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Chapter 81: Black Stockings

A few of them walked into a Sichuan restaurant together.

From the moment she stepped through the door, Su Youyou’s eyes stayed fixed on Shen Qingxuan.

She deliberately slowed her pace; the instant Shen Qingxuan sat down, she slipped into the seat beside him.

No sooner was she seated than she launched her “operation.”

Tilting her body slightly, Su Youyou brushed her carefully-styled hair behind an ear and gave a sweet smile. “Brother Xuan, are you a student too?”

As she spoke, she tugged the hem of her skirt a little higher, showing off her fair, slender thighs and casting flirtatious glances at Shen Qingxuan.

Shen Qingxuan had been chatting with Jiang Yubing, but Su Youyou’s sudden question made him pause.

He answered with a faint “Mm.”

Still, his eyes could not help darting to those long white legs a few times—and although only for an instant, it did not escape Jiang Yubing’s notice.

Her smile froze at once.

Without a sound she reached over and pinched the soft flesh at Shen Qingxuan’s waist.

Caught off guard, he gave a muffled grunt, almost crying out in pain.

He had just turned to ask what was wrong when Su Youyou fired several more questions.

Shen Qingxuan really did not want to respond, but because she was Zhang Yunhao’s online girlfriend, and everyone present was a friend, flatly ignoring her would have been rude.

He therefore swallowed his impatience and answered a few perfunctory sentences.

Before long the dishes arrived one after another.

The table was soon covered with colourful, fragrant Sichuan food.

Red chili oil gleamed invitingly under the lights.

Mapo tofu steamed, and spicy boiled fish sent out a mouth-watering aroma.

Shen Qingxuan picked up some of his Bingbing’s favourite dishes and placed them in her bowl.

Yet Jiang Yubing acted as though she hadn’t seen, helping herself to other dishes instead.

When he tried to speak to her she said nothing, treating him as if he were invisible.

Shen Qingxuan was on the verge of tears, puzzled and aggrieved.

What on earth had happened?

How had he angered his Bingbing?

He was utterly at a loss.

After hesitating, he took out his phone and opened their chat.

His fingers flew across the screen:

Drink More Hot Water: {What’s wrong, Bingbing?}

Jiang Yubing’s phone buzzed. Seeing Shen Qingxuan point at his own phone, she grudgingly checked the message.

She replied tersely:

Go To Sleep Quick: {Who’s your wife? Don’t call me that.}

Shen Qingxuan sensed trouble and hurried to ask again.

Drink More Hot Water: {My dear wife, what did I do wrong? Tell me!}

Her reply came swiftly.

Go To Sleep Quick: {Were those legs nice to look at?}

Shen Qingxuan was momentarily blank.

Drink More Hot Water: {What legs? I don’t know what you mean!}

The answer infuriated Jiang Yubing; she nearly flung her phone aside. Gritting her teeth, she typed:

Go To Sleep Quick: {Were Su Youyou’s stockings black or white?}

Drink More Hot Water: {Black.}

The words were sent before he realised his mistake.

Go To Sleep Quick: {Then why are you talking to me!}

Drink More Hot Water: {Bingbing, are you jealous?}

Go To Sleep Quick: {Me, jealous? Hardly! Go chat with your little sister if you’re bored.}

After sending that, Jiang Yubing set down her phone, the chill in her expression deepening.

Her idiot husband had actually learned to deceive her.

If their friends weren’t here and she didn’t have to save his face, she’d have shown him exactly why roses are red today.

Realising he truly had angered her,

Shen Qingxuan leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Bingbing, don’t be angry, I was wrong.

I really didn’t do it on purpose—my heart holds only you. Please don’t be mad, okay?”

Jiang Yubing merely looked at him quietly and said nothing.

Meanwhile Su Youyou, making idle chat with Zhang Yunhao, caught the scene out of the corner of her eye and secretly laughed.

So what if she’s pretty?

Isn’t he still in the palm of my hand? Tricks have won hearts since ancient times.

She lifted her teacup, took a tiny sip and hid the smug curve of her lips.

Just as Shen Qingxuan was about to coax Jiang Yubing again,

Zhao Hu stood with a wineglass. “Qingxuan, Hao, come—bottoms up!”

He clapped Zhang Yunhao on the shoulder as he spoke.

Shen Qingxuan had no choice but to handle the toast first and soothe Jiang Yubing later.

He rose helplessly, clinked glasses with Zhao Hu and Zhang Yunhao, and drained it in one gulp.

The fiery liquor burned down his throat, setting his stomach ablaze.

After that single glass, just as he sat down, Jiang Yubing immediately refilled it.

Displeasure glinted in her eyes—drink again.

Seeing her expression, he knew she was still angry and could only drain another.

Again and again, one glass after another flowed into him, until his consciousness began to blur.

……

When the meal ended, the private room reeked of alcohol.

Supported by Zhao Hu, Shen Qingxuan staggered out, cheeks rosy, steps unsteady—obviously drunk.

His eyes were hazy, and he mumbled, “Bingbing, I’m sorry…”

Uncle Li was already waiting at the door.

Seeing Shen Qingxuan being helped out, he hurried forward to assist.

After settling Shen Qingxuan in the car, Jiang Yubing took out her phone and sent Zhao Hu a red-packet as thanks.

Then she climbed into the car herself and softly closed the door.

The car started slowly and drove away.

Zhao Hu also said goodbye to Zhang Yunhao and left.

Watching the distant Maybach, Su Youyou could not calm her racing heart.

That car was the key to a better life—and Shen Qingxuan held that key.

Such a high-quality, wealthy young man—she had to have him.

She bit her lip, eyes full of determination and greed.

“Brother Hao~, can you forward Brother Xuan’s WeChat to me?” she said in a soft, coquettish tone.

Afraid Zhang Yunhao might suspect something, she added quickly, “No other reason—we’ve known each other a while. We’re friends, right? Just swapping contacts.”

Zhang Yunhao thought nothing of it. Wearing a simple, honest smile, he forwarded Shen Qingxuan’s contact.

After all, they were all friends—what was the harm?

Goal achieved, Su Youyou secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Staring at Shen Qingxuan’s contact on her phone, she curled her lips in triumph.

For now, she had no intention of giving up her money-tree Zhang Yunhao.

Whenever a new in-game skin appeared, he sent it to her.

Even the cab fare for this trip had come from one of his red-packets.

In other words, she hadn’t spent a cent—yet had enjoyed a little holiday.

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