Chapter Six: An Unexpected Invitation

Chapter Six: An Unexpected Invitation

Sitting helplessly on the wooden bench in the ice cream shop, I met the gaze of Yang Xiaoyu, who had been looking at me with a peculiar expression.

“Don’t look at me like I’m some kind of monster. You’re making me feel like you’re a perverted scientist from some secret organization,” I pressed my lips together, breaking the uneasy silence that made my heart race.

“I just find it strange that a man like you exists in this world,” Yang Xiaoyu rested her chin on her hand, the mockery clear on her face. “You say she’s your girlfriend, but outside of stories I’ve read online, I’ve never seen a girlfriend bring a stranger to beat up her own boyfriend, and then remain indifferent.”

“There’s a complicated story behind all this—you wouldn’t understand.” I tried to act profound, though I couldn’t fully grasp it myself. Still, I trusted Luoqing. I believed she must have her reasons for everything she did. Since she wasn’t ready to tell me, I had no intention of digging for answers.

Yang Xiaoyu forced a dry laugh and continued, “I’m not really interested in your girlfriend or your story, but I have to say, Boss Yang, you’re the most timid man I’ve ever met.”

I ignored her, thinking she could say whatever she liked. What mattered was that Luoqing loved me, and I loved her. That was enough. Love your woman and let others talk.

Yang Xiaoyu sighed, as if she wished I were more assertive, then stood up and took her cold drink in hand, saying casually, “You could call a man like you a devoted lover, but to others, you’re just a… hmm…” She paused, unable to find the right word.

“A fool,” I supplied.

“Exactly,” Yang Xiaoyu laughed, covering her mouth as she glanced at me, then walked away with a cheerful smile.

I’d only meant to tease Yang Xiaoyu a little, to lighten her mood. Who would help others insult themselves for no reason? Watching her leave, I felt a pang of guilt. In truth, I hadn’t put enough heart into this ice cream shop. Whether it was Sister Shiyu, Yang Xiaoyu, or anyone else who had helped me, their contributions were clear to me. Sometimes, I really felt I wasn’t qualified to be their boss.

I checked the time on my phone—already after five in the afternoon, with only about an hour left before closing. Our ice cream shop only operated during the day, except for rare events or special occasions. The main reason was a lack of manpower. Hiring another cold drink maker or a few more waiters wouldn’t solve the problem. Most of our signature drinks were created by Yang Xiaoyu herself. Even if I hired more staff, only Xiaoyu could handle the night shift; otherwise, the quality would drop and we’d lose customers. It was better to run the business steadily during the day than to chase uncertain profits at night.

“Off work, time to go home!” Yang Xiaoyu took off her uniform, dressed in a sexy fitted outfit and carrying a purple cotton jacket, skipping over to me.

“Xiaoyu, do you have time tonight?” The shop was empty, just the two of us. Closing early wouldn’t make much difference, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to treat Yang Xiaoyu to a nice dinner in gratitude for her hard work.

“What’s this? Your girlfriend dumped you and now you want to chase me?” Yang Xiaoyu laughed as she hung up her coat, looking at me in puzzlement.

“How could I? I’m not into little girls,” I joked, glancing at her and curling my lip.

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“Yang Chen, what’s that supposed to mean?” Yang Xiaoyu jumped up angrily, spun around in place, and shouted, “I have an angelic face and a devilish figure, and you dare say I’m an underdeveloped little girl!”

Seeing her furious yet confident demeanor, I waved my hand to signal I was done joking. When she calmed down, I said, “I want to treat you to dinner. How about it, Miss Devilfish? Will you do me the honor?”

She was momentarily stunned by the nickname, then realized I was teasing her with her own words. She retorted, “Devilfish sounds terrible. Call me Angel Fish.”

“Alright, Angel Fish, will you join me for dinner?” I followed her suggestion, finding the name surprisingly smooth.

Yang Xiaoyu left her seat, pinching her chin as she circled around me again and again. Just as I was starting to feel dizzy, she finally spoke, her tone serious, “When something unusual happens, there’s always a reason—tell me, what’s your real motive?”

