Chapter 38: New Lover and Old Love

Lu Mingji lowered his head to cut the steak on the plate, speared a piece with his fork and put it in his mouth, slightly raised his eyes, and saw Zhou Du and Xia Xi with different expressions; his face showed a bewildered look—what had happened? The restaurant manager had long been on standby; seeing the big boss arrive, he hurried forward to greet him. Only then did Lu Mingji notice the commotion at the door, glanced at it absentmindedly, and suddenly froze.

That person was… Xu Yanfeng?

Dressed in a deep black suit, he exuded an elegant and noble aura; from several meters away, his presence was hard to ignore. The few elite aides accompanying him were clearly older than him, surrounding him like stars around the moon, yet they could not overshadow his aura.

A natural-born superior, his deterrent power was immense.

Lu Mingji thought to himself, no wonder Xia Xi's demeanor was unnatural. No matter how much time had passed, seeing an ex-boyfriend, especially one with whom she had a child, feelings could not simply be severed.

But he didn't understand why Zhou Du was also acting so strangely…

Before Lu Mingji could figure it out, Xu Yanfeng's gaze swept over.

He first noticed Xia Xi, then glanced at the man beside her, who had his face covered, but after a couple more looks he recognized him as Zhou Du. Xu Yanfeng clenched his jaw and stared for several seconds.

As if unable to maintain his facial expression, Xu Yanfeng slipped one hand into his trouser pocket, clenched his five fingers tightly, shaking with force.

Zhou Du—he actually would see Zhou Du again, and he was with Xia Xi.

Xu Yanfeng's aura shifted abruptly; the restaurant manager sensed it, frightened, and stammered: "General Manager Xu, you've arrived—if you have any instructions, please let us know; we will certainly cooperate and improve."

Early on, they received a message in the group saying that General Manager Xu would visit the chain's stores after work, though it wasn't clear which ones; in short, all managers should prepare, not count on luck.

So he led the staff nonstop to check for gaps, waiting for General Manager Xu's arrival, never expecting to actually run into him.

The manager originally thought he had done well; even if he wouldn't be praised, at least he could pass muster with General Manager Xu—but seeing the latter's expression, he suddenly lost confidence and could only straighten his posture before the other spoke.

Xu Yanfeng ignored his words, staring fixedly at that spot.

His stern, silent face looked especially cold and solemn; the restaurant manager naturally felt apprehensive, cold sweat breaking out on his back: "General Manager Xu?"

Xu Yanfeng collected his thoughts, gave the manager a faint glance, turned his head to whisper an instruction to a nearby executive, then strode straight toward where Xia Xi was.

Several executives sprang into action, inspecting various parts of the restaurant; the manager had no time to pay attention to Xu Yanfeng, nodding and bowing as he followed them.

As he drew nearer, Xu Yanfeng finally noticed Lu Mingji, who was in the light and shadow and had been overlooked by him.

He must be going crazy—under these circumstances, he actually felt like laughing.

What a formidable woman Xia Xi is—new lover and old love sitting at the same table, the atmosphere still so harmonious; adding this ex-boyfriend of his, they could practically play a table of mahjong.

Ah, no, Lu Mingji doesn't count as a "new lover"; according to information from Tang Yizhou, Lu Mingji and Xia Xi have no relation—they're merely ordinary superior and subordinate.

So what? Just because there's nothing now doesn't mean there won't be later; he saw that Lu Mingji's thoughts toward Xia Xi were not pure.

As Xu Yanfeng approached, Xia Xi stiffened like a block of wood.

Is Nancheng only palm-sized? How does she keep running into Xu Yanfeng in every kind of setting?

She's only been back here for a little over a month!

"Quite a coincidence—coming to inspect the restaurant, I run into old acquaintances." The six‑person table had an extra empty seat; just right, Xu Yanfeng pulled out a chair and sat down, his relaxed posture making it seem less like a chance encounter and more like he'd purposely come for an appointment: "Since we're so fated, why not join me? This meal's on me."

