Cen Zhinning blinked innocently, then applied a little force, making him lift his head.
She leaned down slightly, red lips parting. Her voice was soft and alluring, like a little hook dipped in honey.
“I don’t feel like eating instant noodles right now…”
Jin Yihan’s gaze crashed unexpectedly into her smiling eyes.
“Then what do you want to eat?”
Her toes brushed lightly against his tightly defined jawline. She felt his Adam’s apple bob sharply.
“Guess…”
【Congratulations, Host. His possessiveness has dropped to 35%. Please keep it up.】
Hearing the system’s announcement, Cen Zhinning was secretly delighted. Sure enough, Jin Yihan really fell for this kind of tactic.
A flicker of surprise crossed Jin Yihan’s face.
“Stop fooling around. The noodles are going to get cold.”
Warm breath lingered around her ankle, making her shrink her foot back with a ticklish shiver. Reading the look in his eyes, she suddenly lost her nerve.
“Fine, then. Let’s eat the noodles.”
Jin Yihan chuckled softly. Watching her evasive expression, his voice carried a restrained huskiness.
“Of course I have to satisfy my wife’s request.”
“……”
Ugh. Beauty might be tempting, but it’s bad for your health.
An hour later, the noodles had long gone cold. After washing up, the two of them prepared to head to the restaurant.
The restaurant wasn’t far from the apartment—just a short walk away. Jin Yihan brushed the snowflakes from her hair and affectionately ruffled the top of her head.
“You used to complain overseas that you couldn’t get Jingbei milk tea. Want me to grab you a cup from next door?”
The Bobo Milk Tea shop at the street corner had been around for over a decade. It wasn’t a chain; the owner had a special in-house recipe. It was addictively good, and there was always a long line of customers.
Cen Zhinning had been craving it for ages. She hadn’t expected Jin Yihan to remember.
Looking at the luxuriously decorated high-end restaurant, she murmured,
“Milk tea probably isn’t allowed inside…”
Jin Yihan lightly flicked her cold, reddened nose.
“It’s fine. They won’t say anything.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the sharply dressed restaurant manager jogged over and bowed slightly.
“Young Master Jin, your private room is ready. I’ll show you in.”
Noticing her confusion, Jin Yihan explained,
“This chain restaurant belongs to a good buddy of mine. No need to be reserved.”
Cen Zhinning nodded. If she remembered correctly, this restaurant belonged to the Mu family. The Mu Group was a giant in the hospitality industry, owning countless global chain hotels and high-end restaurants.
The Mu family’s young heir was actually Jin Yihan’s best friend?
Oh no. Her fourth target was Mu Chenchuan, the Mu family’s heir. Wasn’t this going to blow up spectacularly?
【Host, don’t worry. As long as their possessiveness doesn’t rise, even if things get exposed, it’ll be fine.】
Cen Zhinning twitched the corner of her mouth.
You’ve got to be kidding. Strategizing two brothers who are close friends—how could their possessiveness not rise?
Propping her chin on one hand at the table, she pondered what to do if they both went dark and obsessive.
There was a knock on the private room door. Thinking it was Jin Yihan, she turned around in surprise.
Instead, a melon-faced waitress walked in.
“Hello, this is a complimentary pre-meal sweet soup from the restaurant.”
Cen Zhinning nodded, slightly disappointed.
As the waitress stepped in with the tray, the system suddenly spoke.
【Host, the white-lotus female lead has appeared. Poor thing works four part-time jobs a day.】
Hmm? Cen Zhinning looked around before realizing the system was referring to the waitress.
【In the original novel, you were the vicious supporting female character. Bai Xiaorou accidentally spilled the sweet soup, and you slapped her. That made Jin Yihan see your cruel nature and gradually distance himself from you.】
【Then Jin Yihan was attracted to Bai Xiaorou’s purity and kindness, fell deeply in love, and went crazy for her.】
【Before his possessiveness drops to a normal level, you must not let him fall for the female lead. Otherwise, his possessiveness will drive her to death.】
Cen Zhinning studied the girl carrying the tray.
Thin and frail, with a pair of big, dark eyes—no wonder she was called a “little white flower.”
Sensing her gaze, Bai Xiaorou looked at her for two seconds—
—and was instantly stunned by Cen Zhinning’s beauty.
Wine-red waves of hair, fox-like eyes slightly upturned at the corners, her gaze shifting between clarity and allure. She was breathtaking.
So beautiful!
Her hand trembled, and the sweet soup spilled onto the back of Cen Zhinning’s hand.
Bai Xiaorou immediately crouched down in panic, trying to wipe her hand.
“I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry! It’s my first day working part-time—I’m so clumsy…”
Cen Zhinning gasped softly from the heat and shook her reddening fingers with a frown.
Seeing the back of her hand turning red—and the girl on the verge of tears—she waved her hand.
“Bring me some ice.”
Just then, Jin Yihan pushed the door open. In his left hand was a bouquet of delicate, freshly bloomed roses; in his right, the milk tea. His black coat hung casually over his arm.
Taking in the scene inside the private room, panic flashed through his dark eyes. Setting down the roses and milk tea, he strode over, his hurried movement knocking Bai Xiaorou aside.
He crouched beside Cen Zhinning, a terrifyingly low pressure radiating from him. Lowering his gaze to her reddened fingers, he asked,
“You got burned? Does it hurt?”
Originally, she hadn’t thought it was too bad—the soup wasn’t that hot. But seeing how nervous he was, her heart warmed, and she pouted deliberately.
“It hurts. But if you blow on it, it won’t.”
The burn was slightly red, stinging with a faint fiery sensation.
Jin Yihan raised an eyebrow. Seeing that she still had the mood to act coquettish, he relaxed a little and gently blew on her hand several times.
Though the soup under the table had been cleaned up, it was obvious what had happened.
Jin Yihan glanced at Bai Xiaorou. The anger in his eyes deepened.
“What’s going on with your staff? Is this how you treat VIP guests? Call your manager.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an icy, oppressive fury.
Bai Xiaorou’s face went pale.
She immediately knelt on the floor, sobbing.
“I’m sorry, it’s my fault. It wasn’t easy to find this high-paying part-time job. If I get fired, I won’t even be able to afford my tuition next term.”
She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.
“Young Master Jin, since we attend the same school, could you not call the manager?”
Jin Yihan thought for a long moment but couldn’t recall who she was.
“You can afford a private academy, but not the tuition?”
“I was admitted as a special scholarship student…” she muttered softly.
Impatience filled his brows. He was about to say more, but noticing Cen Zhinning staring at him without blinking, he suppressed his hostility.
“Enough. Get out. Bring an ice pack and a clean towel.”
Only then did Bai Xiaorou retreat from the private room in tears of gratitude.
“Thank you, Young Master Jin. I’ll definitely repay your great kindness…”
The system sucked in a breath.
【That was close. At least he didn’t fixate on the female lead. In the original story, Jin Yihan fell in love with Bai Xiaorou at first sight—forcing and seizing her, even coercively loving her in front of the other male leads.】
“……”
What a completely insane plot!