Chapter 64: Running into an Ex-boyfriend

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Running into an Ex-boyfriend

A big, burly, bald man wearing a pink apron walked out from inside, a handful of skewers in his hand.

"Well now, my apologies. Is your lady friend here too?"

"I’ve got a big mouth, so don’t mind me."

Seeing Rong Anyao standing next to Jiang Fan, Old Niu quickly slapped his gleaming bald head and said sheepishly.

"My buddy here is actually a great guy..."

"Oh, get lost."

"That’s a company car. This is my friend, here to try your food."

"Hurry up. I’m starving. It’s been a long day."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"You gave me a scare! For a second there, I really thought you’d struck it rich!!"

"Watching you get rich would be more painful than killing me!"

Old Niu let out a booming laugh. As he spoke, he shoved the freshly grilled lamb skewers into Jiang Fan’s hand.

"These are fresh off the grill. Go on, try them. Let the young lady here try my handiwork, too."

"The usual three, right? I’ll go get them started for you."

"Sounds good."

Jiang Fan was genuinely starving and in no mood to shoot the breeze.

He split the skewers in his hand and gave half to Rong Anyao.

Then he picked a relatively clean table and sat down.

"What are you waiting for? Come on, have a seat."

Seeing Rong Anyao standing there frozen, Jiang Fan waved her over.

Rong Anyao finally pulled her gaze away from a certain direction and hurried over to sit down across from Jiang Fan.

She kept her head hung very low.

Jiang Fan, focused on devouring the skewers, didn’t notice her strange behavior.

"Let me tell you, Old Niu’s grilled fish, his beef and lamb skewers, and his cold-tossed edamame are to die for."

"Pair that with an ice-cold beer, and it’s just... incredible!"

Jiang Fan looked absolutely blissful, practically drooling.

"Well, at least you have some conscience, kid. Didn’t badmouth me behind my back. Otherwise, I’d have definitely spit in your food."

Old Niu walked over, carrying a large platter of grilled fish.

"I picked out an extra-large one just for you, kid."

"We’re trying to eat here, can you not be so disgusting? And bring me a pitcher of that ice-cold draft beer."

"You got it."

Business at Old Niu’s stall was booming, so after bringing over the pitcher of beer and the other dishes, he got back to work.

Back when Jiang Fan was working part-time jobs and doing food delivery, he would always come to Old Niu’s to satisfy his hunger. The prices were great and the portions were generous.

So, after coming and going for a while, the two of them gradually got to know each other well.

"Hey, what’s up with you?"

"Is the food here not to your liking?"

Noticing that Rong Anyao had barely eaten anything, Jiang Fan chugged a large mug of ice-cold draft beer before he asked.

"No, the food is delicious. Let’s just eat quickly and go back, it’s getting very late."

Rong Anyao said, quickly averting her gaze.

"Huh?"

Jiang Fan paused, then looked in the direction Rong Anyao had been sneaking glances. He saw a table of young men shouting and carrying on.

Among them, a few gangsters and a man with red hair each had their arms around a scantily clad girl.

The red-haired one in particular, a young man whose body was covered in large tattoos, radiated a fierce aura.

Rong Anyao’s gaze had been sweeping over that man again and again.

"Do you know that guy?"

Jiang Fan asked, his words muffled as he took a big bite of a skewer and a large gulp of beer.

Rong Anyao shook her head but didn’t say anything.

But by now, the men at the other table had clearly noticed Jiang Fan and Rong Anyao.

"Boss, that guy over there drove a Maybach, and he’s eating street skewers?"

"Probably some rich boss’s driver, right?"

"He’d still have money, then. Why don’t we shake him down for some cash?"

"If he doesn’t agree, we’ll just threaten to trash the car. His boss would never forgive him for that."

"He’ll have to cough up the money then."

"That way, we won’t have to worry about our gambling debt."

"Sounds like a plan."

"But wait, the person sitting across from him... why does she look so familiar?"

"Long, doesn’t that look a lot like your ex-girlfriend?"

One of the young thugs pointed at Rong Anyao and exclaimed.

"Hm?"

The fierce young man known as Long scratched his red hair. After squinting for a moment, he recognized her. "It really is that little bitch."

"She dared to find another man after we broke up?"

"Let’s go take a closer look!"

Swaggering with insolent expressions, they all headed toward Jiang Fan’s table.

"Rong Anyao, after you left me, this is the piece of trash you found to replace me?"

"Your taste in men has really gone downhill. Wasn’t living the high life with me good enough? You just had to run off?"

"And you are...?"

Jiang Fan turned his head to glance at him.

"Long Hao. Your girlfriend’s ex. She’s just my sloppy seconds, and you’re treating her like some kind of treasure."

Seeing his arrogant display, Jiang Fan raised an eyebrow.

"Get as far away from me as you can. I don’t want to see you here."

"Trying to eat a meal and a few fucking flies just had to buzz in. It’s disgusting."

Jiang Fan waved his hand impatiently, as if he were actually shooing away flies.

"Flies? What flies? Where are the flies? Who said anything about flies?"

Old Niu immediately rushed out from his stall.

Seeing the scene before him, he could already smell trouble.

"Well, if it isn’t Long. How are you enjoying your food tonight?"

"What are you doing over here? Come on, I’ll get you some more skewers, it’s on me. You guys keep drinking."

With a smile on his face, Old Niu went to take Long Hao by the arm and lead him back to his table.

"Who the hell do you think you are? You think I need a handout from you?"

Without a second thought, Long Hao raised his hand and slapped Old Niu hard across the face.

At the sight of this, Jiang Fan’s expression instantly turned cold.

He rose from his seat.

"Yes, yes, you’re right. Long is the protector of this neighborhood, of course you don’t need me to treat you. Just consider it a little tribute from me."

"And you, kid, what are you doing?!" Old Niu shouted at Jiang Fan. "Hurry up and finish eating so you can get back to work! Are you trying to get out of paying back the money you owe me?!"

"Go on, get inside! There are skewers in there, hurry up and grill some for Long."

Old Niu gave Jiang Fan a shove.

He was frantically signaling to him with his eyes.

Rong Anyao grabbed Jiang Fan’s hand. "Discretion is the better part of valor. Let’s just go. He’s a local thug, and he has a lot of guys with him."

"If he really gets angry, you’ll be the one who gets hurt."

Jiang Fan said nothing. He picked up his mug from the table and drained the draft beer in one gulp.

But before he could even put the mug down, Long Hao swung at him with the back of his hand. "Are you trying to put on a fucking show for me?"

"What, getting some liquid courage, are you?"

Jiang Fan raised a hand to block the blow, but the mug was sent flying from his grasp.

Jiang Fan took two steps back, pulled the car keys from his pocket, and pressed them into Rong Anyao’s hand. "Do you know how to drive?"