CHAPTER 291: CHAPTER 271 DO YOU THINK I LIKE YOU?

The warm sunlight fell into the small living room, which was small but cozy everywhere. Tang Tianyou sat there,

Gu Qili paused before continuing, "I broke up with Mu Shuoqian."

This was the outcome he had expected, but the confirmation from her lips did not bring him the joy he had anticipated,

Gu Qili slightly shook her head with a small curve, her gaze fell to the water surface, her toes wriggling in the water.

"It’s not just a simple argument, it’s an unsolvable problem."

"There’s always a solution to problems, don’t feel too sad, let me know if I can help you with anything. If nothing else, I can still handle a fight with him."

Gu Qili’s initially gloomy mood dispersed a bit because of his last sentence and she couldn’t help but purse her lips, "What fight, did you use to fight all the time before?"

"Not really, usually just me making a move and the other party would run away."

"What kind of move is that powerful?"

Tang Tianyou lifted both hands above his head, making a surrender pose: "Just this move."

Gu Qili burst into laughter, looking at him helplessly, so it was surrender.

"Tang Tianyou, actually, I wanted to talk about something else."

"I know, go on."

Gu Qili paddled the water with her feet, seemingly embarrassed to speak, but she had to.

"I think, I probably won’t start a new relationship anytime soon," she said, lifting her sparkling eyes to him, "so you..."

"What nonsense are you thinking about, you think I like you? Silly Qili, I just see you as a friend.

Gu Qili was somewhat stunned, her mouth agape, her face showing embarrassment.

She thought Tang Tianyou liked her, his actions had been so obvious, weren’t all those caring moments indicative of affection?

She knew it was hard for her to move on from the pain Mu Shuoqian had caused her, so she didn’t want Tang Tianyou to waste his feelings on her, especially if he could meet the right girl.

Tang Tianyou laughed heartily, seemingly unconcerned, "But, just because I don’t like you now doesn’t mean I won’t like you in the future. After all, we’re both single, there’s nothing wrong with mutual attraction"

Gu Qili still felt awkward, "Do you think I’m being too presumptuous?"

"A little bit...."

"I can manage on my own." Gu Qili felt somewhat embarrassed.

"Don’t move around, or it’s off to the hospital." Tang Tianyou carried a basin into the bathroom, poured out the cold water, and turned on the hot water tap.

Seeing the steam rising, he blinked twice.

He clearly liked her, but he dared not say it, because once said, he feared they could not even remain friends.

He was never one to take advantage of a situation, but faced with the opportunity heaven gave him, he would give it his all.

Tang Tianyou stayed until after lunch before leaving, worrying she could not move around he even set his number as speed dial on her phone.

"Just press any number if you need anything, I’m just around handling some errands, I’ll be there in ten minutes." He placed the phone within her easy reach, the coffee table piled with snacks and juice he brought today, even the remote control was placed within easy reach.

Tang Tianyou cautioned a few more words, and Gu Qili started urging him out, his nattering seemed endless,

Having twisted her ankle, Gu Qili took two days off, and during these days, Tang Tianyou either had food delivered over or personally brought it himself.

After eating, they would watch TV or play games, time flew by quickly.

She usually overthought when alone, but now with him, there was no time for idle thoughts, and the pain of her breakup seemed to gradually lessen, and quickly, two days passed.

Gu Qili thought she would no longer have any contact with Mu Shuoqian, but fate always struck unexpectedly, for she saw him at the French Restaurant on the evening she returned to work.

Since their breakup, Mu Shuoqian had not appeared at the French Restaurant, he was there not for inspection today, but as an ordinary diner, and of course, he was not alone.

There are no private rooms in the French Restaurant, all guests dine in the main hall, and because it’s a high-end restaurant, loud voices are rare, even when it’s full, one can hardly hear boisterous conversations.

Mu Shuoqian was seated by a window side table, a four-seater, and there were people seated all around.

Beside Mu Shuoqian was Zhou Xiaoyu, opposite were Qiu Lan and Qiu Yufei.

During their time together, he never mentioned his mother and sister. After they came to Aus City, not only did he not introduce them, he also made efforts to send her away. Now, he proudly took Zhou Xiaoyu to meet his parents, the status of Zhou Xiaoyu in his heart was self-evident.

A wave of unspeakable sourness engulfed her as if a tide, making her lose all strength in an instant.

"Supervisor, take a look at this." A server holding the wine list called her for the third time.

Gu Qili belatedly withdrew her gaze from the window and looked towards the server, her eyes unfocused as she simply uttered, "Hmm?"

