Xue Can mengerahkan seluruh tekadnya untuk menahan dorongan hati agar tidak melenyapkan Lei Li. Lei Li bukanlah tipe orang yang suka mengikuti aturan. Semakin dilarang, semakin dia ingin melakukannya. Benar-benar keras kepala. Xue Can tidak ingin ribut besar dengan Lei Li di hadapan Shen Lu. Ia memutuskan untuk menyelesaikan makan malam ini dulu dan menjelaskan semuanya kepada Shen Lu secara empat mata nanti. Melihat ekspresi masam Xue Can, Lei Li merasa sangat puas. Ia akhirnya melepaskan lengan Shen Lu dan mengambil sumpitnya. Begitu menyuap sesapsuap makanan, ia langsung merasakan keistimewaan yang tersembunyi di dalam hidangan tersebut. 'Makanan ini benar-benar bisa menenangkan Laut Spiritual!' Bukan hanya satu hidangan; semuanya, termasuk nasinya, memiliki efek yang sama. Lei Li melirik sekilas ke arah Shen Lu sementara jutaan pikiran berkecamuk di kepalanya. 'Misalnya, kenapa hidangan-hidangan ini punya kemampuan menenangkan Laut Spiritual?' 'Apakah karena bahannya?' 'Dari mana bahan-bahan itu berasal?' Pikiran pertama Lei Li bukan tertuju pada Shen Lu. Ia pernah makan di restoran ini siang tadi, dan menu spesial siang hari tidak memiliki efek seperti ini. Ia mengamatinya sejenak dan menyimpulkan bahwa Xue Can pasti yang membawanya. Xue Can sangat cakap dan penuh sumber daya. Pria itu memang tampak muram, tapi ia punya koneksi yang bagus di pangkalan penyintas lain. 'Jadi, dia membawanya kembali dari misi terakhirnya?' 'Mungkin dia tidak bisa memasak, jadi dia menyerahkannya kepada Shen Lu untuk diolah?' 'Masuk akal juga, kan?' Shen Lu hanyalah orang biasa, jadi ia mungkin tidak akan mengerti nilai sebenarnya dari bahan-bahan ini. Xue Can tidak perlu khawatir wanita itu akan mengetahui rahasianya. Namun, semakin dipikirkan, semakin Lei Li merasa ada yang tidak beres. Shen Lu makan beberapa suap lalu meletakkan sumpitnya. "Maaf, tunangan saya belum makan. Saya harus pergi dulu. Silakan nikmati makanannya." Ia menganggap dirinya sebagai orang yang peka. 'Sepasang kekasih sedang mencoba makan malam. Untuk apa aku berdiri di sini?' Dan begitu saja, Fu Cheng kembali menjadi alasan sempurnanya untuk undur diri dengan anggun. Kali ini, Lei Li tidak berusaha menahannya. Mendengar Shen Lu mengakui dengan mulutnya sendiri bahwa ia sudah punya tunangan membuat suasana hati Lei Li sangat baik. Ia kini hampir yakin bahwa tidak ada hubungan tidak senonoh antara Xue Can dan Shen Lu. Xue Can memang bukan orang suci, tapi ia tidak akan serendah itu sampai mengganggu wanita yang sudah bertunangan. Shen Lu berhasil meminta diri dan membawa nampan berisi makanan ke lantai dua. Begitu melihat Fu Cheng, ia langsung mulai menggosip. "Xue Can punya pacar yang cantik banget!" Fu Cheng merapikan sendiri bantal kepala di ranjau tempat tidurnya dan mengeluarkan gumaman bernada tanya, "Hm?" Respons itu persis seperti yang ia harapkan, yang membuat Shen Lu semakin bersemangat untuk mengobrol. "Aku melihatnya tadi siang, dia benar-benar cantik! Tinggi dan wajahnya luar biasa. Dia pasti seorang Pengguna Kemampuan. Dia dan Xue Can sangat serasi." Shen Lu meletakkan nampan di atas meja kecil di atas tempat tidur. "Kepribadiannya sepertinya sangat lincah dan proaktif. Pelengkap yang sempurna untuk Xue Can." Fu Cheng menatap Shen Lu dalam diam. Ia telah "melihat" Pengguna Kemampuan Wanita di lantai bawah menggunakan kesadarannya. 'Cantik?' 