Chapter 44 Like Stealing the Deal

Chapter 44: Poaching a Date

After Ling Jue left, He Yuanyuan and her group weren't kicked out of the restaurant.

The restaurant manager let the waitress who had been wronged today go home and rest, and upgraded them to a private dining room.

"Mr. Ling said he appreciates this young lady for speaking out today. This meal is on him."

Then, with a meaningful smile at He Yuanyuan, she added, "This table will be served to our Stellar Grand Hotel's highest standard. Please, make yourselves at home, you and your friends."

She put a special emphasis on "friends."

He Yuanyuan understood immediately and tactfully pointed out the few male classmates who had fawned over Wang Tao and bad-mouthed Qin Shuyi.

"This meal is thanks to Shuyi. You guys must be too ashamed to eat this, right? Too bad for you, but we won't insist~"

The faces of the male classmates turned ashen, but they didn't dare say anything.

No one wanted to be the next Wang Tao.

Once those guys left, the group cheered.

"That was insane! Turns out Wang Tao was all talk about his job. Well, now he's really lost it. But serves him right for picking on that girl. So satisfying."

They were a little surprised to bump into Qin Shuyi at the door earlier, but whether you go to a reunion is up to you.

They were just a little disappointed, that's all.

Who knew Wang Tao would just lose it like that?

After listening for a while, they realized Wang Tao had convinced himself that Qin Shuyi's blind date was a useless pretty face inferior to him in every way. He never expected the guy to be so loaded and have a VIP reservation.

Feeling humiliated in front of everyone, he got all bitter and, in the end, sank so low he yelled at an innocent waiter.

"Qin Shuyi's blind date is tall, handsome, and rich. Only a madwoman would choose Wang Tao. Besides, Wang Tao's mother also has her nose in the air. She once randomly warned girls not to hit on her son. Marry into that family and you're asking for trouble."

The group chattered away, using Ling Jue to trash-talk the rotten male classmates.

Only He Yuanyuan looked completely baffled.

"You guys, if he's Qin Shuyi's blind date, then why did he ask me if Qin Shuyi was eating here?"

The question hung in the air, and the group looked at each other in confusion.

...

Yeah, why indeed?

Qin Shuyi was wondering the same thing.

Why would someone who was supposed to be in the capital suddenly appear sitting across from her?

The man himself had an answer.

"To go on a blind date."

He stared at Qin Shuyi's face, observing her expression.

"You came to S City for a blind date?" Qin Shuyi asked skeptically.

"You can, so why can't I?" Ling Jue retorted.

"Though I didn't expect the person someone introduced me to would be you," he added, frowning like he was annoyed.

"Huh?" Qin Shuyi had lost count of how many times she had said "huh" today. She looked genuinely stunned.

Ling Jue curved his lips into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "So eager to get married? We haven't been broken up for long, and you're already rushing into blind dates."

Too bad. No matter who she had arranged to meet today, the only person sitting at this table would be him.

The restaurant manager had initially thought her bonus was going down the drain. Who knew her luck would change? The big boss, in the middle of an inspection, decided to go on a blind date.

No one dared to question why, if his blind date was here, he only found out upon arrival, or to ask, if there really was a blind date plan, why his schedule had been packed with work beforehand.

Everyone minded their own business, pretending they knew nothing about any date-poaching shenanigans.

The manager quickly checked and found Qin Shuyi was in the lakeside private room. She firmly stated she would ensure any man trying to enter that room next would be stopped at the door.

Her quick thinking and firm promise got her nods of approval from the many leaders present.

She straightened up a little, proud.

What she thought was a sudden disaster turned out to be a windfall.

She'd lost the chance to beat the restaurant next door, but now she had it back. The method was unorthodox, but she was fired up.

Right now, forget a man, not even a fly could get in.

Qin Shuyi was utterly speechless at his sheer audacity for a moment. "Mr. Ling, do you even remember what you said just a second ago? Aren't you here for a blind date too? If we're talking about being eager, you take the crown. After all, you were already scouting out your future marriage alliance partner while we were still dating, weren't you?"

Oh, right, and there was that new flame in the cheongsam from a couple of days ago.

No one could match his busy schedule.

Perhaps her tone was too sarcastic, or perhaps it was the first time she had mentioned Tao Wangxi so bluntly, but a flicker of embarrassment crossed Ling Jue's face.

"I didn't get engaged to Tao Wangxi," he said, pressing his lips together.

Qin Shuyi let out a scornful "Hah." Marriage is a shackle; he wants to play the field to his heart's content first, right?

"You don't believe me?" His brow furrowed tightly.

Qin Shuyi replied, "I believe you. That's why you're here for a blind date, right? But you might have made a mistake. The person I arranged to meet isn't you."

Ling Jue remained expressionless. "The person who arranged to meet me said it was the Moon-Viewing Room."

"I booked this room," Qin Shuyi glared.

"Well, that works out perfectly. Since neither of our respective blind dates showed up, let's just treat it as a practice run," he said shamelessly.

Qin Shuyi wore an expression of utter absurdity that seemed to say, "Listen to what you're saying."

"Qin Shuyi, if you're going to go on blind dates with others, why not try me first?" He stared at her seriously, a hint of obsession in his eyes.

Qin Shuyi fell silent for a moment. "Do you know what the purpose of a blind date is?"

Ling Jue's jawline tightened, his voice low and hoarse. "Marriage... I'm not entirely unwilling to give you that either."

This was the first time he had directly answered this question while sober.

If the cost of calculating gains and losses is losing her, then he's willing to change his plans.

Just the thought of her marrying someone else drives him mad.

Qin Shuyi, however, smiled. She met his gaze without flinching and asked, word by word, "Ling Jue, is marrying me an act of charity?"

Ling Jue's expression darkened.

Qin Shuyi shook her head. "Marriage is a decision made by two people in love, stepping side by side into a stable relationship. It's not a condescending agreement. Ling Jue, if marrying me is a burden to you, then it's not the right thing."

Even now, she didn't accuse him in anger or question him indignantly. Instead, she was gentle, calm, even analyzing the situation from his perspective.

Yet, Ling Jue felt a sudden surge of panic. "That's not what I meant."

"You may not mean it, but your background makes you see marrying me as a sacrifice, a compromise. For a year or two, you might not regret it. But in ten or twenty years, you might ruminate on the past, face constant external doubts, and keep imagining another life where you didn't choose me. Ling Jue, I don't want to spend so much time gambling on that. And no one wants to carry the heavy burden of 'I gave up an easier life for you.'"

Qin Shuyi stood up. "When it's the wrong match, it's time to cut your losses. Ling Jue, let's not keep saying goodbye over and over."

She turned to leave, but someone grabbed her wrist forcefully.

The man's sharp features, his usually carefree and unrestrained demeanor, now held determination and a trace of resentment. He held onto her tightly, refusing to let go.

"You're holding me to your own standards, Qin Shuyi. Why can't I be prepared for my own choices? You can't dismiss me because of a preconceived answer."

He wrapped his arms tightly around her from behind, pulling her close against him, burying his head against the side of her neck with longing.

"Qin Shuyi, today's meeting was fate. Let's start over."

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