Chapter 13

Zhou Yinhe just kept scrolling through the group messages one by one, too lazy to keep reading their sarcastic remarks, and simply blocked them.

He scrolled to the emoticon Wen Ling had sent, lowered his gaze to look at it for a while, and then the driver stopped the car.

"Fifth Young Master, we've arrived."

Zhou Yinhe instructed: "Send the car for repairs, and send me the repair bill."

"All right, I'll get another car to pick you up," the driver said, nodding.

"No need, just go back," Zhou Yinhe said, then got out of the car.

【7】 Jiang Jibai and Qi Zhan had been waiting for him at the Cloud Club for a long time; during that wait they saw the group messages, and were just waiting for Zhou Yinhe to arrive so they could ask him about it.

【8】 Zhou Yinhe lazily pushed the door open, sat down opposite them without even looking up, leaned back against the sofa and stared at his phone, ignoring their teasing glances.

【9】 Seeing this, Jiang Jibai teased: "Didn't you say you didn't like her? Why are you still pulling and tugging with her in the middle of the road?"

【10】 Zhou Yinhe lifted his eyelids to look at him, utterly speechless: "Is that considered pulling and tugging?"

【11】 "Isn't that pulling and tugging?" Qi Zhan asked in surprise: "Then what would count as pulling and tugging?"

【12】 "It was just her rear-ending my car," Zhou Yinhe explained flatly. Hearing that, Qi Zhan drew out an "oh" with a meaningful tone, making Zhou Yinhe frown and glare at him annoyed: "Are you sick?"

【13】 "Are you annoyed and angry now?" Jiang Jibai said with a laugh.

【14】 "I didn't say anything else; it was just a rear-end and we talked about compensation." Zhou Yinhe turned his head away from their expressions and said coldly.

【15】 "Fine, nothing else." Jiang Jibai went along with him.

【16】 The manager brought the servers with the dishes, and only then did the three sit at the table, when Qi Zhan said: "Xingtang will be here soon."

【17】 Jiang Jibai raised an eyebrow at him: "How so? Did you catch up?"

【18】 "Not that easy." Qi Zhan shrugged.

【19】 Zhao Xingtang suddenly messaged him on her own initiative, asking where he was and who else was there; Qi Zhan, without thinking why, just sent an address, telling her Jiang Jibai was also there and Zhou Yinhe would be arriving shortly, and then he received Zhao Xingtang's reply saying she would be there soon.

【20】 Zhou Yinhe silently looked at his phone; Wen Ling had sent a new message.

【21】 Lingling Buling: 【I've thought about it, and I still want to treat you to a meal, after all I hit your car.】

【22】 Zhou Yinhe gave a cold chuckle, moved his finger a few times on the screen, and replied.

【23】 Zhouwu: 【No need.】

【24】 Wen Ling saw him refuse, thought it over, and sent again: 【It's affecting your use of the car anyway, let me treat you to a meal to express my apology—you won't be so petty, right? It's just a meal, not anything else.】

【25】 She also sent a cat-face emoticon.

【26】 Wen Ling's two sentences made Zhou Yinhe frown in anger, and he didn't even want to reply; just as he was about to put his phone down, Wen Ling sent another message.

【27】 Lingling Buling: 【If you don't agree, I'll just go wait for you at your company; I'll wait until you agree to have a meal together, or I could bring flowers to your company's entrance every day—do you like red roses?】

【28】 Zhouwu: 【Wen Ling, what exactly are you trying to do?】

【29】 Lingling Buling: 【Just expressing my apology, don't overthink it ^_^】

【30】 Zhou Yinhe pressed his lips together; Wen Ling always acts without thinking, and it's truly possible she'd show up with flowers to block him downstairs, so he replied: 【When?】

【31】 Lingling Buling: 【Tomorrow evening, at the Clear River Moon Pavilion.】

【32】 Upon receiving Zhou Yinhe's "mm," Wen Ling's brows relaxed into a smile, she clenched her fist and let out a tiny "yeah," which made the nearby Aunt Zhou look over curiously.

【33】 Wen Ling shook her head at her to indicate it was fine, leaned her body against Aunt Zhou's side, and together they watched the variety show playing on TV.

【34】 Aunt Zhou said: "Just heard Old Wang say there was a collision—are you hurt?"

【35】 "No, look at me—does it look like I'm injured?" Wen Ling shook her head, playing with Aunt Zhou's fingers, and said listlessly.

【36】 "Did you make him hit you?" Aunt Zhou asked, lowering her head, her expression somewhat solemn.

