Chapter 13: Dinner or Red Roses

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Zhou Yinhe watched the messages in the group chat scroll by one after another, growing too lazy to read their sarcastic remarks any further, so he simply muted the chat. He flipped to the emoji pack Wen Ling had sent and glanced down at it for a moment just as the driver brought the car to a stop.

“Young Master Wu, we’ve arrived,” the driver announced.

Zhou Yinhe instructed, “Take the car in for repairs. Send me the repair bill.”

“Understood. I’ll get another car to pick you up,” the driver nodded.

“No need. Just head back,” Zhou Yinhe said, stepping out of the vehicle.

Jiang Jibai and Qi Zhan had been waiting for him at the Yunshang Club for quite a while. They had seen the group messages and were eager to have a proper talk with Zhou Yinhe.

Zhou Yinhe lazily pushed open the door, sat down opposite the two without raising his eyes, leaned back on the sofa, and continued scrolling on his phone, ignoring their teasing glances.

Jiang Jibai teased, “Didn’t you say you didn’t like her? Yet you were tussling with her right in the middle of the road.”

Zhou Yinhe raised his eyelids to look at him, expression flat with disbelief. “That’s what you call tussling?”

“What else would you call it?” Qi Zhan asked, surprised. “So what counts as tussling then?”

“She just rear-ended my car, that’s all,” Zhou Yinhe explained indifferently. Hearing this, Qi Zhan deliberately dragged out the tone of a drawn-out ‘oh,’ making Zhou Yinhe frown deeply and glare at him in annoyance. “Are you sick or something?”

“Getting angry out of embarrassment?” Jiang Jibai laughed.

“I told you, it was just a rear-end collision. We talked about compensation, nothing more.” Zhou Yinhe turned his head away from their expressions, his voice cold.

“Alright, alright,” Jiang Jibai played along.

The manager arrived with the waitstaff bearing dishes, and the three of them sat down at the dining table. Qi Zhan said, “Xing Tang will be here soon.”

Jiang Jibai raised an eyebrow at him. “What, caught up with you?”

“No way it’s that easy,” Qi Zhan shrugged.

Zhao Xing Tang had suddenly messaged him, asking where he was and who was with him. Qi Zhan didn’t think much of it and sent her the address, telling her that Jiang Jibai and Zhou Yinhe were there, and that Zhou Yinhe was arriving soon. Shortly after, he received a reply from Zhao Xing Tang saying she was on her way.

Zhou Yinhe silently stared at his phone as Wen Ling sent a new message.

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LingLing Buling: “I thought about it, and I still want to treat you to dinner since I crashed your car.”

Zhou Yinhe sneered coldly. After a few taps on the screen, he replied.

Zhou Wu: “No need.”

Seeing his refusal, Wen Ling pondered for a moment and sent another message: “It did affect your car use, after all. Let me treat you to a meal to make up for it. You wouldn’t be so stingy, would you? It’s just a meal, nothing else.” Along with a cute cat emoji.

Zhou Yinhe frowned deeply at those two sentences, unwilling to reply. As he was about to put down his phone, Wen Ling sent another message.

LingLing Buling: “If you don’t agree, I’ll just wait for you at your company. I’ll wait until you say yes to having dinner together, then I won’t wait anymore. Or I can bring flowers to your company every day. Do you like red roses?”

Zhou Wu: “Wen Ling, what exactly do you want?”

LingLing Buling: “To apologize, of course. Don’t overthink it ^_^”

Zhou Yinhe pursed his lips. Wen Ling had always been reckless in what she did; it was quite possible she would actually bring flowers and wait for him outside his office. He had no choice but to reply: “When?”

LingLing Buling: “Tomorrow evening, Qingjiang Yue Pavilion.”

After receiving Zhou Yinhe’s “Hmm,” Wen Ling smiled broadly, clenched her fist in triumph, and let out a small “Yeah!” causing Aunt Zhou nearby to look over in confusion.

Wen Ling shook her head to signal it was nothing, leaning slightly against Aunt Zhou as they watched a variety show playing on TV together.

Aunt Zhou asked, “I heard from Old Wang that there was a car accident just now. Were you hurt?”

“No, do I look hurt to you?” Wen Ling shook her head, idly counting Aunt Zhou’s fingers, bored.

“Did you make him crash into you?” Aunt Zhou lowered her head, concern showing in her face.

“Why is Uncle Wang complaining?” Wen Ling blinked innocently.

“When I saw him hesitating, I pretty much guessed what happened,” Aunt Zhou snorted. “You can’t keep risking your safety like this.”

“I know, but a light bump won’t cause any harm,” Wen Ling said softly. “I know my limits, I wouldn’t joke with my own safety.”

“You said the same when you jumped into the lake last time, and now you say the same again,” Aunt Zhou poked Wen Ling’s nose helplessly. “Luckily you’re okay. Otherwise, how would we explain this to Old Master Wen?”

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“I know, I won’t do it again,” Wen Ling nudged Aunt Zhou’s shoulder with a smile.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xing Tang soon arrived and sat beside Qi Zhan, who eagerly poured her wine and served her food.

Zhao Xing Tang glanced at Zhou Yinhe, who sat expressionless but radiating a tense aura, and suddenly chuckled lightly. She said to Qi Zhan and Jiang Jibai, “Guess who I just saw?”

Qi Zhan followed her gaze to Zhou Yinhe and asked, “Who?”

“Wen Ling and Ruan Miaomiao,” Zhao Xing Tang put down her chopsticks, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes drifting vaguely toward Zhou Yinhe, who had paused mid-bite.

Jiang Jibai said lightly, “Really? Aren’t those two on bad terms? How come they were together?”

“Yeah, Ruan Miaomiao even wanted to hit Wen Ling,” Zhao Xing Tang frowned slightly. “Ruan Miaomiao usually acts like a pure little flower, but she has a fierce side. I felt scared for Wen Ling just watching.”

She deliberately only said the first half. Sure enough, Zhou Yinhe looked up. Zhao Xing Tang smiled at him. “Both of them like you. Who do you think is better? That way, we can greet them politely next time we meet and not be rude.”

“What does that have to do with me?” Zhou Yinhe put down his chopsticks, indifferent.

“Ah, I thought you liked Ruan Miaomiao since you gave her resources and she’s shown up at our gatherings several times. I even scolded Wen Ling a bit for her,” Zhao Xing Tang shrugged. “Guess I was meddling.”

Zhou Yinhe’s gaze swept over Zhao Xing Tang. Though his dark eyes appeared indifferent, she caught a glint of hostility. Zhao Xing Tang suddenly laughed and said, “Just kidding. I didn’t interfere, only watched for a bit. Wen Ling wasn’t hurt.”

Zhou Yinhe wasn’t worried about Wen Ling being bullied, but he feared Zhao Xing Tang might blindly side with Ruan Miaomiao to pick on Wen Ling.

His voice finally turned cold, carrying a hint of threat: “Don’t joke about Wen Ling.”

Zhao Xing Tang burst out laughing. Qi Zhan and Jiang Jibai put down their chopsticks as well, all three looking at Zhou Yinhe. He narrowed his eyes and set down his chopsticks.

“If you’re not eating, I’m leaving.”

Jiang Jibai chuckled softly, picking up his chopsticks again with a soothing tone, “Eat, eat. Why wouldn’t you?”

He looked at the other two, teasing in his voice, “You two better eat quickly, or Little Wu’s going to get annoyed. Then you can calm him down.”

“All right, all right,” the two stifled laughter and bowed their heads to eat.