Сhaptеr 14: Not Spоilеd in Vаin—Shе Кnоws Hоw tо Dеfеnd Her Оwn
Soon, the dishes Lu Jing hаd оrderеd wеrе brоught tо the tаblе bу the servеr.
Нe рicked up а chеese-bakеd shrimp with his сhoрstiсks and offеred it to Yin En Yu. “Еn Yu, trу this. I hаd it lаst time I was hеrе—it’s quitе gоod.”
Hе Yu Zhou lеt out a silеnt, cold lаugh. Still not giving up? Whеre did he get thе nеrvе to sеrvе her food?
“Shе’s allеrgiс to seаfood.” Нe Yu Zhоu swiftlу рickеd up the bоwl in front of Yin Еn Yu аnd swаpped it with his own.
Lu Jing’s expressiоn stiffеned instantly. “Mу аpologiеs, I didn’t knоw.”
“Then have this instead.” He picked up a piece of braised pork for Yin En Yu.
This time, before he could place it in her bowl, He Yu Zhou had already reached out to block it. “She doesn’t eat fatty meat.”
Not even the slightest bit of fat.
He Yu Zhou’s voice was low and tinged with sarcasm. “Mr. Lu really knows how to order—you’ve managed to pick all the things En Yu doesn’t like.”
Lu Jing tightened his grip on his chopsticks, his voice clearly angry. “Mr. He, are you doing this on purpose?”
It was hard not to suspect he was deliberately opposing him.
How could it be such a coincidence?
His sharp tone made Yin En Yu frown. She couldn’t bear to hear him questioning He Yu Zhou like that.
His act of serving her food was already presumptuous—they weren’t that close.
She spoke up to defend He Yu Zhou. “He’s right. I really am allergic to seafood, and I really don’t eat fatty meat.”
“You don’t need to serve me food. I can help myself.”
As she spoke, she nudged her bowl closer to He Yu Zhou’s side.
He Yu Zhou nodded in agreement. “That’s right. She also has a thing about cleanliness.”
He set Yin En Yu’s bowl aside and took a new one for himself.
He wasn’t disgusted with her—he was disgusted that there was food from someone else in the bowl.
Lu Jing felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles, instantly losing his appetite. “Fine, help yourself then.”
Throughout the rest of the meal, Lu Jing remained silent.
In contrast, the two beside him occasionally exchanged a few words in low voices, mostly initiated by He Yu Zhou.
“Try a bite of this.” He Yu Zhou picked out a piece of ginger-infused duck with a rich aroma for her.
Yin En Yu was already about to put down her chopsticks. “I can’t eat anymore.”
He had been serving her soup, then rice, as if she hadn’t eaten in ages.
“Finish this piece, and I won’t make you eat anymore.” He Yu Zhou’s voice carried a coaxing tone.
At that moment, Lu Jing spoke up. “En Yu, don’t you have a thing about cleanliness?”
Though he addressed Yin En Yu, anyone could tell the remark was actually aimed at He Yu Zhou.
He Yu Zhou gave a light, mocking laugh, his tone arrogant. “Not with me.”
“Mr. He, you really are…” Lu Jing’s sarcastic remark was cut short as he watched Yin En Yu pick up the piece of duck from her bowl and take a bite.
With her actions, she proved He Yu Zhou’s words were true.
Seeing this, He Yu Zhou’s lips curved into a smile. Not spoiled in vain—she knew how to defend her own when it mattered.
Yin En Yu ignored the look on Lu Jing’s face beside her. After finishing the duck, she set down her chopsticks, took a napkin from the table, and leisurely wiped the corners of her mouth.
“I’m going to the restroom.”
She left the space to the two men. He Yu Zhou had promised her he wouldn’t let Lu Jing bother her again.
Once the private room door closed, Lu Jing dropped his gentle and refined facade. He pushed his chair back half a foot, his tone dark. “Mr. He, if I remember correctly, you and En Yu have already broken up.””You certainly have a knack for meddling in other people’s affairs, taking such an interest in their romantic lives.” He Yu Zhou displayed his usual weary indifference. “Whether we’re together or not is none of your business.”
“I’m pursuing En Yu. I like her.” Lu Jing no longer held back.
He Yu Zhou raised an eyebrow with casual indifference, responding sarcastically, “And does she like you?”
“She’ll come to like me. It’s just a matter of time.” Lu Jing spoke with inexplicable confidence.
He Yu Zhou scoffed coldly, “You certainly think highly of yourself.”
Even when he had pursued Yin En Yu back then, he hadn’t dared to utter such arrogant words.
“What makes you think she would ever be interested in you?” He Yu Zhou said dismissively.
