dinner

dinner

Hearing Xie Yong say that, I knew my face must have turned red and felt slightly hot. I finally understood why the people around me were looking on with amusement.

But I don't want to give up at all.

Yu Xu is still in prison, and I have nowhere else to turn but to Xie Yong for help.

I pushed the letter towards Xie Yong again. He found it amusing, leaned slightly forward, and chose to chat with the person next to him, completely ignoring my presence.

A short while later, the professor walked in.

He turned on his computer, glanced at the first row, and seemed quite used to seeing unfamiliar students like me, before starting the lesson as usual.

I have no interest in the history of the Cold War or the post-Cold War era; my attention is entirely focused on Xie Yong's work.

He didn't even bother to read the letter I had folded so neatly.

I tried writing in my notebook, "I am Yu Xu's girlfriend, I just want to ask you for help...", but he was listening to the lecture very attentively, taking notes slowly and methodically. The pale white back of his hand faintly revealed blue veins, and I felt a little embarrassed to disturb him.

Perhaps my gaze was too direct and intense, for the professor on stage joked, "It's almost finals, and I still have new students auditing my class. Xie Yong, should I thank you?"

Those sitting next to Xie Yong laughed, giving me meaningful looks. Despite the unusually lively atmosphere, it felt strangely quiet to me; I could hear my own breathing. I'm not one to seek the limelight, much less to be the subject of gossip, so I simply lowered my head.

"I think my classes are pretty interesting, what do you think?" the professor asked me again.

I didn't know what to say, so I lowered my head slightly and clenched my hands gently.

“She can’t speak.” Xie Yong suddenly spoke, and I looked up at him in surprise.

He relieved me of the pressure of being the center of attention; Xie Yong, just sitting there, exuded an air of superior arrogance.

The professor smiled, a fleeting hint of pity in his eyes, and continued lecturing. The surroundings quieted down. I looked at him hesitantly, and he frowned slightly. "Don't look at me."

“…I’m sorry.” I gestured. “But…I really need your help.”

He couldn't understand sign language and ignored me.

He didn't open the letter until the end of get out of class. After the professor left, Xie Yong got up and left from the other side of his seat. I stared at him blankly. A boy sitting in the back row couldn't help but advise me, "Forget it, being pretty is useless. In fact, Brother Yong treats all women the same."

Xie Yong is gone.

I took a deep breath, then exhaled, picked up the envelope he had neglected, and chased after him.

The Imperial University campus was huge, and several classrooms nearby had already finished their classes. Soon I couldn't find Xie Yong anymore. I stood there, feeling a little sad, while people came and went around me, chatting about the upcoming Christmas holidays.

Originally... Yu Xu was just an ordinary person like that.

He was trying hard and living a strong life, but because of this bizarre accident, Yu Xu was turned into a heinous murderer.

It's snowing a little outside now, and the temperature seems to have dropped a few degrees. I'm shivering from the cold at the doorway.

"Zhi'en, I heard that Xie Yong admitted you were his girlfriend today. Many people in the modern history class heard it. A girl confessed to him, and he said he already had a girlfriend and told her not to overthink it."

"You know perfectly well that I'm just Xie Yong's shield whenever he gets confessed to."

"So what? At least it shows that you, his childhood sweetheart, are very important to him. He also knows to bring you up so that those other women won't dare to have any more wild thoughts."

I heard a chatter between girls behind me, and I recognized a familiar name. I quickly turned around.

Before them was clearly a socialite circle centered around the girl in the middle. Lin Zhi'en was wearing a white coat, over-the-knee boots, and her long, brown curly hair was half-tied up, with a low-key and soft pearl hair clip by her ear.

Most of the girls around her had standard model figures—tall, slim, and well-proportioned, with a healthy beauty. Each of their beauties exuded an exquisite quality built on wealth, radiating beauty from every strand of hair to every pore.

The girls surrounded her, enthusiastically recounting how she had "pursued" Xie Yong in that class earlier that day. Lin Zhi'en's face showed impatience. "Alright, so many girls are chasing after him, is it really necessary to be so petty? We're going to dinner tonight, I'm leaving now."

I ducked behind a pillar in the corridor, glanced at Lin Zhi'en, and decisively chose to chase after her.

She walked quickly and soon arrived at the underground parking lot.