【37】 "Why is Uncle Wang still telling on me?" Wen Ling blinked her eyes.

【38】 "As soon as I saw him hem and haw, I pretty much guessed." Aunt Zhou gave a light hum: "You can't always put your own personal safety on the line for these things."

【39】 "I know, just a light bump won't cause any trouble." Wen Ling said softly: "I have my limits; I won't joke about my own safety."

【40】 "You said the same thing last time when you jumped into the lake, and now you're saying it again." Aunt Zhou poked Wen Ling's nose tip, helpless: "Good thing you're all right, otherwise how would we explain it to Mr. Wen?"

【41】 "I know, I definitely won't do it again." Wen Ling rubbed against Aunt Zhou's shoulder and said with a smile.

【42】 On Zhou Yinhe's side, Zhao Xingtang arrived shortly, she sat beside Qi Zhan, who attentively poured her wine and served her dishes.

【43】 Zhao Xingtang glanced at Zhou Yinhe, whose face was expressionless yet his whole body radiated irritation, then let out a light laugh and said to Qi Zhan and Jiang Jibai: "Guess who I just saw?"

【44】 Qi Zhan followed her gaze, glanced at Zhou Yinhe, and asked: "Who?"

【45】 "Wen Ling and Ruan MiaoMiao." Zhao Xingtang set down her chopsticks, propped her chin, and her gaze drifted, seemingly intentional yet not, toward Zhou Yinhe, whose chopsticks had paused.

【46】 Jiang Jibai said lightly: "Really? Aren't they on bad terms? How could they be together?"

【47】 "Yes, Ruan MiaoMiao even wanted to hit Wen Ling." Zhao Xingtang slightly furrowed her brows: "Ruan MiaoMiao, who always seems like a delicate little flower, also has a fierce side; seeing it makes me worry for Wen Ling."

【48】 She deliberately only said the first half; sure enough, Zhou Yinhe lifted his eyes to look over, and Zhao Xingtang smiled at him: "Both of them like you—who do you think is better? That way, when we meet them in the future we can still say hello, and not neglect them."

【49】 "What does that have to do with me?" Zhou Yinhe set down his chopsticks, speaking offhandedly.

【50】 "Ah, I thought you liked Ruan MiaoMiao, after all you've given her resources, and she's shown up at our gatherings several times, so I spoke up for Ruan MiaoMiao and scolded Wen Ling a few times." Zhao Xingtang spread her hands: "I guess I was meddling."

【51】 Zhou Yinhe's gaze swept over Zhao Xingtang; his dark eyes were indifferent, yet she still detected a hint of hostility in them, and Zhao Xingtang suddenly laughed: "Just kidding, I didn't interfere—I only watched for a while, and Wen Ling wasn't hit."

【52】 Zhou Yinhe wasn't worried that Wen Ling would be bullied; he just feared Zhao Xingtang would indiscriminately help Ruan MiaoMiao bully Wen Ling.

【53】 His voice finally turned cold, with a slight threat: "Don't joke about Wen Ling."

【54】 Zhao Xingtang burst out laughing with a "pfft," Qi Zhan and Jiang Jibai also put down their chopsticks, the three of them stared at Zhou Yinhe, who narrowed his eyes and set down his chopsticks.

【55】 "I'm not eating, I'm leaving."

【56】 Jiang Jibai gave a light chuckle, picked up his chopsticks again, and said with a smile: "Eat, why wouldn't you eat?"

【57】 He looked at the other two, his tone full of teasing: "You two hurry up and eat; if you keep looking, Xiao Wu will get annoyed, and then you'll have to placate him."

【58】 "Fine, fine, fine." The two suppressed their laughter and lowered their heads.

Jiang Jibai and Qi Zhan had been waiting for him at the Cloud Club for a long time; during that wait they saw the group messages, and were just waiting for Zhou Yinhe to arrive so they could ask him about it.

Zhou Yinhé lazily pushed the door open, sat opposite the two without even looking up, leaned against the sofa back scrolling his phone, ignoring their teasing glances.

Translation: Zhou Yinhe lazily pushed the door open, sat down opposite them without even looking up, leaned back against the sofa and stared at his phone, ignoring their teasing glances.

Seeing him like that, Jiang Jibai teased: "Didn't you say you didn't like her? Yet you're still pulling and tugging with her in the middle of the road."

Translation: Seeing this, Jiang Jibai teased: "Didn't you say you didn't like her? Why are you still pulling and tugging with her in the middle of the road?"

