The Scheming Ex-Husband's Courtship-Chapter 560 - 490: Shamefully Sensuous Beauty

Chapter 560: Chapter 490: Shamefully Sensuous Beauty
Mu Chenxi’s ice cream was finished, and all the dishes were served.
Luo Shangqing placed the chopsticks on her right side and said, "Let’s eat."
Mu Chenxi had only had a packet of instant noodles for lunch, and she was already hungry during the card game, fortunately, in the meantime, Luo Shangqing had the waiter bring in some snacks, which she ate a few pieces of to temporarily dispel the hunger.
Now faced with a tableful of sumptuous dishes, and most of which she had never tried before, Mu Chenxi’s appetite was roused. The last time she ate at Xiangshan Club, she was punished for not answering a question correctly and couldn’t eat, only to watch him dine elegantly. This time, without academic concerns, she could eat and drink to her heart’s content.
Mu Chenxi quietly ate her meal while the men continued to chat about everything under the sun. At first, she didn’t understand what they were talking about at all, but as time went on, their topics drew her in like entering a whole new world, broadening her horizons. Before she met these people, she always thought she was worldly; only after knowing them did she realize that she was just a frog in a well.
"Shangqing, eat more of this, don’t you love lettuce the most?" Cheng Lin diligently served Luo Shangqing the dish, "The lettuce I made when we last visited the teacher’s house, you ate a lot of it."
As soon as Cheng Lin finished speaking, sharp fellows like Bai Chengxi and Nan Zhan could see through her intentions — a blatant display of territorial claim.
Compared to Cheng Lin, Mu Chenxi was over a decade younger, still looking tender and immature. If it came to scheming, she probably wouldn’t stand a chance.
Mu Chenxi just concentrated on eating, seemingly oblivious to what Cheng Lin had said.
"By the way, Shangqing, you left a coat at my house, I’ve washed it, I’ll bring it to the hospital some other day," said Cheng Lin casually as if discussing the most ordinary household matters, not betraying any ulterior motive in her voice, "You’re not in a hurry to wear it, are you?"
"No, not in a hurry," Luo Shangqing replied indifferently.
Mu Chenxi’s hand paused while reaching for food but still accurately picked up a piece of braised pork. Xiangshan’s high prices were not unwarranted; under the hefty cost, the dishes were top-notch, like this plate of braised pork. Mu Chenxi felt she could finish it alone if nobody else was present.
A napkin was passed in front of her, and Mu Chenxi saw those pianist-like slender hands.
"Eat slowly," Luo Shangqing’s voice was devoid of any emotional fluctuation, "There’s dessert later."
Was he telling her to save room for dessert?
"Shangqing, don’t you dislike sweets? You usually don’t order dessert, right?" Cheng Lin asked curiously from the side.
Luo Shangqing passed another napkin, responding lightly, "It’s for Mu Chenxi, she likes it."
Cheng Lin seemed momentarily choked up, but quickly said, "Is there any for me? I want to try Xiangshan’s dessert too."
She expected Luo Shangqing to agree without hesitation, but instead, he nonchalantly said, "Only ordered one."
Such a reply left Cheng Lin somewhat unable to save face, and as she turned pale, Nan Zhan promptly came to her rescue, "I’ll ask the waiter to order two more, what would you like?"
Cheng Lin no longer had any appetite for dessert; even the sweetest treat couldn’t counteract the bitterness in her heart. She hadn’t forgotten the last time when she accidentally bumped into them at the supermarket, the sweet interaction between the two, and the women’s lingerie on the checkout counter, and this was the second time she saw Luo Shangqing bring this young girl to Xiangshan for a meal.
Once could be a coincidence, but what about twice, three times? Could it still be a coincidence?
After the meal, Cheng Lin said, "Shangqing, why don’t you come over to pick up your clothes, I have some academic issues I want to discuss with you."
"I need to take Mu Chenxi home," Luo Shangqing rebuffed without any consideration for her feelings.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Lin turned to Mu Chenxi, negotiating in a good-natured manner, "Student Mu, I have some important medical issues to discuss with your teacher. I’ll call you a taxi, would you go back on your own?"
Luo Shangqing frowned slightly upon hearing this.
Mu Chenxi felt she shouldn’t stay and hinder their important discussion, quickly waving her hands, "It’s fine, there are direct buses to my neighborhood right at the door. Professor Luo, if you’re busy, just go ahead, I’ll make my own way back."
Mu Chenxi bid farewell to Bai Chengxi and Nan Zhan before she quickly ran towards the bus stop across the street.
Once she left, Bai Chengxi and Nan Zhan went to the parking lot to get their cars. Only Luo Shangqing and Cheng Lin remained at the entrance of Xiangshan Club. Luo Shangqing kept his gaze fixed on the direction Mu Chenxi disappeared, his brows knitted together the entire time.
