Eating, drinking, and chatting…these were the things that were going on in the private room.

But, it was unfortunate for Sheng Jiaoyang that Ms Zhao had a heavy taste and ordered a table full of spicy dishes. Covered with red and yellow chilli peppers, the dish with the big fish head on top appeared extremely spicy.

She’d just gone to the lavatory to wash her hands, and by the time she came back, Ms Zhao had already placed the order.

The corner of her eyes were twitching as she stared at the dishes being served. She suddenly recalled that last hotpot meal and felt as if that numb and spicy sensation remained on her taste buds. She didn’t dare move her chopsticks.

"Xiao Lei, didn't you grow up in Canada? How come you like this kind of spicy food? If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought that you were from Hunan or Sichuan," President Shi said with a smile as he...