Chapter 114 Let's Get Married
Zhu Jin made arrangements in advance.
The waiter led them into an elegantly decorated private room, where the view of the meticulously maintained courtyard added to the tranquil atmosphere.
After they were seated, Zhu Jin handed the menu to Chen Shuangmiao.
"Let's see what we want to eat."
His voice still carried a hint of barely perceptible caution.
Shen Shuangmiao didn't take it, but simply said, "You order, I'm fine with anything."
Her tone was distant, clearly indicating that she was drawing a line between herself and others.
Zhu Jin paused, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes, but he didn't insist.
He skillfully ordered several dishes, all of which were on the lighter side.
He remembered that she didn't like oily or spicy food.
While waiting for the food to be served, the two fell silent again.
Shen Shuangmiao looked down at the clear tea in her cup, as if she could count how many tea leaves were unfurling inside.
Zhu Jin's gaze mostly fell on her, his eyes filled with an astonishingly complex mix of emotions.
There is lingering affection, cautious probing, and lingering pain.
He hesitated several times, his lips moved, but in the end, no sound came out.
He was afraid that if he opened his mouth, the pretense of calm he was maintaining would be shattered, and he would see the cold disgust and rejection in Shen Shuangmiao's eyes again.
The dishes were served one after another, each presented with great care.
Zhu Jin picked up the serving chopsticks and placed the dishes that Shen Shuangmiao might like, one by one, onto the small plate in front of her.
His movements were somewhat awkward and ingratiating.
Shen Shuangmiao frowned as she watched the food rapidly piling up on the plate, but did not touch her chopsticks.
At this moment, the manager in charge of their private room came in personally to pour tea.
He was a middle-aged man around forty years old with a lively face.
He clearly knew Zhu Jin, and upon seeing this, he put on a warm smile, which was half ingratiating and half joking.
"Mr. Zhu is so considerate to Miss Shen. Look at how well he takes care of her. If you didn't know better, you would think the two of you were a newlywed couple. You are a perfect match!"
The moment those words were spoken, the air in the private room instantly plummeted to freezing point.
Shen Shuangmiao's face darkened almost instantly, her eyes filled with disgust and coldness.
To her, such frivolous banter was an offense.
Some people even forcibly tied her and Zhu Jin together, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable and angry.
However, before Shen Shuangmiao could react, a muffled rebuke suddenly came from beside her.
"Shut up!"
Zhu Jin suddenly raised his head, his gaze icy, and glared fiercely at the talkative manager.
His previous cautiousness and humility in front of Shen Shuangmiao vanished instantly, replaced by an air of authority that came from someone who had long held a superior position.
The manager was so frightened by his sudden outburst of rage that he trembled, his smile instantly freezing and turning deathly pale.
He almost dropped the teapot he was holding.
"Mr. Zhu..."
"Who gave you permission to spout nonsense here!" Zhu Jin's voice wasn't loud, but it was cold. "Get out!"
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Zhu, I'm so sorry, Miss Shen. I was too talkative, I talked nonsense. I'll leave right now! I'll leave right now!"
The manager was terrified, bowing repeatedly in apology, and practically scrambled out of the private room, carefully closing the door behind him.
Silence returned to the private room, but the atmosphere was even more tense than before.
Shen Shuangmiao glanced at Zhu Jin unexpectedly.
She hadn't expected him to react so strongly, even preempting her.
Even after Zhu Jin finished his reprimand, the rise and fall of his chest was still quite noticeable.
He turned to look at Shen Shuangmiao, the fierceness in his eyes quickly fading, replaced by a hint of panic.
"sorry……"
Zhu Jin's voice was a little hoarse, "I didn't know he would say such things. Don't be angry. I won't let anyone stir up trouble in the future."
He seemed to be explaining, or perhaps reassuring, as if afraid that his inappropriate joke might make her dislike him even more.
Looking at him like this, Shen Shuangmiao felt a mix of emotions.
She suddenly felt that things were really meaningless going on like this.
Shen Shuangmiao put down her chopsticks, raised her head, and looked calmly at Zhu Jin.
The anger and deliberate indifference from before were gone from her eyes; only a detached detachment that seemed to see through everything remained.
"You don't need to do that."
Shen Shuangmiao spoke, her voice very soft.
Zhu Jin stared at her blankly: "What did you say?"
Shen Shuangmiao smiled.
"Let's leave it at that from now on, limited to a working partnership."
"Stay far away from me, keep your distance, and don't bother each other."
Shen Shuangmiao paused, looking at Zhu Jin's face, which had turned deathly pale.
"That way, I can be happy."
Zhu Jin opened his mouth, but had nothing to say. He froze on the spot, his pupils contracting violently.
She'll only be happy if we keep a safe distance and don't bother each other...
It turns out that his proximity and presence were an unbearable burden and pain for Shen Shuangmiao.
All his efforts, struggles, and humble pleas were met with her wishing he would get lost.
Zhu Jin opened his mouth, his throat burning with pain, but he couldn't make a sound.
Shen Shuangmiao didn't look at him again. She picked up her bag and stood up.
"I'm full, I'm leaving now."
After she finished speaking, she didn't linger and turned to walk towards the door.
His resolute back turned, without a trace of lingering affection.
It wasn't until she opened the door to the private room that Zhu Jin seemed to suddenly wake up, staggering to his feet.
"I'll take you!" His voice was hoarse.
Shen Shuangmiao neither turned around nor responded.
She walked straight out of the private restaurant.
A cool breeze swept over me, clearing my muddled mind somewhat.
However, as soon as Shen Shuangmiao stepped down the steps, she saw a familiar car parked by the roadside.
Zhao Mobai leaned against the car, a cigarette between his fingers, the crimson flame flickering in the night.
He seemed to have been waiting for a while. When he saw Shen Shuangmiao come out, he immediately stubbed out his cigarette and hurried over to greet her.
His complexion was still not good, but his eyes held a stubborn waiting.
"Are you done talking?"
As Zhao Mobai asked, his gaze swept over the empty doorway behind her, and he seemed to confirm that Zhu Jin had not followed her out, letting out a barely perceptible sigh of relief.
“Mm.” Shen Shuangmiao nodded.
"Get in the car, I'll take you home." Zhao Mobai opened the passenger door.
Shen Shuangmiao looked at the undisguised fatigue and worry in his eyes.
Even though Zhao Mobai was in dire straits himself, he stubbornly waited there.
Perhaps it's time to make a decision.
Shen Shuangmiao got into the car.
Zhao Mobai closed the car door, walked around to the driver's seat, and started the car.
Shen Shuangmiao remained silent for a moment, then, gazing at the night view outside the window, she suddenly spoke.
"Zhao Mobai, let's get married as soon as possible."
Zhao Mobai slammed on the brakes.
The car paused slightly due to inertia.
Fortunately, he reacted quickly and immediately regained control of the steering wheel.
Zhao Mobai looked up in disbelief at Shen Shuangmiao, his eyes filled with shock.
"What...what did you say?"
Shen Shuangmiao turned her head to meet his shocked gaze, her eyes firm and devoid of any hint of jest.
I told them to get married as soon as possible.
She paused, then added, "In name only."
She wanted to use this marriage to completely sever all of Zhu Jin's thoughts and entanglements.
This may be the only way to break the current deadlock.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