'Menurutku tidak.' Di matanya, Shen Lu adalah yang paling cantik, paling unik, dan satu-satunya yang berarti. Ia sangat ingin mengatakan apa yang ada di dalam kepalanya. Namun, ia takut jika ia melakukannya, Shen Lu akan merasa tersinggung. Saat Shen Lu terus mengobrol, ia sedikit terbawa suasana dan tiba-tiba keceplosan, "Kamu dulu pernah punya pacar waktu sekolah?" Fu Cheng: ? Shen Lu baru sadar dengan apa yang baru saja ditanyakannya dan mulai meremas jemarinya karena malu. "Bukan berarti kita dijodohkan sejak kecil. Maksudku, kamu benar-benar tidak pernah pacaran sebelum kita bertunangan?" Suara Fu Cheng terdengar agak pasrah. "Tidak." Shen Lu mengeluarkan suara terkejut. "Maksudmu tidak ada cewek di kelasmu yang menyukaimu?" Fu Cheng mungkin sekarang tidak terlihat begitu menarik—kehilangan satu tangan dan satu kaki, serta buta sebelah mata—tetapi dalam ingatan pemilik aslinya, Fu Cheng yang tidak terluka dulunya sangat tampan. Fu Cheng menatapnya lekat-lekat. "Aku... tidak tahu." Entah kenapa, tatapan itu membuat Shen Lu merasa sedikit bersalah. Setelah beberapa detik, ia kembali membusungkan dadanya. 'Aku kan tidak bertanya hal yang melewati batas. Masa cewek enggak boleh gosip sedikit?' "Kamu harus makan. Aku buat banyak makanan hari ini, jangan sampai dingin." Shen Lu menyodorkan sendok ke tangan Fu Cheng, mengalihkan topik dengan lihai. "Ini daging char siu. Rasanya manis. Coba deh, gimana rasanya." Fu Cheng menghela napas dalam-dalam, sebuah beban mengganjal di dadanya. Namun, dalam situasi ini, ia tidak bisa terus mendesak topik pembicaraan sebelumnya. Di ruang privat lantai bawah, Xue Can duduk dengan tangan bersidekap, menatap dingin pada Lei Li yang sedang melahap makanannya dengan nikmat. "Kamu enggak mau makan?" Lei Li mengambil sepotong bebek masak bir. "Bebek ini benar-benar enak!" "Habiskan makananmu lalu pergi," kata Xue Can dengan suara dingin tanpa ampun. "Soal kerja sama dengan pemerintah, Korps Tentara Bayaran Gale mengundurkan diri. Aku akan menyuruh orang mengantarkan biaya pemutusan kontrak besok." Lei Li menelan daging di mulutnya. Senyumnya tidak pudar dari wajahnya, tetapi matanya berubah dingin. "Xue Can, bisakah kamu tidak bersikap begitu impulsif?" "Kesabarannya ada batasnya." "Hanya karena aku mengacaukan jam makanmu?" Lei Li sama sekali tidak bergeming. "Apa masalahnya? Aku tinggal bayar Boss Shen dengan harga lebih untuk membuat hidangan lain." 'Itu cuma uang. Dia punya banyak uang.' Xue Can mendengkus. "Kamu benar-benar terlalu tinggi menilai dirimu sendiri." "Tentu saja aku menilai diriku tinggi. Kalau kamu tidak menghargai dirimu sendiri, apa gunanya hidup?" Lei Li adalah seorang berandalan tak tahu malu; Xue Can jelas bukan tandingannya. Selain itu, ia tidak pandai berdebat dan tidak punya keinginan untuk membuang napas padanya. Mengingat perangainya yang biasa, ia sudah sejak lama membanting meja dan pergi. Namun, ia tidak sanggup melangkah pergi. Ia akhirnya mendapatkan makanan yang dimasak langsung oleh Shen Lu. Sungguh sia-sia besar jika ia tidak makan sampai kenyang. Tapi ia tidak mau makan bersama Lei Li, yang berujung pada kebuntuan yang canggung ini. Pada saat ini, Xue Can sangat membenci wanita yang tidak kenal aturan dan pembangkang ini dari lubuk hatinya. Melihat Xue Can benar-benar marah, Lei Li menghentikan sikap acuh tak acuhnya. "Apakah ini benar-benar perlu, Xue Can? Sejak kapan kamu jadi seketidakterimaan ini? Aku kan cuma kebetulan mampir makan di sini dan memutuskan untuk bergabung. Apa itu benar-benar cukup membuatmu separah ini marahnya?" "Kebetulan? Kamu menganggapku bodoh?" Xue Can mencibir. Tidak ada kebetulan sebanyak itu. Lei Li adalah seorang tentara bayaran wanita yang cukup terkenal. Cantik, memiliki Level Kekuatan Super yang tinggi, dan putri dari komandan Korps Tentara Bayaran Thunder. Tanpa perlu menyelidikinya pun, ia sudah tahu seberapa liar kehidupan malam
Bab 199: Membangkang Sampai ke Tulang
Xue Can exerted a great deal of willpower to suppress the urge to get rid of Lei Li.
