RPAGF Chapter 273 Rivals Meet
Chapter 273 Rivals Meet
Zhou Yanchuan snapped back to reality, only to realize that the traffic light ahead had turned green sometime earlier. An impatient horn blared from behind, piercing the ambiguous atmosphere that had just begun to build inside the car.
He awkwardly released the brake, and the car slowly moved forward. His fingertips tightened and loosened on the steering wheel, a barely perceptible disappointment flashing through his mind, which then turned into a self-deprecating chuckle.
"I was daydreaming," he said in a low voice, his voice a few decibels higher than usual.
Xiao Jiu had already sat back in her seat, her fingers gently twirling the seatbelt, a sly smile curving her lips: "Yes, Brother Yan Chuan, you need to concentrate on driving."
Zhou Yanchuan caught a glimpse of her triumphant smile in the rearview mirror and suddenly understood. He freed one hand, gently squeezed her wrist, and quickly released it, the warmth fleeting.
"I'll settle the score with you later," he said in a low voice, his tone carrying an unusually gentle threat.
Xiao Jiu's cheeks finally blushed belatedly. This time, she looked away first, gazing at the receding lights outside the window. But Zhou Yanchuan could clearly see that the corners of her mouth remained slightly upturned.
The air inside the car began to circulate again, but it felt sweeter and more tense than before, as if every inch of space was filled with unspoken words and expectations. Zhou Yanchuan's fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel, and this time, he no longer hid his smile.
The car had just come to a stop in the parking space in front of the restaurant, and Zhou Yanchuan hadn't even had a chance to turn off the engine, when he heard a clear male voice pierce through the car window:
"Jiujiu"
The two of them turned to look at the same time. Standing outside the car window was a young man, about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, about the same height as Zhou Yanchuan. He was wearing a high-quality white knit sweater and khaki trousers, looking both fresh and stylish.
He had a remarkably striking face—not the angular, cold look of Zhou Yanchuan, but rather a more refined beauty that conformed to contemporary aesthetics: fair skin, deep-set eyes, a high, straight nose that looked meticulously sculpted, and thin, slightly upturned lips with a natural smile. His hair was carefully styled, with a few strands of bangs casually falling across his forehead, yet it didn't appear messy.
What's most striking is his pair of eyes, which are shining brightly as he gazes at Xiao Jiu in the passenger seat, his delight evident.
"you are?"
Xiao Jiu looked at the obviously unfamiliar face and was a little confused. She shouldn't know him, but he seemed to know her.
Zhou Yanchuan looked at the man outside the car. Xiao Jiu didn't recognize him, but he knew him. After he met Wen Qiyu, who was also Xiao Jiu's boyfriend, he had investigated all the men in the girl's live stream who had the same feelings for her.
"It's me, the sugar daddy." Jiang Langche never expected that his whim to visit his friend's newly opened restaurant would lead to such a lucky encounter.
"Big brother who's a sugar daddy? Hmm, I thought you were a middle-aged man."
Xiao Jiu never expected that the big spender who liked watching Pang Hu's live stream was actually a handsome guy who didn't look much older than her.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Jiang Langche. Are you here for dinner?" Jiang Langche looked at Zhou Yanchuan in the driver's seat. He had also checked Zhou Yanchuan's identity.
"Yes," Xiao Jiu said, not feeling there was anything wrong with saying it.
Zhou Yanchuan ignored Jiang Langche's words; he could tell at a glance that the man wasn't talking to him. Zhou Yanchuan had already unbuckled his seatbelt, so he got out of the car and went around to the passenger side to open the door for Xiao Jiu.
"Mr. Jiang, it's hard to believe we're here for dinner." Zhou Yanchuan didn't give the man who had come to ruin his perfect date a friendly look.
Zhou Yanchuan's expression darkened visibly, his jawline tightening slightly. He didn't loosen his grip on Xiao Jiu's back; instead, it more clearly demonstrated a sense of ownership.
“Since we’re here to eat, why don’t we eat together? This is a restaurant owned by my friend. I have a private room reserved for me, and the ambiance is worse than usual.” Jiang Langche didn’t care about Zhou Yanchuan’s attitude at all.
He's unhappy, and that makes him happy; rivals are always eyeing each other with intense hatred.
He secretly brought Xiao Jiu out to eat, and he figured the others probably didn't know. Since he'd run into them, it meant even the heavens thought what he was doing was immoral, so there was nothing wrong with him intervening.
"No need, Mr. Jiang, I've already arranged a private room. We're just the two of us on a date today, so we don't want to drag you along as a third wheel." Zhou Yanchuan was very direct; they were on a date, and this man didn't care about appearances at all.
Besides, it's just a private room; he has his own. He's never stingy when it comes to things that money can buy.
"I think I'll pass, sugar daddy. It was Yan Chuan who invited me first." Xiao Jiu felt that she and her sugar daddy weren't familiar enough to have dinner together yet.
He spent money on himself, yes, but I'm not the kind of person who will go out to eat with anyone just because they give me gifts.
Jiang Langche was not disappointed when he heard Xiao Jiu's rejection. He had already prepared himself for rejection, as the girl was clearly somewhat distant from him.
He suggested having dinner together, but only to annoy Zhou Yanchuan. After being rejected, he said goodbye to Xiao Jiu and left.
When Zhou Yanchuan heard Xiao Jiu's rejection, his taut jawline relaxed almost imperceptibly.
"Aren't you happy yet, Brother Yanchuan?"
Xiao Jiu looked up at Zhou Yanchuan's still gloomy expression, then suddenly reached out and gently tugged at the cuff of his shirt. The fabric that reached his forearm was pinched into a few wrinkles by her slender fingers.
Zhou Yanchuan lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on her fingers that were tugging at his sleeve. That slight pressure felt warm, soothing his skin as it traveled down the fabric, inexplicably calming the restlessness churning within him.
He didn't speak, but the oppressive aura emanating from him, which kept strangers at bay, dissipated considerably.
Seeing this, Xiao Jiu took advantage of the situation and gently shook his sleeve again, her eyes curving up like two crescent moons: "Shall we go? Mr. Jealousy?"
Zhou Yanchuan finally looked up at her, meeting her gaze which held a mischievous and teasing undertone. The last vestige of displeasure in his heart vanished. He reached back and naturally took her hand, which was clutching his sleeve, into his palm, enveloping it. Her fingers were slightly cool, but his palm was warm.
"I don't like sour foods."
Zhou Yanchuan's serious tone made Xiao Jiu burst out laughing.
"I wonder who it was, they were almost fully marinated just now."
Zhou Yanchuan did not respond to Xiao Jiu's words.
Xiao Jiu, whose hand was firmly held by Zhou Yanchuan, secretly turned her head to look at the man's profile, which was still expressionless but had obviously softened, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.
She gently tickled his palm.
Zhou Yanchuan paused for a moment, and tightened his grip on her hand.