Chapter 322: Yan Luoxi Confesses! That Jerk: Let’s Eat First?

Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Yan Luoxi Confesses! That Jerk: Let’s Eat First?

She gazed at the faint smile playing on his lips.

Yan Luoxi bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and then asked in a small voice, "So... do you like having meals with me?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, a blush instantly spread across her exquisite face.

Gu Yizhou watched her, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

’Yan Luoxi seems a little different today. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but he felt the way she was looking at him had changed. It was as if she had something she wanted to tell him.’

However, Gu Yizhou was in no hurry.

After a moment’s thought, he smiled and said, "Mm... I do! Having meals with President Yan is pretty relaxing and comfortable."

When Gu Yizhou finished, Yan Luoxi fell silent. She lowered her gaze to the wooden table, a small flutter of happiness in her heart.

Gu Yizhou didn’t mind her silence. He suddenly remembered something about his next-door neighbor and was about to ask her about it.

Just then, Yan Luoxi suddenly looked up at Gu Yizhou, her expression serious as she spoke.

"I want..."

They both spoke at the same time.

"Uh..."

Gu Yizhou paused, taken aback for a second. He then smiled and said, "President Yan, you first."

"I... I have something I want to tell you..."

Yan Luoxi said, biting her lip.

"What is it?"

Gu Yizhou asked.

"I..."

Yan Luoxi took a deep breath, then gathered her courage and whispered, "I like you."

As soon as she said it, she ducked her head, not daring to see Gu Yizhou’s reaction.

Her voice was very soft.

Luckily, it was just the two of them, with no one else around.

Otherwise, Gu Yizhou might not have heard her at all.

When Gu Yizhou heard this, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but he quickly composed himself.

He had, after all, long suspected that Yan Luoxi had feelings for him.

But he hadn’t expected her to confess so soon, or so proactively.

He looked at Yan Luoxi, his feelings a complicated mix.

’Does he like Yan Luoxi?’

’He’d asked himself that very question a few days ago.’

’The truth was, he didn’t know the answer himself.’

’He was sure of one thing, though: he didn’t dislike her.’

’In fact, he was quite fond of her.’

’As he’d told himself before, he was in no rush.’

’But he’d never imagined she would suddenly confess to him today.’

Yan Luoxi’s face felt like it was on fire. She kept her head down, staring at the wood grain on the tabletop, wishing she could just disappear under the table.

When Gu Yizhou didn’t respond, Yan Luoxi didn’t dare to speak either.

Silence...

The atmosphere between them grew awkward.

After another two and a half seconds of this...

Seeing that Gu Yizhou still hadn’t said a word, Yan Luoxi’s heart sank.

But now that the words were out, Yan Luoxi didn’t regret it.

She took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and spoke again. "If... if you don’t feel the same way, can you just pretend you didn’t hear me...?"

"If you don’t want to have dinner with me anymore, we can finish this meal, and I won’t bother you again..."

Her voice trailed off, getting quieter and quieter.

She didn’t dare to speak above a whisper.

Clearly, she wasn’t nearly as brave as she was trying to appear.

Listening to her, Gu Yizhou found this side of Yan Luoxi to be girlish and quite endearing.

’So the legendary ice-queen president isn’t as cold as everyone thinks.’

He thought for a moment, then said teasingly, "President Yan, didn’t you say before that we were friends...?"

Yan Luoxi kept her head down.

She tried to hide her flushed face behind her beautiful hair.

’That jerk.’

’You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?’

’Why do you have to talk so much?!’

’If you agree, just agree! If you don’t, just say so!’

’This is so embarrassing for me!’

’Besides!’

’Boyfriends and girlfriends are a type of friend, too!’

...

Seeing Yan Luoxi’s shy, flustered expression, Gu Yizhou smiled. He was just about to speak.

Just then.

The waitress from the private kitchen arrived with their food.

She froze for a second when she noticed the somewhat strange atmosphere between the two.

But being professionally trained, she didn’t pry.

"Pardon the interruption. I’m here to serve today’s dishes."

After placing the dishes on the table, the waitress began, "This is the appetizer, made with snow fungus..."

She was about to describe the dishes, but Gu Yizhou cut her off. "Hi, no need to introduce them. You can go ahead."

"Uh..."

The waitress paused, taken aback, but quickly recovered. "Of course. Please, enjoy your meal."

With that, she bowed and excused herself.

She left without a moment’s hesitation.

It had to be said.

Someone with professional training really is different. Curious, perhaps, but they would never pry into a guest’s privacy.

"President Yan, we should eat. It’s getting chilly, and the food will get cold if we wait."

Gu Yizhou said gently to Yan Luoxi, who was still staring at the table.

Hearing the man avoid her question and instead tell her to eat, Yan Luoxi’s heart turned to ice.

’The confession... failed...’

Waves of disappointment washed over her.

’Forget it!’

’If I failed, I failed!’

’At least I said it. Now I don’t have to keep obsessing over it.’

’Since that jerk doesn’t like me, I should probably stop bothering him from now on.’

’I should try to avoid him at the company.’

’Maybe I should even move away from his place.’

’Otherwise, when I’m a cat every day, seeing him will just remind me that my confession was rejected, and it’ll feel even worse.’

...

"President Yan, what’s wrong?"

Noticing that Yan Luoxi hadn’t touched her chopsticks and was just staring blankly at the dishes, Gu Yizhou asked, "You’re the one who picked this place. Is the food not to your taste?"

Yan Luoxi was miserable. How could she possibly have an appetite!

For some reason.

All she wanted to do was go home, crawl into her big bed, and bury herself under the covers to sleep it all away...

But he was still here, and the food had just arrived. They hadn’t even started.

Yan Luoxi could only shake her head and whisper, "N-no."

"If not, then let’s eat."

Gu Yizhou added, "If we wait any longer, the food really will get cold, and then you’ll definitely have no appetite."

Yan Luoxi: "..."

What could she even say to that?

’Who else but a jerk like him could reject a confession and then act so completely unfazed, speaking so matter-of-factly?’

Yan Luoxi was speechless. She picked up her chopsticks in a huff and began stuffing food into her mouth...