Lei Li wasn’t the type to play by the rules. The more you told her not to do something, the more she wanted to do it.
Utterly rebellious.
Xue Can didn’t want to get into a huge fight with Lei Li in front of Shen Lu. He figured he’d just get through the meal for now and explain everything to Shen Lu in private later.
Seeing Xue Can’s foul expression, Lei Li felt a surge of satisfaction.
She finally let go of Shen Lu and picked up her chopsticks.
As soon as she took a bite, she immediately sensed the secret within the dishes.
’This food can actually soothe the Spiritual Sea!’
It wasn’t just one dish; every single one, including the rice, had this effect.
Lei Li shot a quick glance at Shen Lu as a million thoughts raced through her mind.
’For example, why do these dishes have the ability to soothe the Spiritual Sea?’
’Is it the ingredients?’
’Where did the ingredients come from?’
Lei Li’s first thought wasn’t of Shen Lu. She had eaten at the restaurant during the day, and the lunch specials didn’t have this effect.
She took a look and figured Xue Can must have brought them.
Xue Can was very capable and resourceful. He seemed a bit sullen, but he had some good connections in other survival bases.
’So he brought them back from his last mission?’
’Maybe he can’t cook, so he just gave them to Shen Lu to prepare?’
’That seems to add up, right?’
Shen Lu was an ordinary person, so she probably wouldn’t understand the true value of these ingredients. He wouldn’t have to worry about her figuring anything out.
But the more she thought about it, the more Lei Li felt that something wasn’t quite right.
Shen Lu ate a few bites and put down her chopsticks. "Pardon me, but my fiancé hasn’t eaten yet. I’ll have to be going now. Please, take your time."
She considered herself a perceptive person. ’A young couple is trying to have a meal. What am I doing just standing here?’
And so, Fu Cheng once again became her perfect excuse for a graceful exit.
This time, Lei Li didn’t try to keep her. Hearing Shen Lu admit with her own mouth that she had a fiancé put her in an excellent mood.
She was almost certain now that there was nothing improper going on between Xue Can and Shen Lu.
Xue Can wasn’t a saint by any means, but he wouldn’t stoop so low as to pester an engaged woman.
Shen Lu successfully excused herself and carried a tray of food up to the second floor.
The moment she saw Fu Cheng, she couldn’t help but start gossiping.
"Xue Can has a gorgeous girlfriend!"
Fu Cheng adjusted the head of the bed himself and let out a soft "Hm?" with a rising, questioning inflection.
He had given her the exact response she’d been hoping for, which only made Shen Lu more eager to chat.
"I saw her during the day, she’s really so beautiful! She’s tall with a gorgeous face. She must be a Superpower User. She and Xue Can make a great match."
Shen Lu placed the tray on the small overbed table. "She seems to have a very lively, proactive personality. The perfect complement to Xue Can."
Fu Cheng stared at Shen Lu in silence.
He had "seen" the Female Superpower User downstairs with his consciousness.
’Beautiful?’
’I don’t think so.’
In his eyes, Shen Lu was the most beautiful, unique, and only one who mattered.
He desperately wanted to tell her what he was thinking.
But he was afraid that if he did, Shen Lu would find it offensive.
