Black streaks formed on Yuan Wendongâs face. âShut up! My clan dabbles in arms, so why would I shirk compensation for those lousy swords of yours?â
It took him a great deal of effort before he managed to placate the riled crowd. By the time he was free to turn his attention to Zu An once more, the latter had already disappeared from the scene.
You have successfully trolled Yuan Wendong for +123 Rage!
Zu An had been dragged by Chu Huanzhao over to the canteen. He took a look at the design of the canteen, and he was amused to see that it was pretty similar to the canteen in the universities of his previous life too. The only difference was that there was no need for them to get the food by themselves. Instead, there were people to receive their orders.
âIâll treat you, so feel free to order anything you want!â Chu Huanzhao tossed the menu toward him as she declared generously like a rich woman.
Wei Suo, who was chased to another table by her, raised his thumbs up toward Zu An. He felt that this new big brother of his was really the role model of all moochers in the world.
Yup, mooching is indeed the way to make it in the world. I should learn from big brother and find a sugar momma to live off. Oof, but Principal Jiang is way too off my league. I should find someone easier firstâŠ
Meanwhile, Zu An didnât even bother to look at the menu as he turned to the waiter by the side and said, âGive me one of everything then.â
He was quite curious about the food in this world, and there was lots of stuff on the menu that he was pretty curious about. To be honest, he didnât recognize most of those dishes, so it would be good if he could give everything a try.
You have successfully trolled Chu Huanzhao for +99 Rage!
âDonât listen to him,â Chu Huanzhao quickly told the waiter before shooting Zu An a sharp glare. âAre you a pig? Are you sure you can finish all of it?â
âOf course not,â Zu An shrugged leisurely. âHowever, I can just have a mouthful of each of them. As you know, I came from a poor family and havenât eaten many things before. Since someone is treating me today, it goes without saying that Iâll have to try everything I can.â
Chu Huanzhao: ââŠâ
âThis wonât do. Iâll only allow you to order 10⊠No, just 8 dishes!â
âWhy?â Zu An asked.
To be honest, he was rather impressed. He thought that the 4 dishes would already be enough for the two of them to have their fill, especially considering the fact that this young lass is rather small in size. Yet, who could have thought that she would ask for 8 dishes.
It looks like nobles really lived their lives extravagantly. I must learn from their example⊠Ahem, I mean admonish them thoroughly!
Chu Huanzhaoâs face reddened. âI⊠I donât have that much money.â
Zu An shook his head in disdain. âThen you shouldnât have told me to order whatever I like. Why boast when you donât have the capability to back up your words?â
In the end, Chu Huanzhao was unable to hold her temper back anymore. She slammed her palm on the table and shot to her feet, roaring, âDamn you Zu An, are you going to eat or not?!â
You have successfully trolled Chu Huanzhao for +666 Rage!
âIâm eating. Why would I not eat?â Zu An glanced at the dumbfounded waiter by the side as he spoke. âBring me 8 of the most expensive dishes you have here then.â
âNo problem~â The waiter shot a glance at Chu Huanzhao to seek her approval, but seeing the latter didnât oppose it, he quickly ran off to process their order.
