Chapter 97: The Awkwardness at the Dinner Table is Enough to Carve Out a Shrek Academy!
Chapter 97: The Awkwardness at the Dinner Table is Enough to Carve Out a Shrek Academy!
The hotel room assignments were quickly finalized.
Zhao Wuji took a single room for himself and went upstairs to find some wine to drink.
The two girls, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, shared a room.
The lovers, Lin Qingmo and Xiao Wu, shared a room.
The remaining Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Tang San were stuffed into a room for four.
"Cough."
Dai Mubai crossed his arms and glanced at Tang San, speaking in a pointed Yin and Yang way: "The three of us squeezing in is fine, but any more and I’m afraid we won’t be able to breathe."
"Yes, yes, Boss Dai is right. How can three grown men stay in one room? That smell would be unbearable."
Ma Hongjun stood by the side, winking and echoing Dai Mubai’s words.
Oscar didn’t say anything, but his attitude was clear.
Both of them were very aware that Boss Dai and Tang San were at odds and constantly at each other’s throats.
Although they didn’t know the reason, they would always side with their own people.
"..."
Hearing this, Tang San’s expression instantly darkened.
Ostracized again!
Just because he lost to his Hidden Weapons last time?
Tang San only felt that Dai Mubai was narrow-minded and petty; he already has a Dao of seeking death!
His fists clenched tightly.
Suppressing his anger, Tang San said coldly to the owner, "I’ll open another single room."
After speaking, he walked in another direction without looking back.
His back revealed a sense of isolation and suppressed resentment.
To this day, he still didn’t know that something was "wrong" with Dai Mubai’s body.
He only thought it was the jealousy he faced after defeating the other party.
Ever since being whipped away by a vine from the returned Lin Qingmo at Shrek, he had become much more well-behaved on the surface.
At least he didn’t dare to openly pester Xiao Wu anymore.
However, his eyes would occasionally sweep gloomily over the figures of Lin Qingmo and Xiao Wu standing side by side.
The poisonous fire of jealousy deep in his eyes had never been extinguished.
Oscar had also learned to be a bit better.
Although the way he looked at Ning Rongrong was still like his eyes were glued to her.
But after being told to "get lost" to his face, he didn’t dare to approach easily anymore.
Only Dai Mubai had not given up hope.
Or rather, he was unwilling to accept it.
"Zhuqing, I saw this Osmanthus cake on the street just now and thought you might like it, so I bought some for you. Have a taste."
Dai Mubai approached Zhu Zhuqing again, handing over a package of pastries wrapped in oil-paper with a flattering smile.
When Zhu Zhuqing passed him without even lifting her eyelids, she dropped three cold words:
"You’re no good."
This single sentence made Dai Mubai’s entire body stiffen.
The flattering smile froze on his face, and his complexion turned from red to green, then from green to black.
A massive sense of humiliation overwhelmed him.
But he didn’t dare to lash out, or even refute her.
With his weakness held in her hands, he could only watch that black silhouette walk away.
He stood there like a clown.
Finally, he slunk away to the side, his fists clenched tight... Dinner time.
The hotel’s first-floor lobby.
Several square tables were filled with noisy and boisterous people.
Lin Qingmo and Xiao Wu occupied a corner table all to themselves.
A few refreshing side dishes and a pot of sweet fruit wine.
The two of them sat head to head, whispering and laughing.
Xiao Wu would giggle while covering her mouth from time to time; the atmosphere was sweet enough to draw threads.
The atmosphere at the large table on the other side was much more subtle.
Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Tang San sat on one side, while Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing sat on the other, as if separated by the Chu-Han border.
"Boss Dai, it’s not easy to come out for a trip. You have to show us some hospitality!"
Ma Hongjun rubbed his hands, his eyes fixed on the roasted meat at the neighboring table.
Dai Mubai was just looking for an opportunity to show off.
Hearing this, he immediately patted his chest: "No problem! Order whatever you want, it’s on me tonight!"
Ma Hongjun’s eyes lit up: "I want that Large ham, and two more jars of good wine!"
Oscar also got excited.
"Boss Dai is so generous, then I won’t be polite. I’ve wanted to try the Strong liquor here for a long time!"
