Wu Ziqing had intended to ignore Chen Yang's existence, but with this scene unfolding, continuing to do so would only make him seem petty and intentionally antagonistic.

Therefore, he turned to Chen Yang and extended his hand in greeting. "Hello, my name is Wu Ziqing!"

"Chen Yang," he replied coolly, completely ignoring the offered handshake.

Wu Ziqing's eyes darkened. Is he this arrogant?

"How about this? I'll be the host today. Let's find somewhere a little nicer," Wu Ziqing proposed with a smile. "If you don't feel like eating, we can go somewhere else!"

"No, thank you. This place is actually quite nice," Zhou Yufei said, shaking her head. She then added pointedly, "It would be perfect if there weren't anyone around to disturb us."

Wu Ziqing's heart quivered. He could only mask the embarrassment on his face, and the fury raging within, with a smile. Just who is this guy? How did he beat me to the punch and win Zhou Yufei's heart?

Chen Yang just smiled and said nothing. Zhou Yufei can handle a simple scene like this on her own. There's no need for me to step in.

Seeing how things stood, Wu Ziqing didn't insist further. "Since things are inconvenient today, I'll just have to ask you out another time," he said cheerfully.

He knew Zhou Yufei was a clever woman. Insisting any further would only backfire and make her dislike him. He was well aware that pursuing a mature, intellectual woman like her required going with the flow.

After speaking, Wu Ziqing took a stack of red banknotes from his pocket and placed them on the table in front of Chen Yang. "As a man, you should be a bit more generous, especially when taking a woman out to eat," he said coolly.

"If you can't afford an elegant restaurant, you shouldn't ask people out!"

With that, Wu Ziqing snapped his fingers at the proprietress. "The bill! Give the change to him," he ordered, pointing at Chen Yang.

This deliberate display of superiority came as quite a surprise to Chen Yang.

"I'm afraid you're mistaken. I was the one who asked Chen Yang out today, and I chose this place." Zhou Yufei's expression darkened slightly. "Since you find this place so lacking in class and taste, please leave quickly. You wouldn't want to tarnish your respectable character."

Wu Ziqing: "..."

"Most importantly, you're intruding on our private time."

Hearing this, Wu Ziqing nearly choked. Their private time? Already? Why have I never heard of this guy before today?

Embarrassed, Wu Ziqing touched his nose. "My apologies for the intrusion. Enjoy your meal."

"Wait!" Zhou Yufei pointed at the money on the table. "I'm treating today. Take your money."

"No need. Use it to buy some drinks or something later!"

Wu Ziqing was mortified. His attempt to appear magnanimous had backfired spectacularly, leaving him utterly humiliated.

Without another word, Zhou Yufei grabbed the cash and shoved it back at Wu Ziqing. "Lan, a few more bottles of liquor and a plate of boiled peanuts, please."

Wu Ziqing forced a smile and scurried out of the little shop. He had already shot himself in the foot; staying any longer would only bring more humiliation.

"That guy was pretty handsome. His family background must be impressive, right?" Zhou Yufei asked as she sat back down.

Chen Yang rested his head on his hands and smiled faintly. "Handsome? Not as handsome as you. As for his family? I think they have assets in the tens of millions." Zhou Yufei had never cared enough to pay him any mind, so she knew very little about him.

"Compared to your Zhou Family, that's just a speck of dust," Chen Yang said with a half-smile. "But it's normal for a great beauty like you to have a long line of admirers."

Zhou Yufei's eyes lit up. "Am I really as beautiful as you say?"

"It's obvious to anyone with eyes."

"And compared to the Chairwoman?" Zhou Yufei asked with a wicked grin.

Chen Yang: "..."

"Haha!" Zhou Yufei burst into laughter. "I'm just teasing you! Come on, let's drink!"

「An hour later.」

A drunk Zhou Yufei was being helped out of the small shop by Chen Yang. When the cold wind hit her, the alcohol went straight to her head. She gagged repeatedly but couldn't throw anything up.

Left with no choice, Chen Yang had to play the part of the escort once again. He didn't expect to be blocked by an uninvited guest as soon as they reached her apartment building.

Leaning on Chen Yang, a woozy Zhou Yufei squinted at the figure under the streetlight. "Why is it you again? Are you a ghost that won't go away?"

That figure was, of course, Wu Ziqing. He stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "How did you get so drunk? Didn't I warn you to drink less before you went out?"

He began with words of concern, then waved a dismissive hand at Chen Yang. "Thank you for bringing Yufei home. You can go now. I'll take care of her."

His tone was certain, almost a command. It gave the impression that he was the person closest to Zhou Yufei, while Chen Yang was just some ordinary friend.

Chen Yang ignored him and started to look for the key in Zhou Yufei's purse.

Seeing this, Wu Ziqing's voice turned stern. "Why are you still here? Did you not understand what I said?"

"A real man should be more decisive. At least try to act like one, right?"

Perhaps because Zhou Yufei was there, Wu Ziqing kept a smile on his face as he said these words, making it impossible to tell just how hostile he felt.

"The key is in my pocket," Zhou Yufei said. She pulled the key from her jacket pocket, handed it straight to Chen Yang, and then turned to Wu Ziqing. "There's nothing for you to do here. Go home."

Wu Ziqing's gaze froze, his heart feeling like it was being squeezed in a vise. They're... they're that close already? In her drunken state, she's letting a man into her home? Without any guard up at all?

Wu Ziqing, who had already been furious at the restaurant, was now overcome with a chaotic mix of emotions. He had been pursuing Zhou Yufei for over half a year, only to be beaten to the punch by some guy who seemed inferior in every way? I refuse to accept this!

His expression shifted several times before he finally forced a faint smile. "I'm not in a hurry. I'll go up with you and Chen Yang. Once you're settled, I'll leave with him."

"Who asked you to? Having Chen Yang to take care of me is enough!" Zhou Yufei snapped impatiently. "Besides, Chen Yang isn't leaving tonight!"

Wu Ziqing: "..."

Not leaving tonight? Does that mean they're going to spend the night together? Or have they already crossed that line... and slept together?

The mere thought made Wu Ziqing grit his teeth, his fists clenched tightly. His eyes burned with a vicious light. But what could he do now that she'd said that?

He was just about to say his goodbyes when the main door to the apartment building slammed shut, leaving him standing alone in the cold wind, utterly disheveled.

Damn it all! This is infuriating!

Wu Ziqing: "..."

「Inside the apartment.」

The groggy Zhou Yufei was about to explain herself, but Chen Yang spoke first. "You said it. I'm not leaving tonight."

Zhou Yufei: "..."

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