Zhan Mohan’s dark eyes locked onto him, his voice laced with cold detachment.
“Does it concern you?”
Chu Zi’an felt as if he had been doused with a basin of cold water, chilling him from head to toe.
He shot Zhan Mohan an exasperated glance. “Heartless.”
“Young Master Chu, you talk to me about conscience? You’re joking. You infiltrated our company as a spy, schemed to meet my wife, and now you’re colluding with her to deceive me. You call that having a conscience?”
Indeed, not a single accusation was unfounded.
Chu Zi’an was rendered speechless, but mindful of the many women present and not wanting to lose face, he concluded with an air of not bothering to argue.
Once the dishes were served, Wei Yumeng’s eyes fixated on the plate of shrimp. She had a particular craving for shrimp since becoming pregnant, though she admitted she’d prefer spicy crayfish if it were summer.
Noticing her gaze constantly drifting to the shrimp, Zhan Mohan turned to her.
“Want some shrimp?”
Wei Yumeng nodded frankly, though she wasn’t keen on peeling them herself.
Zhan Mohan directly moved the plate of shrimp closer to her. Wei Yumeng quickly waved her hand.
“No need, I can reach it myself.”
The man then turned to the waiter. “Could we have another plate of shrimp, please?”
“Certainly, one moment.”
Just as Wei Yumeng was about to pick up a shrimp, intending to do it herself, Zhan Mohan pressed down on her chopsticks.
“I’ll peel them for you.”
Though he had never peeled shrimp for anyone before, he could try.
Upon hearing that Zhan Mohan would peel shrimp for her, Wei Yumeng was taken aback and quickly waved her hands.
“No, no, I can do it myself.”
“Eat your food.” Zhan Mohan shot her a cold glance, and Wei Yumeng’s reaching hand froze.
Yang Tao chimed in playfully from the side. “Yumeng, it’s a good thing Zhan Zong is willing to peel shrimp for you. It shows he cares about you. You should eat other dishes.”
Chu Zi’an, as if jealous, interjected abruptly.
“He’s not peeling shrimp for her; he’s just putting on a show for me.”
Everyone knew his true intentions.
Zhan Mohan dismissively flicked an eyebrow. “Good that you know. It’s not for you to eat anyway.”
Chu Zi’an clenched his fists tightly, suddenly feeling an urge to punch Zhan Mohan, but reality told him he probably couldn’t win.
He let it go.
Sitting next to Zhan Mohan, Wei Yumeng lost her earlier ease, becoming rather reserved. She truly couldn’t fathom what this man was thinking, nor why he was being so kind to her. She wondered if he had ulterior motives, as Chu Zi’an suggested.
It was unnecessary for him to treat her so well. The child in her belly was his, which explained some of it, but what if it wasn’t? If he was this kind to her, even she felt a pang of guilt.
As Wei Yumeng pondered, the man had already brought a peeled shrimp to her lips, cooing like one would to a child.
“Here, open your mouth.”
Wei Yumeng’s face stiffened at his sudden action, unsure how to react. Not only she, but Mu Linjing and Yang Tao were also astonished.
Mu Linjing thought to herself, had this President Zhan suddenly changed his ways, like a different person?
Chu Zi’an found him increasingly unbearable, feeling that Zhan Mohan was seriously affecting his appetite.
Before Wei Yumeng could respond, Chu Zi’an abruptly stood up.
“I don’t want to eat anymore.”
Yang Tao looked at him. “The dishes have just been served, why don’t you want to eat?”
Mu Linjing chimed in. “There are so many dishes left.”
“I can’t eat anymore. You all enjoy.”
Chu Zi’an rose to leave. Seeing him go, Yang Tao also stood up and said to Wei Yumeng and the others.
“You all eat, I’ll go check on him.”
“Dr. Yang, this…”
Mu Linjing suddenly felt awkward. They were supposed to have dinner together, and now, just as the food arrived, people were leaving.
“It’s alright, it’s alright, you eat first, I’ll go see him.”
Yang Tao said this to Mu Linjing as she walked towards the restaurant entrance.
Only the three of them remained at the table, and Mu Linjing felt particularly awkward.
“Are we still eating?”
Wei Yumeng didn’t answer, but her stomach rumbled loudly. Her eyes twitched.
“Perhaps… we should still eat. So many dishes, it would be a waste.”
“Alright. Dr. Yang has gone to check on him, so it should be fine. But what’s up with Chu Zi’an? He’s usually so jovial, how could President Zhan’s few words…”
As she spoke, Mu Linjing’s gaze involuntarily drifted towards Zhan Mohan.
The man shrugged indifferently. “Perhaps my aura is too powerful.”
Wei Yumeng looked sideways and asked Zhan Mohan seriously. “What exactly is going on between you and Chu Zi’an? Do you have some past grievances?”
Otherwise, why was Chu Zi’an’s demeanor so off when he saw Zhan Mohan?
Chu Zi’an’s departure was exactly as Zhan Mohan had anticipated. He placed a peeled shrimp in front of Wei Yumeng.
“Eat your shrimp first, and then I’ll tell you.”
Wei Yumeng had no choice but to eat shrimp while listening to Zhan Mohan’s story.
Mu Linjing also craned her neck, ready to listen attentively.
“I knew Chu Zi’an before. Back then, he seemed to enjoy my company a lot, but I’m not someone who gets too close to strangers. I often neglected him, and sometimes my conversations could be quite startling to others. That’s probably why. He has a mix of admiration and apprehension towards me.”
“There’s an even more important point.” As the man said this, his gaze landed on Wei Yumeng, making her feel uneasy.
“Why are you looking at me?”
“Because Chu Zi’an has feelings for you.” Chu Zi’an’s reaction just now was enough to explain everything.
He was jealous.
Wei Yumeng had just taken a bite of shrimp and hadn’t swallowed yet when she heard Zhan Mohan’s sudden remark, causing her to choke violently.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
Zhan Mohan gently patted her back, his voice tinged with amusement.
“What, did I say something wrong?”
The man spoke almost by her ear, his masculine scent permeating her senses. Wei Yumeng’s cheeks flushed, unsure if it was from choking or embarrassment.
Mu Linjing felt a little awkward too, feeling like a third wheel. She wished she had followed Yang Tao and the others out.
Wei Yumeng waved her hand, signaling him to stop patting her. Once she recovered, she said.
“Let’s eat, let’s not talk about this anymore.”
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to finish this meal.
After they had eaten most of the food, Zhan Mohan settled the bill. As they walked to the entrance, Zhan Mohan said to Wei Yumeng.
“You still need to move back to the old house with me.”
Wei Yumeng was shocked. “What? I have to move back with you? We’re divorced now. If I go back, the Zhan family will devour me. I’m not going back.”
What a joke! She could barely handle Feng Shiqing and Wen Yulan. She clearly remembered that her previous child had been lost due to Wen Yulan. Now, Zhan Mohan was telling her to return with him.
But the man’s attitude was firm. “You must come back with me!”