doesn’t have time to indulge in extravagant meals. And then there’s her glamorous alter-ego, the one who blends seamlessly with the city’s elite to outsmart criminals. Those two sides of her reveal a lot about how she eats. It’s all about controlled elegance—a fine balance between who she truly is and who she pretends to be.'
This, Shen Zeming concluded, was the essence of her personality. To confirm his theory, he carefully observed An Rong’s reaction as she engaged with the salmon dish—a subtle test of his deductions.
“Impressive, Brother. I didn’t know you had such a skill,” An Rong said after silently chewing and swallowing. Her eyes blinked in surprise, then sharpened with curiosity as she studied Shen Zeming’s gaze more intently.
The man before her seemed entirely different from the one she thought she knew. Not only had he rejected her friend—or boss—Wei Feng, but he had also managed to evade and even turn the tables on the trap that both Wei Feng and Luo Chen had set for him.
By now, Shen Zeming felt like a Pandora’s box to her. The way he had answered her calmly during interrogation, the confidence he had exuded upon arriving at their office, and even how he had deftly sidestepped her attempts to seduce him in front of Wei Feng—it all painted a picture of someone entirely unlike the man she had first encountered.
'Now he has another skill. I’m curious,' An Rong thought as the idea rang repeatedly in her mind. As if caught in a honey trap, she asked another question. This time, the dish lost all appeal to her as her focus shifted entirely to Shen Zeming.
She rested her hands on the table, leaned one cheek against her palm, and tilted her head slightly to the side.
“What about the drink, Big Brother Shen?” she asked, her tone softening unconsciously. Even the way she addressed him had grown more affectionate, though she seemed unaware of the change.
On the other hand, seeing her reaction, Shen Zeming’s smile deepened. 'Baited,' he thought to himself before replying smoothly, “Of course—”