Zhou Yinhé lifted his eyelids to look at him, utterly speechless: "That's called pulling and tugging?"

Translation: Zhou Yinhe lifted his eyelids to look at him, utterly speechless: "Is that considered pulling and tugging?"

"Isn't that pulling and tugging?" Qi Zhan asked in surprise: "Then what counts as pulling and tugging?"

Translation: "Isn't that pulling and tugging?" Qi Zhan asked in surprise: "Then what would count as pulling and tugging?"

"It's just a rear‑end collision." Zhou Yinhé explained blandly; Wen Ling hearing that drew out an "oh" with a meaningful tone, making Zhou Yinhé frown and glare at him annoyed: "Are you sick?"

Translation: "It was just her rear-ending my car," Zhou Yinhe explained flatly. Hearing that, Qi Zhan drew out an "oh" with a meaningful tone, making Zhou Yinhe frown and glare at him annoyed: "Are you sick?"

"You're annoyed and angry?" Jiang Jibai laughed.

Translation: "Are you annoyed and angry now?" Jiang Jibai said with a laugh.

"I said it already—just a rear‑end and we chatted a bit about compensation." Zhou Yinhé turned his head away from their expressions, speaking coldly.

Translation: "I didn't say anything else; it was just a rear-end and we talked about compensation." Zhou Yinhe turned his head away from their expressions and said coldly.

"Fine, nothing." Jiang Jibai went along with him.

Translation: "Fine, nothing else." Jiang Jibai went along with him.

The manager brought the waitstaff with the dishes; only then did the three sit at the table, and Qi Zhan said: "Xing Tang will be here soon."

Translation: The manager brought the servers with the dishes, and only then did the three sit at the table, when Qi Zhan said: "Xingtang will be here soon."

Jiang Jibai raised an eyebrow at him: "How? Did you catch up?"

Translation: Jiang Jibai raised an eyebrow at him: "How so? Did you catch up?"

"Not that easy." Qi Zhan shrugged.

Translation: "Not that easy." Qi Zhan shrugged.

Zhao Xingtang suddenly messaged him proactively, asking where he was and who was with him; Qi Zhan, without thinking why, just sent an address, telling her Jiang Jibai was also there and Zhou Yinhé would arrive soon, and immediately he received Zhao Xingtang's reply saying she was on her way.

Translation: Zhao Xingtang suddenly messaged him on her own initiative, asking where he was and who else was there; Qi Zhan, without thinking why, just sent an address, telling her Jiang Jibai was also there and Zhou Yinhe would be arriving shortly, and then he received Zhao Xingtang's reply saying she would be there soon.

Zhou Yinhé silently stared at his phone; Wen Ling sent a new message.

Translation: Zhou Yinhe silently looked at his phone; Wen Ling had sent a new message.

Wen Ling: "I've thought about it, and I still want to treat you to a meal, after all I hit your car."

Translation: Lingling Buling: 【I've thought about it, and I still want to treat you to a meal, after all I hit your car.】

Zhou Yinhé gave a cold chuckle, tapped a few times on the screen and replied.

Translation: Zhou Yinhe gave a cold chuckle, moved his finger a few times on the screen, and replied.

Friday: "No need."

Translation: Zhouwu: 【No need.】

Seeing his refusal, Wen Ling thought and sent again: "It does affect your car usage, so let me treat you to a meal to express my apology—you won't be so petty, right? It's just a meal, not anything else." (She also sent a cat‑head emoji.)

Translation: Wen Ling saw him refuse, thought it over, and sent again: 【It's affecting your use of the car anyway, let me treat you to a meal to express my apology—you won't be so petty, right? It's just a meal, not anything else.】

(She also sent a cat‑head emoji.)

Translation: She also sent a cat-face emoticon.

Zhou Yinhé was so annoyed by her two sentences that he frowned, decided not to reply, and was about to put his phone down when Wen Ling sent another message.

Translation: Wen Ling's two sentences made Zhou Yinhe frown in anger, and he didn't even want to reply; just as he was about to put his phone down, Wen Ling sent another message.

Wen Ling: "If you don't agree, I'll just wait for you at your company until you say yes to a meal together, or I could come to your office building every day to give you flowers—do you like red roses?"

Translation: Lingling Buling: 【If you don't agree, I'll just go wait for you at your company; I'll wait until you agree to have a meal together, or I could bring flowers to your company's entrance every day—do you like red roses?】

Friday: "Wen Ling, what exactly do you want?"