Her suspicious tone nearly made me collapse… Do I really look that much like a villain? Is my sincere invitation so hard to believe?

“If you don’t tell me, I’m leaving.” Yang Xiaoyu headed toward the door, deliberately slowing her steps and glancing back at me to see if I would stop her.

I looked at her cotton jacket still draped over the chair, then turned to watch her inch toward the door, unable to help but smile wryly. This girl… is she out of her mind?

“I just want to thank you for everything you’ve done for the shop. Does that reason sound forced?” I quickly gave her an excuse, knowing her stubbornness might actually lead her to walk out without her coat. In these two months, my most direct impression of her was that she’s the epitome of prideful suffering.

“That’s a decent reason. At least you have some conscience.” Hearing me give in, Yang Xiaoyu hurried back, grabbed her coat with a smile, and said, “Enough talk, let’s go. You’re my boss after all—I can’t refuse you.”

Outside, the snow was blowing sideways. Suddenly, I realized Luoqing had been gone for a long time and hadn’t called me. Unease crept into my heart. I quickly picked up the phone and dialed her number.

Yang Xiaoyu, now dressed in her coat, stood at the door watching the swirling snow, deep in thought, while I paced anxiously inside, listening to the busy signal on the phone.

“What’s wrong?” Yang Xiaoyu noticed my anxiety and walked over, asking softly.

I waved her off, telling her to wait a bit, then tried dialing again.

As I called over and over, time seemed to slow. Every minute, every second was torture. The long, unanswered tone echoed in my ears.

I wandered around like a headless fly, occasionally peering out the window at the darkening sky, feeling even more anxious. Yang Xiaoyu, for once, sat quietly by the door, tapping methodically on her phone.

Just when I was about to lose hope, the call finally connected. I immediately called out Luoqing’s name, hoping to hear her voice, but only silence greeted me. I pressed the phone tightly to my ear, unwilling to miss a single moment.

The other end was quiet, with no sound of wind or snow. That reassured me a little—at least it meant Luoqing was somewhere safe indoors.

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The call lasted five minutes. I kept calling out her name, but there was still no response. I wanted to hang up and call again, but feared no one would answer. As I hesitated, a voice finally came through, but it wasn’t Luoqing—it was a man.

“You’re Yang Chen.”

“Yes, that’s me. Who are you? Where’s Luoqing?” I shouted anxiously.

“Heh… We met this morning, and you’ve already forgotten me?” The voice sounded familiar.

“You’re… Summer, aren’t you?” I guessed. I’d only met a few people that morning, and apart from Summer, who’d beaten me, there was no one else. It couldn’t be Bai Sheng.

“You remember my name—not bad. Since you’re so clever, I’ll give you a chance. Come to Imperial KTV. Your goddess—who happens to be my girlfriend, Luoqing—is waiting for you here.” The man laughed arrogantly.

“Don’t talk nonsense. I’m Luoqing’s boyfriend. I don’t believe you. I want to hear her voice.” Who knew if he was telling the truth? I felt certain there was some malicious plot. If I went, it would likely end badly.

“I’ve given you the chance. Come or don’t, it’s up to you.” Summer spoke each word deliberately, then hung up.

I stared at my phone, trembling, then shoved it into my coat pocket and turned to Yang Xiaoyu, who was still playing with her phone. “Xiaoyu, something urgent came up tonight. You head home first—take a taxi and stay safe.”

I handed her the shop keys and walked out the door.

Imperial KTV—the largest karaoke venue in Yichun. But wasn’t this place owned by Luoqing’s family? I thought back to Summer’s voice from this morning, and it matched the one on the phone. He had Luoqing’s phone, too, which proved he wasn’t lying. Luoqing and he must be at Imperial KTV.

Braving the icy snow, I hurried to the roadside to catch a taxi, my mind in turmoil, feeling that something major was about to happen…

But at this moment, I couldn’t care about anything else. Luoqing’s safety was uncertain—whether it was a trap or a dangerous feast, I had to face this arrogant man. I could lose to anyone, but not to this hateful man who claimed to be Luoqing’s boyfriend.

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