Chapter 125: Three Bento Boxes and a Slap

"A single plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes can do that?" Su Jiaqi stared at Xue Tian'ai with wide, astonished eyes.

"Hell, of course it can. Who do you think you're talking to?" Xue Tian'ai gave Su Jiaqi a proud, cocky look. In reality, the situation back then hadn't been quite as effortless as he made it sound.

"No, no, no, no, no. What I'm surprised about now is, were you a chef before?" Su Jiaqi shook her head. She had developed an immense curiosity about this Xue Tian'ai, who had previously grabbed her chest on the bus and embarrassed her on the subway.

"Of course not. Being a chef is exhausting and a pain; I wouldn't want to do that..." Xue Tian'ai denied it flatly. Although he had moonlighted as a chef for certain missions in the past, he would much rather be swinging a blade at bad guys than standing around stirring a large ladle.

Watching the lively banter between Xue Tian'ai and Su Jiaqi, Gan Bingning felt a wave of jealousy. She quickened her pace, walked up to Xue Tian'ai's side, and said with a gentle smile, "But Assistant Xue, the fact that a single plate of scrambled eggs could have such an impact on others proves that your cooking must be delicious!"

Gan Bingning's face was slightly flushed from the alcohol, and her smile was extremely charming and alluring.

"My cooking is..." Xue Tian'ai started, boasting in his usual brazen manner. He was absolutely confident in his culinary skills.

But before he could finish, a voice sounded from behind the trio: "Well, I have to admit, Xue Tian'ai's cooking is indeed quite good!"

All three were taken aback. Xue Tian'ai was especially stunned as to why Qin Mengxue would suddenly say such a thing at this moment. Gan Bingning and Su Jiaqi both turned around, looking at Qin Mengxue with surprise.

Qin Mengxue didn't pay much attention to their astonished gazes. Silently pretending to be nonchalant, she kept a calm expression and wedged herself between Xue Tian'ai and Su Jiaqi, though internally she was busy badmouthing Xue Tian'ai.

"President Qin, how do you know Assistant Xue's cooking is good?" Gan Bingning leaned forward, peering past Xue Tian'ai to look at Qin Mengxue.

Qin Mengxue could only keep her smug triumph locked in her mind. Her tone remained unchanged as she continued, "I just happened to eat a meal he snuck into the office one day. I thought it was delicious at the time and asked him who made it. He told me he made it himself, but I didn't believe him. Looking at it today, that lunchbox must have been his work."

Qin Mengxue told this lie with "unruffled calm," her face not turning red and her heart not skipping a beat. After finishing, she cast a haughty, sidelong glance at Xue Tian'ai, her expression seemingly asking, "How about that? Was the story I made up okay?"

Hearing Qin Mengxue say this, Xue Tian'ai felt his tense, hanging heart drop back into place. He caught her subtle look and his eyes flickered, as if replying, "Nice! Well done!"

"Hey, Mr. Xue, aren't you supposed to be the first one to rush to the cafeteria every day at noon? You actually bring your own food?" Su Jiaqi arched an eyebrow, looking at Xue Tian'ai with utter disbelief.

Both Xue Tian'ai and Qin Mengxue felt like they were bleeding internally for a split second...

"Uh... well... actually, I'm still in a growth spurt, so I need to eat more every day to get the nutrients I need for development..." Xue Tian'ai's mouth twitched, but the lie rolled off his tongue smoothly.

"Oh? Is that so?" Su Jiaqi looked at him suspiciously but didn't press the matter further.

Xue Tian'ai's expression remained steady as he looked at her earnestly and nodded heavily: "Yes, of course!"

"That's so nice. I'd love to taste what the food you make is like," Gan Bingning chimed in, looking at Xue Tian'ai with pleading eyes: "Assistant Xue, could you bring a portion for me tomorrow too?"

"Yeah, yeah, Mr. Xue, don't just brag. Make one for me too!" Su Jiaqi seemed to brighten up as well.