Translation: Zhouwu: 【Wen Ling, what exactly are you trying to do?】

Wen Ling: "Just to express my apology, don't overthink it ^_^"

Translation: Lingling Buling: 【Just expressing my apology, don't overthink it ^_^】

Zhou Yinhé pressed his lips; Wen Ling always acts without thinking, and she might really show up with flowers to block his door, so he reluctantly replied: "When?"

Translation: Zhou Yinhe pressed his lips together; Wen Ling always acts without thinking, and it's truly possible she'd show up with flowers to block him downstairs, so he replied: 【When?】

Wen Ling: "Tomorrow evening, at Qingjiang Yue Ge."

Translation: Lingling Buling: 【Tomorrow evening, at the Clear River Moon Pavilion.】

Upon receiving Zhou Yinhé's "um", Wen Ling beamed, clenched her fist and let out a little "yeah", which made the nearby Aunt Zhou look over puzzled.

Translation: Upon receiving Zhou Yinhe's "mm," Wen Ling's brows relaxed into a smile, she clenched her fist and let out a tiny "yeah," which made the nearby Aunt Zhou look over curiously.

Wen Ling shook her head at Aunt Zhou to indicate it was fine, leaned sideways against her, and they watched the variety show playing on TV together.

Translation: Wen Ling shook her head at her to indicate it was fine, leaned her body against Aunt Zhou's side, and together they watched the variety show playing on TV.

Aunt Zhou said: "I just heard Old Wang say you got in a crash—are you hurt?"

Translation: Aunt Zhou said: "Just heard Old Wang say there was a collision—are you hurt?"

"No, look at me—does it look like I'm injured?" Wen Ling shook her head, playing with Aunt Zhou's fingers, bored.

Translation: "No, look at me—does it look like I'm injured?" Wen Ling shook her head, playing with Aunt Zhou's fingers, and said listlessly.

"Was it you who made him hit you?" Aunt Zhou asked her, her expression somewhat solemn.

Translation: "Did you make him hit you?" Aunt Zhou asked, lowering her head, her expression somewhat solemn.

"Why is Uncle Wang still telling on you?" Wen Ling blinked.

Translation: "Why is Uncle Wang still telling on me?" Wen Ling blinked her eyes.

"The moment I saw him stammering, I pretty much guessed." Aunt Zhou gave a light hum: "You can't keep risking your own safety like this."

Translation: "As soon as I saw him hem and haw, I pretty much guessed." Aunt Zhou gave a light hum: "You can't always put your own personal safety on the line for these things."

"I know, just a light bump won't cause anything." Wen Ling said softly: "I have limits; I won't joke about my own safety."

Translation: "I know, just a light bump won't cause any trouble." Wen Ling said softly: "I have my limits; I won't joke about my own safety."

"You said the same thing when you jumped into the lake last time, and you're saying it again now." Aunt Zhou pointed at Wen Ling's nose tip, helpless: "Thank goodness you're okay; otherwise how would we explain to Old Mr. Wen?"

Translation: "You said the same thing last time when you jumped into the lake, and now you're saying it again." Aunt Zhou poked Wen Ling's nose tip, helpless: "Good thing you're all right, otherwise how would we explain it to Mr. Wen?"

"Got it, I won't do it again." Wen Ling rubbed against Aunt Zhou's shoulder, smiling.

Translation: "I know, I definitely won't do it again." Wen Ling rubbed against Aunt Zhou's shoulder and said with a smile.

On Zhou Yinhé's side, Zhao Xingtang arrived quickly, sat beside Qi Zhan, who attentively poured her wine and served her dishes.

Translation: On Zhou Yinhe's side, Zhao Xingtang arrived shortly, she sat beside Qi Zhan, who attentively poured her wine and served her dishes.

Zhao Xingtang glanced at Zhou Yinhé, whose face was blank but whose whole body radiated irritation, then chuckled lightly and said to Qi Zhan and Jiang Jibai: "Guess who I just ran into?"

Translation: Zhao Xingtang glanced at Zhou Yinhe, whose face was expressionless yet his whole body radiated irritation, then let out a light laugh and said to Qi Zhan and Jiang Jibai: "Guess who I just saw?"

Qi Zhan followed her gaze to Zhou Yinhé and asked: "Who?"

Translation: Qi Zhan followed her gaze, glanced at Zhou Yinhe, and asked: "Who?"

"Wen Ling and Ruan Mianmian." Zhao Xingtang put down her chopsticks, propped her chin, her gaze drifting vaguely toward Zhou Yinhé, who had just paused with his chopsticks.

