Chapter 462 - 222: Zhou Yan Is Eating Too Well! Damn Him...

Chapter 462: Chapter 222: Zhou Yan Is Eating Too Well! Damn Him...

Duan Yu Yan smiled at Zhou Yan, her eyes fixed on the letter in his hand, brimming with curiosity.

Just as Zhou Yan was about to answer, the bus door opened. A young woman in a white shirt and a simple, solid-colored long skirt stepped off, carrying a bag. Her long, black, shoulder-length hair fell smoothly, and her profile, free of makeup, was still exquisite and beautiful.

She turned her head and her gaze met Zhou Yan’s. A smile spread across her face as she said, "Zhou Yan, long time no see."

Her smile was pure and unadorned, as gentle as an autumn breeze—bright and radiant.

"Xia Yao, long time no see," Zhou Yan replied, the corners of his mouth turning up. He couldn’t hide the surprise in his eyes.

’How did she get here?’

"Yaoyao! How did you get here?" Zhou Momo was already rushing over happily.

"Momo." Xia Yao smiled back, bending down to give her a hug and pat her on the head.

Hearing this, Duan Yu Yan turned around. Her gaze fell on Xia Yao, who was smiling and greeting Zhou Momo, and her eyes brightened.

’This girl is gorgeous!’

Her face was exceptionally clean, her features delicate, and her skin fair. She stood tall and slim with a straight back, giving off a cool and distant air.

She had a natural, subtle scholarly aura. Her simple white shirt and plain long skirt were worn with a gentle, confident grace.

"So she’s your Yaoyao?" Duan Yu Yan asked with a soft laugh.

Before Zhou Yan could speak, Xia Yao was already walking over, holding Zhou Momo’s hand.

"Hello, I’m Duan Yu Yan, a friend of Zhou Yan’s." Duan Yu Yan extended her hand. The Van Cleef & Arpels watch on her wrist gleamed brilliantly.

Today, Duan Yu Yan was wearing a black houndstooth tweed jacket with glittering gold buttons, a matching skirt, and over-the-knee high-heeled boots. The look was exceptionally refined and elegant.

Her long, wavy hair was tucked behind one ear, revealing a white pearl earring. She wore exquisite makeup and lipstick today, looking noble and vibrant—the very picture of a wealthy socialite.

"Hello, I’m Xia Yao." Xia Yao reached out and gave her hand a light shake, her expression composed and smiling.

The two young women had completely different auras, each beautiful in her own way.

Zhou Yan’s brow twitched. ’Why does this atmosphere feel a little... off?’

"You have a wonderful presence, very artistic," Duan Yu Yan said, retracting her hand.

"Thank you. You’re very beautiful too. Your earrings match your outfit and makeup perfectly," Xia Yao said, looking at her with genuine admiration.

"Right? I chose them specially." The corners of Duan Yu Yan’s mouth couldn’t help but lift. "This is our first time meeting, but I’ve often heard Momo mention you."

"Is that so?" Xia Yao looked down at Zhou Momo, her eyes filled with affection.

"Mhm! I missed Yaoyao so much, but Brother said Mountain City is too far, so I couldn’t come visit you," Zhou Momo nodded, her voice sweet and childlike.

"Good girl. That’s why I came to see you," Xia Yao said with a smile.

"How did you get here?" Zhou Yan finally managed to chime in, voicing his confusion.

’Xia Yao shouldn’t be on winter break yet, right? Wasn’t she preparing for an internship?’

"I applied for an internship at the Jiazhou Textile Factory and came to report today," Xia Yao said with a slight smile. "I didn’t tell you beforehand. I wanted to give you a surprise."

"Really?" Zhou Yan’s eyes lit up, and he nodded with a smile. "That’s great."

Xia Yao’s gaze fell on the envelope clutched in Zhou Yan’s hand. "Were you about to mail a letter?"

"I was going to mail it to you. I didn’t expect you to come to Suji, so there’s no need to send it now." Zhou Yan lowered his hand.

"Then just give it to me. I want to read it," Xia Yao said, holding out her hand and smiling at him.

Zhou Yan handed her the letter.

"I drew a tiger for Yaoyao!" Zhou Momo exclaimed, opening her mouth wide and letting out a RAWR!

Xia Yao laughed, amused. She reached out and pinched the little girl’s cheek. "Did you get the picture books I sent you? You’ve even learned how to draw a tiger."

"Mhm, I got them! They’re so good!" the little one nodded.

"If you like those, I’ll send you some comics," Duan Yu Yan offered.

Zhou Yan’s brow twitched. ’Miss Duan sounds a little jealous.’

"Yay! Yuyan is the best!" Zhou Momo nodded, then glanced back at Xia Yao and added with a grin, "Yaoyao is great too!"

"Isn’t that Miss Duan? Is she here to eat again? Tsk, she’s gorgeous." Huang Bing and Huang Ying arrived on their bicycles, spotting the trio standing at the restaurant entrance from a distance. Huang Bing’s gaze landed on Xia Yao and his eyes lit up. "And who’s the beauty in the white shirt? She’s gorgeous too!"

"She has such a great air about her. It’s just a simple white shirt, but it looks so different on her. And that figure, my god!" Huang Ying said with a face full of envy. She thought for a moment. "Could that be the college student Boss Zhou saved before? I heard her last name is Xia, and that she’s a beauty."

"A rich heiress and a beautiful college student... Yan is eating well. Damn him, I don’t approve!" Huang Bing was so jealous he nearly ground his molars to dust.

"They’re a talented man and a beautiful woman—a match made in heaven. What right does a monster like you have to object?" Huang Ying shot him a glare.

"What the hell." Huang Bing threw up his hands.

"Hey, look at me. I’m the heir to a century-old restaurant. I’m not that much worse off than them, am I?" Huang Ying puffed out her chest.

"Alright, alright, we’re friends here, let’s not joke like that." Huang Bing waved his hand dismissively. "But still, won’t there be drama with both of them here together? If my ex and my current girlfriend ever got together, it’d be an all-out brawl. Hair-pulling, face-scratching... they’re vicious. Sometimes they even beat me up too."

Huang Ying rolled her eyes. "How is that the same? The kind of dregs that would go for you only have eyes for money. For them, fighting is no different from guarding their food. You think you’re some great catch, but in their eyes, you’re probably just a piece of shit that happens to glitter with gold."