"Shangqing, let’s go. It just so happens I didn’t drive." Cheng Lin gently tugged at his sleeve, slipping her hand into his arm, her body leaning on his side, "How about we take a walk? I’ve eaten a bit too much."
Luo Shangqing lowered his head to look at the arm she was hugging, his voice a few degrees colder: "Cheng Lin, is there any meaning in doing this?"
"What?" Cheng Lin lifted her head, her bright eyes blinking twice, "What are you talking about?"
"I’ve made our relationship very clear. If you keep this up, I’m afraid we won’t even be able to remain friends." Luo Shangqing’s expression was serious, "You know, the thing I dislike the most is a woman who thinks she’s clever. Do you think no one sees what you’re up to tonight?"
Cheng Lin’s face turned pale with anger, "Yes, I like you, what’s wrong with that? You may not like me, but you shouldn’t be fooling around with a child who is more than ten years younger than you, especially since she is your student,"
"Enough, I don’t want to talk to you about this." Luo Shangqing tried to shake off her hand, but she clung onto his arm desperately, her emotions becoming agitated.
"Shangqing, in what ways am I inferior to that child? Is it age? I once had my seventeen, eighteen years of youth too, and I gave my youth to you. No matter how young one is, there will always be a day when they grow old. What can she give you, a stable life or an outstanding career? After all these years, haven’t you realized that only I am the most suitable person for you?"
Luo Shangqing listened to her rush through her words, a slight smirk appearing on his lips: "If it were just because she’s young that I liked her, then Cheng Lin, you were also young once, why didn’t I like you when you were young? So, some things are unrelated to age, unrelated to family background, unrelated to career. To like someone is just a feeling, an attraction, not for interest, not for money, definitely not for being well-matched, what you’re talking about should be called an ’arranged marriage,’ not love."
Cheng Lin looked at him in disbelief. This man, whom she had worshiped since childhood, the man she had sworn to marry, was now speaking so heartlessly yet gently, except that gentleness was not directed at her.
"Shangqing, what do you mean, are you saying... you like that child?"
Luo Shangqing didn’t speak, his thin lips pressed into an impatient curve.
"You’re about the same age as her father, you could be her uncle,"
"Cheng Lin." Luo Shangqing’s voice became stern as he interrupted her, forcefully pushing her away, "Enough, don’t go mad, I’ll just assume you’re drunk tonight. If you say another word, don’t blame me for turning heartless."
Cheng Lin was nearly pushed to the ground; she opened her mouth to retort but swallowed the words with reluctant resignation, fully aware of how frightening Luo Shangqing could be when serious or when scolding someone.
Just as Mu Chenxi reached the bus stop, a bus arrived. After she swiped her card and boarded, she took a seat in the last row by the window, perfectly positioned to see the glittering Xiangshan Club under the night sky.
On the stairs, Luo Shangqing and Cheng Lin were still standing, their conversation unknown, but Cheng Lin had taken his arm.
Cheng Lin was very beautiful, the type that made her feel a pang of shame. Such a couple, with the brilliant backdrop of Xiangshan, were not overshadowed at all. On the contrary, they drew many envious glances, involuntarily bringing to mind the phrase: "Talented man and pretty woman."
Mu Chenxi leaned against the window, watching the couple snuggle up together in a daze, her eyes suddenly brimming with sourness.
She remembered the words Cheng Lin had said at the dinner table, knowing what Professor Luo liked and disliked to eat, mentioning his overcoat left at her house. She was supposed to see the moment Luo Shangqing pushed Cheng Lin away, but she didn’t, for at that moment her vision blurred with tears, and she no longer had the strength to turn back. This had always been a one-sided love destined to end without fulfillment, where she was the only one running, fully aware that he was right there ahead, but she could never reach the finish line.
When Mu Chenxi got home, Mu Kaihua and Luo Meijuan were both there unusually, having already finished dinner and watching TV in the living room.
"My dear is back, where have you been goofing off?" Luo Meijuan, eating sunflower seeds, kept her eyes glued to the TV screen.
"I went to hang out with classmates," Mu Chenxi replied listlessly, "I’m going back to my room."
"Sweetheart, give me your ID card for a moment." Mu Kaihua looked over, "I need your ID for some paperwork, you don’t need it for school, right?"
"No need." Mu Chenxi took out her ID card from her bag, handed it to Mu Kaihua, and went back to her room, closing the door behind her.
Mu Kaihua, examining the ID card in his hand, asked with some confusion, "Something seems off with our daughter, doesn’t she know I’m using her ID to apply for immigration? Didn’t she vehemently oppose it just last week?"