Outside Old Times Restaurant, the dim streetlights cast a soft glow, and Bella Yang stood elegantly by the curb in a carefully chosen white dress and high heels. She had gone to a beauty salon earlier for some pampering, making sure her long hair was smooth and shiny, and her makeup perfect, all in an attempt to present her best self to Ethan Su. Despite her efforts, she couldn't shake the anxiety that seemed to hang around her like an invisible cloud.
"What are Ethan Su and Chase Jiang talking about?" Bella Yang furrowed her brows, her gaze fixed on the restaurant's door. Her unease grew with every passing minute. "It's been almost an hour… why haven't they come out yet? Ugh, I'm so nervous…" Just as she began to pace, her phone rang, the sharp ringtone cutting through the stillness of the night.
She quickly answered, and the voice on the other end spoke bluntly, "The troublemaker, Maggie Jiang, is also at this restaurant."
"Maggie Jiang?" Bella Yang's eyes widened in shock. "What's she doing here?"
"Not sure. She came alone, and she's eating right now. She's pretty sharp, so our people are afraid to get too close."
"Maggie Jiang is here… Maggie Jiang is here…" Bella Yang stood up, the sharp click of her heels striking the ground with every step, betraying her inner agitation. "She probably heard that Ethan came out and is here to stir things up!" Her face hardened with frustration and anger. "She hasn't given up on pursuing Ethan?! You need to investigate further. Find out exactly what she's up to!"
She ended the call with a frustrated click and started pacing back and forth, her mind racing with thoughts of Maggie Jiang's possible intentions. An overwhelming sense of danger filled her chest.
Inside the restaurant, warm yellow lights set a romantic atmosphere, with soft music filling the air. Maggie Jiang, dressed casually in a simple T-shirt and jeans, with a baseball cap on her head, blended into the background. Yet, her presence still couldn't go unnoticed. From the moment she walked in, she had felt a few pairs of eyes on her. But she didn't pay much attention to it. After all, the Jiang family's name carried weight in Tianhai, and she had always acted in a high-profile manner. Being recognized was hardly unexpected. What did bother her, however, was the ongoing conversation between Chase Jiang and Ethan Su.
Since she started eating, the two guys had made her the focus of their discussion. Chase Jiang was animated and chatty, while Ethan Su alternated between blushing and nodding in agreement. It made Maggie Jiang's scalp tingle with discomfort. "This is ridiculous! Chase Jiang, I can't even begin to understand what's going on with you! And Ethan Su, what are you doing? Why are you going along with him? I'm really not as amazing as he's making me out to be! Are you two performing a comedy skit here or something?!" She was ranting in her mind but managed to maintain a tight, forced smile on her face.
Just as she was about to give up and tune them out, her eyes casually drifted to the left, and her expression sharpened. "Huh? Isn't that the guy who was eyeing me earlier? Why is he sitting next to me now? This is suspicious!" Her instincts kicked in, and she carefully observed the situation without letting on. Soon, she overheard a conversation that confirmed her suspicions:
"The Young Master said we need to figure out what Maggie Jiang is up to. Let's pretend to walk past her while grabbing some wine. You'll 'accidentally' bump into me, and I'll plant the listening device."
"Got it. Watch for my signal."
Maggie Jiang's mind reeled. "Wait, so they're spying on me? And the Young Master… that can only mean Bella Yang!" She quickly scanned the two men, spotting a small emblem on their sleeves. As a seasoned plot-savvy person, she recognized the insignia instantly: these two were from Dragon Gate. "So Bella Yang is behind all this…" A chill ran down her spine as she realized that a much bigger storm was quietly brewing.
Meanwhile, at a corner table, Chase Jiang and Ethan Su sat under the warm glow of the restaurant's lighting, looking like they belonged in a romantic scene. Chase Jiang was enthusiastically gripping Ethan Su's hand, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"…Ethan, trust me. Just accept Maggie Jiang's feelings. Bella Yang is nothing—why bother with her? Don't worry about Su family repercussions. You've got the Jiang family backing you, what's there to fear?"
Ethan Su's expression became strange. He had only intended to annoy Maggie Jiang, but as Chase Jiang's words piled up, his thoughts became more and more muddled, almost as if Chase Jiang was pulling him into a direction he wasn't sure he wanted to go. "This guy, Chase Jiang, is so quirky, it feels like he's almost got me convinced…" His internal monologue took a turn. "But I didn't actually fall for Maggie Jiang, did I?"
"Maybe we should drop the subject," Ethan Su said, his face flushed. "Why are we even talking about this? My family decides these things. In families like ours, it's all about power struggles. You wouldn't understand… And I haven't quite come to terms with Maggie Jiang yet… So there's no rush."
"You have a point," Chase Jiang nodded seriously, but his eyes glinted with mischief. "But there's one thing I don't agree with. Su family might decide who you marry, but they can't decide who you belong to. If you and Maggie Jiang end up together, who can stop you?" He chuckled inwardly, already imagining Maggie Jiang's flustered reaction. "Take that, you big pervert. That'll teach you to secretly complain about me!"
However, after waiting for a while, there was still no sign of Maggie Jiang reacting. "What's going on? Did she faint from anger or something?" Chase Jiang looked around the restaurant but saw no sign of her—no one had fainted either. "She's gone? But that doesn't make sense…"
Just as he was starting to feel confused, Maggie Jiang's thoughts rang in their heads:
[What's Bella Yang doing here? This wasn't in the plot. And why are they spying on me instead of keeping an eye on Chase Jiang? He's the one who's acting all shady, with his hair all messed up!]
[Ugh, if Bella Yang finds out what Chase Jiang said, she's gonna explode.]
Both Ethan Su and Chase Jiang froze and looked up at the same time. Their expressions shifted—Ethan Su was dumbfounded, unsure of what to do next, while Chase Jiang's mouth curved into a grin, his eyes alight with excitement.
"Looks like things are getting interesting," Chase Jiang thought, relishing the unfolding drama.
As the seemingly peaceful ambiance of the restaurant continued, the subtle undercurrents of power plays and tension grew stronger. A storm was silently brewing, and soon, the quiet would be shattered.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]