Meanwhile, a group of guys seated not too far away gossipedâŠ
âDo you see that? Mooching is not as glorious as we see. In the end, he needs to tread carefully around those heâs mooching off. If things go badly, he would just become a cannon fodder for them to blow off steam!â
âThat doesnât look like it though. It looks like itâs his sugar momma who is treading carefully around him.â
âTsk! Who cares about who is the one treading carefully around who? If I could get such a beautiful sugar momma too, I wouldnât mind even if I need to be at her beck and call!â
âMe too!â
âMe too!â
âThe lot of you are too unambitious⊠though Iâd be willing too.â
âTsk~â
Back to Zu Anâs side, Chu Huanzhao stared at Zu An with glowering eyes as she interrogated, âZu An, you better come clean. How did you get yourself tangled up with those women?â
Zu An knocked the table and complained, âHey hey hey, watch how you address me! Call me brother-in-law!â
Chu Huanzhao nearly choked again after hearing those words. Her chubby cheeks puffed up once more as she grumbled in displeasure, âAre you going to continue harping on that? I did lose to you in a bet, but Iâve already called you brother-in-law for so long now. I even stepped forward for you today. No matter how we look at it, Iâve already repaid the favor!â
Zu An clicked his tongue. âWhen you said that you would cover me, I thought that you were doing well in the academy. Yet, it turns out that you canât even deal with a mere scrub. In the end, I still have to make a move myself!â
Chu Huanzhao was rendered speechless. âYou call that making a move yourself? You simply got a bunch of women to stand up for you!â
âDoes that make any difference?â Zu An shrugged nonchalantly. âI relied on my own ability to get their help.â
All those twists and turns in logic really confused Chu Huanzhao. In the end, she waved her hands impatiently and said, âEnough! Hurry up and confess! How did you hook up with them?â
Zu An frowned. âWhat do you mean by hook up? Youâre a maiden! Can you not use such awful sounding words?â
Chu Huanzhaoâs face scrunched in disdain. âI didnât know that you had such a delicate side. Disgusting.â
Zu An: ââŠâ
âIâm trying to teach you something over here. A girl shouldnât mald at everything like a fuse always on the verge of blowing up. If you can just mellow down a little and use some cutesy phrases, you wouldnât be ranked in the ninth place in the Ten Great Beauties.â
âHah, do I need you to teach me that? I can do it if I want to,â Chu Huanzhao harrumphed coldly.
Zu Anâs interest was piqued. âOh? Why donât you give it a try then?â
âStop messing around!â Chu Huanzhao rolled her eyes before pouring herself a cup of tea. She casually raised her leg and placed it on the bench beside her. Her leg was beautiful, but her posture not so much. Nevertheless, with her neat, shoulder-length hair, she gave off a unique feral charm.
Seeing how naturally she got into this sitting posture, Zu An scrapped all ideas of getting her to be more demure.
âAfter prattling about so much, you still havenât told me how you met them!â Chu Huanzhao continued questioning relentlessly.
Zu An knew that she would continue annoying him if he didnât answer this question, so he decided to just answer her casually, âI met Ji Xiaoxi earlier when I was looking around the city. As for Pei Mianman, isnât she your older sisterâs close friend? Itâs only natural for her to step in when the husband of her close friend is being taken advantage of, no?â
âIs that all?â Chu Huanzhao narrowed her eyes in skepticism.
âWhat else do you think?â
By then, the waiter had already begun serving the dishes. The fragrance coming from the dishes whetted Zu Anâs appetite, such that he immediately began digging in.
Chu Huanzhao, on the other hand, was still a little caught up with the matter. âThatâs not right. No matter how I look at it, your relationship isnât that simple. Besides, Iâm not the only one who feels this way. Everyone is saying the same too!â
Zu An wolfed down the food as he answered her query, âThose people also see you as a part of my harem. What do you think?â
âHah! Just thinking about that maddens me!â Chu Huanzhao gritted her teeth furiously. âItâs all your fault!â
Zu An burst into laughter. âArenât I your brother-in-law? Itâs only natural to keep good stuff within the family.â
âWhat did you say?â Chu Huanzhaoâs eyebrows shot up.
Zu An immediately waved his hand sheepishly. âI mean that weâre one family, so we should help one another when in need.â
âAre you sure thereâs nothing more between you and those women?â Chu Huanzhao continued probing on doubtfully.
âOf course not.â Zu An wouldnât admit it even if he had a relationship with them, though he really didnât have anything more going on with them.
It was only then that Chu Huanzhao heaved a deep sigh of relief. By the time her attention returned to the table, half of the dishes served had already been swept clean. She immediately reached for her chopsticks in agitation as she exclaimed, âAre you a pig? Leave some for me!â
Zu An was a little surprised. âAs the young miss of a ducal clan, surely you have already had your fill of such dishes?â
Chu Huanzhao stuffed her cheeks full as she answered, âMy mother is very strict on me. She barely gives me any pocket money, and these dishes are expensive. I canât bear to spend my money on them on normal occasions.â
âAww, how pitiful. Come, you should have more.â Zu An picked up a piece of meat and placed it into her bowl out of sympathy.
âThanks, brother-in-law.â Right after Chu Huanzhao said those words, she suddenly frowned. Wiat, Iâm the one spending money here. Why am I thanking you for that?
