diskusbooks Chapter 168 Southward 10
Chapter 168 Southward 10
Upon closer inspection, his pupils appeared even darker, his facial features sharper and more defined, and his expressionless face seemed perpetually calm and collected, exuding an aura of power and oppression.
However, Ziyue could sense that the man was trying very hard to restrain his aura in front of her, but perhaps he had become so used to it that he seemed a little out of sorts for the moment.
"South?" Ziyue raised an eyebrow.
Xiang Nan was surprised that Zi Yue knew his name, even though they had never met before and he knew she had only recently returned to the country. But that didn't stop him from feeling happy when the girl called out his name.
Just then, Ziyue's steak arrived. "Miss, your meal is ready. Please enjoy."
Ziyue nodded and said thank you.
The waiter, with a standard smile on his lips, bowed and left.
Ziyue picked up her knife and fork and slowly cut the steak in front of her. She opened her mouth and tasted a piece; it tasted pretty good.
Throughout the entire process, the cutlery made no sound against the plate; the dining etiquette was impeccable, and every movement was so elegant and pleasing to the eye.
Looking at the girl who was eating with her head slightly bowed, a girl whose every move was like a painting, Xiang Nan felt a long-lost peace in his heart.
But seeing that the girl didn't seem to care much about his presence, he suddenly felt a little unhappy. He wanted her to focus all her attention on him.
"Miss Qing, what were you thinking about so intently just now? You should be more careful about your safety since we're outside."
Ziyue slowly chewed and swallowed the food in her mouth before looking up at him.
"Am I that close to Mr. Xiang? As for what I'm thinking... why should I tell you?"
Upon hearing Ziyue's words, Xiang Nan remained unfazed and replied, "It's alright, we'll get to know each other better later."
Looking at the person in front of her, Ziyue thought to herself, "To be honest, this is an absolute gem."
And she, a sucker for good looks, looks are everything. Tsk, isn't this just handing herself over to be abused?
Xiao Jiu'er told her about his identity: Xiang Nan, the illegitimate son of the Xiang family. He grew up among all sorts of people and suffered a lot. He had a ruthless streak and was taken in as an adopted son by the old master of the Dragon Hall.
After the old master passed away, the entire Dragon Hall was handed over to Xiang Nan, who was known in the underworld as "Fourth Master".
Thinking back to when he was very young, he had a finger cut off from his left hand, which must have been quite difficult for him.
Then she thought of the man's usually stagnant, dark eyes, which, when he was in front of her, revealed a subtle ripple and emotion that he could not conceal.
Ziyue's lips curled slightly.
"Nothing, I was just thinking about how to reduce the number of children like that." As she spoke, she gestured with her chin towards the direction of the few children she had been watching begging outside.
Xiang Nan followed Zi Yue's gaze and saw several children begging. His eyes darkened.
He had also struggled at the bottom of society, enduring all kinds of hardships and lacking human dignity.
For many people, life might be worse than that of a dog.
Unfortunately, he didn't meet anyone like the girl in front of him at that time who wanted to help him.
Who would care about the lives of these people at the very bottom of society?
"Have you come up with a solution yet?" Xiang Nan asked in a low voice, his tone seemingly gentle, but Zi Yue wasn't quite sure, since there really was only a tiny bit of hope.
His ability to hide his emotions is too strong. If he really wants to deliberately hide his emotions, Ziyue will not be able to detect it easily.
Ziyue picked up her wine glass and took a sip of red wine.
Long, slender fingers held a wine glass filled with red wine. Xiang Nan's eyes fell on them, and he suddenly wanted to hold those hands in his own and play with them. He couldn't help but clench his fists under the table, trying to suppress his sudden urge.
He didn't expect Ziyue to answer his question so seriously.
Ziyue put down her wine glass, looked up at him earnestly, and began to express her thoughts. Her eyes were bright, making him feel as if he were seeing starlight in her eyes.
It's beautiful, he thought.
As Ziyue explained her plans step by step, Xiang Nan's emotions fluctuated slightly. He hadn't expected that the girl in front of him had already thought so far ahead.
She hopes there will be fewer homeless children and that the poorest people in society who are starving can live a better life. She has come up with one practical and feasible solution after another.
All of this requires a lot of time, energy, and money. She already has her own plans for each step, and he believes that the girl in front of him will put these ideas into action in the near future.
"Why do you want to do these things?" Xiang Nan couldn't help but ask for an answer.
Ziyue looked out the window. "Why?"
Of course, it's for merit points, though she wouldn't say that outright.
"Probably because... I don't like it."
"If I don't like it, then I'll change it!"
“However—” Ziyue scoffed, “I’m not a good person either. On the contrary, I’m very selfish.”
"When there is a conflict of interest between me and others, I will do everything in my power to protect myself."
"I am only willing to do something for this country with my meager kindness if it does not infringe upon my interests and is within my power."
“And them,” Ziyue looked out the window, “they have no conflict of interest with me, nor will they harm my interests. On the contrary, they can create great value for me. So, in the end, it’s just a win-win situation.”
As she spoke, she raised her chin and pointed to the group of children outside the window, "Like them, I don't like seeing those people around, so I'll go and change it!"
"It's just an equal exchange. They put in the labor, and I pay them. It's a fair and just transaction, nothing more than business," Ziyue smiled. "I'm a businessman."
After Ziyue finished speaking, she shrugged, as if she hadn't said anything that could change the fate of countless people. She lowered her head and continued to quietly eat the food in front of her.
As the girl spoke, Xiang Nan looked at the young girl, who was not even twenty years old, and his heart grew warmer and warmer. His eyes were fixed on the girl, like a cheetah eyeing its prey, wanting to take it back to its den.
"Don't look at me like that, or I'll think you like me." Feeling the increasingly intense gaze, Ziyue raised her head and stared into Xiang Nan's eyes.
Xiang Nan looked intently into Zi Yue's eyes, "You like it?"
Is it liking someone? Yes, you want her, you want to possess her, you want to take her home, you want to hide her away, you want to give her all the good things in the world for her to choose from. Is it liking someone?
"like!"
One moment of doubt, one moment of certainty.
Ziyue wasn't angry at Xiang Nan's tone when he first asked her a question. She could sense his meaning and see the seriousness in his dark eyes.
When those eyes, which were as still as water to everyone else, looked at her, they were full of emotion and heat. This difference... well, she felt it was pretty good!
Ziyue tilted her head, blinked, and looked at the tall, imposing, and handsome man in front of her, whose eyes would ripple with emotion because of her.
She pushed her remaining plate, containing half a steak, to the other side and commanded in a sweet voice, "You cut it for me."
Xiang Nan's heart stirred slightly. Was this what he meant? A glint seemed to flash in his dark eyes. He picked up the knife and fork and continued to help Zi Yue cut the steak.
With each piece cut, Ziyue would peek over, open her mouth, just like a fledgling bird waiting to be fed—extremely cute, yet also incredibly delicate.
Xiang Nan was delighted. He cut off a piece and fed it to Zi Yue, and soon Zi Yue finished the whole steak.
Looking at the empty white porcelain plate, Xiang Nan still felt a little unsatisfied.
As I stepped out of the restaurant, the car from the Qing Mansion was parked outside.
Ziyue got into the car and looked at the man outside who had a pair of dark eyes staring intently at her. Her heart softened. "You can come to the Qing Mansion to see me tomorrow."
As the car started moving, Ziyue didn't see the man standing there whose lips curved into a slight smile because of her words.
Only after the vehicles were out of sight did Xiang Nan turn and leave.
He needs to think carefully about what gifts he should prepare for his first visit.