Translation: "Wen Ling and Ruan MiaoMiao." Zhao Xingtang set down her chopsticks, propped her chin, and her gaze drifted, seemingly intentional yet not, toward Zhou Yinhe, whose chopsticks had paused.

Jiang Jibai said lightly: "Really? Aren't they not on good terms? How are they together?"

Translation: Jiang Jibai said lightly: "Really? Aren't they on bad terms? How could they be together?"

"Yes, Ruan Mianmian even wanted to hit Wen Ling." Zhao Xingtang frowned slightly: "Ruan Mianmian, who always seems like a delicate little white flower, also has a fierce side—I saw it and felt worried for Wen Ling."

Translation: "Yes, Ruan MiaoMiao even wanted to hit Wen Ling." Zhao Xingtang slightly furrowed her brows: "Ruan MiaoMiao, who always seems like a delicate little flower, also has a fierce side; seeing it makes me worry for Wen Ling."

She only said the first part on purpose; sure enough, Zhou Yinhé lifted his eyes to look at her, and Zhao Xingtang smiled at him: "Both of these girls like you—who do you think is better? That way, when we meet them in the future we can greet them properly and not be rude."

Translation: She deliberately only said the first half; sure enough, Zhou Yinhe lifted his eyes to look over, and Zhao Xingtang smiled at him: "Both of them like you—who do you think is better? That way, when we meet them in the future we can still say hello, and not neglect them."

"What does that have to do with me?" Zhou Yinhé set down his chopsticks, speaking offhandedly.

Translation: "What does that have to do with me?" Zhou Yinhe set down his chopsticks, speaking offhandedly.

"Ah, I thought you liked Ruan Mianmian, after all you've given her resources—she's shown up at our gatherings several times, so I ended up scolding Wen Ling a few times for her." Zhao Xingtang spread her hands: "Guess I was meddling."

Translation: "Ah, I thought you liked Ruan MiaoMiao, after all you've given her resources, and she's shown up at our gatherings several times, so I spoke up for Ruan MiaoMiao and scolded Wen Ling a few times." Zhao Xingtang spread her hands: "I guess I was meddling."

Zhou Yinhé's gaze swept over Zhao Xingtang; his dark eyes were usually aloof, but she could still see a hint of hostility in them. She then laughed and said: "Just kidding—I didn't interfere, I only watched for a while, and Wen Ling wasn't hit."

Translation: Zhou Yinhe's gaze swept over Zhao Xingtang; his dark eyes were indifferent, yet she still detected a hint of hostility in them, and Zhao Xingtang suddenly laughed: "Just kidding, I didn't interfere—I only watched for a while, and Wen Ling wasn't hit."

Zhou Yinhé wasn't worried about Wen Ling being bullied; he just feared Zhao Xingtang would indiscriminately help Ruan Mianmian bully Wen Ling.

Translation: Zhou Yinhe wasn't worried that Wen Ling would be bullied; he just feared Zhao Xingtang would indiscriminately help Ruan MiaoMiao bully Wen Ling.

His voice finally turned cold, with a slight threat: "Don't make fun of Wen Ling."

Translation: His voice finally turned cold, with a slight threat: "Don't joke about Wen Ling."

Zhao Xingtang snorted with laughter, Qi Zhan and Jiang Jibai also put down their chopsticks, the three all stared at Zhou Yinhé, who narrowed his eyes and set down his chopsticks.

Translation: Zhao Xingtang burst out laughing with a "pfft," Qi Zhan and Jiang Jibai also put down their chopsticks, the three of them stared at Zhou Yinhe, who narrowed his eyes and set down his chopsticks.

"I'm not eating—I'm leaving."

Translation: "I'm not eating, I'm leaving."

Jiang Jibai chuckled lightly, picked up his chopsticks again, and soothed: "Go ahead, eat—why wouldn't you?"

Translation: Jiang Jibai gave a light chuckle, picked up his chopsticks again, and said with a smile: "Eat, why wouldn't you eat?"

He looked at the other two, his tone full of teasing: "You two hurry up and eat; if you keep staring at little five, he'll get annoyed, and then you'll have to calm him down."

Translation: He looked at the other two, his tone full of teasing: "You two hurry up and eat; if you keep looking, Xiao Wu will get annoyed, and then you'll have to placate him."

"Okay, okay, okay." The two tried not to laugh as they lowered their heads.

Translation: "Fine, fine, fine." The two suppressed their laughter and lowered their heads.