Chapter 268: The Old-School Tyrant CEO 12

“Hahahaha…”

Before Su Mingyue even reached the living room, she heard the laughter of Father Su and Mother Su drifting from inside.

Alas, it seemed human joys were truly not universal.

She clutched her stomach and walked in, calling out listlessly, “Auntie Sun, is there anything to eat? I’m so hungry-“

She froze before she could finish her sentence.

Su Mingyue rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

Was she seeing things? Who was that man sitting on the sofa, looking at her with a faint smile?

Shen Xiuyan?!

Why was he here?!

And he hadn’t even given her a heads-up.

In her excitement, Su Mingyue blurted out the questions in her mind.

Mother Su gave her a sharp look. “You silly child, why are you asking him why he’s here? Didn’t the two of you make plans? Look at you, sleeping until the sun is high in the sky. I wanted to go wake you, but Xiuyan was afraid of disturbing your rest and wouldn’t let me.”

Su Mingyue lowered her head in embarrassment, only to realize she was still wearing her little bear pajamas.

!!!

Ahhh, how could Xiuyan see her looking so disheveled?

She was too embarrassed to face anyone.

“I’m going to change,” she threw out quickly before running away without looking back.

“This child, coming down dressed like that. I’ve shown you something quite embarrassing,” Father Su said, shaking his head helplessly at Shen Xiuyan. He looked exasperated, but there wasn’t a hint of genuine blame in his eyes.

A touch of doting affection seemed to flicker in Shen Xiuyan’s eyes. “It’s fine. Mingyue would be the most beautiful person in the room even if she were wearing a burlap sack.”

“You and your sweet talk. I think she’d just be the most beautiful burlap sack,” Mother Su teased without mercy.

Su Mingyue finished getting ready and came back down quickly. Her face was slightly flushed, making her look even more charming.

“I’m sorry for making you wait so long.”

“It’s no problem.” Shen Xiuyan reached out and casually patted her head.

This affectionate gesture stunned Su Mingyue.

Ugh, she was terrible. Xiuyan had waited so long, yet she had been doubting him, thinking he’d forgotten their date.

Auntie Sun walked out of the kitchen carrying a small stewing pot. “Miss, are you still eating?”

Shen Xiuyan took Su Mingyue’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “No, I’m taking Mingyue out for a big feast.”

“Alright then.” Auntie Sun had worked for the Su family for twenty years and was very close with her employers.

Seeing the picture-perfect couple before her, she couldn’t help but tease with a chuckle, “Then you must eat your fill, Miss. After all, it’s not easy to get a meal out of President Shen.”

Shen Xiuyan played along. “Auntie Sun, why are you teasing me too? I won’t be as busy from now on. I can take Mingyue out to eat whenever she likes.”

“Good, good.” Auntie Sun’s smile grew even warmer. In truth, she very much approved of President Shen and the young miss being together.

What a well-matched pair; they were a delight to look at.

Shen Xiuyan gave Father Su and Mother Su a polite nod. “Uncle, Auntie, we’ll be heading out now.”

“Go on, go on,” Mother Su said, waving them off with a smile. “Have fun. No need to rush home. In fact, it’s best if you don’t come back at all today.”

She finished with a playful wink at her daughter.

Su Mingyue’s face turned beet red instantly. She pouted and stomped her foot.

What kind of mother teases her daughter like that!

It was as if she was terrified her daughter would never get married…

Fuming, she grabbed Shen Xiuyan and pulled him toward the door.

Shen Xiuyan said helplessly, “Slow down, my little ancestor. Don’t go tripping yourself.”

*

Since Su Mingyue had slept until noon, Shen Xiuyan, the devoted wife-spoiler, naturally had to take her to eat first.

Once they were in the car, he instructed the driver, “Old Wang, to Linjiang Pavilion.”

“Yes, sir.”

Su Mingyue was currently staring at him with her bright, spirited eyes.

Shen Xiuyan tapped her forehead. “What are you looking at? I’ve already booked a table. I’m taking you to Linjiang Pavilion for lunch first.”

“Okay-” Su Mingyue replied crisply.

Actually, she wasn’t looking at anything in particular; she just felt that Shen Xiuyan seemed very different today.

Every gesture he made was filled with more elegance than before, exuding an invisible charm that she never grew tired of watching.

If Shen Xiuyan knew his wife was thinking this, he would be so proud his tail would wag like a propeller.

It wasn’t just natural charm; for this date, Shen Xiuyan had groomed himself as meticulously as a peacock spreading its feathers.

At the very least, he looked much more refined than the original host, he thought with a proud expression.

As they say, opportunity favors the prepared.

*

Inside a retro Chinese-style private room, a handsome man sat at the table. He held a teacup in one hand, sipping slowly, while turning to say something to the person beside him.

Clear laughter rang from his lips; he was obviously in an excellent mood.

A waitress with a graceful figure dressed in a cheongsam entered carrying a delicacy. Her curves were perfectly outlined by the dress.

The woman took a deep breath, steeled herself, and slowly approached Shen Xiuyan.

This was an opportunity she had fought hard to get. If she could win President Shen’s favor, she would never have to carry trays in this private kitchen again.

She had been preparing for this moment for a long time.

The woman encouraged herself internally. You can do this. You have the body and the looks. You’ve worked in this kitchen for a year, and it’s not like other bosses haven’t hinted at things; you just didn’t think they were good enough.

That was until she saw Shen Xiuyan and found him breathtakingly handsome.

Whenever he arrived, even the powerful owner of this establishment would come out to greet him like a subservient grandson.

Only a man like this was worthy of her interest.

The woman placed the dish in front of Shen Xiuyan. Her red lips curved into a smile as she said, “President Shen, this is the Brocade Emerald Fish, a new dish for the season. We look forward to your review.”

She eagerly anticipated the look of amazement on Shen Xiuyan’s face when he turned to see her.

But she was disappointed. Upon hearing her voice, Shen Xiuyan didn’t even move, continuing to talk to the person beside him.

The woman paused, lifting her eyes. She wanted to see exactly who could captivate President Shen’s attention so completely.

With just the first glance, she froze.

The person President Shen was speaking to was a woman. She had a petite, charming figure, and from the waitress’s previous vantage point, she had been completely obscured by President Shen’s frame, which was why she hadn’t been noticed.

Seeing her up close now, the woman had a delicate face and expressive eyes that seemed to speak, perfectly complemented by elegant, well-shaped brows.

The immediate first impression was a simple question: where did such a stunning beauty come from?

The waitress felt a sudden wave of self-consciousness.

While she was lost in a daze, the great beauty across from her met her gaze.

Su Mingyue frowned. That familiar look in her eyes…

How annoying. How could she run into someone lusting after Xiuyan even while just trying to have a meal?

Shen Xiuyan noticed her face suddenly crumple into a pout and asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”

She had been quite happy just a moment ago; why had she suddenly puffed up like a little pufferfish?

Seeing that Su Mingyue didn’t speak and was instead staring fixedly behind him, Shen Xiuyan turned around in confusion.

Then he frowned.

The smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a trace of thin, biting coldness. His voice rang out with chilling clarity.

“Leave once you’ve delivered the food. What are you doing standing there eavesdropping?” Shen Xiuyan snapped. “Where is the manager? Take her away.”

Su Mingyue wore an expression like the “old man looking at his phone¹” meme.

Very well, he really was a blockhead who didn’t understand romance at all.

He hadn’t picked up on the girl’s feelings in the slightest…

But for some reason, her mood brightened considerably.

Su Mingyue let out a silly little giggle again.

Translator’s Notes