Zhou Du was consumed by extreme guilt; hearing Xu Yanfeng's voice, he felt as if thunder were exploding on his scalp, his head almost dropping to under the table, and he dared not glance at that person.

He couldn't help but roar in his mind: "I haven't been to Nancheng in eight hundred years, and as soon as I come I run into Xu Yanfeng! Is heaven trying to doom me?"

Xu Yanfeng didn't care what others were thinking; he calmly raised his hand, and a server immediately stepped forward, bowed ninety degrees, and presented the menu with both hands. The man's ring‑clad index finger tapped a few items on the menu; the server noted his order and quietly withdrew.

Zhou Du and Xia Xi remained silent, the atmosphere a bit awkward; Lu Mingji, as usual, remained composed and said: "It's a coincidence—this restaurant is actually under the Xu Clan, no wonder business is so booming."

Xu Yanfeng picked up the napkin before him to wipe his hands, his gaze lightly falling on Xia Xi's face—she was no longer as startled as before, her complexion fairly calm. He smiled faintly and responded to Lu Mingji: "Manager Lu, you overpraise me."

Zhou Du truly couldn't stay any longer; he felt like sitting on pins and needles, like a thorn in his back, like a bone stuck in his throat. He picked up the cup on the table, gulped down several mouthfuls of water, scraped the chair back, stood up, and made an excuse to leave: "Cough, cough, I'm going to the restroom."

The chair legs scraped the floor with a faint screech; Zhou Du turned and walked away, nearly bumping into the server bringing food to Xu Yanfeng.

Shortly after, Xia Xi's phone resting on the table chimed, and a WeChat message popped up.

Zhou Du: "I'm leaving first, bye-bye."

Xia Xi picked up her phone and sent a question mark back.

Zhou Du: "How dare I sit at the same table as Xu Yanfeng to eat! What guts do I have?"

Xia Xi certainly understood his mindset, but for him to just abandon her like that was too unbrotherly; she wouldn't allow it: "Come back, sit down and finish this meal with me!"

Zhou Du: "I won't."

Xia Xi: "Then we're through."

Zhou Du: "……"

Five minutes later, Zhou Du returned, moving like a rusted robot, stiff‑legged, and sat down under immense pressure, still not daring to look at Xu Yanfeng; he picked up his fork and buried his head in eating the pasta— as for what it tasted like, he was embarrassed to say he couldn't taste it at all, and after a few more bites he felt his stomach cramping.

It was too agonizing.

Lu Mingji keenly sensed that, aside from himself, there was a strange magnetic field among the other three people, indicating that something had definitely happened among them—something he was unaware of.

Could it be… that Xia Xi and Zhou Du had a thing? Everyone present had their own concerns, only the two kids were immersed in the food, unaffected. Youyou was completely engrossed, while Zi Heng, knowing that Xu Yanfeng was his father, felt a hint of curiosity and stole a few glances.

Xu Yanfeng twirled the pasta with his fork, his eyes not on Zhou Du, but his words were directed at him: "I'm really curious—how did two people whose love was as solid as gold just break up like that? Why don't you give me an answer today?"

Zhou Du muttered inwardly, "Damn," knowing he couldn't escape.

The misdeeds of the past—those boomerangs will eventually pierce him.

Zhou Du opened his mouth, like a dud firecracker, and for a long time couldn't utter a word.

Xia Xi lowered her eyes, sweat beading in her palms, fearing Zhou Du would say the wrong thing and reveal something; she kicked him under the table as a warning.

In the panic she lost control of the direction, her toe kicked the opposite side; Xu Yanfeng furrowed his brow, lowered his lashes to glance under the table—though the light was unclear, one could still see a speck of dust on his pure‑black trousers.

No need to wonder whose handiwork it was.

Xu Yanfeng set down his fork, leaned forward slightly, brushed his trouser leg twice with his fingers, and gave Xia Xi an inquiring look: "In public, what are you doing?"

Xia Xi: "……"

Not doing anything, I just want to die.

Ga Ga Ga, laughing like a goose (end of chapter).