Translator: Larbre Studio
Editor: Larbre Studio
“It’s getting late, we should go. Thank you for the hospitality, Mr Wei,” Yu Xiaoxuan broke the silence upon noticing the tense atmosphere around the dining table.
Shen Qinglan stood up. Yu Xiaoxuan’s words were exactly what she wanted to hear.
Wei Lin was never really the gentleman he seemed to be. In fact, he was extremely petty and was keen on keeping up appearances as well. What Shen Qinglan just said challenged his reputation—his initial interest in the woman quickly turned into resentment.
He grabbed hold of Shen Qinglan’s wrist, a slightly frivolous smile stretched across his face, “Miss Shen, why are you so anxious to leave? We’ve just finished lunch and it’s far from nightfall. Why don’t we go somewhere else to have more fun?”
Shen Qinglan let her eyes drop and fall on the large hand grabbing her wrist. A chill flashed across her eyes.
“This guy has no bearing whatsoever. She only rejected him and now he’s gotten quite persistent,” Han Yi looked on with interest.
Their table was exactly diagonal to Shen Qinglan’s table, with only one table apart. It was not his intention to eavesdrop, but their conversation could be heard loud and clear.
“I wonder how Miss Shen will sort this out,” Han Yi said, his eyes filled with delight. He had always been very interested in Miss Shen, who liked to keep a low profile, but had not had the chance to approach her. Miss Shen had a very protective brother, Shen Junyu, who kept her under his watchful eye. The only time Han Yi got to meet Shen Qinglan was when he had gone looking for her and had happened to come across his sister. All he had done was cast another glance her way and, next thing he knew, he had received a warning from Shen Junyu. For a long time after that, Shen Junyu had kept his guard up with Han Yi.
Fu Hengyi ignored him. His eyes were staring at the glass in front of him, but his attention had involuntarily drifted to the table behind him. Somehow, Shen Qinglan’s eyes gave him a feeling of deja vu.
“Wei Lin, let go,” Yu Xiaoxuan barked furiously before Shen Qinglan could say anything.
Wei Lin paid her no mind, his eyes fixed on Shen Qinglan.
Shen Qinglan broke away from Wei Lin’s grasp with little effort, “Mr Wei, we’re in public. Please be respectful.”
That might not have been a fancy Western restaurant, but it was a good one nonetheless. As it was lunchtime, the place was full of patrons. The scene they caused had attracted a bit of attention.
Wei Lin was aware of his reputation. He neither wanted to lose face in front of the crowd, nor did he want to let Shen Qinglan go. He did not know about Shen Qinglan’s background: it would not be easy to find her.
Wei Lin composed himself and smiled faintly, “Miss Shen, why do you have to deny me so? We’re friends now. It’s perfectly normal for friends to keep in touch, don’t you think so?”
“I don’t think we can be friends. This is the payment for lunch. I think it’s better that we go Dutch,” Shen Qinglan took out some banknotes from her pocket and placed them on the table.
Wei Lin stared at the few red notes on the table, finding them quite offensive. To him, this was an insult. Unable to maintain his gentlemanly demeanour any longer, perhaps even forgetting that they were in public space, he took hold of Shen Qinglan’s wrist again and, in a low and sombre tone, said, “It seems Miss Shen wants to make me look bad.”
Yu Xiaoxuan’s face paled, showing a look of disgust as she stared at Wei Lin in disbelief. She found it unbelievable that here was such a man who had so little respect for himself.
Shen Qinglan’s eyes grew cold. Just when she was wondering whether getting physical in public would cause unnecessary trouble or not, a pair of hands broke away the one holding her wrist, then another one circled her waist. Shen Qinglan stiffened, her eyes narrowed—yet those feelings instantly disappeared without a trace.
“Did I allow you to pester my fiancée in my presence?” A low, husky male voice rang in her ears. It sounded quite chilly, too.
All eyes fell on the man who was currently holding onto Shen Qinglan and were equally stunned when they took note of his appearance. They had to admit, he was gorgeous.
Shen Qinglan turned sideways and looked at the man’s facial features. She was surprised it was him.
“Huh. Just because you say she’s your fiancée, I should believe you? If she really is, she wouldn’t be going on a blind date.” Wei Lin’s eyes fell on Shen Qinglan with a trace of disdain as he spoke, as though he was looking at filth. Though he could not overcome Fu Hengyi’s imposing manner, he was not going down without a fight. They were in public, after all, and he bet that this man would not dare to mess with him.
The commotion they caused had already caught the attention of the patrons in the restaurant. Both intentionally and not, people’s eyes fell on Shen Qinglan. The men were amazed by her beauty while the women grew jealous, especially when their male partners looked at Shen Qinglan with stunned expressions; they started calling her “fox demon” under their breath. Wei Lin’s words only enforced their belief that Shen Qinglan was a woman of loose morals, who continued to seduce men despite having a fiancé.
“Qinglan’s not on a blind date. She’s with me. Don’t you feel shameless, pestering her like this just because she’s attractive? Where’s your self-respect?” Yu Xiaoxuan exploded. She had a good temper, but she would fire up easily when it came to matters that involved Qinglan, especially when the latter was bullied.
Yu Xiaoxuan’s statement was an explanation and a slap in the face.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were heading out? Are you still mad at me?” Fu Hengyi said. The look he gave Shen Qinglan was soft and filled with adoration, as well as a trace of aggravation, as though he was dealing with a troublesome child.
Shen Qinglan knew the man was just pretending, but her lips could not resist twitching ever so slightly. What a man.
“Something came up and I had to go. Next time I’ll tell you.” Since the man was offering assistance, Shen Qinglan proceeded to play along and not burst his bubble.
“Sir, please stop pestering my fiancée. She’s generous and won’t hold it against you, but I’m not like her. If you pester her again, I won’t go so easy on you.”
Fu Hengyi looked at Wei Lin as he spoke with a serious tone, but the chill in his look stabbed the man like a sword.
What Wei Lin had originally wanted to say instantly vanished as he met those chilling eyes: his intuition told him that the man was not kidding.
Still sitting, Han Yi stared dumbfounded at the scene taking place in front of him—the Fu Hengyi he was looking at must have been faking it.
Fu Hengyi ignored Wei Lin and led Shen Qinglan out of the restaurant. Seeing that, Yu Xiaoxuan quickly picked up her bag and trailed after them, leaving only Wei Lin standing there, his face stripped of color.
Han Yi was left behind too, completely forgotten by Fu Hengyi. He rubbed his chin with one hand and watched them leave with growing interest.