Chapter 167 - 167: There’s Something in the Dishes, Huo Sicheng Got Trapped
Gu Qingcheng pursed her lips, a blush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks.
Huo Sicheng remained unhurried, continuing to fill Gu Qingcheng’s plate with food.
After collecting herself, Gu Qingcheng leaned in, her voice a soft whisper for only the two of them, “I’d rather not taste your saliva.”
Huo Sicheng’s hand froze.
His deep, phoenix-like eyes met hers as he replied, “A kiss on the lips, then.” Gu Qingcheng was left speechless.
Her cheeks burned as she recalled their recent kiss. She couldn’t believe she had tasted his saliva.
She shot a slightly annoyed, embarrassed glare at Huo Sicheng.
Gu Tianhao and Chu He observed Huo Sicheng with different expressions.
Across from them. Gu Mei held her ch0Dsticks delicatelv, chewing her food with visible determination. Each bite seemed to carry a hint of aggression. She was acutely aware that Gu Qingcheng was openly flirting with Huo Sicheng right in front of her.
Huo Sicheng’s thoughtful gestures only stoked Gu Mei’s jealousy and resentment. She envied his attentiveness and despised him for not seeing her own allure.
But when she thought about Huo Sicheng enjoying the foie gras she had prepared, a sly smile crept onto her face. Huo Sicheng was entangled in her web, and there was no escape.
Gu Qingcheng hadn’t touched the foie gras because Huo Sicheng had generously filled her plate with other dishes. She couldn’t manage everything, so the foie gras remained untouched.
Gu Mei, on the other hand, maintained her elegance, determined to uphold her refined image in front of Huo Sicheng. Unbeknownst to her, Huo Sicheng’s attention was solely fixed on Gu Qingcheng, and he paid no heed to any other woman.
No matter how poised Gu Mei appeared, Huo Sicheng remained unfazed, frustrating her to the point where she deliberately pushed her plate to the ground.
The expensive blue-and-white porcelain plate shattered on impact, creating a jarring disruption in the already tense atmosphere.
“How could you be so careless?” Chu He admonished, casting a worried glance at her daughter, Gu Mei. She breathed a sigh of relief upon confirming that Gu
Mei was unharmed. “Please be careful. We wouldn’t want any accidents.”
Gu Tianhao regarded Gu Mei with a deep, contemplative gaze as he offered a gentle reassurance, “Xiao Mei is delicate. Please take care when you eat. Breaking a plate is inconsequential, as long as you’re unharmed. We wouldn’t want to trouble the staff.’
Chu He looked at Gu Tianhao in surprise. Ever since Gu Mei’s betrayal, Gu Tianhao’s affection for his daughter had transformed into something colder and more distant. The previous night, he had even lashed out at her in anger.
Now, he appeared to be showing concern for Xiao Mei for the first time. Suspicion began to gnaw at Chu He as she wondered what her husband was plotting.
Enraged, Gu Mei not only shattered the tableware but also contemplated overturning the entire dining table.
Huo Sicheng, oblivious to everything except his meal, failed to notice Gu Mei’s agitation. She seethed with jealousy, resenting Gu Qingcheng for capturing his attention so completely.
Gu Qingcheng chose not to indulge in the foie gras since her plate was already piled high with other dishes. Her simmering anger only intensified.
Gu Mei continued to dine elegantly in an attempt to maintain her ladylike facade in front of Huo Sicheng. Unbeknownst to her, Huo Sicheng had eyes only for Gu Qingcheng and paid no heed to other women.
No matter how gracefully Gu Mei carried herself, it garnered no reaction from
Huo Sicheng. Her frustration reached its peak, leading her to purposely address him as “brother-in-law.”
Gu Qingcheng’s skin crawled at the term and her irritation soared. She felt nauseated by Gu Mei’s calculated provocation.
Gu Mei had resorted to this ploy intentionally, hoping to disgust her sister.
Back when Gu Mei was dating Qin Jun, she had used the same tactic to sleep with him, much to his delight.
Now, even though Huo Sicheng was a disabled man, Gu Mei couldn’t resist making advances. She wanted to steal her sister’s man.
Jealousy overwhelmed her whenever someone coveted her husband’s attention.
“Shut up!” Gu Qingcheng slammed her chopsticks on the table. “I am not your sister, and Huo Sicheng is not your brother-in-law! If you say that again, I will make sure you regret it!”
“Sister…” Gu Mei’s eyes welled with tears. “I know you’re not happy with me, but we are sisters by blood. Since you are married to Young Master Huo, he is my brother-in-law. I didn’t say anything wrong. I’m so scared… wuwuwu…”
Before Gu Qingcheng could react, Gu Tianhao scolded her, “Xiao Mei, your sister prefers not to be addressed as ‘brother-in-law,’ so please refrain from using that term. Don’t make your sister uncomfortable.”
Gu Mei never expected her father, Gu Tianhao, to defend Gu Qingcheng. Her anger twisted her face in frustration.
Gu Qingcheng, however, was not appreciative of her father’s support. She picked up a glass of water, intending to throw it at Gu Mei.
“Qingcheng, don’t get angry, ” Chu He intervened, positioning herself to protect her daughter, Gu Mei. She glared at Gu Qingcheng, conveying a warning with her eyes. “You and your father scolded her, and now I will scold her too. She won’t use that term again.”
Gu Tianhao exchanged a meaningful look with Chu He. A male servant promptly stepped forward to take the glass from Gu Qingcheng’s hand.
“Miss, I will bring you another glass of water.”
In those few seconds of chaos, Gu Qingcheng refrained from splashing the water on Gu Mei’s face.
Her anger, however, continued to simmer and fester.
“Don’t let me hear you call me ‘hubby’ again, or I won’t forgive you!”
“Don’t worry, Xiao Mei won’t use that term again,” Gu Tianhao consoled Gu Qingcheng before turning his gaze towards Chu He and suggesting, “Take Xiao Mei outside for some fresh air. We wouldn’t want her to disrupt the atmosphere.”
Chu He’s frustration reached its limit. She knew that Gu Mei hadn’t used the term “brother-in-law” incorrectly and had scolded her daughter solely to appease Gu Qingcheng.
Ultimately, Gu Tianhao scolded Xiao Mei and then ushered her out of the restaurant. Gu Qingcheng’s fury surged, but she refrained from splashing water on Gu Mei.
“Qingcheng, don’t be upset,” Chu He consoled her, shielding Gu Mei as she led her out.
Gu Mei seethed with anger, resenting her father’s support for Gu Qingcheng. However, her mother’s protection provided some comfort.
Desperate to leave the restaurant, Gu Mei saw an opportunity to be alone with Huo Sicheng.
In that moment, Huo Sicheng’s breathing grew labored, and perspiration covered his forehead. His body felt as though it were immersed in a fiery furnace, struggling to resist the primal desire surging within.
He understood he had been played, his gaze drifting toward the plate of foie gras in front of him.
He had consumed everything on Gu Qingcheng’s plate except for the foie gras.
He discreetly observed Gu Tianhao and the others, noting that Gu Tianhao seemed unaware of any issue with the foie gras. Otherwise, he would have betrayed some hint of concern.
Huo Sicheng was the only one affected by the tainted dish.
At least Gu Qingcheng was safe.
He took out his phone and messaged Chu Yu. He couldn’t remain in the restaurant, nor could he afford to lose control in front of Gu Qingcheng.
Pressing the wheelchair button, he made his way to the exit.
Gu Qingcheng, still furious, turned to find her husband, Huo Sicheng, near the dining room’s entrance.
She stared at him in surprise and asked, “Hubby, where are you going?”