Chapter 21: Should Have Killed Him With a Single Blow Earlier

“This is a buffet restaurant. Take whatever you like. Come on, let's get something to eat first,” Su Muqing said with a smile.

“I see. All right,” Qin Xuan replied, rising to his feet and glancing around. He found the buffet to be truly abundant, with all kinds of pastries, dishes, and snacks neatly arranged in various sections, ready for guests to choose from.

They made their way around half the restaurant, and Su Muqing’s plate was already piled high, while Qin Xuan’s remained empty. The beauty noticed this and was a little surprised.

“Qin Xuan, you don’t like these things?”

“I’d rather have some fruit. Is there any fruit here?”

“There is. Just around the corner.”

Qin Xuan nodded and headed alone to the fruit section. Sure enough, he found a display filled with every kind of fruit. Living in the mountains, fruit had always been his favorite, and he couldn’t help but feel delighted, stacking three plates high with fruit before making his way back to their seats.

“Hmm, where was our seat again?” Qin Xuan walked to the spot he remembered, only to find the window-side two-seater occupied by others. He was puzzled. Though the restaurant was a revolving one, at this snail’s pace, how far could it have moved in such a short time?

“That’s right, our table number is twenty-eight. Let’s look for it.”

With that thought, Qin Xuan quickly found their table. But to his surprise, another young couple was now seated where he and Su Muqing had been, chatting and laughing together. Su Muqing was still selecting food and hadn’t returned yet.

Qin Xuan went straight over and, without ceremony, set his three stacked plates of fruit on the table.

“What’s this? Has Tenglong started offering fruit plate service now? But with so much, how could we possibly finish it?” the charming young woman sitting there exclaimed curiously.

“I don’t know. Since they brought it, let’s just eat,” her handsome companion replied with a smile, then murmured quietly, “How come Tenglong’s male waiters are wearing robes now? I’ve never seen that before…”

Though he spoke softly, Qin Xuan’s sharp hearing caught every word, making him want to laugh.

“I’m not a waiter. I’m here to eat. Unfortunately, you’re in my seat. Please move aside. First come, first served, isn’t it?” Qin Xuan decided to clarify the situation before making any further decisions.

“Oh? So you’re not a waiter. Then kindly take your fruit elsewhere and find another seat. Thank you,” the handsome youth said politely, but his words struck Qin Xuan as nothing but arrogant.

“Are you planning to forcibly take this seat?”

Qin Xuan’s expression cooled.

“I won’t take it for nothing. I’ve already spoken to the waiter. You can switch tables, and today your bill will be ten percent off. Go on, don’t disturb my date,” the youth replied, waving dismissively.

“Ten percent off?”

Qin Xuan scoffed.

“I already get ten percent off here; your offer means nothing to me. Move aside, or don’t blame me for taking action,” Qin Xuan felt he ought to resolve this before Su Muqing returned. Although she was treating him to dinner, it was clearly his responsibility to step up.

“Friend, that’s not how things work. In Jinling, my reputation still carries weight. Don’t bring trouble on yourself,” the handsome youth said calmly. He did look quite dashing, and the charming woman’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

“If you don’t leave, you’ll find yourself in trouble instead,” Qin Xuan retorted, preparing to call for a waiter.

But before he could, Su Muqing’s voice came from behind.

“Qin Xuan, what’s going on?”

Qin Xuan turned around to see Su Muqing approaching with her plate, her brows slightly furrowed.

“It’s nothing. These two took our seat, and I was just discussing it with them,” Qin Xuan replied casually.

“Oh? Took our seat?” Su Muqing said, placing her plate on the table as well. When she saw who the couple was, she couldn’t help but curve her lips in a smile.

The young man, “Hua Shao,” was stunned by Su Muqing’s arrival, his eyes fixed on her. The charming woman beside him felt annoyed—so what if she was a bit prettier? Her figure was just as good. She straightened up in defiance, hoping to catch Hua Shao’s attention.

But she didn’t realize the greatest difference between her and Su Muqing was their aura. That elegant, confident presence was something she could never imitate. Moreover, Hua Shao’s gaze was fixed on Su Muqing for reasons far beyond mere appearance.

“Su… Su Muqing, it’s you?” Hua Shao stammered in disbelief.

“Why shouldn’t it be?” Su Muqing replied with a casual smile, but Hua Shao broke out in a cold sweat.

“Er, it’s my mistake. I’ll leave right away,” Hua Shao said hurriedly, signaling to the charming woman.

She was displeased, twisting in her seat. “Hua Shao, you promised to take me to see the night view tonight~”

“If you want to see it, go by yourself. I take no responsibility for what happens,” Hua Shao snapped, seeing that she couldn’t catch his cue, and strode away. “Waiter, clear this table. And I’ll pay for Su Jie’s bill as well—charge both tables together.”

“Ah, Hua Shao, wait for me!” The charming woman saw him really leaving and quickly got up to follow.

Qin Xuan was left a little stunned by the scene.

“Su Jie? Is he your brother?”

Qin Xuan’s face was puzzled.

“If I had a brother like that, I’d have slapped him ages ago,” Su Muqing replied with a laugh, sitting down.

“Then who is he?”

“He’s Li Shihao’s friend—or you could say his lackey. Let’s not worry about him and just enjoy our meal,” Su Muqing said with a smile. Soon, a beautiful waitress came over to tidy the table, and was surprised to see the three large plates of fruit.

“These are mine, please don’t take them away,” Qin Xuan reminded her.

“Of course, sir,” the waitress replied, casting another curious glance at Qin Xuan before leaving.

Su Muqing looked at the three huge plates of fruit, half amused and half exasperated.

“Qin Xuan, do you really like fruit that much?”

“Yes,” Qin Xuan said, picking up a piece of cantaloupe and popping it into his mouth.

“You’re quite the odd one. But Qin Xuan, I really must thank you for stepping in last time. Who knows what might have happened otherwise. I even misunderstood you—surely you were angry?”

Su Muqing felt a bit embarrassed as she spoke. He had saved her out of kindness, but she’d mistaken him for a lecherous actor, wrongly accusing a good person.

“A little, yes. But how did you end up in Zhou Daqiang’s hands…”

…

Outside the Tenglong International, Hua Shao pulled out his phone.

“Hello, Li Ge?”

“What is it, Hua Zai?”

“I’m dining at Tenglong, guess who I ran into?”

“Must be your Su Sao.”

“Li Ge, you’re always right! But Li Ge, something seems off. Su Sao has another man with her—dressed weirdly and acting pretty arrogant.”

At this moment, he called her Su Sao to flatter Li Shihao, but neither Li Shihao nor Hua Shao would dare address her that way in Su Muqing’s presence.