Chapter 7: Eating Together

Ji Xueli stood tall in a pair of small stilettos, looking down at Ren Tang.

“You… you dare hit me?!” Ren Tang widened her eyes, staring at her in disbelief.

The sales associate gaped, frozen in place, too frightened to move.

“Yes, I hit you. Are you going to report it to the Crown Prince?” Ji Xueli smiled.

From her words, it was clear that Ji Xueli wasn’t the female lead, but rather the vicious female antagonist, just like the original owner. So, she didn’t have to hold back.

However, for some reason, Ji Xueli still felt a little disappointed. If the female lead had been her, she could have easily handled everything.

Ren Tang trembled with rage, the pain on her cheek only making her angrier. “I’m the Crown Prince’s person! Even if you have the Ji family behind you, what does that matter?!”

“It seems Duan Qingyu’s taste isn’t that great,” Ji Xueli said, sizing her up honestly.

“Is that so? This is the first time I’ve heard someone say my taste is bad.” A deep and pleasant voice cut in.

Ji Xueli instinctively turned to look.

The man wore a noble black shirt and suit trousers, with broad shoulders and long legs, his cold brows and faintly captivating features accentuated by a slight smile.

Duan Qingyu? What is he doing here? Could it be that this fool is the female lead?!

Ji Xueli froze in place, caught in the act of bad-mouthing someone…

“Crown Prince, I don’t think Miss Ji meant it. She said I’m fine, but now she’s talking about you…” Ren Tang greeted him with delight upon seeing him.

Duan Qingyu subtly took a step back. “You are?”

Ren Tang’s face turned pale.

Ji Xueli immediately raised her head. It seemed this woman didn’t leave an impression on Duan Qingyu.

“She’s holding your card. Don’t you remember your lover?” Ji Xueli couldn’t help but ask.

Duan Qingyu raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. “Lover?”

“I don’t remember having a lover,” he said, glancing at the person beside him.

This was going to be interesting. Ji Xueli smiled, her eyes narrowed.

Ren Tang’s face shifted between pale and red. She indeed wasn’t Duan Qingyu’s woman. The card she was holding was from a time when she found him drunk and helped him back to his hotel. He had mistaken her for someone else and asked her to leave…

“Crown Prince, people forget things sometimes. Perhaps you’ve forgotten what happened when you were drunk?” Ren Tang tried to muddle through.

“I don’t just call anyone,” Duan Qingyu said, his patience wearing thin.

Ji Xueli watched Duan Qingyu’s cold expression and sighed. “Alright, Miss Ren, if I were you, I’d just take the card and leave without losing face.”

Ren Tang gritted her teeth, hesitating for a moment. Eventually, she grabbed the card and stormed off, casting a glare at Ji Xueli.

Ji Xueli felt like she hadn’t slapped her hard enough. She waved at the sales associate. “What’s her name again?”

“Ren Tang, a popular female celebrity right now.”

“Ren Tang…” Ji Xueli repeated. She’d remember her. The next time they crossed paths, she wouldn’t let her off easy.

Duan Qingyu noticed her reaction, knowing that she had taken note of Ren Tang.

Ji Xueli suddenly remembered the person beside her and quickly explained, “I wasn’t talking about you earlier. I was mocking her.”

“Mm, after all, my taste really isn’t that great,” Duan Qingyu replied casually, raising his leg to walk out.

She’s so petty…

“I didn’t mean to offend you. How about I treat you to a meal?” Ji Xueli quickly caught up, telling the staff to send her items to the Ji family.

Duan Qingyu glanced at his wristwatch and nodded. “Alright, what do you want to eat?”

She didn’t expect him to agree so quickly. Ji Xueli glanced around. “You choose. I’m not familiar with things, I just got back.”

“Miss Ji, is this your way of apologizing?” Duan Qingyu asked, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

“Mm, choose something expensive. I’m not short on money,” Ji Xueli said, folding her arms and giving a light laugh.

Her directness caught Duan Qingyu off guard. He looked at her with interest. “Alright, let’s go then.”

“But how did you end up here?” Ji Xueli asked curiously.

Duan Qingyu replied leisurely, “This mall belongs to the Duan family.”

“Oh~” Ji Xueli mused to herself, thinking she’d better check the ownership of places before going out next time.

“But I almost forgot, I have a business partner waiting for me,” Duan Qingyu said with some regret in his voice.

“No worries, let’s go together then.” Ji Xueli didn’t mind. As long as she could spend time with him, even if it meant he had to drop her off after dinner, it was fine.

“Do you mind?” Duan Qingyu asked, his gaze fixed on her.

“I don’t mind.”

“Then let’s go together.” He lowered his eyes, hiding the amusement and excitement in them. He couldn’t wait to see what would unfold soon…

“But don’t call me Miss Ji anymore, it feels a bit distant. Just call me Xueli,” Ji Xueli took the initiative to bridge the gap between them.

“Xueli…” He repeated softly, his voice deep and pleasant, the last syllable rising with an unspoken tenderness.

Ji Xueli’s ears tingled, but she forced herself to stay calm. “Mm.”

“Good.”