Chapter 229: Chapter 228: For Anitaqing, Immortal Flower Fate + Update 19
Shi Yang smiled slightly and said, "With the commercial management department covering it, we can relax in peace. As for troublesome matters, naturally, the fewer, the better. Some small things seem inconspicuous, but once entangled, they’re enough to give us a hard time."
Liu Xiue was deeply impressed and reached out to pat Shi Yang’s back, "Oh, Yangyang, you are really amazing. No wonder you’ve been smart since childhood; your mind turns faster than others."
Shi Yang was elated by the praise from his prospective mother-in-law, squinting his eyes with a wide smile. Just as he was about to say something humble, his phone rang, displaying an unfamiliar number.
When Shi Yang answered the call, his originally smiling face slowly turned somber. He glanced at Liu Xiue sitting beside him, took a deep breath, paused, and responded, "Okay, I’ll be there on time."
After hanging up the call, Liu Xiue asked with concern, "What happened? Is something wrong?"
Shi Yang suppressed his chaotic emotions and smiled in reassurance, "No, Chaozi has something for me. Aunt, I’ll head out first. Meimei has exams these days; once I’m done, I’ll directly pick her up and take her back after her exams."
Liu Xiue didn’t suspect anything, smiling as she escorted Shi Yang to the elevator before turning back.
It was snowing lightly in the morning, but by noon, it had cleared up.
The snow stopped, but the cold lingered. Pedestrians occasionally passing by the floor-to-ceiling windows shrank their necks and kept their hands in their pockets, hurried in their manner.
Xu Xu sat in the milk tea shop, holding a warm cup, staring blankly at the scenery outside the window.
It seems this semester’s final exams were a disaster; he couldn’t concentrate during the test. On the last exam, he hurriedly answered the multiple-choice questions and some high-score questions, leaving the ones requiring complex calculations blank, and handed in the paper.
The call he made to Shi Yang earlier kept looping in his mind, causing a splitting headache and leaving him oscillating between exhilaration and regret.
Since the exams hadn’t ended yet, the milk tea shop across the street from the school was nearly empty, with two staff hiding behind the counter, indulging in their phones, whispering occasionally, their eyes fleetingly landing on Xu Xu.
Not because he was in school uniform and skipping class to drink milk tea, but because he was incredibly handsome. His childhood prettiness had gradually blossomed over time; his exquisite features became more defined, a hint of melancholy between his deep-set eyes. Sitting by the window, he looked like a static poster.
Xu Xu had never been to the milk tea shop before; the ones he drank previously were all brought back and shared by Wang Jiayue. When ordering a drink from the menu, he hesitated for a long time before choosing the cheapest plain milk tea.
He ordered two cups, only holding one in his hand, not taking a sip.
Xu Xu sat for more than ten minutes, the temperature of the milk tea in his hand gradually cooling.
A private car suddenly turned the corner by the roadside outside the milk tea shop, stopping at the shop entrance. A young man quickly stepped out from the driver’s seat.
The man, wearing a short down jacket and carrying a handbag, got out of the car, casually locked it, and walked towards the shop while stuffing the car keys into his coat pocket.
The waiter hurriedly approached, politely asking, "Hello, sir, how many people?"
Xu Xu was pricked by this brief greeting; he’s just a student, but Shi Yang is called sir.
Xu Xu tightened his grip on the milk tea cup, subconsciously straightening his back, looking up at Shi Yang who signaled to the waiter.
Shi Yang walked directly to the seat opposite Xu Xu, casually placing his handbag on the table, glancing at the two cups of milk tea on the table, beginning to take off his coat.
Shi Yang had broad shoulders and long legs, his waist straight. As he sat on the chair, he naturally leaned back, his legs comfortably spread, exuding elegance and presence that marked him as a successful businessman.
Shi Yang looked at Xu Xu sitting opposite, holding a milk tea cup, clearly uneasy yet trying to appear calm. He slightly raised the corners of his mouth and gestured to the waiter nearby.
Shi Yang carefully looked at the menu, ordered a takeout meal, and when paying, asked Xu Xu, "Do you want anything else? Feel free to order."
Xu Xu tried to take a sip of milk tea to steady himself and quickly shook his head in refusal when he heard this, a hint of bewildered hesitation in his eyes.
Xu Xu sneakily glanced at Shi Yang, inadvertently meeting Shi Yang’s unwavering gaze.
Shi Yang’s expression was indifferent, showing no trace of emotional fluctuation.
Their eyes met, and Xu Xu instinctively diverted his gaze, yet Shi Yang continued staring unabashedly, his look carrying scrutinizing intensity and a bit of aggressive sharpness.
Under Shi Yang’s gaze, Xu Xu felt like sitting on pins and needles, his previously prepared words now muddled, unable to articulate even half.
Xu Xu’s eyes flickered with anxiety; he had never faced such a direct confrontation, especially with such a charismatic man.
Shi Yang proactively spoke, "You called me today for a purpose?"
Xu Xu was stunned, looking up at Shi Yang to find his expression suddenly stern, his gaze cold.
Seeing Xu Xu’s silence, Shi Yang asked again, "You said you know about me and Meimei. What exactly do you know?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Xu’s face flushed red, eyes widening in disbelief. What did Shi Yang mean by this? Is he unwilling to admit it?
Xu Xu’s earlier panic suddenly vanished, his voice blurting out confidently, "I saw you and Meimei kiss."
Shi Yang coldly replied, "So what?"
Shi Yang’s calm tone left Xu Xu stunned. Yes, so what?
Shi Yang’s expression was disdainful as he said, "Besides, what does our matter have to do with you?"
Xu Xu felt as if struck by lightning, frozen from head to toe. Zhao Meimei and Shi Yang being together out of mutual affection, what business was it of his? What right did he have to come questioning them, demanding answers?
Shi Yang didn’t give Xu Xu any respite, advancing questions mercilessly, "Are you trying to use this to threaten Meimei and me? Are you hoping to gain something from us? Don’t you know that if I give you money now, your actions would constitute extortion, which is illegal."
Xu Xu’s complexion suddenly changed, shocked, "..."
Before he could explain, Shi Yang articulated deliberately, "If it’s really like that, you’ll be disappointed, because I don’t see anything disgraceful about Meimei and me being together. Instead, why are you so preoccupied with Meimei’s affairs? Could it be you’re secretly in love with Meimei? ...Hmm? Xu Xu?"
"Meimei always regarded you as her best friend."
"Did you come here today with this as a demonstration of power?"
"Are you trying to threaten me?"