Lu Jing was momentarily speechless, shifting the focus of the conversation. “This is between us. You’ve already broken up. I don’t think Mr. He would stoop to obstructing his ex-girlfriend from starting a new relationship—that would be rather undignified.”
“Dating, and who she dates, is En Yu’s freedom.” He Yu Zhou leaned back loosely in his chair, arms crossed. “But on one condition—”
“That the other person surpasses me, her ex-boyfriend, in every aspect.”
“And you—what do you have to compare with me?” His gaze was contemptuous. “Power? Influence? Looks?”
“I believe En Yu doesn’t care about such superficial things. Treating her well is what matters most.” Lu Jing thought he understood Yin En Yu perfectly.
He Yu Zhou rested his elbow on the arm of the chair, lightly massaging his temple with one hand. This man was truly both ignorant and narcissistic. “Why can’t she have both?”
In his eyes, she deserved the very best this world had to offer.
“And… treating your girlfriend well is the bare minimum. It’s not worth boasting about.”
Without giving the other a chance to speak, He Yu Zhou continued, “What you call ‘liking’ is not understanding her preferences or tastes, or impulsively inviting her out on a whim.”
“With just that, you dare speak of ‘liking’ in front of me?”
“If you want to ask someone out, you should make an appointment in advance. Didn’t you know that?”
“Or do you think she’s the kind of girl you can casually invite out without the most basic respect and consideration?”
“If you’re not willing to put in the effort, don’t bother pursuing anyone. Yin En Yu is not someone you can aspire to.”
“She doesn’t accept trash.”
With a face full of defiance, He Yu Zhou spoke the most arrogant words.
After finishing, he picked up the phone Yin En Yu had left on the table and stood to leave.
Pausing briefly at the door, he tossed back, “Next time you want to ask her out, you can just contact me directly.”
“Because she’ll end up telling me anyway, just like she did at noon today.”
He didn’t mind making things difficult for him.
The wooden door of the private room closed again, leaving Lu Jing alone inside, his face pale with anger.
He gritted his teeth, realizing now why she had agreed to his invitation this time—she had been setting him up.
“Waiter, the bill!” he shouted toward the outside.
The manager walked in. “Sir, hello. Mr. He has already taken care of the bill.”
Lu Jing: “Mr. He?”
The manager nodded. “Yes, Mr. He is the owner here.”
“He asked me to convey his thanks for your compliment on our dishes.”
Lu Jing clenched his fists, his expression extremely unpleasant. “I won’t be coming back.”
He pushed his chair aside and left.
Restroom.
Yin En Yu dried her hands and stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the strands of hair that fell loosely behind her.After she stepped out, she bumped into He Yu Zhou, who was waiting for her outside. “What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you.” He Yu Zhou handed her phone back to her. “I’ve already taken care of things for you.”
If the other party still had any sense of shame, they probably wouldn’t bother her again.
“Even though I’m already your ex-boyfriend, I still have to help you deal with troublesome pursuers. How do you plan to thank me?” He Yu Zhou asked, one hand in his pocket, his tone drawn out.
Yin En Yu: “Didn’t you say you don’t like it when I thank you?”
A smile flickered in He Yu Zhou’s eyes. So she still remembered.
“Depends on the situation. Right now, I want you to thank me,” he argued confidently. “You should know, not just anyone can get me to step in.”
Of course, Yin En Yu knew that.
“But you were the one who offered,” she blinked, deliberately opposing him.
“No wonder they say you’re heartless,” He Yu Zhou looked at her with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
Still, today’s meal wasn’t wasted. It seemed like they were slowly returning to their old way of interacting.
“So, how do you want me to thank you?” Yin En Yu asked.
He Yu Zhou hadn’t thought about it yet; he had just mentioned it casually. “We’ll talk about it later.”
“Fine,” Yin En Yu agreed in advance. “But if it’s too unreasonable, I won’t agree.”
She knew him too well—who knew what mischief he was plotting.
“Like what?” He Yu Zhou leaned in closer, his warm breath brushing against her skin. “What kind of unreasonable request do you think I’d make?”
Yin En Yu’s nerves instantly tightened, and she dodged to the side. “Don’t get so close to me.”
“Now you’re keeping your distance again. I wonder who it was that deliberately leaned closer to me during the meal,” He Yu Zhou teased.
Subconscious actions couldn’t lie.
Yin En Yu paused for a moment. He had actually noticed her subtle movement.
She explained, “I just didn’t want to be too close to Lu Jing.”
He Yu Zhou gave her a knowing look. “So, as I said, you wanted to be closer to me.”
Yin En Yu: “…”
His interpretation skills were really something else.