novelraw Is Chapter 156 too much to ask?
Is Chapter 156 too much to ask?
Lu Xiran almost instinctively grabbed Xin Mubai's arm.
She didn't dare look over there, but simply lowered her head slightly, quickened her pace, and led Xin Mubai past that group of people.
In the instant they brushed past each other, she could feel a gaze falling upon her.
Very heavy.
It's very hot.
But she didn't turn around.
Gu Yanshen stopped in his tracks.
It was just a fleeting moment.
The people around him were still talking, but he acted as if nothing had happened, slightly turning his head to continue the conversation. His expression remained unchanged, cold and stern, as if he hadn't seen anything at all.
But when he reached the door of the private room, he turned his head slightly.
My gaze traveled through the lobby and landed on that receding figure.
She was wearing a simple dress, her long hair was loose, and she looked much thinner than a few days ago. Xin Mubai was with her beside her.
Xin Mubai.
I was on the island that day too.
He has already checked all of his information.
Gu Yanshen's gaze lingered on that figure for a second.
Then he pushed open the door and went into the private room.
Lu Xiran only breathed a sigh of relief after closing the door to the private room.
She released Xin Mubai's arm, walked to the table, sat down, picked up the menu, and her movements were a little flustered.
"What would you like to eat..." Her voice was a little unsteady as she pointed randomly at the menu, "Braised pork...pigeon...and..."
"Lu Xiran".
Xin Mubai's voice came from the other side, very calm.
"Huh?" She looked up.
Xin Mubai looked at her.
There was no probing or teasing in that gaze, only a reassuring calm.
"You don't need to be so nervous."
Lu Xiran was stunned for a moment.
"I don't……"
"The menu is upside down."
Lu Xiran looked down.
really.
Her face flushed red.
Xin Mubai sat down opposite her, took the menu from her hand, turned it over, and handed it back.
"I know you have feelings for him." His tone was natural. "You don't need to hide anything from me."
Lu Xiran looked at him.
"I told you before," Xin Mubai said calmly, flipping through the menu in front of him, "Cry if you want to cry, laugh if you want to laugh. You don't need to pretend in front of me."
Lu Xiran's eyes suddenly felt a little sore.
She lowered her head, looked at the menu in her hand, and remained silent for a long time.
Then she looked up and sighed softly.
"I'm sorry, you must have found this amusing."
Xin Mubai raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry for making a fool of yourself?" He put down the menu, leaned back in his chair, and looked at her with a puzzled expression. "What am I laughing at?"
He moved forward a little.
"Lu Xiran, I have a question for you."
"What?"
"Don't you think I'm funny?"
Lu Xiran paused for a moment, then looked up at him.
"Why do you ask that?"
"You smiled at Qiqi's wedding." Xin Mubai leaned back in his chair, casually twirling the teacup in his hand. "The way you looked at me then was like you were looking at some rare animal."
Lu Xiran couldn't help but smile again as she recalled how he had silenced those gossipy women that day.
"That's because you have a sharp tongue; you leave them speechless."
"So, you see!" Xin Mubai put his teacup on the table, leaned forward, and looked at her seriously. "If you're angry, vent it! If you have a grudge, take revenge! Why should you tolerate others hurting you? No one will know when to stop; they'll only take advantage of you more."
He paused.
"Like that day in the hallway, if it were me, Song Kexin wouldn't have been able to slap me at all—I would have just recorded it and posted it all over the internet."
Lu Xiran was amused by his posture.
"You're quite optimistic."
"What can you do if you can't think straight?" Xin Mubai leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head. "Life is short, so seize the day. Isn't it great to be like me?"
Looking at him, Lu Xiran suddenly felt that this person lived a really carefree life.
"Lu Xiran".
He suddenly called her name, his tone unusually serious.
"Your smile is beautiful."
"what?"
Before Lu Xiran could react, he had already sat up straight and picked up the menu.
"I'm going to order now. What would you like to eat?"
The topic changed abruptly.
"You can order whatever you want."
"Alright."
He was looking down at the menu, seemingly engrossed in studying it. Lu Xiran looked at him and suddenly felt that this person was really... unpredictable.
Xin Mubai ordered the food, then placed his hands on the table and looked at her intently.
"Lu Xiran, why do you live such a tiring life?"
Lu Xiran was stunned.
"You're only 23," Xin Mubai tilted his head to look at her, his expression suggesting he was seriously considering the question, "How come you live like you're in your forties or fifties?"
"I didn't..."
"Yes." Xin Mubai interrupted her, leaning forward slightly. "Look at how you were just now. When you ran into your ex-husband, what was your first reaction? Run. Hide. Pretend nothing happened. Then you locked yourself in the private room, your hands shaking as you held the menu."
He paused, his gaze fixed on her.
"What are you afraid of?"
Lu Xiran opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.
Xin Mubai looked at her expression and suddenly laughed.
"If I were you," he said, stretching out his hand and waving it in front of her, "I would take you for a walk."
Lu Xiran was amused by his words.
"You think you're walking a dog? Walking it around twice?"
"Please, I'm a well-known bachelor in Haicheng." Xin Mubai sat up straight with a proud look on his face, straightening his non-existent tie. "So many people want to ask me out for dinner but can't."
"He is indeed famous." Lu Xiran recalled Jin Qiqi complaining to her that Xin Mubai, because of his sharp tongue, had gone from being a sought-after blind date to someone that socialites avoided like the plague.
"So, Lu Xiran, could you please not be so hard to ask me out?"
"I'm quite busy."
"What are you busy with?"
Lu Xiran paused.
"I'm getting ready to go back to Switzerland."
Xin Mubai's smile froze.
He paused for a moment, then sat up straight.
Why?
"I originally planned to go back after attending Qiqi's wedding." Lu Xiran lowered her eyes, her fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of her teacup. "But then... I stayed because of the project."
Xin Mubai noticed the fleeting sadness in her eyes.
"I'll work overtime these next few days to finish the project and then go back."
Xin Mubai remained silent.
He had originally planned to pursue her slowly, since he was in the country and had plenty of time. But suddenly, it was too late.
His mind raced.
"So what about the ten meals you owe me?"
Lu Xiran was stunned.
"Ten meals?"
"Of course." Xin Mubai started counting on his fingers, "Qiqi's wedding, one meal. Taking you to the island, three meals. Taking you to the second floor to find someone, two meals. Taking you through the back paths to hide from people, two meals. Protecting you as you leave the island, two meals."
He raised his head, looking completely self-righteous.
"I said ten meals in total, is that not unreasonable at all?"