Shadow and Light: The Bride Who Clicks Her Way to Love-Chapter 243 - 245: Chance Encounter at the Coffee Shop
Su Xingyu slung her bag over her shoulder, the large matte black equipment bag making her look even fairer and more delicate: "I have other plans, no thanks."
Ouyang Yi still blocked her path in the middle of the road, refusing to let her leave: "Other plans? Is it because your husband’s jealous fit has flared up again?"
Su Xingyu was surprised: "How do you know?"
"This young master is precise in reading people," Ouyang Yi boasted, "A man like him who normally doesn’t indulge in vices outside would throw a jealous fit over trivial matters and not give women a moment of freedom. As for me, I fully support you women; no matter what you want to do, I am your strong backer."
So, Ouyang, how many concubines do you have exactly?
Looking at the handsome man smiling as brilliantly as a peacock showing off, Su Xingyu waved her hand directly: "Stop getting ideas about a married woman like me, keep your tricks for deceiving little girls."
With a graceful turn, she walked to the exit in another direction.
But before she had taken a few steps, Ouyang Yi caught up and blocked her again: "Don’t go, Xingyu, what if I’m inviting you for coffee alone? Jason happens to be free this afternoon too, let’s go together? He admires your work a lot and wants to discuss some professional topics with you, surely you won’t refuse this time?"
Su Xingyu looked at him skeptically, is this for real?
"Jason!" At that moment, Jason happened to walk by and was promptly pulled into a hug by Ouyang Yi, "Didn’t you say you wanted to invite Xingyu for coffee later? I’ve kept her here for you, how about you take me along too? I’m her guardian, and you can only discuss work-related topics, nothing else."
Jason was startled, but after Ouyang Yi discreetly patted his shoulder, he said: "Yes, Miss Su, I have some questions I’d like to discuss with you."
Su Xingyu didn’t notice their little act, or perhaps her instinctive obsession with photography made her automatically ignore this small trick, she nodded: "Alright, I also want to learn more about M.J’s promotional approach."
Ouyang Yi was very pleased and eagerly helped carry Su Xingyu’s bag, and the three of them went to the café laughing and chatting.
They chose a refined café in the city, where an afternoon tea costs four digits, the environment was quiet, and the service attentive.
Su Xingyu usually liked such places, but today seemed destined to be unfortunate—just as they entered, they ran into Lu Shifeng and several others walking out.
The encounter was face-to-face.
The woman standing beside Lu Shifeng was Zhuang Heng, elegantly wearing light makeup, her pale pencil skirt flattering her tall figure, showcasing a full-fledged noble lady demeanor.
Both groups paused at the doorway.
Zhuang Heng reacted first, smiling slightly: "What a coincidence, Xingyu, you’re here for coffee with Mr. Ouyang?"
She conveniently ignored Jason on the other side of Ouyang Yi.
Seeing her immediately angered Su Xingyu, seeing her with Lu Shifeng made her even angrier, but unlike Zhuang Heng, she wasn’t good at pretending, so she turned her face away not to look at her, and raised her head to speak to Lu Shifeng: "You’re here too? Well, I was photographing at M.J earlier today, just finished the shoot, none of us have had lunch yet, so we came out for some afternoon tea and to discuss next steps."
She didn’t know why she felt the need to explain so thoroughly, but seeing Lu Shifeng’s gaze sharp as ice blades, she instinctively felt guilty.
"Mr. Lu, Miss Zhuang, do you know this lady?" Asked a suit-wearing stranger among Lu Shifeng’s group.
Lu Shifeng didn’t respond, his well-defined handsome face was inscrutable.
Su Xingyu felt increasingly guilty under his gaze, wishing to shrink into the ground.
Opposite her, Zhuang Heng softly laughed again, telling the man who asked: "Mr. Wang, maybe you didn’t know, but this is Miss Su, a photographer of our Blade Group, very skilled in photography. Not only does she know Mr. Lu, but she’s also friends with Mr. Ouyang." She savored the last word ’friends’ quite ambiguously.
What was Ouyang Yi? A well-known playboy with a reputation for womanizing.
Upon hearing Zhuang Heng say this and seeing the clearly feminine equipment bag on Ouyang Yi’s shoulder, Mr. Wang thought he understood and laughed: "So, she’s a friend of Mr. Ouyang."
Su Xingyu felt anger boiling, but unsure of Mr. Wang’s identity who laughed ambiguously, she was unable to react.
She felt sorry for herself too, even at this time her first reaction was still protecting the overall situation, hoping to not interfere with Lu Shifeng’s business matters.
She was about to turn her guns and confront Zhuang Heng, when Lu Shifeng, who hadn’t spoken all along, suddenly addressed her: "Go home early and wait for me."
Wha... what?!
Go home early and wait for me?!
This sentence dumbfounded Mr. Wang, what did it mean? Didn’t Zhuang Heng just say Miss Su was Ouyang Yi’s woman?!
But judging by Lu Shifeng’s tone, she was clearly his kept woman!
What’s going on?
Su Xingyu was also stunned by his words, and before she could react, he had already strode past them.
After he left, the group trailing behind him, including Zhuang Heng and Mr. Wang, all disregarded Su Xingyu and followed him.
The porch suddenly fell silent.
The slightly chilly breeze blew against Su Xingyu’s face, carrying a faint scent of green plants.
Su Xingyu felt a mix of anger, embarrassment, and humiliation inside, what did he mean by saying that in front of so many people? They all regarded her as a woman who sells her body!
She gently bit her lip, controlled herself from losing composure, and walked into the café silently.
She sat down anywhere, her mind was chaotic until the server placed a pretty cream-topped cappuccino in front of her, the warm touch of the porcelain cup gradually brought her back to her senses.
"Is it good?" From across the table, Ouyang Yi asked with a smile, his eyes bright as stars, "I ordered it especially for you, I remember you like to put half a cube of sugar."
Su Xingyu lowered her head and took a sip, finding it was indeed her accustomed taste.
She put down the coffee cup, asked: "Where’s Jason?"
At some point, there were only the two of them left in the booth.
"Jason suddenly remembered something urgent, he left first," Ouyang Yi lied effortlessly, "No worries, I’m not in a hurry, I can keep you company as you drink."
She lowered her head again to drink some coffee, softly said: "Thank you."
"What’s wrong, not in a good mood?" Ouyang Yi looked at her, a secretive inquiry in the depths of his eyes, "Your relationship with Lu Shifeng doesn’t seem like a normal couple’s... sorry, I didn’t mean anything else, I just feel that he was too rude to you, things he said earlier, other men wouldn’t say like that."
Perhaps the coffee was too fragrant, or perhaps Lu Shifeng’s voice earlier was too cold, Su Xingyu quietly lowered her head, gazing at the cream patterns in her coffee cup, and after a while, said: "Sometimes, he is like that."
