Chapter 99 No Need for That

Chapter 99: No Need To

Zhao Louyue remained unconvinced, turning to glare at Yu Feng again.

His protective stance was so blatant it surprised Yu Feng. Aside from Zhao Xiangting, Yu Feng had never witnessed Zhao Louyue so anxious about anyone.

Yu Feng, a staunch straight man, felt his mind cloud over for a moment. "Do you two know each other?"

"None of your damn business," Zhao Louyue snapped. "When are you going to drop this habit of making assumptions and targeting every man near Su Lingyan?"

Yu Feng stubbornly denied it: "It's always others with ill intentions."

"Oh, please," Zhao Louyue scoffed, not bothering to argue further. Noticing Jiang Shen's coat was unbuttoned, he casually reached over and fastened it.

Yu Feng: "..."

Hold on.

Jiang Shen hadn't even registered what happened.

Su Lingyan hadn't mentioned any of this to Yu Feng, leaving him to piece things together, which was proving difficult. Then he saw Zhao Louyue's expression shift instantly as he softly asked Jiang Shen, "Have you eaten?"

"Yeah, I had *Haidilao* with Su Lingyan."

"That hardly counts as a proper meal, does it?" Zhao Louyue said, even more cautiously. "I know a place with excellent seafood congee. My treat later."

Jiang Shen watched him seize the opportunity and coldly uttered, "Not going."

"They have your favorite Arctic surf clam sashimi; it's incredibly fresh and sweet."

Jiang Shen found Zhao Louyue's resilience truly astonishing. They had just had a heated argument at Lin Yao's gathering the other day, and now he was acting as if nothing had happened.

Jiang Shen still had no idea that Xiao Yang was secretly advising him.

"I'm heading back. I'll go say goodbye to Su Lingyan."

Zhao Louyue quickly followed.

Yu Feng, jostled aside by Zhao Louyue, wasn't angry but stood there, dumbfounded, watching their retreating figures.

Even then, Zhao Louyue turned back and gave him a rather impolite gesture.

Yu Feng thought, *What the hell?*

Su Lingyan, slightly tipsy, heard Jiang Shen was leaving and subtly glanced at Zhao Louyue behind him.

Boss Zhao was prepared. He showed her his phone screen, displaying a newly released luxury bag from a high-end brand, priced at six figures.

Sun Lusheng caught a glimpse and immediately linked arms with Su Lingyan, giving Zhao Louyue a look that said: *If you don't get me one, no one can save you.*

Zhao Louyue nodded profusely.

"Perfect. After Zhao Louyue finishes reviewing the accounts, Jiang Shen, please take a look to ensure everything is in order. We don't want anyone taking advantage, or it'll lead to misunderstandings later."

Jiang Shen: "..."

Su Lingyan wasn't entirely focused on the bag. If Jiang Shen had left immediately upon learning Zhao Louyue was coming, a hundred bags wouldn't have salvaged the situation. But Jiang Shen had stepped out for a smoke for over ten minutes. Su Lingyan, being perceptive, sensed that their relationship hadn't reached an irreparable point.

Since Jiang Shen was a bit sensitive, she decided to lend a hand.

Zhao Louyue meticulously reviewed the accounts, then pushed the documents aside. "No mistakes, perfect."

"Alright, I'm leaving then," Jiang Shen said.

Zhao Louyue stood up. "I'm leaving too."

This time, Su Lingyan didn't stop either of them. Yu Feng walked in from outside, just in time to catch Zhao Louyue staring at Jiang Shen's retreating back. He froze, rooted to the spot, utterly astonished.

Jiang Shen knew Zhao Louyue's brazenness. Since there was no conflict between them today, he saw no need to pick a fight and let him follow.

Once they descended the steps, Jiang Shen asked, "Does that Boss Yu like Lingyan?"

"Yeah, you noticed?" Zhao Louyue chuckled. "Probably not many wouldn't. Yu Feng makes it pretty obvious. When I drove by and saw how he was acting, I knew he saw you as a rival."

After all, President Jiang was quite an eligible bachelor.

Jiang Shen glanced at Zhao Louyue. "You seem very familiar with this."

