Chapter 71: Don’t Flatter

For the first time, Xie Xu, who had always been the center of attention, found himself being ignored.

He looked toward Lu Yiqi, his voice icy, each word squeezed through clenched teeth: “Lu Yiqi!”

Startled to hear her name, Lu Yiqi turned her head, saw it was Xie Xu, and let out a breath of relief. She grumbled, “Why are you shouting so loudly?”

Xie Xu strode toward her. The women surrounding Lu Yiqi parted instantly, as if under a spell, making way for him.

He stopped in front of her, his tone unfriendly. “Didn’t I tell you not to wander off and to wait for me? What, you can’t even understand plain language now?”

Lu Yiqi, who was hoping to avoid a scolding, pouted and muttered, “I was getting bored just standing there. Besides, I was hungry—can’t I come out and get something to eat?”

Really?

Xie Xu exposed her without hesitation. “Getting something to eat, or looking for women?”

One, two, three, four of them—did he look blind?

Lu Yiqi was at a loss for words.

She glanced left and right, her gaze flitting hopefully among the women as if seeking rescue.

Miss A, quick to read the situation, immediately tried to draw Xie Xu’s attention. “You must be Young Master Xie, I presume? As expected, so dashing and impressive.”

Xie Xu replied coldly, “No need for flattery.”

Miss A fell silent.

As she retreated, Miss B stepped up. “Young Master Xie, it’s like this: the four of us were making a bet, each picking a favorite food and asking someone to judge. Then we saw how cute Little Lu was, so we asked her to make the choice. We were the ones who approached her!”

Xie Xu shot Lu Yiqi a glare.

Impressive—she’d barely met them and they were already covering for her.

Lu Yiqi dropped her head.

If I can't see him, he can't see me.

Xie Xu’s voice rang out again: “You approaching her is your business. Her disobeying and running around is ours. I’m dealing with our business now. Unrelated persons, please leave. Understood?”

The four women exchanged glances.

None of them wanted to go.

They hadn’t even gotten Little Lu’s contact information yet!

Sensing Xie Xu’s growing anger, Lu Yiqi quietly raised her hand. “You should go first, sisters!”

The four: What?! Even you’re abandoning us?!

Lu Yiqi quickly added, “No, I just mean—you go ahead! I’ll catch up with you later, okay?”

The four reluctantly left, looking back at Lu Yiqi every few steps, sympathy written all over their faces.

Once they were gone, Xie Xu’s gaze returned to Lu Yiqi. “Well? Care to explain?”

She spoke softly, “Didn’t they already explain…”

Xie Xu answered with a deadly smile.

Lu Yiqi clutched her head and wailed, “Alright, I was wrong! Forgive me!”

“Not sincere enough.”

“I really am sorry, sorry, sorry…”

Xie Xu delivered the fatal question: “What exactly did you do wrong?”

Lu Yiqi froze, then ventured, “I shouldn’t have ignored what you said and run off to find something to eat…”

“And?”

And? Was there more?

She thought hard about what else she was guilty of.

That’s right…

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been flirting with the ladies at your birthday party—especially not four at once…”

She really ought to have done that in private, where Xie Xu wouldn’t find out.

She added this silently to herself.

Xie Xu bent down, leaning in until only a fist’s distance separated them.

“So, what should a little troublemaker do when she knows she’s wrong?”