nownovels Chapter 193: Putting on a Show
Chapter 193: Putting on a Show
He finished speaking and pointedly watched Shanshan’s face for any signs of anger.
Shanshan stared at him, her suspicious gaze raking him up and down.
Her eyes went from his head to his feet and back to his face, as if trying to gauge how much of what he said she could believe.
But Cao Daqiang’s expression was calm. He stood there, stock-still, refusing to flinch no matter how hard she stared.
His hands hung naturally at his sides, and his expression was open. He truly didn’t look like he was lying.
"So? What do you say? If you’re okay with it, I’ll set it for the afternoon two days from now. We can eat at the restaurant by your school?"
He asked tentatively, his voice a little lower than before, as if he were trying to tread carefully.
"Fine. There it is. See you then."
Shanshan’s reply was crisp, her tone flat—neither enthusiastic nor resistant.
The moment she finished speaking, Shanshan turned and walked away.
Her pace was brisk, and she didn’t look back once as she headed straight for the school gate.
Cao Daqiang had wanted to suggest a fancier place, but he never even got the chance to open his mouth.
He opened his mouth and managed only a single syllable before she vanished from sight.
The truth was, Shanshan had no intention of actually going on a blind date. She was planning to stage a little drama—an "accidental meeting" between Cao Daqiang and Yuan Zhihe.
She had devised this plan long ago and had run through the details several times.
Yuan Zhihe showed up at that restaurant every day, without fail.
She had a habit of arriving at the same time, sitting by the window, and ordering a steak and a fruit tea, which she ate while scrolling through her phone.
She found the school cafeteria too shabby and beneath her, so she had adopted this stylishly decorated restaurant next to campus as her personal dining hall.
The waitstaff all knew her. They would greet her as soon as she walked in and even save her favorite spot.
Today, Shanshan arrived early, every step of her plan already mapped out in her mind.
She chose a corner table with her back to the entrance, but from where she sat, she had a clear view of Yuan Zhihe’s usual spot.
Sure enough, right on schedule, Yuan Zhihe appeared.
She walked in, the crisp sound of her high heels causing a few diners to look up.
She had clearly dressed up for the occasion. A tight dress clung to her figure, and she swayed her hips as she walked in her high heels, like a willow branch in the breeze.
Her slightly curled hair fell over her shoulders, her earrings dangled, and her fingertips were painted a bright, fiery red.
The door opened, and Cao Daqiang walked in with a young man. His eyes swept the room and were immediately drawn to Yuan Zhihe.
His gaze lingered for a few seconds before he reluctantly looked away.
Shanshan felt a wave of disgust and had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. She managed to hold it in, giving Cao Daqiang a stiff nod.
Under the table, she clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging into her palms to remind herself to stay calm.
"This is my daughter, Shanshan. You’ve probably heard of her; she’s been on TV quite a bit these last few years."
As Cao Daqiang made the introduction, his tone held an unconcealable pride, as if her fame reflected on him.
He even puffed out his chest a little as he spoke, as if showing off a personal possession.
"Shanshan, this is Qin Haijun. He’s been working for two years, and he’s with our city’s..."
He turned to the young man, about to continue the introduction.
"That’s enough. I’ll ask him for the details myself. You can go now."
Shanshan waved her hand impatiently, dismissing him on the spot.
She didn’t even look up as she spoke, her eyes fixed on the rim of her water glass.
Cao Daqiang’s face froze. He hadn’t expected her to be so blunt.
The corner of his mouth twitched, but in the end, he said nothing and could only nod awkwardly.
But to her side, Qin Haijun actually laughed. "I like your personality. Straightforward, no pretense. Uncle Cao, you can go if you’re busy. We can chat on our own."
"Oh, wonderful, wonderful! Yes, yes, you two take your time and chat. I won’t get in the way."
Seeing a potential spark between them, Cao Daqiang immediately beamed, a fawning smile spreading across his face as he nodded along enthusiastically.
He shot to his feet, took a few neat steps back, and even pushed his chair aside so it wouldn’t block anyone’s view.
He backed toward the door, smiling and waving, afraid that staying a second longer would cause trouble.
Only after confirming he was completely out of earshot did he breathe a small sigh of relief, clasp his hands behind his back, and stroll away.
Shanshan listened with half-lidded eyes as Qin Haijun rambled on, but her mind had already drifted over to Cao Daqiang.
She maintained the pretense of listening, nodding lightly now and then, but in truth, she wasn’t hearing a single word.
Her attention remained fixed on the direction Cao Daqiang had gone. Beneath the table, her fingers curled slightly, her nails pressing into her palm.
She knew what was about to happen, and she knew exactly what she had to do.
While her ears registered Qin Haijun’s rambling about club activity arrangements, her mind was replaying the scene from a few minutes ago.
A hand moved furtively under the table. Suddenly, Yuan Zhihe, sitting on her stool, felt a sharp poke in her rear, as if jabbed by a nail. She shot to her feet, but so abruptly that her foot slipped. Her high heel twisted under her, and her body tipped uncontrollably to the side.
The touch was brief, but perfectly precise.
Through the tablecloth, Shanshan had used her fingertip to tap a small mechanism on the table leg.
It was a device she had set up in advance.
Caught completely off guard, Yuan Zhihe jumped up from her seat in alarm.
The heel of her right shoe caught in a crack between the floorboards, causing her ankle to twist and her to lose her balance instantly.
She instinctively reached for something to steady herself, but there was nothing to grab onto.
Just then, Cao Daqiang, who was conveniently "passing by," reached out and caught her.
He had been waiting nearby for an opportunity to approach, and the moment he saw Yuan Zhihe stumble, he rushed over.
His arm shot out just in time, wrapping around her waist and pulling her firmly against him.
They were suddenly very close. Yuan Zhihe’s face flushed crimson, her lips parted, but no words came out.
Cao Daqiang asked in a low voice if she was alright, his tone dripping with concern.
He didn’t let go immediately. He waited until she had regained her footing, holding her for a few extra seconds before slowly pulling his arm away.
Mission accomplished. Shanshan immediately ceased her covert actions. Her eyes snapped back to the still-babbling Qin Haijun as she stood up, her face cold.
She placed her hands primly on the tabletop, her expression turning serious and stern.
The faint, ghost of a smile she’d worn was gone, replaced by an icy indifference that pushed everyone away.
She shoved her chair back with a loud scrape, finally cutting Qin Haijun off mid-sentence.
"I’m a minor. You dare try anything funny, and I’ll call the cops and have you thrown in jail."
She spoke slowly, enunciating every single word.
With that, she grabbed her backpack, looped the strap around her hand, and turned toward the exit.
"You! But Cao Daqiang said you..."
Qin Haijun was stunned for a moment. He scrambled to his feet, trying to defend himself, his voice a mixture of panic and indignation.
He opened his mouth, as if about to use Cao Daqiang’s name as a shield to absolve himself.
"So if someone farts, you just have to go smell it? Can’t you use your own brain?"
Shanshan cut him off with a roll of her eyes and stormed out.
She didn’t even pause, striding steadily through the crowd.