Chapter 8

Qiao Chuchu choked up, furrowing her brows.

Out of politeness, she should agree.

But—

[Although I quite like these dangerous characters, getting them involved in my life is definitely a no-go.]

[After all, I don't even know what dangerous business the Lou family is really involved in. The novel didn't specify, just mentioned something about the mafia. What if I get mixed up in those unspeakable things?]

"I'm a weapons merchant, which is legal overseas. I don't deal with drugs, gambling, or prostitution," Lou Tingsi spoke up, his phoenix eyes twinkling as he stared at her. "Miss Qiao, you wouldn't happen to think I'm a bad person and don't want to talk to me, would you?"

Chuchu was startled and hurried to explain, "No, how could I think that?"

She felt a chill run down her spine.

[Can this guy read my thoughts? He hit the nail right on the head.]

Lou Yuejue looked at his father in surprise.

Could Dad also...

Lou Tingsi smiled meaningfully and gestured toward the sofa nearby. "Please, have a seat."

Qiao Chuchu reluctantly sat down with Lou Tingsi.

Lou Yuejue sat on her left.

Lou Tingsi sat on her right.

Both subtly leaned closer to her.

She sat uncomfortably between them, enveloped in their faint tea fragrance.

[Why are these two fixating on me? According to the script, when the female lead appears, Lou Yuejue is supposed to find her warmth reminiscent of his mother's and become her devoted fanboy from then on.]

[By this point in the script, I should be dead already. This world shouldn't have any more scenes with me, so why are they seeking me out?]

Qiao Chuchu wanted to cry.

[Tsk, it's my first time talking to a psychopath. What should I say? I'm so nervous.]

Somehow, she felt the atmosphere grow even more peculiar.

Lou Tingsi handed her a glass of champagne. "Miss Qiao, had you heard of us before?"

Qiao Chuchu accepted the champagne with both hands and replied softly, "I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Lou, but my brothers handle all the family matters. I'm not very knowledgeable about these things."

[As if! You're one of my favorite characters! Of course I know about you. I even know what color underwear you wear!]

Lou Tingsi raised an eyebrow and glanced down at Qiao Chuchu.

Qiao Chuchu stared at the bubbles in her champagne while mentally reciting: [Lou Tingsi, a Chinese resident of Country Y, showed exceptional business acumen in the family enterprise from an early age. He's been a perfect marksman since age ten, ruthless but not disloyal. Due to childhood trauma from witnessing his mother with another man and learning his younger brother wasn't his father's biological child, followed by his mother's suicide with his brother, he developed a strong aversion to women.]

[However, due to his special profession, he had to plan for the family business, so he simply used a high-quality donor egg to have his son Lou Yuejue, whom he raised single-handedly. As a result, although Lou Yuejue lacked a mother's care, he wasn't an emotionally deprived child.]

[After all, Lou Tingsi never neglected him, so Lou Yuejue is extremely dependent on his father and inherited Lou Tingsi's ruthlessness and coldness. He's practically a carbon copy of Lou Tingsi!]

Lou Yuejue couldn't help but puff out his chest.

Being compared to his father was the highest praise for him.

[Actually, apart from being slightly mentally unstable, this father-son duo doesn't have any real problems. They shouldn't have met such a fate.]

Qiao Chuchu sighed regretfully, her gaze casually sweeping across the room before locking onto the female lead in her server's uniform. Her mind immediately let out a sharp alarm—

[Ah! The female lead is here!]

Pei Yuan and the other brothers alertly looked toward the source of the sound.

The female lead is here?

Lin Qing immediately turned around.

The female lead is here?

Lou Yuejue looked toward the entrance.

The female lead is here?!

Qiao Chuchu watched Xia Xuechun's figure as she wandered through the venue with her server's tray, passing by the three of them.

She gestured: "Hello!~"

Xia Xuechun looked at her.

She handed her the champagne: "Thank you for your trouble."

Xia Xuechun frowned almost imperceptibly, reluctantly taking the used champagne glass. Her gaze inadvertently fell on the Lou father and son, her eyes widening in amazement.

Qiao Chuchu felt a bit of secret excitement.

