Venerable Demon King & The Doting Immortal (QT)-Chapter 220: Are you shaming us

Peng Xiu continued with her pitiful act on the phone, her voice brittle and trembling as she spoke. "I... I... I am not sure who broke into my apartment. They were masked men. Xin-ge, what should I do?" Her words were laced with a carefully crafted vulnerability, masking the truth that it was her own rage that had left her apartment in shambles.

Han Xin’s cold, detached voice came through the call, a stark contrast to her feigned distress. "I will send people to your place to pick you up. You can stay at Reigh Tower. It’s highly secure."

Peng Xiu’s heart sank. She didn’t want to go to Reigh Tower. She wanted to stay with him. But she knew better than to suggest it to him. Han Xin would refuse her without hesitation. She wiped away her crocodile tears and forced a grateful tone. "Okay, I will go there. Xin-ge, you are truly so good to me."

"Stay safe," Han Xin replied curtly, and before Peng Xiu could say anything else, the call ended with a click. She stared at her phone, her jaw clenched in frustration. "..."

She had no intention of going to Reigh Tower. Her mind was already made up. She would head to the seaside villa instead. She knew it was a risk. Han Xin might kick her out if she comes but she had slept at his place a few times before, albeit in a guest room on the first floor, far from his own bedroom on the second floor. It was worth a shot.

Peng Xiu gathered her things in a hurry. It was a gamble, but it was one she was willing to take. She needed to be close to Han Xin, to find a way to break through his icy exterior and get even closer to him.

***

Han Xin had no idea that Peng Xiu was planning to come to his place without his permission. He was driving, the car unusually quiet, a stark contrast to the chaotic chatter from before. When Peng Xiu called, he didn’t think much of it and picked up the phone. Suddenly, the car was filled with her brittle, pitiful voice.

The chatter that had filled the car moments before came to an abrupt halt. Peng Xiu’s voice, laced with feigned distress, took everyone by surprise. Xiang Yu, who had been busy typing on his phone, stopped and glared at the display panel. His face was expressionless, but if one looked closely, there was a glint of darkness in his eyes.

As the call ended, a heavy silence settled over the car. No one spoke for a while, the tension palpable. Xiang Yu eventually returned to his phone, his fingers moving swiftly as he responded to his employees. He was instructing them to reschedule all their appointments to Tianshi Park, another tattoo shop set up by the original Xiang Yu in a more secure part of the city. It was a precaution, a backup plan in case they were attacked.

Xiang Yu’s chest felt heavy, an intense sour feeling lingering on his tongue. He suppressed it, but his hatred for Peng Xiu was seeping through, a dark cloud he struggled to contain. He knew he had to keep his emotions in check, but the mere sound of her voice had stirred something deep and bitter within him.

Han Xin could feel the intense pressure emanating from the man sitting beside him. Xiang Yu’s presence was like a dark cloud, heavy and oppressive. Han Xin suddenly felt the urge to explain himself, to justify the call he had just taken from Peng Xiu. But logic told him otherwise. Why should he explain himself? He had nothing to do with Xiang Yu apart from business. Yet, the urge gnawed at him, irrational and persistent.

As the traffic light turned red, Han Xin stopped the car. He was about to open his mouth to speak when Han Zhan, sitting in the back, broke the silence. "Girls, look, there’s a chicken place. Do you want some?"

Lian and Mei, who had been in low spirits ever since the call, looked up. Their eyes followed Han Zhan’s pointing finger to the fast-food restaurant. Han Zhan had noticed their downcast expressions and couldn’t stand the silence. He preferred the twins when they were talkative and energetic, and he hoped this suggestion would lift their spirits.

The twins, who had never eaten fried chicken before, were suddenly excited. "Yes, yes, Master, can we go?" they chorused.

Xiang Yu, who hadn’t eaten yet and was still fuming, should have asked Han Xin if they could stop. But his anger got the better of him. "Sure," he replied curtly. ƒrēenovelkiss.com

Han Xin pursed his lips, wanting to tell them that fast food was unhealthy, but he held his tongue. He turned on the right signal and drove into the drive-through. Han Zhan leaned forward, asking, "What would you like to eat?"

Lian and Mei eagerly started picking items from the lit menu board outside, not holding back. After a while, they finished listing their choices to the speaker. "Done," Lian said with a satisfied nod.

Han Zhan chuckled. "I didn’t think you would order for everyone."

Mei and Lian turned to him, looking as if he had said the most ridiculous thing. "Who said we ordered for everyone?" Mei asked. "We ordered for Master and us."

"Yeah," Lian added. "Little Bai, it’s your turn."

Little Bai, unfazed by the twins’ appetite, leaned forward to place an order. He had seen them devour an entire roasted duck by themselves before. Despite their small frames, their stomachs seemed like bottomless pits. He had thought they might be a little chubby by now, but they remained as slender as ever.

Han Zhan, on the other hand, was flabbergasted. "You can finish all that?"

Lian shot him a look. "Are you shaming us?"

Han Zhan, caught off guard, stammered, "..."

The tension in the car eased slightly as the twins’ enthusiasm for food

Everyone except Han Xin ordered something from the drive-through. The twins were fascinated by the idea that they didn’t have to get out of the car to get their food. They eagerly took the bags from the lady at the window, who found them absolutely adorable. Their excitement was palpable as they clutched their treasures, eyes wide with curiosity.