Chapter 73 - All You Cradle-Snatchers Don’t Take Advantage of Me (1/2)
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Young Master Cheng,” the waiter greeted respectfully as his eyes instinctively darted to Qi Chengzhi’s pocket.
Song Yu’s hand was firmly entrenched in Qi Chengzhi’s pocket; their hands entangled. A sweet and loving scene to any onlookers.
The waiter had never seen Qi Chengzhi bring any ladies to their establishment before. Now with Song Yu in tow, compounded with the display of such affection and intimacy, the waiter could hardly be blamed for his double take.
Years working in Red Roof Club, the waiter had seen people from all walks of life, including the female escorts that were commonly brought in by the young heirs of prestigious families or high-ranking CEOs.
Song Yu, however, bore no semblance to those female escorts. She had an air of modesty and innocence with none of the usual pretenses. Her lightly-tinted red lips, along with her fair complexion, gave her a youthful demeanor.
She was like a breath of fresh air after years of musky colognes and overwhelming perfumes.
The waiter allowed his gaze to linger, just to realise Qi Changzhi’s stare fixed on him when he snapped out of it. It was a stare colder than the winter winds.
The waiter shivered and averted his eyes from the young lady. He nodded his head in acquiescence. “Young Master Cheng, this way please.”
They were escorted to a room. As she stood at the door, Song Yu realized that it was the same room she visited when delivering the glasses.
Thoughts of the people beyond the door made Song Yu retract her hand, but Qi Chengzhi quickly tightened his grip in response, holding her hand captive.
Simultaneously, he scowled at her.
The sternness of his look quelled any resistance from her end.
Song Yu felt slightly guilty at this, as if she had done something wrong. Her hand remained obediently in his pocket, accepting its fate of being held.
The waiter gave the door two perfunctory knocks before opening it. Qi Chengzhi entered the room with Song Yu in tow and the waiter quietly shut the door.
Qi Chengzhi halted his footsteps right after the doorway and regarded the crowd inside with amusement.
It was the same old crowd as last time. Yan Beicheng and the others were seated around the round table, leaving one empty chair clearly meant for Qi Chengzhi.
The meal was not served, which probably meant that they were all waiting for Qi Chengzhi.
Their initial gaze fell on Qi Chengzi, then to Song Yu beside him, and finally to the linked hands between them.
Disbelief crossed their faces,. ‘How long have they been together? Is it confirmed now that they’re holding hands?’
As the initial shock faded, their expressions molded into enjoyment. ‘Qi Chengzhi truly is a lady-charmer! Didn’t take him long to get the girl.’
Under scrutiny of the men, Song Yu resisted the urge to hide behind Qi Chengzhi.
It would be embarrassing if she could not even handle this modicum of attention.
Song Yu steeled her resolve as Qi Chengzhi nonchalantly pulled her to the table.
The empty seat was between Qi Chenglin and Chu Zhaoyang. Aware of the situation, Qi Chenglin and Wei Zilin both shifted one seat to allow Qi Chengzhi and Song Yu to sit together at the table.
Song Yu was glad that she was seated beside Qi Chenglin, whom she felt was friendlier than Chu Zhaoyang.
Across the table, Yan Beicheng whipped out his phone and started texting furiously.
After a moment, he put his phone away. With glee in his eyes, he spoke, “Song…”
“Sister-in-law.” Qi Chengzhi interrupted with a tone that brook no dissent.
Yan Beicheng nearly choked on the air he breathed. That girl Song Yu looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old. The thought of calling someone that young ‘sister-in-law’ was unsettling.
“Sister-in-law!” As Yan Beicheng was struggling to get the words out, Qi Chenglin happily obliged.
Yan Beicheng cursed Qi Chenglin under his breath. He was a man of thirty odd years, calling a girl as young as Song Yu ‘sister-in-law’ with all the willingness and eagerness of a young child.
Right after Qi Chenglin’s salutation, Wei Zilin followed suit as if not wanting to lose out. “Sister-in-law!”
Song Yu was growing steadily uncomfortable by each greeting. She did not think that Qi Chengzhi would introduced her as such.
Just last night, she was wondering if this was just a game for Qi Chengzhi.