âStop putting food in my bowl. Youâre getting your saliva on my food!â
âIt doesnât look like itâs reducing your appetite at all though?â
âŠ
After the two of them had their fill, Zu An suddenly asked, âHuanzhao, what do you think of me?â
Chu Huanzhao was surprised for a moment before answering subconsciously, âEven though youâre a little hateful, a little perverted, and a little weak, youâre still barely passable as a human.â
Zu An rolled his eyes. Are you praising me or criticizing me here? âThen, who do you think in the manor doesnât want me to become your brother-in-law?â
Chu Huanzhao had a straightforward personality, so it would be good if he could get any intelligence from her so as to figure out who in the world was out for his life.
Chu Huanzhao burst into laughter, amused by the question. âThere are way too many people to name!â
Zu An held back his urge to pummel her and said, âIâm referring to those who hate me to the point that they are out for my life.â
Chu Huanzhao fell into deep thoughts. Just as Zu An thought that she had thought of a certain someone, she suddenly said, âThere are still a lot of peopleâŠâ
Zu An was dumbfounded. It was unlikely this silly lass was lying, which only showed how hateful the original owner of the body was. To think that there would be so many people in the Chu clan who were out for his life!
âWhat about your older sister then?â Zu An looked into Chu Huanzhaoâs eyes unblinkingly, seemingly trying to peer through her eyes to see into her thoughts.
Even though he didnât think that Chu Chuyan was out for his life, there was still no denying that Snow was her personal maidservant. Without her permission, it was unlikely that Snow would dare to act so audaciously.
âMy older sister?â Chu Huanzhao was confused. âWhy would she want to take your life?â
âDidnât you say that there are a lot of people in the manor who are out for my life? Isnât your older sister one of them too?â Zu An asked.
Chu Huanzhao shook her head and replied, âYouâre the groom personally chosen by my older sister. You should know that my parents have selected a long list of outstanding young men for my older sister to choose from, but she didnât even spare them a single glance. In the end, she chose a wastr⊠Cough cough, I mean a man like you. There were many people who tried to stop her, saying that she was ruining her own future. Yet, she said that she would marry no one other than you. Even to this day, Iâve no idea what in the world does she see in you.â
She assessed Zu An from head to toe with a look of contempt on her face as she said those words.
âHey hey hey, youâre hurting my feelings over here!â
Zu An fell into deep thoughts. He had heard about this from Cheng Shouping previously, and Chu Huanzhao only further reaffirmed the matter. From the current looks of it, it would appear that the only one in the manor who was impossible to be the culprit was Chu Chuyan.
All of a sudden, his eyes fell upon the lass, who wolfing down her food before him, and he swallowed his words back in. No, thatâs not right. The one who is the most unlikely to kill me in the manor is this lass, followed by Chu Chuyan.
âWhat is your older sister dealing with nowadays?â Zu An asked.
âNo idea,â Chu Huanzhao replied as she continued relishing in the delicacies before her.
Zu An frowned in annoyance. âYouâre her younger sister, why wouldnât you know?â
Chu Huanzhao unhesitatingly rebutted those words, âAnd youâre her husband, so why donât you know a thing at all?! Iâm not engaged with whatever thatâs happening back at home.â
âEat eat eat, all you know is to eat. Despite being a glutton, it doesnât look like your chest is growing at all.â Zu An looked at her flat chest as he wondered: They are born from the same mother, so why is there such a huge difference between the two of them?
âHold it right there. What do you mean?â Chu Huanzhao had only just finished eating when she noticed his gaze, and she immediately flew into a state of fury.
You have successfully trolled Chu Huanzhao for +666 Rage!
Zu An was amused. He didnât expect her to be so sensitive about her own chests. That being said, he didnât want to anger her at this moment, so he said, âIâm saying that you should pay some heed to your own appearance. You should at least wipe your mouth after eating.â
As he spoke, he reached out to pick off a grain of rice sticking to the corner of her lips.
His action caused Chu Huanzhaoâs face to turn furiously red. âHey, havenât you heard that itâs inappropriate for a man and a woman to have intimate contact? You canât possibly be carrying that sort of licentious thoughts toward me, are you?â
Zu An clicked his tongue in annoyance. âItâs only at a time like this that you think of yourself as a woman, huh?â
Chu Huanzhao was stunned for a moment before nodding in confusion, âThatâs true too.â From her tone, it seemed like she had given up on thinking anymore.