Even Huo Yaochuan himself didn't notice the trace of indifference in his tone.
"Let's go inside the restaurant first. I'll order some motion sickness medicine for you later."
Upon hearing this, Feng Xiaoman revealed a smug smile, glancing sideways at Jiang Liuyue.
This was a very famous, long-established roast duck restaurant in the area.
Zhou Che's elder was a shareholder of this restaurant, so they didn't have to queue. They went directly upstairs to a reserved private room.
Jiang Liuyue didn't pretend to be polite and was the first to take a seat by the door inside the room.
Seeing this, Zhou Che carefully sat down to her left.
Just as Feng Xiaoman was about to sit on Jiang Liuyue's right, Huo Yaochuan had already taken a long stride and occupied that spot, then pointed to the empty seat beside him.
"Xiaoman, you sit here."
Feng Xiaoman forced a faint smile.
She whispered, "But... I wanted to sit next to Liuyue."
Seeing Jiang Liuyue flanked by two exceptionally handsome guys, the dark side in Feng Xiaoman's heart could no longer be concealed.
It gradually sprouted and grew, dark and creeping.
Huo Yaochuan didn't respond to her comment, simply saying,
"This is the serving spot. I can serve you all conveniently."
"You don't want to sit next to me?"
That wasn't what Feng Xiaoman meant at all.
She just didn't want to see Huo Yaochuan sitting beside Jiang Liuyue, but she knew she couldn't be willful at this moment.
Because Yaochuan hadn't completely forgiven her for deceiving him yet.
If she made a fuss over a minor issue now, he might seize the chance to break up with her.
Absolutely not!!!
The roast duck arrived quickly. The skin, thin as cicada wings, was sliced into pieces, glistening with an oily sheen. Next to it were arranged the pancakes, sugar, dipping sauce, shredded cucumber, and scallions.
It looked incredibly delicious.
The remaining duck carcass and some meat had been boiled into a milky-white duck broth, served with refreshing green leafy vegetables.
Zhou Che stood up, ladled some soup into a small bowl, and handed it to Jiang Liuyue.
"Have some soup first."
"Thank you."
Jiang Liuyue took it with a slight smile, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against Zhou Che's fingers.
His face instantly flushed crimson.
He stood there frozen, somewhat at a loss.
Jiang Liuyue took a spoonful of the soup, and then a look of pleasant surprise appeared in her eyes.
"It's delicious."
Zhou Che wore an expression of shared pride, scratched his head, and said happily,
"Right? This place has been open for over twenty years."
"I'm not bragging, but it's way better than any of those so-called time-honored brands."
Jiang Liuyue's voice was magnetic and pleasing to the ear.
She raised her eyes and glanced at him.
With a smile, she said, "Maybe it tastes better because Che-ge served it."
Zhou Che immediately blushed again.
"..."
He was too shy to speak for a good while.
Feng Xiaoman had deliberately brought Jiang Liuyue out today to show her how intimately she and Yaochuan interacted, hoping to make Jiang Liuyue give up completely!
She hadn't even started feeding Jiang Liuyue any "dog food" yet.
But Jiang Liuyue and Zhou Che had already served her a big mouthful first.
Feng Xiaoman turned to Huo Yaochuan. Seeing he was somewhat silent, she pleaded softly,
"Yaochuan, I'd like some soup too."
The coquettish tone in her voice was obvious.
She wanted Huo Yaochuan to serve her the soup.
Logically speaking, it's normal for a boyfriend to do this for his girlfriend, right?
Yet Huo Yaochuan sat motionless for a while, then instead poked Zhou Che.
"Get a bowl for Xiaoman."
Zhou Che let out a reluctant 'ah'.
He complained,
"Bro, you're too much!"
"Why are you ordering me around like a servant?"
"And it's more appropriate for you to serve Xiaoman-jie yourself."
Feng Xiaaman couldn't muster even a hint of a smile on her face now.
She felt Yaochuan's words were like a heavy slap on her face, making her clearly realize:
Yaochuan truly didn't like her as she was now.
The only things keeping him in this relationship were, first, his genuine fear last night that she might jump from the rooftop,
and second, a lingering sense of morality reminding him he couldn't break up with her so decisively, given they had confirmed their romantic relationship in the online game.
But Feng Xiaoman knew Yaochuan would break up with her sooner or later.
No!
She had to do something to win him back.
"It's fine, my dizziness is much better now."
"I'll serve myself."
Having figured things out, Feng Xiaoman's tone was no longer sugary sweet.
She stood up, ladled a bowl of soup, and first handed it to Huo Yaochuan.
Then she served another bowl for herself before sitting back down, slowly taking sip after sip.
During this time, she observed discreetly.
She noticed that whenever Zhou Che spoke to Jiang Liuyue, Huo Yaochuan's gaze would involuntarily follow.
Her fingertips, hidden in her sleeves, dug sharply into her palm.
Even this pain couldn't soothe her emotions.
After finishing her soup, Jiang Liuyue looked curiously at the plate of roast duck, eager to try.
Zhou Che had already taken the initiative to speak:
"Yueyue, let me make one for you."
"Do you prefer the sweet style or the savory style?"
Jiang Liuyue curved her lips, her beautiful eyes sparkling.
"Only children make choices."
"Can't I have both?"
There was a hint of double meaning in her words.
Hearing this, Huo Yaochuan suddenly looked up, and their gazes met in the air again.
As if scalded, the latter quickly looked away.
Zhou Che cheerfully started assembling the roast duck wrap.
"Of course you can!"
"Then I'll make you two wraps with different flavors. You can try both."
To avoid putting herself in an awkward position again, Feng Xiaoman didn't ask Huo Yaochuan to make one for her this time.
She leaned over herself, took a pancake, added a thick layer of duck skin and meat, and piled on lots of condiments.
She wrapped it into a plump bundle and stuffed it into her mouth in one bite.
So delicious!
But her gaze involuntarily drifted to the other side.
Zhou Che had just finished making a roast duck wrap. His slender fingers were holding it, about to hand it to Jiang Liuyue.
Yet she very naturally tilted her head slightly and parted her lips.
Her eyes were full of mirth, seeming to carry a hint of teasing.
She didn't say a single word.
But it implied something more.
Zhou Che's fingertips felt hot. When he came back to his senses, he realized he had already brought the wrapped roast duck to her lips.
Jiang Liuyue took a big bite.
She said with a light, smiling tone,
"It's very tasty."
Zhou Che's brain short-circuited instantly.
Ah!
Yueyue ate the roast duck wrap I made.
And I fed her by hand!
Ahhh!
I'm not washing this hand today.
It's so obvious!!!
Even Feng Xiaoman could tell Jiang Liuyue was deliberately flirting with Zhou Che.
Let alone anyone else.
Huo Yaochuan's dark eyes were deep. He lowered his gaze and took a sip of soup, feeling somewhat angry.
Even he himself didn't know why he felt angry.
He found Zhou Che's smile right now somewhat irritating.
Jiang Liuyue swallowed the sweet-flavored one and pointed at the other one in his bowl.
"There's still another one."
The direction her fingertip pointed was somewhat ambiguous.
It was unclear whether she meant the other roast duck wrap in Zhou Che's bowl, or Huo Yaochuan sitting beside Zhou Che.