Tang San silently picked at the white rice in his bowl, having no interest in wine.
However, his peripheral vision couldn’t help but drift toward that perfect couple in the corner.
Seeing Xiao Wu’s bright smile for Lin Qingmo and how she intimately served him food, his chest felt stifled.
Soon, the food and wine were served.
Several jars of mud-sealed Strong liquor were placed on the table with great Aura.
Dai Mubai gave Ma Hongjun a look.
Ma Hongjun understood and stood up to pour the wine with a chuckle.
He thought to himself: Is Boss Dai planning to strike up a conversation with Zhu Zhuqing and the others once everyone starts drinking and the atmosphere gets lively?
Just as he was about to invite everyone to drink.
"Stop."
Ning Rongrong put down her chopsticks, her crisp voice making everyone’s movements freeze.
She elegantly wiped the corners of her mouth, then stood up and patted the non-existent wrinkles on her skirt.
She curled her lip at Dai Mubai and the other two without any politeness.
"You’re too noisy. We’re eating right now. Can’t you let people eat in peace without all this shouting? How vulgar. Didn’t your families teach you any table etiquette?"
"And..."
She wagged her finger.
"This Young Miss doesn’t touch alcohol. Do as you please."
After speaking, she turned like a graceful butterfly and walked toward Lin Qingmo’s table.
Arriving at the table, she playfully winked at Lin Qingmo.
"A-Qing, Xiao Wu, you don’t mind if I join you, right? Over there is a bit... well, it spoils the appetite."
Lin Qingmo smiled: "Of course not."
"Is it really okay? I won’t be interrupting your time for two, will I?"
Ning Rongrong teased Xiao Wu, nudging her with her shoulder.
Xiao Wu’s cheeks turned red.
"Not at all~ Come sit down."
Xiao Wu moved inward to make room for her.
Just as Ning Rongrong sat down.
Zhu Zhuqing directly put down her rice bowl, which she had barely touched.
She stood up and didn’t even spare a glance for Dai Mubai as she walked past him.
She went straight to Lin Qingmo’s table.
She sat down next to Ning Rongrong, her movements as natural as if she were coming home.
"..."
The air instantly froze.
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun were frozen in their seats, the smiles on their faces completely iced over.
The hands they had extended to pour the wine were still suspended in mid-air.
Awkward.
A deathly awkwardness.
The gazes of the other diners in the lobby all gathered over with a "swish."
They were filled with curiosity, scrutiny, and undisguised amusement from watching the drama.
Those gazes were like needles, making the three of them feel utterly uncomfortable.
They simply wanted to use their toes to carve out a Shrek Academy on the spot!
"This... what kind of situation is this..."
Ma Hongjun’s mouth was open, but he couldn’t squeeze out a single word to smooth things over.
"..."
Dai Mubai’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and the veins on the back of his hand holding the wine glass bulged.
The person he had just tried to impress with his wealth had run away.
And she ran straight to the side of Lin Qingmo, someone he disliked and couldn’t compare to!
This was practically a public execution, a slap to the face!
Oscar silently withdrew his hand.
Distraught, he poured himself a large glass of Strong liquor.
He tilted his head back and downed it all in one gulp.
The burning liquid scorched his throat, but it couldn’t extinguish the bitterness in his heart.
He stole a glance at Ning Rongrong.
The young girl was leaning her head to talk to Zhu Zhuqing, a relaxed smile on her lips.
That was an expression she had never shown him.
Oscar’s heart twitched.
"As expected... Rongrong only has eyes for strong people like Lin Qingmo."
He thought dejectedly, but then immediately cheered himself up.
"No, I can’t give up! I have to become more powerful!"
And Tang San, in the corner, took all of this in.
He looked at Lin Qingmo surrounded by everyone, and at the way Xiao Wu was dependent and intimate with him.
Then he looked at the coldness and awkwardness on his own side.
A sense of loneliness from being rejected by the entire World, mixed with frantic jealousy, gnawed at his heart once again.
He lowered his head and took a large, forceful bite of cold rice.
His gaze was dark and indistinct in the shadows.
(End of Chapter)
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