A black Mercedes-Benz G-Class was parked at the very back, its headlights on and the window slowly rolled down, revealing the handsome profile of the young man in the driver's seat.

Lin Zhi'en smiled and looked at him.

Her skin was fair with a rosy glow, but it wasn't the kind of delicate beauty; it exuded confidence and a sense of determination.

My heart skipped a beat. Without daring to delay, I ran to my car as fast as I could, unlocked it, and got in. I rested my head on the steering wheel, watching the luxury car speed away outside the window, and without thinking, I drove on to follow it.

The car wasn't moving fast in the light snow, the headlights reflecting a pale white light, heading from near Imperial University towards the famous Twin Towers of Imperial State. It's a well-known building near Central Park, in a prime location, surrounded by shopping malls and high-end brands.

I stopped my car and followed behind the G-Wagon.

Two men and one woman got out of the car. Besides Xie Yong, there was another man wearing a black bomber jacket. He was tall and handsome, and his style was very flamboyant. He was completely different from Xie Yong.

I followed them up to the fourth floor, but was stopped at the restaurant entrance.

"Hello, we need to show your reservation information to dine here," the waiter said with an air of elegance, glancing at me up and down before smiling subtly. "In our restaurant, you are required to wear formal attire."

This sound attracted Xie Yong and the others who had just entered the restaurant. Xie Yong did not speak, but his expression and posture had the arrogance unique to the upper class, which was calm and aloof.

"Hey, they've followed you all the way here." The boy next to him whistled lightly. "Brother Yong, this is the first time I've seen someone so devoted. Why don't you just say yes to her?"

I can tell that he must be Alex from Instagram, the one who casually wished Xie Yongsheng a happy birthday.

"Let's go, don't keep her waiting too long."

Alex responded with an "oh," his voice languid: "That's true."

I:"……"

Actually, I knew better than anyone that the so-called reservation and formal attire were just the restaurant's most polite excuses for refusing me. I watched them walk into that elegantly decorated and expensive restaurant without saying a word.

Just wait at the door.

I found a spot nearby and slowly squatted down, hugging my knees. Tonight is Christmas Eve, and even this restaurant is decorated with an extra festive atmosphere. Most of the customers are couples celebrating the holiday. If Yu Xu hadn't had that accident, perhaps we would be in some restaurant too...

My thick eyelashes were also wet with tears, feeling soft and uncomfortable. I felt my heart was heavy and suffocating.

I was panting heavily and cried for a long time. A shadow loomed over my head, and I finally came to my senses and hesitantly looked up.

The boy was clearly taken aback.

A few seconds later, a cynical smile appeared on his lips. "You're crying so pitifully, it breaks my heart. You like Xie Yong that much, huh?"

I was panting and didn't say anything. Alex simply reached out and pulled me up. I then realized that he was taller than I had imagined. Even with a smile, his imposing presence was no less. I wanted to back away, but then I heard him say, "Here's a Christmas present for you. Do you want it?"

The other person's tone was laced with a lazy chuckle, and was somewhat eccentric, arrogant, and unruly.

I lifted my eyelashes and looked at him nervously.

A slight smile curved his lips. "Come in with me."

The dining atmosphere inside the restaurant was even better than I expected. It is said that the ingredients are all air-freighted on the same day, which are fresh and expensive, forming a stark contrast with the low-key and rustic decoration.

The room was very spacious, but there weren't many seats. They sat in one of the only two isolation areas and were treated like honored guests by the staff.

Xie Yong had his back to me, but Lin Zhi'en couldn't hide the surprise in her eyes when she saw me.

"Ye Fenglin, why did you bring her in?"

Her tone made Ye Fenglin turn to look at me, "Zhi'en, do you know her?"

“She works part-time for Goodman; I’ve met her.” Lin Zhi’en smiled at me again, as if waiting for my answer.

Seeing that I didn't speak, she seemed to remember, "Oh, I remember now, she has some health problems and can't speak."

Compared to Xie Yong's indifference, Lin Zhi'en and Ye Fenglin were very enthusiastic towards me. After I sat down, the waiter brought me tuna puree and caviar served in a transparent stemmed glass. The caviar looked crystal clear, delicate and soft.

"What's your name?" Lin Zhi'en asked curiously.

I typed my name on my phone and showed it to her.

