Chapter 51: That Gathering
When Xiao Yuze and Mu Le arrived at the hotel they had agreed on, they were already a bit late.
Since the others had already booked a private room, Xiao Yuze directly booked another room next to it for Mu Le to use.
It was not a very fancy hotel. Its location was even a bit remote, so there were not many people around.
Mu Le had originally planned to just find a place on the first floor to eat, but Xiao Yuze, being quite generous with money, still rented that private room.
Since it was his money, Mu Le did not feel bad about it. She just thought it was a bit wasteful, since she was the only one there.
After Xiao Yuze ordered a large number of dishes for her, while Mu Le’s face twitched a little, he patted the girl’s head and then got up and went to the other side.
Although the place was small, it actually had a nice style.
The “private rooms” were not the usual kind. Inside a large room, spaces were divided by screen-like partitions. The landscape paintings on the screens were quite interesting.
In the corners, there were also several pots of unknown vine-like plants. Their dark green color did not seem affected at all by the coming winter.
Because the rooms were only separated by screens, Mu Le could easily hear the sounds from the other side.
It was not very noisy, just a few people chatting and laughing softly. There were probably about five or six people, both men and women.
Before long, Mu Le heard Xiao Yuze’s voice. The quiet conversation on the other side quickly became more lively, and a cheerful female voice kept shouting that he should drink as a penalty.
Hearing Xiao Yuze laughing and chatting with them, Mu Le, who still had not been served her food, pouted then took out her phone, and started playing with it. Of course… her ears were still paying attention to what was happening next door.
She could not help but think, could Xiao Yuze have arranged this on purpose?
On the other side, Xiao Yuze naturally had no idea what Mu Le was thinking. Since he had indeed arrived late, he did not refuse when everyone teased him and told him to drink three cups as a penalty.
“Alright, since Yuze has already finished drinking, everyone should stop making things hard for him.”
The one who spoke was a strong man. He was a little shorter than Xiao Yuze, but his build was very muscular.
“One cup is enough. It wouldn’t be good if something happens when driving later.”
Hearing him help out, Xiao Yuze gave him a thankful look, then sat down in the only empty seat.
At the same time, a thin, dark-skinned man next to him nudged him with his elbow and said with a strange expression, “Hey, Brother Xiao, didn’t you say you were going to pick up your girlfriend? Why did you come alone?”
His voice was not quiet, so the five or six people at the table all looked over with curiosity.
Earlier, Xiao Yuze had indeed mentioned that he was going to pick someone up, so he might arrive late.
Xiao Yuze’s expression stayed calm. He simply refilled his empty glass, clinked it with the thin man’s, and said, “She’s a bit shy. Let’s leave it for this time. I’ll introduce her to you all next time.”
“Oh? Someone who can catch your interest, Yuze. I’m really curious what kind of person she is.” Sitting across from him, a short-haired woman with a very attractive figure smiled, her eyes full of curiosity.
After all, they all knew Xiao Yuze’s personality very well.
He looked like someone easy to talk to, as if he got along well with everyone. But in truth, that was just a habit, keeping a gentle appearance.
If you thought he was truly a gentle person because of that, then before you knew it, he might “eat you up” completely, leaving nothing behind.
Some people seem easy to approach at first. But the more you get to know them, the harder they actually are to get close to.
So when it came to the person Xiao Yuze liked, it was impossible for them not to be curious. Before he arrived, they had already talked about it. They didn’t expect that in the end, he would come alone.
Hearing the woman’s question, Xiao Yuze lowered his eyes and gave a soft laugh. “A very cute person. But Zixuan, do you really still have time to worry about me?”
With just one simple sentence, he completely shut Han Zixuan up, making her swallow all the words she wanted to say.
Among this group, almost everyone already had a partner except her and Xiao Yuze. Now that even Xiao Yuze had someone, she was the only one left.
But finding someone who could tolerate her fiery temper was really too hard.
Knowing that this topic was not interesting, Han Zixuan cleared her throat and stiffly tried to change the subject.
But before she could speak, the thin, dark man next to Xiao Yuze suddenly laughed softly, took a bite of food, and said, “As expected of Brother Xiao. One sentence and you shut down the most gossip-loving person here.”
Xiao Yuze only smiled faintly and said nothing, but Han Zixuan had already thrown him a sharp glare.
“Then let me gossip a bit about you, Monkey. I heard you broke up with your fourth girlfriend again?”
“Hey, my name is Yuan Zi, not Monkey!” Yuan Zi glanced at Han Zixuan across the table. “No wonder you’re still single. There’s a reason for that.”
“Are you asking to get beaten?” Even though her weak point was hit, Han Zixuan’s smile became even brighter.
“It’s because even I can’t beat you. That’s why someone as tough as you, no one dares to date you.”
“……”
Seeing the two of them start arguing again, the others were already used to it.
Xiao Yuze raised his eyebrows slightly, then suddenly said, “I actually think you two are quite suitable for each other. Look… you argue every time, but you’ve never really fallen out.”
As soon as he said that, the two who had been happily arguing both looked at him speechlessly at the same time.
Then, as if by agreement, they both stopped talking.
“Yuze, I heard you’re living with a girl now. The person you just mentioned… could it be her?” The one who spoke was another man sitting on Xiao Yuze’s other side.
He looked gentle and wore glasses. While talking, he was also peeling shrimp for the girl sitting next to him.
From how skillful he was, it was clearly not his first time doing it.
Xiao Yuze nodded, then picked up his glass and clinked it with his. But just as the man lifted his glass, the girl next to him raised her head and showed a dissatisfied expression.
Seeing his awkward look, Xiao Yuze finished his drink, then patted his shoulder and said meaningfully, “It’s fine. I understand.”
“Ahem, my stomach hasn’t been good lately. I shouldn’t drink alcohol.” In the end, the man put his glass down and pushed up his glasses.
The girl beside him seemed satisfied. She gave a soft snort, then lowered her head and quietly ate the shrimp he had peeled for her.
Xiao Yuze didn’t pay much attention, but he suddenly thought of Mu Le next door. Was she secretly listening right now?
Judging by her personality, it was very likely.
At that moment, he suddenly felt his phone vibrate. When he took it out and checked, he found it was a message from Mu Le.
But…
Lele: (ﾉꐦ ๑´Д`๑)ﾉ彡┻━┻
Xiao Yuze was a bit confused. Just then, Yuan Zi leaned over and said, “A message from sister-in-law? Wow, is that your wallpaper? Is that her? So cute!”
Because Xiao Yuze had quickly pressed back, Yuan Zi only saw the phone’s wallpaper.
It was a photo of Mu Le sleeping, taken secretly at some unknown time.
Xiao Yuze frowned slightly and was about to say something when a second message arrived.
Lele: What wallpaper? Sister-in-law? Cute?!
Looking at those three question marks in a row, Xiao Yuze couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
Yuan Zi’s voice just now wasn’t very loud, but it wasn’t that quiet either.
Which meant… she really was secretly listening.