"Let it be so," Yan Aohan agreed.
The waiter recorded the order and left. Since it was not peak dining hour, the dishes arrived quickly.
"Mr. Yan, what are you doing here?"
A shrill voice cut through the air. Zhu Yanyi felt her ears sting. How could someone’s voice be so piercing? She looked up and saw a woman in a white suit. Her long hair was styled in trendy small waves. Although she looked to be in her twenties, she appeared closer to thirty. Zhu Yanyi thought, When did girls in Jingdu start dressing like this? I really need to wash my eyes.
"Who are you?" Yan Aohan frowned slightly, clearly not recognizing her.
"Mr. Yan, don't you recognize me?" The woman’s face twisted in grievance, looking deeply hurt. Zhu Yanyi’s expression shifted. She thought this woman’s acting skills deserved an Oscar. It was truly impressive.
Zhu Yanyi looked around, then picked up a glass, poured hot water, and handed it to the woman. "Auntie, take your time. Did my Brother Yan have a feud with your family, causing you trouble? Don’t worry. If necessary, I’ll act as Judge Bao and give you justice."
It’s just acting, she thought. I can play along occasionally.
"Pfft!"
Before Zhu Yanyi finished speaking, Zhu Zhibin sprayed water from her mouth. By coincidence, it landed right on the woman. A wet stain appeared on her white suit. The shape looked somewhat like half a lotus flower. Zhu Yanyi decided this was another interpretation of a "white lotus" (a term for a fake innocent woman). She resolved to praise Zhu Zhibin later.
"Ahh!" The woman in white screamed loudly, as if she had been severely abused.
"Stop."
Zhu Yanyi covered her ears and shouted. The screaming stopped instantly. She lowered her hand and looked at the woman with a mischievous grin. "Why are you screaming so loud in broad daylight? People might think we did something to you. You look very wronged, but if I wanted to do something to you, I’d need tools. We are just two people. You have what I have, and I don’t have what you don’t have. So, I can’t provide what you need. Therefore, it’s impossible for me to do anything to you."
Zhu Yanyi spoke these convoluted words smoothly and seriously. Not only their table, but nearby diners also froze. They stared at Zhu Yanyi, trying hard not to laugh. What did "do something to you" mean? What did "you have what I have" mean? Even people with no prior thoughts began to imagine strange scenarios.
"Cough, cough. Ani, you shouldn’t say that," Yan Aohan said gently to Zhu Yanyi. Her eyes were full of warmth. It was unclear if she was protecting her or something else. "You are a child. Don’t learn such messy talk. You might get corrupted."
When Yan Aohan said the first part, Zhu Zhili and the surrounding people nodded, agreeing with the education. But when he said the last sentence, everyone froze again.