Saving the Heartthrob Frenemy-Chapter 403: Getting hit on
Qie Xieling took a deep breath, trying to push aside the lingering frustration from his argument with Luo Muchen. Was he being a hothead? Probably? But he couldn’t help it. He now understood why his dad when he was mad at his father would take a moment and walk away to calm down. It was to prevent himself from saying things he would regret because his mouth had no filter when he was angry. Qie Xieling knew he was the same and needed a break, something to take his mind off the tension. As he settled into the comfortable seat of the hovercar, he decided to treat himself to a delightful sensory adventure and eat something sweet.
"Hey," he called out to the inbuilt driving assistant in the hovercar, his voice tinged with weariness "Could you please find me the best dessert shop nearby?"
The inbuilt driving assistant acknowledged his request with a polite beep and swiftly reconfigured the hovercar’s route. The vehicle smoothly glided through the bustling traffic, its autonomous systems taking control. Qie Xieling watched the world outside pass by in a blur, feeling a sense of detachment from the chaos around him.
After a short journey, the hovercar gently came to a halt in front of a vibrant yellow-themed dessert shop. The cheerful exterior seemed to beckon him inside, promising to let him temporarily forget his troubles.
When he stepped out of the hovercar, his communicator was chiming with an incoming call. Obviously, it was from Luo Muchen. Who else would call him in this world?
He hesitated for a moment, his finger hovering over the accept button. But then he decided to follow Jolie’s advice of not being easily forgiving.
Choosing to indulge in his cravings he put on a resolute expression while ruthlessly declining the call.
Stepping through the door, Qie Xieling entered a world of delectable aromas and mouthwatering treats. The air was filled with the scent of freshly baked pastries and the sweet notes of various confections. The shop was adorned with whimsical decorations, creating an ambience that lifted his spirits.
As he made his way to the counter, his eyes scanned the array of delicacies on display. His heart fluttered with anticipation as he spotted an assortment of colourful macarons, silky cakes, and creamy gelato. The choices seemed endless, and he couldn’t resist the temptation to try them all.
With a smile on his face, he greeted the man at the counter before placing his order.
"Sit in or take out?" he asked and Qie Xieling replied sit in while meeting the gaze of an alien that looked like an elf watching him from over the counter. He couldn’t discern their gender but it was easy to tell what kind of look was in their eyes.
Qie Xieling turned to look behind him but he was the only one standing at the counter. The other customers were sitting down not caring what was happening here. It had to be him that they were fixated on.
He smiled slightly before looking away. "You may sit. We will bring it for you," said the man mending the counter.
Qie Xieling nodded his head and chose to sit down at a cosy corner table to wait for his order. He wanted to sit facing the inside of the shop but when he saw that person still staring at him he decided to sit facing the wall instead. He could watch videos online while he waited.
After a short while a tray was placed in front of him. The waitstaff arranged the dessert plates on the table before saying, "Will someone be joining you or would you be eating by yourself."
Qie Xieling raised his head only to meet the androgynous elf alien’s enchanting gaze. "Uh... myself," he said wondering how to deal with this situation. Should he just come out and say he was with someone already or was that too forward?
"Oh, then will you be able to eat all that by yourself? You humans usually eat less. I like a man who can keep up with me."
Qie Xieling, "..."
Okay, he absolutely needed to shut that down immediately. "I am sorry but I am already in a relationship," he said and they looked so dejected that Qie Xieling felt so bad. He didn’t realise that in itself was a tactic to get him to sympathise with them and relent.
"Get out of my way bitch," said a somewhat familiar voice. Every eye in the place turned towards her, a mix of fear and curiosity etched on their faces. A commotion ensued as the customers ran out of the dessert shop like they were terrified. They immediately packed at the restaurant door like sardines struggling to get out of the store. It was almost like a stampede.
When Qie Xieling looked back he saw Valria and her goons walking towards him. "Fuck," he swore internally. His luck was pretty shitty today. He was starting to wonder if this was attack your crush’s boyfriend day. First, it was Bi Yu now Valria.
The notorious gangster heiress strode into the quaint dessert shop with an aura of power and intimidation. Her formidable goons
followed closely behind, their presence suffocating the room.
Valria took a seat near him, her movements deliberate and calculated. As she crossed her legs, the slit of her long skirt opened, revealing a glimpse of her smooth, porcelain thighs. It was a subtle display of dominance, a challenge to those who dared to underestimate her.
Qie Xieling seemingly unfazed by Valria’s arrival, focused on his pastry, taking a nonchalant bite. Ignoring her deliberate theatrics, he refused to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. Valria’s crimson-tipped nails slid across the table, snatching his plate away in a provocative gesture.
The bakery owner, trembling with fear, slowly approached Valria cautiously, his voice quivering as he asked if she needed something.
Valria’s fierce gaze turned to him and she asked, "Who told you to approach me? Did I call you?"
The man tremblingly shook his head and Valria beckoned him closer, her eyes filled with a menacing glare. She raised her hand, poised to strike, ready to assert her dominance with a resounding slap. But before her palm could connect with the owner’s face, Qie Xieling intervened, his swift action stopping her in her tracks.
Trembling with anger and frustration, Valria’s glare intensified as she locked eyes with him. The unspoken tension between them crackled in the air. Valria roughly took her hand back and sneered.
Silence enveloped the dessert shop as the two adversaries locked gazes, their standoff holding the attention of everyone present. Valria’s next move remained uncertain, a dangerous storm brewing beneath her composed exterior.
