As Ming Zheng turned her head to look at him, the smile in Chi Xian’s eyes deepened. His clear voice spoke softly, "Zheng Bao, what’s wrong?"
What else could be wrong?
Wasn’t she supposed to be using that intimidating demeanor she had with President Zhan just now?
And here she was, playing innocent?
Did she really think she knew nothing!
Ming Zheng squeezed his interlocked hands warningly.
Then, she bothered to ignore Chi Xian.
She nodded at Zhan Hean, "Sure."
Just then, a waiter pushed a small dining cart over, bringing the dishes Chi Xian had ordered.
Alluring aromas instantly filled the private room, stimulating the taste buds.
Zhan Hean swallowed.
His gaze fell upon the exquisitely prepared dishes covering the entire table.
He had dined at Zui Xian Lou a few times before and knew how delicious their cuisine was.
When he had seen the Ming family’s fawning expressions in the private seating area on the first floor, he had lost his appetite, and hadn’t touched a single dish from their table.
Now, he could finally have a hot meal.
Zhan Hean’s excitement lasted less than a minute.
He suddenly thought of something.
He lifted his gaze from the feast.
As expected…
The Chi family head, who was as docile as a puppy in front of Miss Ming Zheng,
was glancing at him from the corner of his eye.
Zhan Hean: "..."
He was being sensible.
He understood, he understood it all!
Zhan Hean feigned taking out his phone, stood up, and said, "I just remembered I have something very important to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now."
Ming Zheng: "Weren't you hungry?"
Zhan Hean chuckled dryly, "Not hungry, not hungry."
However, his stomach obligingly rumbled, "Gurgle."
Ming Zheng: "?"
Zhan Hean had already pulled out his chair and walked to the door, "Miss Ming Zheng, then it's settled. I'll await your news."
With that, he fled the private room,
as if pursued by some monstrous beast.
Ming Zheng: "..."
Only she and Chi Xian remained in the private room.
The atmosphere instantly became a little more intimate.
"President Zhan is almost fifty, and you’re still jealous of him?" Ming Zheng’s perception of clingy people was shattered.
The man propping up half his face, his demonic ink-black eyes curved, slightly pouted his thin lips.
"It’s not jealousy."
His low, husky voice was seductive, "This is the first meal after Zheng Bao agreed to be my girlfriend."
He removed his hand from supporting his face,
and slowly moved closer to Ming Zheng.
That devilishly handsome face magnified in front of Ming Zheng.
"I want to spend time with Zheng Bao alone, without anyone disturbing us."
He was truly too close.
His warm breath fell on Ming Zheng’s face,
making her feel a little flustered.
She turned her face slightly, "Then you shouldn't have agreed to let him join us for a meal just now."
Chi Xian sighed softly.
His fair, slender fingers gently touched Ming Zheng’s face, his fingertips caressing her slightly warm skin. "Because, Zheng Bao wanted to chat with him too."
His touch made her a little ticklish.
Ming Zheng raised her hand and pressed down on his troublesome hand, "You’re bullying an elder."
"Not bullying." Chi Xian straightened up, increasing the distance between them,
allowing Ming Zheng to see his face more clearly. "I said I’d treat President Zhan to a meal, and I will. After he leaves this room, the manager will take him to dine in another private room."
Ming Zheng: "..."
She glanced at the table laden with dishes, "Isn’t this a waste?"
"Not a waste."
Chi Xian’s smile grew more captivating as he curved his lips. "Come on, Zheng Bao, let's eat."
Ming Zheng looked at the handsome face so close to her,
then at her hand, which he was holding.
She smiled, "If you don't let go, how can we eat?"
Chi Xian pushed his luck further, "I'll feed you."
Ming Zheng: "...Feed you my foot!"
Ming Zheng directly pulled her hand out of his large palm.
Having been held for so long,
her palm had started to sweat lightly.
Finally, she was free.
-
Outside Zui Xian Lou.
The Ming family was "invited" out of Zui Xian Lou.
Ming Chu Yan carried Ming Zhi Rou into the car.
Inside the car, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.
No one spoke.
Ming Zhi Rou sat in the back seat, still leaning softly in Ming Chu Yan’s embrace.
Ming Xiu Jin sat on Ming Chu Yan’s other side.
Her gaze swept over Ming Father driving and Ming Mother in the passenger seat.
Her water-droplet eyelashes shimmered with moisture.
Her eyes were red, and she suddenly began to sob.
This cry
broke the silence in the car.
Ming Chu Yan quickly patted her back gently, and soothed her in a soft voice, "Rou’er, don’t cry."
"It’s all my fault..."
Ming Zhi Rou tilted her head up, revealing her pale, tear-filled face to Ming Chu Yan. "It’s my fault, it’s that I’m incapable… I couldn’t ask my sister to treat Mother..."
On her face, there were still the red, swollen marks from Si Lin’s slap earlier.
But in Ming Chu Yan’s eyes,
this slap was Ming Zheng’s doing.
Looking at Ming Zhi Rou crying prettily, Ming Chu Yan’s heart melted completely.
"You've already done your best," Ming Chu Yan reached out and gently, bit by bit, stroked her swollen cheek, which was damp with tears.
"After being humiliated by Ming Zheng, you were still made to kneel before her. It’s Sixth Brother’s fault for not protecting you, it’s my fault..."
At that time…
Rou’er must have been full of grievances,
hoping for their comfort.
Yet, they had made Rou’er kneel to Ming Zheng.
Rou’er must have been… very sad?
She herself had suffered such great grievances,
but her mind was filled with nothing but Ming Mother.
Even now, she was still full of guilt, believing that Ming Zheng’s unwillingness to treat Ming Mother was due to her own actions.
What a kind-hearted girl.
The more Ming Chu Yan thought about it, the more his guilt towards Ming Zhi Rou grew.
He regretted not rushing out to protect Ming Zhi Rou at that time.
"I said, I’d do anything to make Mom better," Ming Zhi Rou sobbed, her eyes blurry with tears. "But, but I still couldn’t help Mother… I’m really so useless..."
Ming Zhi Rou cried uncontrollably,
appearing incredibly fragile,
evoking a protective instinct.
However…
This protective instinct was likely only felt by Ming Chu Yan in the car.
Ming Xiu Jin had a blank expression and remained silent.
He didn’t know why.
If it were in the past,
seeing Ming Zhi Rou cry so sadly and suffer such grievances,
he would have wanted to tear apart the person who made Rou’er sad and wronged.
But now,
his emotions were very complex.
In his mind, he still recalled the scene at the entrance of the Imperial Capital Academy when he was forced to kneel on the ground by Ming Zheng, while Ming Father and Ming Mother ignored him, their hearts only for Ming Zhi Rou.
And Ming Zhi Rou had not even given him a glance.
Every time he thought of that scene,
his feelings for Ming Zhi Rou would fade a little.
He also remembered hearing the conversation between Elder Lu and the young student at the entrance of Zui Xian Lou.
He also remembered the videos he had seen on his social media feed.
...