Chapter 96: Don’t Love Me, There’s No Future

The other three were all taken aback, surprised to learn there was such a history between the two.

“When did this happen?” Shen Qing glanced at Xia Mang, wondering when this girl had gotten herself involved with the Dongfang family.

Xia Mang thought for a moment. “Uh… the day you went clubbing before the start of term.”

Gu Ting now understood—the reason Dongfang Cheng was with her that day. Serves him right, honestly.

“Money!” Dongfang Cheng stretched out his hand.

Damn it! He’d been played, nearly drank himself to death!

Xia Mang pouted. “I don’t have any.”

“You, you, you, you—” Dongfang Cheng’s fingers trembled with anger.

“Hmph. What about me? Pouring drinks is hard work, and you were the one who insisted I drink with you. Now you’re acting like it’s a matter of life and death, tsk!” Xia Mang cast him a sidelong glance, arms crossed, standing her ground.

“Enough, stop it. Let’s go eat,” Gu Ting, seeing Dongfang Cheng getting nowhere, tugged his arm.

“Oh,” Dongfang Cheng shot Xia Mang a look and walked at the front.

“Tch, grown man acting like a child,” Xia Mang drawled lazily from behind.

Dongfang Cheng’s body stiffened, fists clenched tight. He spun around abruptly, voice loud and clear, “I’m not a kid!”

Everyone paused mid-step. Shen Qing raised her eyelids, casting Dongfang Cheng a glance.

Gu Ting caught Shen Qing’s look and stepped in front of her. “Ignore him. Let’s go.” With practiced ease, he took her by the wrist.

Mo Wuxie glanced at Dongfang Cheng and Xia Mang, then said, “I’m heading in first.”

Only then did Dongfang Cheng realize what he’d blurted out—words fierce and wild. Especially under Xia Mang’s gaze, he felt distinctly uncomfortable.

“Don’t read into it. I meant I’m not young in age.”

“Naughty little brother,” Xia Mang laughed as she walked over, bumping his shoulder playfully. “Don’t fall for me. There’s no future in it.”

Dongfang Cheng could only laugh in exasperation. “Although you look respectable, I don’t eat just anything.”

“Heh.”

**

Once everyone was seated in the private room, Gu Ting began ordering dishes.

“Braised shark fin, Buddha jumps over the wall, sautéed chicken breast, purse-style pork, cherry meat, sweet and sour crispy pork, jade vegetable slices, stir-fried lettuce, and a clear chicken soup—how does that sound?”

Xia Mang gaped a little. Wasn’t that too much? But Gu Ting didn’t even look her way.

“Mm,” Shen Qing nodded, and Dongfang Cheng and Mo Wuxie had even less say.

When the dishes arrived, Xia Mang’s eyes nearly fell out of her head.

She spent all her money on clothes, bags, and cosmetics; when it came to food, she wasn’t picky or particular—a bowl of alkaline noodles would suffice.

“So much food—how many tens of thousands would this cost?” Xia Mang still remembered her first time dining at Xi Lou; even a plate of greens cost several hundred.

Shen Qing didn’t feel anything—Gu Ting’s gifts were never cheap, and after so long, she was used to it.

Dongfang Cheng glanced at Xia Mang. “When you swindled me, you didn’t seem to feel any pain at all.”

“Stop whining and eat,” Xia Mang shot him a glare.

Dongfang Cheng was left speechless for a moment, unsure how to respond.

This woman—sweet words when pouring drinks, but now, after taking the money, she acted as if she didn’t know him.

Truly heartless!

“Little fairy, this is delicious.” Dongfang Cheng used the public chopsticks to pick up a piece of meat and handed it over.

Gu Ting glanced at him, expressionless, reaching out with his own small plate.

“Hey, you—” Dongfang Cheng paused, about to say something, but received a warning look from Gu Ting.

The fear of being sent off to S Continent flashed in his mind. He forced a laugh, gently placing the meat in Gu Ting’s plate.

A man soaked in jealousy was terrifying.

“Try this,” Gu Ting served Shen Qing some food; he knew her tastes well—not too sweet, not fond of spicy, perfectly balanced.

Xia Mang’s mouth twitched. Were they here to eat, or to feed each other?

Mo Wuxie served Xia Mang some dishes. “Sister Shen, you have some too.”

Xia Mang gave him a sweet smile. “Thank you.”

“Wuxie, I want some too!” Dongfang Cheng lifted his chin, pushing his bowl toward Mo Wuxie.

Mo Wuxie froze. “Can’t you do it yourself?”

Dongfang Cheng glanced at Xia Mang, then lowered his eyes and said coolly, “No.”

“Ah—such a naughty little brother,” Xia Mang laughed at his awkwardness and served him a piece of lettuce.

“Eat up, little brother.”

Dongfang Cheng snorted, about to put it in his mouth, when he suddenly remembered she hadn’t used the public chopsticks…

They weren’t related, so wasn’t this basically an indirect kiss?

Mo Wuxie saw Dongfang Cheng still dazed. “Not eating?”

“I…” Dongfang Cheng looked at Xia Mang—she was absorbed in her phone, smiling now and then.

His heart gave a faint tremor, and, as if possessed, he ate the vegetable.

Damn it!