Now, however, it seemed that he was actually serious about this.
If all of this was just a fling, he would not have brought her to meet important people like them. He would not have insisted that they should call her ‘sister-in-law’ and acknowledge her status.
The salutation ‘sister-in-law’ was not easily uttered by these powerful men.
Song Yu involuntarily looked to Qi Chengzhi. The man was casually flipping through the menu.
Feeling her gaze on him, Qi Chengzhi shifted his attention from the menu to her.
Caught off guard, Song Yu was paralyzed by the warmth in his look.
This time, she was sure of it. Staring straight at him, the affection never left his eyes.
The warmth and affection in his eyes felt like aged wine, one sip of it and one would be drunk on it.
Song Yu felt her face reddened and her heartbeat quicken.
Her downcast eyes showcased those long eyelashes that fluttered like a butterfly’s wings. Qi Chengzhi swallowed the urge to kiss the lashes.
Yan Beicheng cursed again under his breath, “The f*ck.” He called out to Wei Zilin, “Wei Zilin, have you lost your principles? Qi Chenglin calling her sister-in-law is premature, but she could eventually marry into the family. But you? You’re not even their family.”
The idea of marriage startled Song Yu. ‘Would that really happen?’ she thought.
In her distraught state, she had a mind to ask Qi Chengzhi for the answer.
When she looked up, she could see the corners of his mouth tugging into a smile, his eyes still regarding her with fondness.
Song Yu looked away and felt her heart race like a horse on a racetrack. She was not used to the level of affection he was showing.
‘What’s going on with him today? Is he sick?’
She could not even hold his usual calm gaze, let alone this.
As she was deep in thought, a hand came and rested on top of her fingers that were worrying her pants. The strong hand held firm and the slightly calloused thumb rubbed gently at her palm.
She gradually allowed herself to relax and gingerly intertwined their fingers.
Qi Chengzhi showed no outward emotions at her tightening grip but a hint of a smile graced the edges of his eyes. He gently squeezed her hand.
Seeing her hand grasped in his, Song Yu could not believe this was real. In the background, Wei Zilin spoke out, “I have a sister-in-law who’s of the same age as Song Yu. When she married into the family, she was only eighteen. Song Yu here is twenty-five. I don’t see anything weird about that. I’m used to it by now, so I don’t know what principles are you talking about?”
Yan Beicheng huffed and looked at Chu Zhaoyang.
Chu Zhaoyang’s face betrayed nothing. Qi Chengzhi was not much of a talker, but his words could cut.
Chu Zhaoyang was basically a mute, expecting him to say a few words was just hope wasted.
Even though Qi Chengzhi told them to call Song Yu sister-in-law, it was understood that he was excluded from said command.
The fact that he nodded at Song Yu was sufficient to show his acknowledgment of her status.
Yan Beicheng took a cigarette and held it between his fingers. He leaned back in his chair, angling his body to face the couple. With his cigarette hand resting on the table, he looked like a gangster.
Among all the gentlemen present, Yan Beicheng’s stance on the couple was the most obvious.
“Chengzhi, I acknowledge Song Yu’s status. She is my sister-in-law and anyone who dares harm her will have me answer to. But if you want me to call someone so young sister-in-law, I honestly can’t bring myself to do it. When I was running amok, she was still in kindergarten playing with her snot. All you cradle-snatchers. First it was Wei Zilin, now you too. Don’t take advantage of me,” Yan Beicheng ranted off. The cigarette wobbled precariously between his fingers, looking as if it would plunge to its death without ever being lit.
The corner of Qi Chengzhi’s eye twitched as his expression darkened.
Yan Beicheng’s sentiment indirectly pointed out the age gap between Qi Chengzhi and Song Yu.
The age gap between Song Yu and himself had always been a thorn in Qi Chengzhi’s side.
Based on real-world statistics, women outlived men on average, and he was nine years older than Song Yu. In times of idleness, thoughts of the far, far future troubled him.
He debated on whether to write up a will, just in case he died first. A clause would be added beneath all the important details to prevent Song Yu from straying after his death.
He was a selfish man through and through. Even after death, he would want the things that were his to remain as such forever.