Chapter 72 Qin Shan, the Coward [VIP]

"Here, try this!" Mingle excitedly shoved all the things she thought were delicious in front of Ziyu. "Let me tell you, I think this is especially delicious!"

Ziyu initially followed Mingle because she harbored suspicions about him, but under the influence of the delicious food, those suspicions quickly vanished, and she happily ate with him.

As for the driver, Ming Le seemed to only notice him when they got out of the car. She kept saying "you" but couldn't utter a word. After that, the driver followed them wherever they went.

The driver was about the same height as Ming Le, or even a little taller, with broad shoulders and narrow hips, like a supermodel.

However, during their fleeting encounter, Ziyu discovered that the other person not only had frighteningly pale skin, as if they hadn't seen sunlight for years, but also walked rather slowly.

The situation is very similar to how he was when he first came back.

Ziyu withdrew her gaze, ignoring the driver's constant presence, and focused intently on eating with Mingle.

It was almost summer, and the weather was getting hotter. The sun was scorching, and Ziyu had gotten quite hot from walking all that way. The driver was wearing a hat and mask, and his forehead was covered in sweat, but even so, he continued to follow behind them without saying a word.

"Doesn't your driver need to eat?" Ziyu asked.

"Uh, let me ask...?" Ming Le had just turned around when she was startled by a pair of sinister eyes and immediately turned back: "He won't eat, we'll eat!"

"Oh?" Ziyu said meaningfully, "Alright then, let's just have a good meal together."

The sinister gaze kept staring at her back, which burned with pain. No matter how much her heart fluttered when she looked at Ziyu, Mingle could only force herself to hold it back. She didn't dare to say a single ambiguous word, only daring to whisper something to Ziyu when he recommended food.

Even after all that, that gaze was still like a thorn stuck to his back, making Ming Le feel like he was caught in the middle.

"We're here!" Mingle pointed to the signboard. "This is the shop."

The street in front of this shop is a food street, and cars are not allowed to enter. They had been eating their way through the food street.

Once inside the restaurant, the number of people is fixed, and the driver can only wait outside and cannot go in.

Ming Le and Zi Yu breathed a heavy sigh of relief as soon as they entered, feeling much more relaxed.

That intensely oppressive gaze was finally gone.

After taking his seat, Ziyu pretended to be unintentional.

You seem very nervous.

While ordering, Ming Le explained, "I'm not particularly nervous, just a little surprised."

"What's wrong?"

Handing the menu to the waiter, Ming Le sighed and said, "To be honest, that driver is my boss..."

"As for my boss, he's sick."

*

They went inside.

The young man's figure was completely hidden by the door. Qin Shan withdrew his gaze and entered the coffee shop on the second floor next door. He had calculated that distance, and it was just right so that he could see Ziyu from the window.

Ming Le is intelligent and ambitious. Although he often goes against his own wishes, he usually listens to his boss when it comes to small details.

And so, Qin Shan saw the person he had been longing for.

The restaurant was packed with people. The waiters were agile and quick, and most of the couples were lovers, whispering sweet nothings to each other. Ziyu laughed so hard that she almost dropped her chopsticks because of something Mingle said.

Qin Shan thought casually that Ziyu had never seemed this happy when he was by his side.

He was nine years older than Ziyu. If there's a generation gap every three years, then there was a three-generation gap between him and Ziyu.

He knew he was boring to talk to, and Ziyu was always grateful and respectful to be by his side. Each time, Ziyu would talk about everyday things, and he would respond with a few words.

This continued until Ziyu graduated from university. Ziyu no longer accepted his financial aid and had little contact with him. Only on a few occasions when he was seriously ill would Ziyu come to see him.

Ziyu had no idea that he had been silently following his situation, nor did he know that the so-called several times of critical illness were just excuses for him to see him.

He knew he shouldn't have done that; his relationship with Ziyu should have remained that of benefactor and beneficiary.

Any deeper, and that's not right.

He watched Ziyu grow up and protected him as he grew. He was like a brother and a father to Ziyu and was one of the most important people in Ziyu's heart. If Ziyu knew that the person he regarded as a brother actually harbored such unspeakable feelings for him, how would he face it? What would he think of him?

Mingle is a very good person. She is intelligent, has excellent grades, and is about the same age as Ziyu.

Compared to herself, who had to stay in a sanatorium due to poor health in her early years, Ming Le was clearly more likable.

Moreover, in the inner world, Mingyu, created from a wisp of Mingle's consciousness, also indicated that he would like Ziyu no matter what form Ziyu took.

If it weren't for his interference, Ziyu and Mingle would definitely be a perfect match...

Qin Shan inwardly mocked his own insatiable greed.

Having possessed Ziyu so many times in the Inner World, aren't you still not satisfied?

He looked at the two people in the restaurant again, and his heart skipped a beat.

The coffee shop waiter was leisurely clearing the tables when he suddenly felt a gust of wind pass by. When he came to his senses, the strange man at the table had vanished.

Ming Le is indeed a likable guy.

Humorous, witty, and quick-witted, Ming Le is different from Ming Yu in the other world, who is a bit stubborn and obsessive. He knows how to use his advantages and unknowingly leads Zi Yu astray. By the time Zi Yu comes to his senses, the dishes on the table have been almost eaten.

"What's wrong? Are you full?" Ming Le asked, puzzled when she saw Zi Yu suddenly stop.

Ziyu shook his head and looked around.

That person was nowhere to be seen.

Has it been so long and they still haven't arrived? Or have they already left? Did they desert their post at the last minute?

It would be a lie to say I wasn't disappointed.