"Supervisor, check the wine list." The restaurant ordered high-end wines that needed her signature before fetching from the wine cellar, and were served to guests only after her review.

Gu Qili took the list and saw that the table number belonged to the one where Mu Shuoqian was sitting.

She struggled to calm herself, took a few deep breaths, and then carefully started to verify the list and signed her name after making sure everything was accurate.

After signing, Gu Qili busied herself with other things, forcing herself not to observe what was happening at that table, but the more she tried not to think about it, the more intensely she did.

What were they talking about, what had they ordered, and was Qiu Lan satisfied with Zhou Xiaoyu?

Various emotions surged, rendering her unable to work normally. Just as Gu Qili was about to find an excuse to step out for some fresh air, a colleague rushed over and said, "Supervisor, the guests at that table asked for you, there seems to be some trouble."

The server pointed to the table where Mu Shuoqian was seated.

She knew that she had to face it eventually, that the coming storm wouldn’t turn into clear skies, and all she could do was maintain a calm and proud demeanor, not letting herself lose too badly.

Mu Shuoqian had received a call in the afternoon. Qiu Lan knew he had a new girlfriend and asked him to bring her out to meet.

Mu Shuoqian agreed, and Zhou Xiaoyu was deliberately introduced as a placeholder; sooner or later, he had to present her to Qiu Lan, but Qiu Lan chose the French Restaurant as the dining place.

Although he was reluctant, he agreed without hesitation so as not to let her suspect anything.

Actually, from the moment he walked in, he noticed her walking seemed a bit awkward. Had she injured her legs?

"Shuoqian, what are the specialties of your restaurant?" sitting across him, Qiu Yufei asked him twice, and unable to hold back, she scrutinized him carefully.

Zhou Xiaoyu quickly coughed lightly, raising her voice slightly, "Shuoqian, Miss Qiu is talking to you, don’t keep staring at me."

Mu Shuoqian then came to his senses and said indifferently, "Foie gras and steak."

"Steak, huh? I like it, and with steak, we must have red wine. Miss Zhou, what wine do you like?"

"Anything is fine."

"How about a bottle of Clos Du Cabernet Sauvignon?" Qiu Yufei asked with a radiant smile.

Zhou Xiaoyu felt a bit uncomfortable; she really didn’t understand wines. Previously, she was just a minor actress, struggling to make ends meet, let alone having the opportunity to experience wines.

"Uh, whatever, as long as Miss Qiu likes it," Zhou Xiaoyu said with a genteel smile.

"Miss Zhou, you don’t know about wines, do you? Have you never been to a French Restaurant before?" Qiu Yufei’s smile remained bright, but her tone carried a semblance of mockery.

Just as Zhou Xiaoyu was unsure how to respond, Mu Shuoqian spoke up displeasedly, "Aren’t you hungry? If you are, order quickly, why all the nonsense?"

"Mom, brother is being mean to me again," Qiu Yufei pouted and complained.

Since sitting down, Qiu Lan had been sipping water from a cup. Hearing her, she just smiled, "Your brother is right, order quickly."

Then she turned to Zhou Xiaoyu and raised her eyebrows slightly, "Miss Zhou, excuse us."

"Not at all, not at all," Zhou Xiaoyu hurriedly waved her hands.

Qiu Lan’s presence was immensely dominating, conversing with her, even just the most ordinary familial talk, felt incredibly pressuring.

Soon, their dishes were served, and Zhou Xiaoyu hurriedly bowed her head and quietly ate, trying not to start any conversations.

As Gu Qili approached, Mu Shuoqian was placing a piece of fish onto Zhou Xiaoyu’s plate, even softly cautioning, "Be careful of the bones."

These four words pierced her heart like rigid fish bones, yet she held her head high trying to appear nonchalant.

"Madam, this bottle of wine is fine, here are the import tax bill and invoice." Gu Qili placed a few documents in front of Qiu Lan.

Apparently, Qiu Lan had earlier doubted the authenticity of the wine, so Gu Qili had gathered all this import information.

"I was just joking, Miss Gu took it seriously?" Qiu Lan laughed elegantly, not even looking at the documents, "How could I really doubt my son’s restaurant?"

Mu Shuoqian, as if oblivious to the situation here, pulled out a napkin for Zhou Xiaoyu, showing utmost attentiveness.

Once, he had treated her the same way, but back then, she was just Zhou Xiaoyu’s substitute in his eyes. Since he couldn’t be good to Zhou Xiaoyu, he transferred all that affection, magnified a thousand times, onto her.