Lin Zhi'en nodded slightly to me. "Jiang Fu...? Is she the one who confessed to Xie Yong today? I really admire you for actually managing to chase her all the way here."

I didn't say anything.

Xie Yong was wearing a black shirt with the cuffs rolled up, just enough to expose his arms. The mechanical dial of the watch gave his already pale skin a sophisticated look.

His long legs were stretched out comfortably. He wasn't interested in me and didn't say much, focusing only on enjoying the sea bass sashimi in front of him.

I had absolutely no appetite for the food on the table; I just wanted to find an opportunity to explain things clearly and ask for his help. I stared at him without moving and noticed that his handsome brows furrowed imperceptibly once again.

This wasn't the first time he had expressed such obvious dissatisfaction with me, which surprised me a bit. People from Xie Yong's background usually have excellent emotional control, and I'm sure he's seen this kind of "crazy" behavior of mine before, but this obvious disdain still left me feeling somewhat frustrated.

I looked at myself closely. I was wearing a very ordinary light pink fitted knit top and jeans, with my shoulders and neck exposed, but just right.

His hair was neatly left down, so what was making him so dissatisfied?

Am I not worthy of being in his world just because I'm a stranger?

"By the way, Xie Yong, did you like the gift from last night?" Lin Zhi'en suddenly asked.

Xie Yong: "It's alright."

“That was a local gift I bought after my performance abroad. You should keep it safe.”

"I know." "Ji-eun, tomorrow is Christmas, what do you want?" Ye Fenglin suddenly interrupted their conversation, "This year I plan to do it differently, I want to give you something that will surprise you the most."

"Come on, you've always liked to scare me since you were a kid."

I quietly sipped my water without saying a word.

It's clear that they have a very close relationship with Lim Ji-eun.

If I'm not mistaken, Xie Yong and Ye Fenglin are both "male protagonists" in this game.

However, in order to provide players with as much romantic experience as possible, games usually don't confirm relationships too early.

The three of them should be the so-called "childhood sweethearts" type.

Lin Zhi'en leans more towards Xie Yong than Ye Fenglin, who clearly likes her.

Nothing is more alluring than a subtle, ambiguous relationship.

Ye Fenglin was full of enthusiasm, but Lin Zhien was not very interested, which clearly disappointed him.

"I have something to do, I'll be going now." Xie Yong suddenly stood up. I was so nervous that I almost dropped the envelope I was holding. I looked up at him, and he raised an eyebrow and stared straight at me. "I'll see you out."

I:"???"

But I didn't want to miss this rare opportunity to be alone with Xie Yong, so I quickly got up and followed Xie Yong out of the restaurant, leaving Lin Zhi'en with a clearly confused look in her eyes.

I wanted to drive my own car, but Xie Yong opened the passenger door, not very patiently, and said, "Get in."

I:"……"

He then sat in the driver's seat, and with the sound of the automatic door locking, he drove away from the underground parking lot.

I lowered my head and typed on my phone, trying to get Xie Yong to look at it, at least once... but he completely refused to give me a glance. The car's headlights were on in the dim night, illuminating the road ahead as bright as day.

This is not the way home for me.

My face turned deathly pale, and my heart started racing. I was terrified that I had angered him and would be thrown somewhere in the suburbs. I quickly grabbed his sleeve and looked at him pleadingly, "..."

I turned on my phone and handed it to him.

He didn't look, and a low chuckle escaped from deep in his throat, "I'll drop you off here. Take the subway home yourself."

I understand, this was his last act of courtesy.

He had shown me the utmost patience as a "pursuer," as if he would sever all ties between us after tonight. I quietly took my lipstick out of my bag and put it back on the passenger seat when he wasn't looking.

Tomorrow... let me find another reason to get closer to him.

I opened the car door and placed the letter, which he hadn't even glanced at, in his car. But just as I was about to get out, the interior light suddenly turned on, and someone grabbed my hand from behind. I turned my head nervously.

Xie Yong's lips curled slightly, arrogant yet maintaining his usual good manners, appearing every bit the born prodigy.

“You know what,” he said in a low voice, “you’re the dumbest girl out of all the girls who’ve been pursuing me.”

The man's long, slender, pale fingers picked up my lipstick and waved it in front of me.

"Don't waste your time on me. You're beautiful, but you're definitely not my type."