This was exactly what was going through Qin Mengxue's mind, and Xue Tian'ai's as well... What was all this? How did it come to this? But seeing the expectant eyes of Gan Bingning and Su Jiaqi, Xue Tian'ai couldn't help but feel a faint sense of melancholy.

If only Qin Mengxue knew what he was thinking right now, she might just finish him off on the spot...

"Alright... fine, no problem. It's just two portions of food!" Xue Tian'ai finally agreed. Besides, cooking wasn't a difficult task, and it didn't really matter to him.

"Ah—" Beside him, upon hearing this, Qin Mengxue seemed to lose all her energy for a second, letting out a tiny, soft sound. Though Gan Bingning and Su Jiaqi didn't hear it, Xue Tian'ai did.

He looked composed, but peeked at Qin Mengxue's reaction. She looked absent-minded, her head drooping as she muttered to herself, "So that's how it is... the food only I got to eat is now being made for others too..."

"Eh? President Qin, what did you just say?" Su Jiaqi had heard her speak, but because the voice was so soft, she hadn't caught the words.

"Hmm? Nothing..." Qin Mengxue snapped back to reality, lifted her head, straightened her posture, and smiled with her eyes: "Please make me a portion too, Xue Tian'ai. Actually, I quite want to reminisce about that taste from the other day."

Though she was smiling at him, Xue Tian'ai felt a chilling, malicious intent. He felt quite depressed, wondering once again what he had done to offend this young lady.

The four of them walked toward the underground parking lot of Lishui Longxuan, chatting away. Just as they were about to look for their car, Xue Tian'ai suddenly stopped.

He came to a halt as abruptly as a pile driver, causing the three women to stumble and stop in surprise, looking at him with curiosity.

"Xue Tian'ai, what's wrong?" Qin Mengxue asked.

"Look... the annoying flies are back again," Xue Tian'ai said, gesturing ahead with his finger, his tone indifferent.

The three women looked in the direction he pointed, their brows furrowing, and expressions of extreme annoyance immediately appearing on their faces. Fu Hanbi, who had clearly left, was now standing in the underground parking lot, grinning sinisterly at Xue Tian'ai. Beside him stood four hulking figures.

"Yo, what a coincidence! We meet again, kid. I didn't expect you to know that lousy cook. Why don't we become friends?" Fu Hanbi said with a twisted, mocking tone. He began to walk toward Xue Tian'ai, his eyes darting toward the three women every now and then.

It wasn't a coincidence, nor was it a chance encounter. Fu Hanbi had been waiting there on purpose to teach Xue Tian'ai a lesson. He had specifically brought three more men, confident that no matter how well Xue Tian'ai could fight, he couldn't handle four seasoned bodyguards.

Qin Mengxue and the others hadn't expected the son of the so-called "Boss Fu" to be so persistent, shameless, and villainous. As they felt Fu Hanbi's malicious approach, they all quietly hid behind Xue Tian'ai.

Soon, Fu Hanbi and his four bodyguards reached them. The five of them looked at the lone, slender Xue Tian'ai with mockery, their eyes filled with provocation and their arrogance reaching new heights.

"Fu Hanbi, what do you want? Do you know who I am?" Qin Mengxue snapped angrily. As the eldest daughter of the Qin family, she had a bit of a temper.

"Didn't I just say? I want to be friends with him," Fu Hanbi leered at Qin Mengxue, showing no signs of anger. "Of course I know who you are. Qin Mengxue of Menghua Group. I wouldn't dare mess with you, but what about the two beside you? Hahahaha... actually, I think a double-team would be quite nice."

Gan Bingning and Su Jiaqi's faces darkened. Being harassed so blatantly, they were naturally furious.

"How about it? Want to be friends, brother?" Fu Hanbi reached out his hand arrogantly, brimming with confidence, fueled by the four 'mountains' standing behind him.

"Sure..." Xue Tian'ai smiled and extended his hand, slowly reaching toward Fu Hanbi's.

But just as their hands were about to touch, Xue Tian'ai's hand suddenly shot upward, turning into a palm, and slammed violently across Fu Hanbi's face!

"SLAP!!!"

A resounding slap echoed through the underground parking lot!