Chapter 105: No Dating
Translator: _Min_
Zhou Ye exclaimed, “I’m really indebted to Gu Dai today. Otherwise, I’m afraid I might never get a chance to taste Master Feng Fei’s cooking in my lifetime.”
Although Feng Fei worked at Linxian Pavilion, he usually only instructed his apprentices to cook the dishes. He himself focused on researching new dishes.
Seeing Zhou Ye’s expression, Zhou Ci became suspicious. Could the food really taste that good?
Zhou Ci took a bite with a mixture of belief and doubt, and he was utterly shocked. He had never imagined that there could be such a delicious dish in the world.
He wanted to devour bite after bite, but he restrained himself, afraid of leaving a bad impression on Gu Dai, who was sitting not far away.
If Gu Dai knew Zhou Ci’s thoughts, she would only say, “Eat up! My impression of you was already bad a long time ago.”
With a helpless look, Zhou Ci glanced at Zhou Ye, who had promised to play matchmaker for him but was now engrossed in the meal, forgetting everything else. After watching for a while, he finally couldn’t help himself and gently patted Zhou Ye.
Zhou Ye finally looked up from his food and turned to Gu Dai with a smile, “Grandpa Zhou took a liking to you the moment he saw you. May 1 ask, do you have a boyfriend? If not, what do you think of my grandson?”
Zhou Ci, cooperating, revealed a smile, his eyes twinkling as he looked at Gu Dai.
Gu Dai didn’t react, but Meng Zhi, who had been silently sitting next to her, seemed agitated. He couldn’t be too harsh with elder Zhou Ye, so he declined gently, “I’m sorry, Grandpa Zhou, Daidai is still young. We, her brothers, don’t intend to let her date just yet.”
Zhou Ye was unfazed and replied, “That’s fine. They can get to know each other first. Perhaps feelings will develop, and when the time comes for her to date, she’ll already have a candidate in mind. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Zhou Ci nodded vigorously, agreeing with his reasoning. He even politely picked up the serving chopsticks and offered to serve Gu Dai some dishes that were far from her reach.
With a smile, Zhou Ci said to Gu Dai, “I noticed that you seemed to enjoy these dishes earlier. Would you like more of anything? Let me help you.”
Gu Dai raised her hand to stop him, “No need, I’m full.”
Meng Zhi chimed in with a smile, “I’m not full yet. Can 1 have Daidai’s share?”
Gu Dai nodded, “Of course.”
Seeing this exchange, Zhou Ci realized that Gu Dai was actually rejecting him. Still, he wasn’t disheartened and continued to show concern for her throughout the meal.
Gu Dai’s gaze on Zhou Ci became increasingly perplexed.
When Zhou Ye went to the restroom, Gu Dai spoke directly to Zhou Ci, “Grandpa Zhou is a reasonable man. Just tell him you don’t like me, and he won’t force you.”
Zhou Ci was taken aback for a moment. After recovering, he looked at Gu Dai earnestly and said, “If I’m not willing, no one can force me. What I mean is, this was my idea in the first place.”
Gu Dai was speechless.
If she remembered correctly, Zhou Ci and Song Ling had been close friends for many years. Even though she and Song Ling were divorced now, his behavior still seemed odd.
Could it be that Song Ling had instructed him to do this, intending to play with her emotions?
Meng Zhi stepped forward, shielding Gu Dai behind him, and said coldly to Zhou Ci, “Even if one day Daidai genuinely likes you, 1 will do everything in my power to prevent her from marrying a man as erratic as you!”
Meng Zhi had arranged for someone to investigate Zhou Ci the previous night. He knew that Zhou Ci had spent years frequenting nightclubs, never lacking female company. There were probably hundreds of women in his past. Meng Zhi didn’t want Gu Dai anywhere near such a man.
Zhou Ci met Meng Zhi’s eyes and said sincerely, “Ever since 1 realized my feelings for Gu Dai, I’ve vowed to change. I’ll definitely rectify my behavior and won’t be as frivolous as 1 used to be.”
Gu Dai didn’t believe Zhou Ci’s words. After all, when she went to see Song Ling in the past, she had seen Zhou Ci just sweet-talking several women all at once. She was convinced that his intentions were not pure!
Gu Dai stepped out from behind Meng Zhi, intending to tell Zhou Ci, “1 will never like you.”
But before she could speak, a waiter burst in, calling out urgently, “Something’s wrong! Elder Zhou is breathing heavily and clutching his chest! Please come quickly!”