Chapter 230: Meal Tickets for Life (13/18)

“That’s how it is.”

Even though Yang Shuli wasn’t being very polite, the situation was indeed as she described, so Xu Nian could only confirm it.

“I see. So she likes you, and she’s liked you for this long?”

Facing this conclusion, Xu Nian couldn’t be certain. “Not necessarily.”

He still held his previous view. This girl had come here to say such things just to use so-called emotional manipulation to bind him, hoping he would fight for more benefits for her.

In other words, it was a honey trap.

Xu Nian was certain that if he nodded and said a few more words, he could meet her at a hotel later tonight.

If it were anyone else, facing a girl who—despite the heavy makeup—could definitely be called a beauty with a great figure, they might have let it go to their heads.

But Xu Nian was different. He had the normal Yang Shuli by his side, so it was impossible for him to choose this abnormal, scheming girl.

Furthermore, Xu Nian didn’t even dare to have too much contact with her, especially not with the body she sold like a commodity.

He was afraid of catching something.

Of course, he wouldn’t—and could never—be with someone like her.

Even as a business partner, he would never choose someone like her. She could come to you for profit today, and she could sell you out to someone else for profit tomorrow.

“Then do you like her?” Yang Shuli asked, still staring intently at Xu Nian.

Xu Nian couldn’t possibly give an affirmative answer to this, and even being ambiguous wasn’t an option. “I don’t. I actually dislike her a bit.”

“Oh, okay.”

Visibly, Yang Shuli’s expression relaxed, and her gaze shifted to the candied hawthorn in Xu Nian’s hand.

Xu Nian had already eaten one berry; now it was her turn.

Just as Xu Nian had guessed, once the possibility of losing him disappeared, Yang Shuli immediately surrounded herself with her “wall” once again.

This so-called wall protected her very well.

Usually, she acted like a bit of a fool, as if she didn’t care about anything. Only when faced with the threat of loss would she react slightly.

Afterward, she would be enclosed by the wall again, making it impossible for her to be hurt.

Because she didn’t care about anything and wasn’t close enough to anyone, no one could enter her heart to cause her pain.

So, Xu Nian was actually quite happy to see Yang Shuli like this. At the very least, all the time he had spent accompanying her to meals and building their bond hadn’t been in vain.

Of course, now that the two of them were happy, according to the law of conservation of energy, someone else had to be unhappy.

For instance, the girl sitting to their side who called herself Xiao Yue.

Perhaps she shouldn’t even be called a girl, as she was older than Xu Nian.

She sat to the side of the two, watching as Xu Nian handed the partially eaten candied hawthorn back to Yang Shuli, and then watched as Yang Shuli ate from it without any hesitation.

An inexplicable bitterness rose in her heart. This feeling was the most uncomfortable for her.

Or perhaps she was just upset about losing an opportunity.

“Brother Xu, you’re joking again,” she teased. “But it looks like you really favor this type of girl. Is she even in high school yet?”

Yang Shuli seemed to have returned to her usual state. She looked up blankly, some tomato sauce still lingering near her mouth.

Xu Nian’s reply was swift. “Didn’t she tell you just now? She’s from the class next to mine. Are you deaf?”

He didn’t want to give this girl a single shred of kindness.

All she knew how to do was push her luck and take advantage of others. She would rely on your kindness and then act heartlessly, eventually selling you out in some unknown corner.

She spent all her energy chasing fame and fortune. Xu Nian didn’t even know when she had become like this; he only felt that she was a stranger and felt disgusted.

The reason she came looking for him was simple. She had likely realized that the portion she received wasn’t as large as she had expected. Over time, her obsession with profit took over again. With her own lack of ability and no one to rely on, she had sought him out.

“Brother Xu, if that’s what you like, I can dress up to look younger too,” the girl said.

She spoke as if she were making a great sacrifice.

But Xu Nian only met her with a cold gaze, not wanting to spare her another look.

“Forget about it. I’m not going back with you. If you keep being persistent, this meal will be the last time the two of us ever meet.” Xu Nian directly issued his ultimatum.

Then, he looked up at Yang Shuli and tilted his head slightly toward the exit.

He was ready to leave.

However, Yang Shuli’s steak had only just been served, and she had barely taken two bites.

“I’d like to pack this to-go.” Xu Nian raised his hand again, calling over the trembling waiter.

Then he looked at the girl next to them, who seemed stunned by his words. “Are you still eating? If not, I’m packing yours up too.”

He saw her shake her head slightly and instructed the waiter to pack her portion as well.

“You can’t…” She suddenly grabbed Xu Nian’s sleeve, though she didn’t dare use much force. “I was here first—”

“No, you’ve got one thing wrong.” Xu Nian held the takeout bags. “You were never here in the first place, so don’t expect to get a single cent from me.”

He shook off her hand and led the skipping Yang Shuli out of the restaurant.

That kind of tenderness was something Xiao Yue had never seen from him.

He even took a moment to tell the clerk that the girl sitting dazed at the table would be the one paying the bill.

“We’re just leaving like that?” Yang Shuli was still holding the candied hawthorn, even glancing back at the girl who remained slumped in her seat. “That person, uh, Xiao Yue… she said she likes you. Isn’t it a bit disrespectful to just leave?”

“Didn’t we stay and chat with her for a bit?” Xu Nian said. “You just wanted to eat inside, didn’t you?”

“Hehe.” Yang Shuli giggled. “Eating inside felt special. It felt like my pajamas turned into a gown and the iced tea in the plastic bottle turned into a 1982 Lafite.”

“Then I’ll take you out to eat alone next time.” Xu Nian reached out with his free hand and rubbed Yang Shuli’s head.

“That’s a deal.” Yang Shuli’s face was full of innocent smiles.

“Oh, right.” Yang Shuli spoke again. “She mentioned something about going back or not going back… you’re not some young master from a great family, are you? Like, the kind who’s so rich they treat stretch limos like bumper cars? Just like the second oldest in our dorm.”

“I’m no young master, and my family isn’t that prominent.” Xu Nian took the candied hawthorn that Yang Shuli had just taken another bite of. “But I can definitely afford the meal tickets for the two of us for the rest of our lives.”