Ziyu composed herself, and when she looked up again, she still had a gentle and tender expression: "I am a little full."

Ming Le frowned slightly. He could sense that Zi Yu's smile earlier was genuine joy.

But just for a fleeting moment, he caught a glimpse of sadness beneath Ziyu's smile.

It was as if all the brightness was a deliberate disguise, and only that one second of overwhelming sorrow, like a tidal wave, was his true self.

When Ziyu looked up again, the smile had vanished from her eyes.

Ming Le pursed her lips.

Are they waiting for someone to come over?

Ziyu had someone in his heart; this was something he sensed during their time together. If he still held a sliver of hope before entering the restaurant, he had long since abandoned any such thoughts.

Ziyu treated him very well, so well that it was almost like he was treating a little kid, a younger brother. He would make harmless jokes with him in a friendly manner, but that was all.

There was no ambiguity between them; Ziyu was far too open with him.

But when he saw something he liked, Ziyu's expression changed slightly, clearly indicating that he wanted to share it, but after raising his hand, he silently withdrew it.

Is it an ex?

Before Ming Le could think any further, he saw Zi Yu prop herself up and move closer to him, so close that he could almost smell the faint fragrance of Zi Yu's hair.

Ming Le couldn't help but hold her breath.

Then, Ziyu took the receipt that was placed in front of Mingle.

Ming Le couldn't explain where her disappointment came from.

"Let's split the bill. Show me your payment code and I'll send it to you."

"This meal is on you."

“You’ve already called me brother, so it’s already a bargain for me to split the bill with you. How can I let you pay?” Ziyu’s tone was firm.

Although she had guessed this would be the outcome, Ming Le was still unhappy when she actually faced it.

Ming Le could only access his own payment QR code.

Ziyu calmly entered the amount, and after seeing the surname, she silently clicked into the chat history with the person she had arranged the time and place with online.

Click "Transfer," enter the amount, and fill in your surname.

mistake.

Mingle then noticed that Ziyu's aura had become pleasant again.

"Hey, you can't come in alone."

"Didn't you understand that I said you can't come in?"

There was a sudden commotion outside the restaurant, with noise and whispers from the other customers inside.

"Are you here to catch your partner in the act?"

"I knew their restaurant's rule would attract some cheating scandals, right? I remember there was a guy who brought his mistress here to eat and take pictures before, and his wife came in with a bunch of people and overturned the table!"

"Wow, this is so exciting!"

"I wonder who's coming to catch them cheating this time, hehe."

Ziyu and Mingle had just finished eating when they heard the conversation of the diners around them and looked outside with great curiosity.

The waiter looked suspiciously at the man who was blocking his way and was completely covered up.

His voice was loud and his Mandarin was so clear that almost everyone in the restaurant could hear him: "If you're saying your partner is inside, then he can't be alone! What are you doing going in there?"

"I didn't expect we'd get to see such a good show," Ming Le said with a smile.

Ziyu: "I don't know what exactly went wrong."

Qin Shan, standing at the door, finally snapped out of his daze amidst the discussions of the onlookers.

He pressed his throbbing temples in embarrassment, feeling increasingly like a bastard.

He had just seen Ziyu approach Mingle by the window, and from his angle, it looked as if the two were kissing.

He only came to his senses when the waiter stopped him.

Whether it's true or false, let's leave that aside for now.

So what if it's fake? Ziyu is already in her twenties, long past the age when she should be settling down and starting a family.

Ming Le was a subordinate he knew well, and he had even pushed her to Zi Yu himself. Why was he so anxious and angry?

What right does he have to go to Ziyu?

"I've got the wrong person, I'm sorry." Qin Shan said in a low voice, pulling his hat down as he prepared to leave.

"Ah, that person seems to be leaving."

"Weren't you here to catch someone cheating? What a pity—"

"I thought I'd get to see some fun."

Ming was pleased to see the noise outside gradually subside, but also felt a little regretful.

Actually, he also loves watching excitement.

Ziyu suddenly stood up and said directly, "It was a pleasure having dinner with you, but I might have to go out for a bit now. Sorry."

After saying that, without waiting for Ming Le's reply, she rushed out of the restaurant without looking back.

Ming Le was left alone, bewildered in the wind.

Ming Le: ?

Qin Shan's health was not good, but thanks to years of recuperation, he has gone from being bedridden to being able to get out of bed and live independently outside, just like an ordinary person. He can even take a driving test, exercise, and jog.

However, there are limitations, namely, one cannot have too many emotional fluctuations.

Qin Shan has always done this very well, and his opponents in the business world admire his emotional stability.

But unfortunately, his nemesis is Ziyu.

Unfortunately, his nemesis is Ziyu.

He was always insatiable and greedy when it came to Ziyu.

Qin Shan didn't return to the coffee shop. His time to witness Ziyu's happiness had come to an end; what remained was time for the two of them.

He should leave.

The crowds around him gradually dispersed, and the vendors desperately squeezed into the crowd. Slowly, the only voice around him disappeared, leaving only a faint whisper of wind.

His life should have always been this lonely. He was attracted to Ziyu's good looks, to the bright eyes when Ziyu depended on him, and to the noise that Ziyu brought into his life.

When he woke up, Ziyu was gone, and he returned to his original state.

Life has simply returned to normal.

"Qinyu Town".

Qin Shan's movements froze for a moment, and his rusty heart began to beat slowly again.

Ziyu looked at the familiar figure in front of him and called out again.

"Qinshan".

A note from the author:

Actually, I really like the word "mountain" (山). It gives me a sense of reliability and stability!