Zhao Louyue stammered, "Ah, Su Lingyan stayed with me when she first came out of her hometown. Yu Feng wasn't too pleased about it."

Jiang Shen didn't hold back. "He also seems to have an issue with the title 'Boss.'"

"Right. Lingyan was once deceived by a guy who claimed to be the owner of a chain processing factory."

"Did he con her out of money?"

Jiang Shen chuckled softly.

Zhao Louyue, seeing the corners of his mouth turn up, grew more confident. Before Jiang Shen got into the car, he suggested again, "How about that seafood congee? The oysters are at their best this hour, and if we're lucky, they might even have homemade chicken soup."

Jiang Shen pressed his hand against the car door and stared at Zhao Louyue. "Under what pretext are you inviting me?"

Zhao Louyue said, "Can't friends just share a meal?"

Jiang Shen sighed inwardly.

Streetlights whizzed past the window, forming streaks of neon. Jiang Shen rested his forehead against the glass. They were in Zhao Louyue's car.

Jiang Shen's elbow brushed against something behind him. He pulled it out—a lipstick tube.

He even coolly opened it to check the shade.

Zhao Louyue nearly slammed on the brakes when he saw it.

*Wu Xi, I'm going to kill you.*

"It's my assistant's," Zhao Louyue explained.

Jiang Shen gave him a look.

"I'm serious!!"

Jiang Shen chuckled. "Don't be so nervous, Boss Zhao."

Zhao Louyue: "..."

Every time Jiang Shen called him "Boss Zhao," he felt like he was about to be flayed alive.

The restaurant was a two-story building with an outdoor street food section, located on a bustling pedestrian street. Business was booming. They navigated through the noisy main hall and went up to the second floor, where they found the last available private room.

This had been arranged in advance by Zhao Louyue.

The owner, clearly a friend of Zhao Louyue, poked his head in, greeted Jiang Shen warmly, and asked, "The usual order?"

"Yes, everything with less spice. Do you have any homemade chicken soup left?"

"Yes! Just the last few portions."

"Bring it all!"

The owner closed the door, and the room fell quiet. Jiang Shen sat by the window, watching a mother and daughter laughing as they picked out items at a hand-sewn crafts stall across the street.

*Click.*

Something was placed in front of him.

Jiang Shen turned to look—it was a small black velvet box.

He raised an eyebrow at Zhao Louyue.

"Xiangting asked me to give this to you," Zhao Louyue said.

Jiang Shen didn't believe him. "Why would Zhao Xiangting give me a gift out of nowhere?"

Zhao Louyue hinted, "He's been wanting to give you something for a while."

Jiang Shen had bailed Zhao Xiangting out more than once.

That part sounded plausible. Jiang Shen opened the box with one hand, but the moment he saw what was inside, his face darkened. He snapped it shut and tossed it back into Zhao Louyue's arms. "Zhao Xiangting sent me this?"

Zhao Louyue opened it with a look of horror, then his face fell into a deathly pallor. Instead of cufflinks, it was a ring. *Ha, little bro, you're dead when we get back,* Zhao Louyue thought.

What a mess. Finally managing to get Jiang Shen out, and everyone was ruining it.

"Wrong box," Zhao Louyue explained awkwardly. "Really, I grabbed the wrong one."

But Jiang Shen's expression remained grim.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Shen asked, "Who did you buy this ring for?"

Zhao Louyue's fingertips brushed against the teacup, and he flinched as if burned, though the tea wasn't even that hot.

"What if I said I bought it for you? Would you believe me?" Zhao Louyue retorted.

Jiang Shen let out a faint scoff.

Zhao Louyue slipped the box back into his pocket.

Zhao Louyue hung his head, looking somewhat dejected.

*Knock, knock, knock—*

Slender fingers lightly tapped the table three times. Zhao Louyue looked up, following the hand to Jiang Shen's handsome, refined face.

"Zhao Louyue, you can give rings to whoever you want. But if you dare play both sides, I won't tolerate it. Understand?"

Zhao Louyue blurted out, "If I ever give a ring to any living being other than you, I'll be Luo Zaicheng's son."

Jiang Shen: "..." No need to be that harsh.