She had indirectly helped Lou Yuejue see the female lead, hadn't she?

Qiao Chuchu expectantly looked at Lou Yuejue.

She could finally see the legendary expression of "sparked interest."

But—

Lou Yuejue's eyes were as unfocused as a yo-yo, his gaze wandering aimlessly around the room as if searching for something.

Where is she? Where's the female lead?

Qiao Chuchu: "?"

[This guy should have fallen in love at first sight with the female lead. How come he's looking elsewhere when she's right in front of him?]

Lou Yuejue looked up and finally saw Xia Xuechun.

Their eyes met.

He froze.

[Ah, they made eye contact! Lou Yuejue and the female lead made eye contact! Well, how about it? Isn't your little heart racing wildly?]

Lou Yuejue felt like he'd been struck by lightning!

Is this it?

This ordinary woman who could be found anywhere on the street is supposed to make him feel his mother's presence?

He's supposed to die for someone like her?

Is this it???!

Xia Xuechun noticed him staring at her for too long and considerately crouched down: "Young master, would you like something to drink?"

Lou Yuejue exploded in anger: "Drink my ass, get lost!"

Xia Xuechun: "?"

Qiao Chuchu: "! Lou Yuejue, what are you doing?"

Lou Yuejue turned to her angrily: "I should be asking you that! You think I've never seen impressive scenes or beautiful women before? How could I possibly be interested in this kind of wo—"

Before he could finish, Lou Tingsi suddenly grabbed and dragged him away!

Lou Yuejue struggled in his father's grip: "Dad! Let me go!"

Lou Tingsi walked away without looking back.

Qiao Chuchu watched the father and son pair disappear into the distance, then awkwardly turned to the female lead: "I'm sorry about that, the kid has some mental issues. Don't take it personally."

Xia Xuechun stood up straight, looking somewhat dejected but maintaining a haughty, self-important attitude. "It's fine."

Xia Xuechun muttered under her breath: "Rich people are all like this, so full of themselves."

Qiao Chuchu: "..."

Full of themselves?

Lou Yuejue aside, as he did offend her.

But she, Qiao Chuchu, hadn't been arrogant at all?!

Moreover, her seven brothers, Lou Yuejue, Lou Tingsi, Lin Qing, and many other innocent people all died because of her and the male lead's love story!

They were all just stepping stones for these two idiots' romance!

How dare she call them arrogant?!

If she's so capable, why doesn't she avoid marrying rich men altogether?!

Meanwhile, Lou Tingsi dragged his son to a secluded spot and warned: "Don't speak carelessly!"

Lou Yuejue affirmed: "Dad, you heard Qiao Chuchu's inner thoughts too, right? She's insulting me! How could I possibly be interested in such an ordinary woman, and like you, I don't need a mother's care."

Lou Tingsi responded coldly: "We're not sure if what she's saying is true or false yet, why get angry about it?"

Lou Yuejue had a revelation.

Right, they didn't know if what this person was saying was true or false yet. What if he and his father were just going crazy?

Lou Tingsi spoke in a grim tone: "Now I'm taking you back there to continue listening to what she might say. We'll decide what to do after confirming whether it's true or false."

They both walked back toward Qiao Chuchu.

Qiao Chuchu was staring intently at Xia Xuechun's back.

[Hmph, female lead, go ahead and act proud in front of me. I'm not contradicting you because you're about to spill red wine on a woman. You have your own tribulations to face!]

As soon as the thought finished, Xia Xuechun suddenly tripped, falling forward with the red wine into a woman's arms!

Screams erupted at the scene!

Xia Xuechun and the woman fell together. The woman got up awkwardly and slapped Xia Xuechun hard: "What are you doing?!"

Xia Xuechun slapped her back: "It wasn't on purpose! Why did you hit me?!"

With that, chaos erupted!

Outside the commotion, Qiao Chuchu confidently crossed her arms and raised her chin with a smile.

[See? I told you, I know the plot like the back of my hand. No character can escape my eye!]

Lou Yuejue stood dumbfounded, exchanging glances with Lou Tingsi.

It was true.

Everything she said... was all true!