Song Chunli had reserved a table in a highly praised restaurant ran by a private chef. She and Jiang Qianren were already there when Xin Qing arrived.

"Sorry that I'm late," Xin Qing said.

Jiang Qianren pulled out a chair for her. "Not at all. We were early, that's all!"

Jiang Qianren was dressed in civvies today, which made him look handsome and buff like some kind of hotshot celebrity. Having noticed the way Xin Qing was staring at him, Jiang ...