He quickly stepped out from behind the counter, casually taking the lunchbox that Zhu Yaya was carrying. "Let's go."
He hefted the weight in his hand, feeling it seemed like more than one portion, and asked, "You haven't had lunch?"
"Hehe, I wanted to eat with you, didn't I?" Zhu Yaya rubbed her ear somewhat awkwardly.
"Hmm." A flicker of amusement passed through Yan Heng's eyes.
Zhu Yaya obediently followed him to the employee break room of the milk tea shop, and the two of them had lunch together. The atmosphere was very warm.
After lunch, Zhu Yaya went to order another cup of milk tea. Holding the tea, she sat in a corner of the shop, silently observing Xu Chun.
She had thought Murong Beichen wouldn't come so soon, after all, Xu Chun had just found this winter break job. But she never expected Murong Beichen to arrive that very afternoon.
His style was as bizarre as ever.
In other novels, the overbearing bad-boy male leads all make cool, dashing entrances on racing bikes or motorcycles. Perhaps only someone with a screw loose like Murong Beichen, the son of China's richest man, would make a grand entrance on a gold-colored electric scooter!
Zhu Yaya rubbed her eyes. No way, was she seeing things? An electric scooter? It had been so long since she'd seen such a refreshingly unconventional overbearing male lead!
She suddenly felt a bit exasperated. Murong Beichen, oh Murong Beichen, you are the esteemed son of China's richest man, a future domineering CEO, a man destined to hold the global economy in your hands! Where is your Ford SSC Ultimate Aero? Your Lamborghini? Your Maserati?
Murong Beichen was completely unaware of Zhu Yaya's inner snark. If he had known, he would have only thought that Zhu Yaya had no taste.
Murong Beichen's outfit today still retained his distinctive style. His multicolored hair had faded somewhat, but the green strands were exceptionally resilient, stubbornly refusing to lose any color, waving tenaciously in the west wind.
His undershirt was an eye-catching golden yellow, paired with shimmering blue skinny jeans, and over it he wore a blazing red coat with a collar densely layered with multicolored feathers. A chain of handcuffs hung around his neck, and several metal hoop earrings adorned his ears.
What a fashionable man! What a dazzling man!
As Murong Beichen strode towards the "Once in a Lifetime" milk tea shop, Zhu Yaya heard the excited murmurs of all the girls in the shop.
Zhu Yaya: ...emmmm
Murong Beichen also noticed the stir among the girls in and around the milk tea shop. He swept his coat back with both hands, thinking somewhat pityingly, Take a good look, you pitiful women! If it weren't for my beloved of humble background, a man at the peak like me is someone you could never lay eyes on in your entire lives.
Murong Beichen strode into the "Once in a Lifetime" milk tea shop on his precious legs. As his figure drew closer, the excited chatter of the girls inside grew even louder, with almost every one of them blushing and squealing like fangirls. The exceptions were Zhu Yaya, sitting silently in the corner observing, and Xu Chun, standing behind the counter.
Xu Chun stood right there at the counter, her stubborn little face showing clear dissatisfaction with Murong Beichen.
Looking at these women who were crazy for him, Murong Beichen wore a visible sneer. Such shallow women! But when his gaze landed on Xu Chun, a trace of satisfaction and smugness flashed in his eyes. As expected of the woman chosen by the world's number one, Murong Beichen—she's simply different from other women! So independent, so unique, so alluring!
Murong Beichen walked up to the counter, completely ignoring everyone else in line. Someone voiced their displeasure at him cutting in line.
Murong Beichen smirked mockingly, pulling out a wad of cash from his pocket: "Foolish mortal, you just want money, right? Here, take it! Don't interfere with my flirting!"
The person's eyes lit up at the sight of the money, happily taking it and leaving.
Zhu Yaya, sitting in the corner, beat her chest in frustration, filled with regret! She clenched her straw, thinking how great it would have been if she were the one who got cut in line!
Finally rid of those annoying flies, Murong Beichen was satisfied. He brushed the few strands of hair that hung on his forehead back, struck a cool pose, and shot a wink at Xu Chun: "My dear beloved—of humble origin and plain looks, yet kind-hearted and stubborn! Didn't expect to see me again so soon, did you? Why aren't you attending to your loyal suitor?"
After speaking, Murong Beichen stuck out his tongue, licked the corner of his mouth, and casually removed some dead skin from his lips.
Zhu Yaya, witnessing this scene: ...
She suddenly felt the milk tea Yan Heng personally made for her wasn't so appealing anymore.
So gross! So nauseating!
Xu Chun kept her stubborn little face straight and said politely, "Hello, customer. What would you like to order? Here is our menu." As she spoke, she didn't forget to hand the menu to Murong Beichen.
While taking the menu, Murong Beichen quite ambiguously brushed his hand against Xu Chun's.
A flash of resentment crossed Xu Chun's face.
Zhu Yaya: ...
Why did she feel that Murong Beichen was becoming more and more like a minor villain harassing the female lead?
The bearded shop owner saw this, frowned, then relaxed. He pushed Xu Chun aside from behind the counter, wearing a feigned, enthusiastic smile: "Haha, handsome sir, sorry about that! She's a new employee here, not very skilled yet — she must have offended you! I'm the owner of this shop, let me serve you!"
Murong Beichen's face darkened instantly. He slammed the menu onto the counter with force, saying in a fierce tone, "No! I want her! Mind your own business!"
Xu Chun, who had been pushed aside by the owner, pushed past the owner standing at the counter. Her face was stern, righteous, and principled, as if ready to sacrifice herself. "Owner, let me handle this!" she said.
Then she said to Murong Beichen, "Murong Beichen, I'm here. Don't trouble innocent people anymore."
Zhu Yaya: ...
It's just ordering milk tea! Why make such a scene! Anyone who didn't know better would think this was about forcing someone into prostitution!
The owner still wanted to step forward to say something, but Yan Heng stopped him.
Yan Heng's face was still cold. He shook his head at the owner and uttered only one succinct word: "Fish."
Reminded by Yan Heng, the owner looked Murong Beichen and Xu Chun up and down, a look of understanding dawning on his face, and then left Murong Beichen and Xu Chun to it.
Murong Beichen gave another mischievously charming smile and said to Xu Chun, "Chun'er, your Brother Chen has never had this kind of drink out before. I don't know much about it. Why don't you give me some recommendations?" He raised an eyebrow as he spoke.
A hint of humiliation showed on Xu Chun's face.
