The two of them continued to sit at the bar for a while, drinking and talking about the things that Duan Zhi Hao had experienced over the years.

The longer he listened, the more Li Ming understood why Duan Zhi Hao was always making jokes about being old. Even though he was probably at most in his early thirties he really had done quite a lot of things. Clearly, that rule of doing a course only once a year or maybe once every two years couldn’t have been the case for a long time. Instead, he had probably been doing even more when he was young. He really sounded like the type of guy who was always doing this or that.

In the end, the two of them walked out when the restaurant was almost closing. Duan Zhi Hao stopped on the sidewalk in front of the door, looking up at the sky. "You know, sister Yao will be incredibly angry when she finds out what she missed today."

Li Ming smiled faintly but just shook his head. "Two old men sitting around and talking over the same drink for several hours probably wouldn’t appeal to her all that much."

Duan Zhi Hao glanced at him and shook his head as well before walking down the street. "You know, if you tell her, she probably wouldn’t believe that it was only one drink."

"I mean, she did see us drink the other evening. I don’t think she’d be that surprised."

"True as well. Anyway, you still have the opportunity to make up for that tomorrow. Any ideas yet where to go?"

Li Ming sighed when Duan Zhi Hao brought that up. "Actually, I was thinking of going home and doing some research on that. It should be something she’d like. The idea with the pet cafe the other day was really good. She clearly enjoyed that. Just a pity we didn’t have that much time. Maybe something similar would be alright."

Duan Zhi Hao shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I don’t understand how those young minds work. If you think she’d liked it, then go for it. I don’t mind either way. Ah, actually, you shouldn’t tell me anything. I think we promised you’d keep it a surprise."

Li Ming nodded, remembering that as well. He didn’t mind though. Anyway, it wasn’t like he was completely sold on the idea yet. They had already gone to a cafe the other day so he couldn’t just repeat the same thing.

Don’t even mention how Yao Ai and Duan Zhi Hao would make fun of him for doing that, there was also the question of whether it would really be as enjoyable the second time around. After all, some things, after the novelty wore off, it wasn’t quite the same. The element of surprise had certainly also played a small part in making it memorable for Yao Ai.

Also, this occasion might be the last time that the three of them got together like this, so he should probably do something a little more special. Thus, this deserved some more thought.

The two of them walked to the nearest subway station and then bid farewell to each other, going back home.

Li Ming walked into the kitchen first, glancing at the clock. Seeing how late it really had gotten, he couldn’t help but sigh. To be honest, even he wasn’t really in the mood anymore to cook himself dinner. They really should have eaten at the restaurant before instead of just sitting there with a drink. Unfortunately, he hadn’t thought of that.

He went over to the fridge, rummaging around for something quick to eat, and then went to sit down at the kitchen table, pulling out his phone and looking up some fun activities you could do in and around the city.

Duan Zhi Hao’s idea of doing something similar to the pet cafe might not be the worst. He did feel like Yao Ai did like animals. And the other day, because they had left so abruptly and it had already been late, she had only gotten to pet one of the dogs there. That probably hadn’t been able to really fulfill her cravings.

So even if they didn’t go to another pet cafe, there should be similar things around. Maybe a visit to the zoo? Or was that something you only did with your five- or six-year-old children? Seriously, he couldn’t even remember when he had been at the zoo the last time.

For a moment, Li Ming stared at the screen of his phone in a daze, and finally, he couldn’t help but close the browser, instead opening his contacts. It felt a bit weird to look at the names inside, and for a while, his thumb just hovered over the button. He couldn’t help himself.

This break up with Mo Fang, it had been difficult. And what had he done? He had gone to his coworkers first, then tried to deal with it himself, and finally, he went and told a total stranger about it, finally finding out more information from people who were closer to his ex than to himself.

Really, who did he have for support? Yes, he was incredibly lucky that Rui Lan and Cang Gui Ying had been there for him that first night, but he also didn’t feel close enough to them to bother them about this continuously. Especially this long after the actual breakup, he would feel embarrassed to talk to them. But if he didn’t, who could he talk to?

He bit his lip and closed his eyes, finally just clicking the button and raising the phone to his ear. He wasn’t even sure if the other side would pick up but before he could even wonder if this had been a stupid idea or not, a voice already sounded from the other side and he wasn’t sure if he imagined it but somehow, she actually sounded happy.