Chapter 15: I Really Can’t Do Anything With You

“Whatever you want is fine with me.”

Ling Yuan tore open the straw’s plastic wrapper and inserted it into the milk tea cup.

“Here, half-sugar, warm.”

“Thanks, Brother.”

Yan Xi reached for the milk tea, but a whiff of cigarette smoke drifted over, its sharp smell making her frown.

Ling Yuan noticed her subtle expression and stood up.

“Sit on my side. No smoke smell over here.”

“Alright.”

Yan Xi nodded, but as she brushed past someone, Manager Han noticed her.

“This chick’s pretty fine.”

“Keep it down, Manager… Not cool if people hear…”

“So what!?”

Yan Xi’s striking beauty contrasted sharply with Ling Yuan, sparking Manager Han’s displeasure. His face twisted in resentment.

“No idea what that guy did in his past life to score a wife like her.”

His voice was loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear.

“That jerk…”

Yan Xi turned, ready to argue, but Ling Yuan grabbed her.

“Ignore him. Let’s just eat.”

Ling Yuan acted like he hadn’t heard, casually flipping through the menu.

“Don’t you think they’re going too far?”

Yan Xi sat beside him, grumbling softly.

Perhaps overhearing them, Manager Han shouted again.

“I can pull in a few hundred grand just from a single deal with Mengxi Group. You ever make that kind of money in your life? Following that broke loser? I could keep you and pay you a hundred grand a month.”

“Manager, don’t say that. It’s not right…”

“What’s wrong with speaking the truth?”

Yan Xi’s anger flared, a cold smile creeping onto her face.

A hundred grand?

That was less than half her monthly allowance, not to mention her mother covered most of her expenses.

Suddenly, Ling Yuan stood and walked over to Manager Han, extending his hand.

“Nice to meet you, Manager. I hear Madam Yan is meticulous in business. Your company must have real strength to secure a deal with Mengxi Group.”

His words left everyone in the restaurant puzzled.

But Ling Yuan kept a stiff smile, continuing calmly.

“In ten days, Madam Yan is hosting a birthday banquet for Master Ling. I wonder if your company is qualified to send a representative.”

Manager Han’s brows furrowed.

Master Ling was the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.

Only significant figures attended his banquets.

This kid looked like an ordinary nobody.

How could he know about Madam Yan’s plans for Master Ling’s birthday…?

“And you are…?”

“No need to know who I am.”

Ling Yuan’s tone turned oddly serious.

“If your company’s invited to the banquet, we can meet there.”

With that, he grabbed Yan Xi’s hand and led her out of the barbecue joint.

They walked far, making sure no one followed, before Ling Yuan sighed in relief.

“Almost got into it with them back there.”

Yan Xi shrugged it off.

“So what? They insulted you first!”

Her eyes still burned with anger, ready to tear them apart.

[I love my Big Brother so much! How dare they insult him to my face!]

“They’re drunk. Best not to mess with them.”

Ling Yuan looked gently at the fuming Yan Xi, feeling a quiet warmth inside.

“But still…”

Yan Xi clenched her fists, unable to accept his reasoning.

Suddenly, Ling Yuan’s hand touched her cheek. For some reason, his hand felt so warm, so comforting.

It was like a snowflake melting in your palm on a winter day.

“Alright, what if they got violent? I can’t take them all on my own. Plus, you’re too pretty to get caught up in a mess, right?”

“Oh, Big Brother touched me on his own for once!”

“…”

Ling Yuan quickly pulled his hand back.

“You switch gears too fast.”

“Hehe.”

Yan Xi threw herself into his arms, catching him off guard and nearly knocking him over.

“You were so cool just now. I love, love, love it!”

“Uh… was I…?”

“Yup!”

Yan Xi let go, placing a finger by her lips, looking frustrated.

“But… do you like me? Like having a sister like me~?”

“Drink your milk tea. Not answering that.”

Ling Yuan turned away, shoving the milk tea into her hands.

“Eh? Big Brother’s blushing!”

“Nonsense. I’m not. They just pissed me off.”

Ling Yuan denied it quickly.

“Let’s hit the street stalls over there for something to eat.”

“Don’t change the subject~”

Yan Xi wasn’t letting him off that easily.

“I’m hungry. Let’s go.”

“Hmph…”

Yan Xi rubbed her soft stomach, which growled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten in nearly nine hours. She finally gave up pressing him.

“Fine, fine. But what should we eat?”

Ling Yuan thought for a moment.

“Fried chicken?”

“Too greasy. Don’t want it.”

“Sticky rice cakes?”

“Too sweet. Nope.”

“Stinky tofu?”

“Had it too much. Pass.”

“Tch—”

Ling Yuan sucked in a breath.

“No surprise there, Miss Picky Eater.”

“Come on, when it comes to food, you can’t skimp.”

Yan Xi placed a hand on her chest, earnest.

“Some alley food’s way better than your fancy five-star restaurants. And cheaper.”

Ling Yuan rolled his eyes.

“Be glad there’s food at all.”

“Hmph, bad food’s not worth a dime. Good food’s worth any price. Wow, is that new!?”

Yan Xi’s eyes lit up, and before Ling Yuan could react, she darted to a stall.

“Hey, beautiful, what can I get you?”

The young, enthusiastic stall owner greeted her.

“That squid’s huge! Can I get one!?”

The squid skewer was as long as her arm—the biggest she’d ever seen at a street stall. It had to be delicious.

The squid sizzled on the grill, and Yan Xi’s mouth watered. But before it was ready, her attention shifted to a nearby egg burger stall.

“Hey, you’re gonna order too much and not finish!”

Yan Xi’s appetite was tiny.

That squid alone could fill her up, and now she wanted an egg burger?

“It’s fine. You’ll eat what I don’t!”

Ignoring his warning, Yan Xi took a bite of the egg burger, handed it to him, and ran off to another stall.

“I really can’t do anything with you.”

Ling Yuan looked at the half-eaten egg burger in his hand and sighed.

“Ugh—”