novelraw Chapter 69 Fortunately, Xu Yueqing came today.
Chapter 69 Fortunately, Xu Yueqing came today.
"Good morning." Chen Bo put the last fried egg on a plate and said to Zhou Lingyan, "Perfect timing, let's eat."
Zhou Lingyan stood at the kitchen door, looking at the breakfast table that was laid out to the brim.
The millet porridge was served in a porcelain bowl, steaming hot.
The fried egg and bacon were beautifully presented, with a small bunch of leafy greens on the side.
The avocado toast was cut into triangles, the fruit platter was brightly colored, and there was even a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
"Did you do this?" Zhou Lingyan asked.
"Otherwise what?" Chen Bo untied his apron and hung it up. "Is there a third person in this room?"
Zhou Lingyan didn't say anything. She walked to the dining table, sat down, stared at the breakfast in front of her for several seconds, and then picked up a spoon and scooped a spoonful of millet porridge into her mouth.
The porridge was cooked to perfection, the rice grains blooming but not mushy, with a subtle sweetness. It slid down my throat, leaving my stomach feeling warm and cozy.
She took another bite of the fried egg; the yolk was still runny, the edges of the egg white were crispy, and the middle was tender.
The bacon is savory and delicious, the avocado toast is refreshing and not greasy, and the fruit is fresh and juicy...
Zhou Lingyan ate bite after bite, when suddenly she felt a lump in her throat.
She's eaten all sorts of delicacies, from Michelin three-star restaurants to private customized meals and exorbitantly priced dishes...
But no breakfast, no matter how ordinary, home-cooked food was in front of her, made her want to cry.
"What's wrong?" Chen Bo sat down opposite her, looking at her slightly red eyes. "Is it not good?"
"Delicious." Zhou Lingyan looked down and poked at the cherry tomatoes on the plate with her fork. "It's just a little unexpected."
Chen Bo smiled and said, "Touched?"
"Who's moved!" Zhou Lingyan immediately looked up, glared at him, and said, "What haven't I, Zhou Lingyan, seen? You think you can bribe me with just breakfast? Dream on!"
That's what she said, but she didn't slow down her eating speed at all.
Chen Bo didn't expose her and slowly drank his porridge.
The two ate breakfast quietly for a while, then Zhou Lingyan suddenly spoke up: "Are you still angry that I sent you photos last night?"
"What's the point of getting angry?" Chen Bo retorted. "You've already posted it."
"That's true." Zhou Lingyan curled the corners of her lips. "But Xu Yueqing and Bei Weiwei were furious and argued in the group until midnight."
Chen Bo replied casually, "And then?"
"Then Li Man left the group, Zhao Lulu fanned the flames, and I went to sleep." Zhou Lingyan blew on the spoon. "When I woke up this morning, there were 99+ messages in the group, but I was too lazy to check."
Chen Bo sighed: "Why do you have to do this?"
"Why bother?" Zhou Lingyan put down her fork and looked at Chen Bo. "Chen Bo, do you think we're being incredibly foolish, tearing each other apart over a man like you? It's so beneath us!"
Chen Bo remained silent.
Zhou Lingyan continued, "Let me tell you, we didn't fall out because of you. We've disliked each other for a long time. I've been fighting with Xu Yueqing for so many years, Bei Weiwei is gentle on the surface but cunning underneath, Zhao Lulu is always stirring up trouble, and Li Man always wants to be a peacemaker... You were just the fuse that ignited the long-simmering conflicts."
Her tone suddenly softened: "However... you were indeed a very good trigger."
Chen Bo looked at her, unsure of what to say.
Zhou Lingyan stood up, walked around the dining table to him, leaned down, and placed her hands on the armrests of his chair.
"Chen Bo, I'll be gone for two months, and I might only come back once or twice in between." She stared into his eyes. "During these two months, you're not allowed to rekindle your old flame with Xu Yueqing, you're not allowed to let Bei Weiwei have you wrapped around her little finger, and you're not allowed to... forget me."
She had just woken up and wasn't wearing makeup; her face was bare, her skin so smooth you couldn't see any pores, and her eyes were clear and bright. She lacked her usual flamboyant and glamorous look, and instead possessed a youthful innocence.
Chen Bo objected: "Miss Zhou, you're asking for too much."
"I don't care." Zhou Lingyan leaned forward again, their noses almost touching. "You have to promise me."
She had a faint scent of shower gel and her own unique warm fragrance, which wafted into Chen Bo's nostrils.
Chen Bo's hand unconsciously rested on her waist: "What if I don't agree?"
"Then I'll..." Zhou Lingyan's eyes darted around, and she suddenly smiled slyly, "I'll sleep with you right now, so you won't forget me for the next two months."
As she spoke, she actually straddled his lap, the movement as natural as if she had done it countless times before.
Chen Bo gasped.
This woman... she's a real enchantress!
Zhou Lingyan wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned close to his ear, and whispered seductively, "Chen Bo, when you touched my leg last night, didn't you really want to continue?"
Chen Bo's hand was still on her waist, and he could feel the warmth of her skin under her pajamas.
"Zhou Lingyan," he said, his primal power almost overflowing, "you're playing with fire."
"What's wrong with playing with fire?" Zhou Lingyan chuckled, her lips almost touching his earlobe. "I just love playing with fire. Go ahead and burn me if you dare."
Chen Bo gently pushed her away, grabbed her shoulders with both hands, and moved her off his lap: "Stop fooling around, you have to catch your flight."
Zhou Lingyan wasn't angry when he pushed her away; instead, she laughed heartily, "Chen Bo, you really are a gentleman?"
"I'm not a gentleman." Chen Bo stood up and distanced himself from the two. "I just think that doing bad things without getting caught doesn't count as doing bad things. Your original state is a problem."
Zhou Lingyan tilted her head and looked at him: "Who asked you to take responsibility?"
Chen Bo remained silent.
Zhou Lingyan walked up to him and poked his chest. "Chen Bo, let me tell you, I don't need any formalities. What I, Zhou Lingyan, want, I'll actively pursue. If I like someone, I'll get them. It's that simple."
She tiptoed and kissed him on the lips: "This kiss is a deposit. When I come back, I'll collect the balance."
After saying that, she turned and walked upstairs. When she reached the top of the stairs, she turned back and said, "The breakfast was delicious, thank you."
She's going to start filming today; she wouldn't dare commit any murder.
Xu Yueqing hadn't recovered even after leaning against the wall all day, and she didn't think she was any better than Xu Yueqing.
Despite her gentle and delicate appearance, Zhou Lingyan was ashamed to admit that her best friend was far more resilient and able to withstand blows than she could ever imagine.
Having grown up together, she knew her best friend's constitution better than her own.
Chen Bo watched Zhou Lingyan disappear around the corner of the stairs and regretted his pretentious act.
"Luckily, Xu Yueqing came back today. I didn't want to go see her again," he sighed. "But you and Bei Weiwei just had to provoke me. This flame just won't go out."
Half an hour later, Zhou Lingyan came down with her suitcase.
She changed into her outfit for going out—black skinny jeans, a white off-the-shoulder knit top, a long trench coat, and knee-high boots, looking both beautiful and cool.
"I'm leaving." She placed her suitcase at the door. "No need to see me off, the driver is waiting at the door."
Chen Bo nodded: "Be careful on the road."
Zhou Lingyan walked up to him and reached out to straighten his collar: "Chen Bo, remember what I said, wait for me to come back."