Chapter 536: Chapter 536: Snatching Food and Snatching People
"I’m done talking with you. That roast chicken? It’s mine. Name your price for letting me have it," the young man said, pulling out a wad of checks from his pocket and waving them in his hand, looking at Xu Ke.
"My girlfriend wants this dish, so we’re not giving it up. You’ve made a wasted trip, I’m afraid. Remember to close the door on your way out," Xu Ke replied with a casual tone, ignoring the checks in the young man’s hand as if he couldn’t see the money flaunting.
"I’m not negotiating with you; this is a notification. Whether you want to give it or not, that dish is coming with me. You really think I’m being polite with you? This refusal thing you’re doing isn’t cute," the young man said impatiently, clearly losing patience with Xu Ke.
Seeing Xu Ke’s refusal, he immediately turned hostile.
"Do you know who I am? It’s your honor that I even fancy your dish. Stop pretending to be tough here. Got it?" The young man, instead of leaving after Xu Ke’s refusal, started walking into the room, towering over Xu Ke arrogantly.
"Who you are doesn’t matter to me. I’ll say it again: we won’t give up this dish today," Xu Ke said, unfazed by the other man’s posturing. He shifted back a bit in his chair to have a better view of the man’s face without looking down his nose.
"Right, it’s not our fault you came late, is it? I’ve been craving this dish for ages, and I’m not letting go of it. If you want to eat it, you can come back tomorrow. And if not tomorrow, then the day after, or the day after that. But don’t think about taking this dish from our room," Ariel chimed in, feeling sweet inside seeing Xu Ke standing up for her, couldn’t help but echo Xu Ke’s words.
If Ariel hadn’t spoken, the young man might not have noticed her presence. The suddenness of Ariel’s voice startled him.
The young man, intending to scold the woman who dared to frighten him, turned his head and, upon seeing Ariel’s face, found himself speechless, as if something had grabbed hold of his throat.
"Why are you staring at me like that? We already said we won’t give up the roast chicken. If you’re staying for a fight, just say so," Ariel said challengingly, raising an eyebrow as she met his gaze that seemed glued to her.
It was only after Ariel spoke that the young man snapped out of his daze, looking at her with a wide grin.
"Misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. Why would I want to fight you? You don’t seem like you’re from China. Are you American?"
In the blink of an eye, the young man forgot about Xu Ke, leaving his thoughts on the roast chicken behind, his eyes fixed solely on Ariel.
Ariel wasn’t buying into his flattery, her gaze was as cold as ice.
She spoke with a chill in her voice, "What business is it of yours where I’m from? If you don’t want that roast chicken, then get out and stop interrupting our meal."
"No one’s ever spoken to me like that," the young man muttered to himself, but instead of feeling angry, his eyes lit up as he looked at Ariel.
Men all know these looks, and Xu Ke was no exception to understanding what the young man was after.
Understanding the youth’s intentions, Xu Ke’s smile grew colder.
First, he wants the roast chicken, now he wants the girl. Today’s youth really amaze me, wanting everything without considering their own limits.
"You better take your eyes back and stop looking at someone else’s girlfriend like that," Xu Ke stood up, moving between them to block the young man’s view of Ariel.
"What does it matter to you who I look at? Get out of my way and stop blocking my view," the young man retorted, getting irritated the moment Xu Ke obstructed his gaze, feeling a surge of anger.
"You’re looking at my girlfriend, so don’t you think it concerns me?" Xu Ke laughed at the young man’s audacity; it was the first time he’d encountered someone so boldly ogling someone else’s partner and telling the current boyfriend to move aside.
"Your girlfriend?" the young man sized Xu Ke up, his gaze as if judging a toad thinking it can eat swan meat.
"Why do you get to have such a pretty girlfriend? But no worries, I like your girlfriend. I’ll pay you to leave her."
Used to solving problems with money, the young man didn’t think twice, offering what he assumed would fix the situation as he had countless times before.
Xu Ke took the blank check the young man offered, smiling coldly with a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"I don’t need your money; I just need you to stay away from her."
Xu Ke took the check, shredded it to strips in front of the young man, and then crumbled them all to pieces, ensuring there was no chance of restoring it.
"Who doesn’t love money? We all know each other. As long as the price is right, I’ll satisfy you," the young man confidently declared.
As he said this, he adjusted his clothes to ensure Ariel saw his most attractive side.
But Xu Ke blocked him completely, leaving Ariel no chance to see his current demeanor.
Meanwhile, Ariel was bored, drawing circles with her fingers on Xu Ke’s back, hoping they’d finish talking soon so she could have Xu Ke back to herself.
"Do you always like to prattle on? When I say no, it means no. We rented this private room, and you’re not welcome here. So please leave," Xu Ke, feeling Ariel’s silent urging, had no desire to continue the exchange and hoped the young man would swiftly leave so they could enjoy their own sweet time.
Yet things rarely go as planned, as if the world loves making jokes at your expense.
Not only did the youth not leave as Xu Ke had hoped, but instead, he stepped forward with a cold grin.
"How dare you talk to me like that? I gave you respect for the lady’s sake, and you think you can lecture me? What are you thinking? Get a reality check and see who you are," the young man sneered, the curve of his mouth widening, though the warmth in his gaze was vanishing.
"I’m offering you money out of respect for the lady. Be sensible and step aside. My temper’s bad, and I might just beat you up," the young man threatened Xu Ke, not hiding his brashness to assert his dominance.