As Shen Lu chatted on, she got a little carried away and suddenly blurted out, "Did you ever have a girlfriend back in school?"
Fu Cheng: ?
Shen Lu belatedly realized what she’d just asked and picked at her fingers in embarrassment.
"It’s not like ours was an arranged childhood betrothal. You mean you never dated anyone before we were engaged?"
Fu Cheng sounded a little resigned. "No."
Shen Lu let out a sound of surprise. "You mean no girls in your class liked you?"
Fu Cheng might not be much to look at now—missing an arm and a leg, and blind in one eye—but in the original owner’s memories, the uninjured Fu Cheng had been exceptionally handsome.
Fu Cheng stared directly at her. "I... don’t know."
For some reason, his stare made Shen Lu feel a little guilty.
After a few seconds, she puffed out her chest again.
’I didn’t ask anything out of line. Can’t a girl gossip a little?’
"You should eat. I made lots of food today, don’t let it get cold." Shen Lu pushed the spoon into Fu Cheng’s hand, changing the subject with practiced ease. "This is the char siu. It’s sweet. Try it, see what you think."
Fu Cheng sighed silently, a knot forming in his chest.
But under the circumstances, he couldn’t very well keep pressing the previous topic.
Downstairs in the booth, Xue Can sat with his arms crossed, coldly watching Lei Li eat with great relish.
"Aren’t you going to eat?" Lei Li picked up a piece of beer-braised duck. "This duck is absolutely delicious!"
"Finish eating and get out," Xue Can said, his voice cold and merciless. "As for the government collaboration, the Gale Mercenary Corps is pulling out. I’ll have someone send over the contract termination fee tomorrow."
Lei Li swallowed the meat in her mouth. The smile didn’t leave her face, but her eyes grew cold.
"Xue Can, can you please not act so impulsively?"
"My patience has its limits."
"Just because I crashed your dinner?" Lei Li was completely unfazed. "What’s the big deal? I’ll just pay Boss Shen a premium to make another spread."
’It’s just money. She has plenty of it.’
Xue Can scoffed. "You really think too highly of yourself."
"Of course I think highly of myself. If you don’t even value yourself, what’s the point of living?"
Lei Li was a shameless rogue; Xue Can was simply no match for her.
Besides, he wasn’t good at verbal sparring and had no desire to waste his breath on her.
Given his usual temper, he would have slammed the table and stormed out long ago.
But he couldn’t bring himself to leave.
He’d finally gotten a meal cooked by Shen Lu herself. It would be a total waste if he didn’t eat his fill.
But he didn’t want to eat with Lei Li, which led to the current awkward stalemate.
At this moment, Xue Can detested this lawless, unruly woman from the bottom of his heart.
Seeing that Xue Can was genuinely angry, Lei Li dropped her flippant act.
"Is this really necessary, Xue Can? Since when are you so petty? I just happened to run into you eating here and decided to join. Is that really enough to make you this angry?"
"Happened to? Do you take me for an idiot?" Xue Can sneered.
There was no such thing as that many coincidences.
Lei Li was a fairly well-known female mercenary. Beautiful, with a high Superpower Level, and the daughter of the Thunder Mercenary Corps’ commander. Even without looking into it, he knew how extravagant the nightlife of this "Mercenary Corps heiress" was.
Lei Li was a regular on Gold Street. Normally, this was the time she’d just be waking up. After getting ready, she’d be calling up her friends to go party at the clubs.
But that was all after nine o’clock.
And right now, it wasn’t even seven-thirty.
Her lie exposed, Lei Li didn’t even flinch. She decided to just lay her cards on the table.
"Okay, fine. I admit I had you looked into today. What, was I supposed to do nothing when I found out you were chasing some other woman?"
"You know I like you!"
That was just the kind of girl Lei Li was: direct and domineering. Whether it was a person or a thing she liked, she would do whatever it took to get her hands on it.
But once she had it, she would quickly grow bored.
This was also why she pursued Xue Can so relentlessly. Other men she could chase and coax, and they’d fall for her. Xue Can was the one man she’d used every trick in the book on and still failed to win over.
This ignited her desire for conquest. She was determined to make Xue Can fall at her feet.
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