A Beauty in the 80s Goes on a Blind Date with Her Child, Captivating the Military Compound - Chapter 55

Chen Ting’s eyes lit up. What a handsome soldier… He appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six, tall and stalwart, with thick brows and large eyes that exuded a commanding, heroic aura. Chen Ting stared at him with a look of infatuation, her attention involuntarily captured by his good looks—until the next second, when she met his frigid, piercing gaze.

“What did you just say? I dare you to say it again.”

The fury swirling in the man’s eyes sent a chill through her, bone-deep. She shivered from the cold but, out of pride, remained stubborn. “What? Did I say something wrong? Others might not know her, but I do! Shen Sisi is a penniless pauper trying to act like she can afford a restaurant. I’m just kindly warning the management…”

Gu Chengfeng slowly lowered his gaze, the anger in his eyes intensifying.

“A pauper… Heh!” His deep voice crackled with suppressed rage. “Server, call your manager to see me immediately.”

The server, sensing the gravity of the situation, turned and ran.

Chen Ting rolled her eyes and grumbled, “Stop putting on an act! Fine, when the manager gets here, let’s see how you keep up this charade!”

Standing beside him, Shen Sisi began to feel uneasy. She tugged at Gu Chengfeng’s sleeve and stood on her tiptoes to whisper in his ear, her warm breath brushing against him. “Gu Chengfeng, why did you call for the manager?”

Gu Chengfeng’s expression remained stern, his thin lips pressed into a straight line. He gave her a gentle shake of his head, signaling for her to stay calm.

This display of intimacy was not lost on Chen Ting. Could this be the “bargain” husband?

She sized Gu Chengfeng up, fragmented pieces of information clicking into place. A soldier willing to stand up for Shen Sisi—who else could it be? She clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms. Her sense of balance shattered, replaced by a wave of jealousy.

Why should Shen Sisi, a “loose woman” with a child in tow, find such a handsome, upright man? While I, the pillar of the Art Troupe, have to settle for someone like Yang Huaidong?

It was simply unfair! She pursed her lips in defiance and tossed her hair affectedly. “Shen Sisi, I suggest you stop embarrassing yourselves. Leave before the manager gets here, while you still can. It’ll be much more humiliating when you’re kicked out.”

Shen Sisi gritted her teeth, her gaze turning cold. “Chen Ting, are you alright?”

“What does my eating at a State-Run Restaurant have to do with you?”

“If you’re sick, go get treated. The neurology department at Jiangcheng People’s Hospital is quite good—you should have your head checked!”

“You…” Chen Ting’s face contorted with rage, sparks practically flying from her eyes. “How dare you… you’re actually insulting me!”

“Why shouldn’t I? On a perfectly good day, you insist on making life miserable for me. You’re practically begging to be cursed out.”

Shen Sisi’s eyes were like knives. Compared to their last meeting, Chen Ting was acting like a rabid dog today, snapping and biting at her relentlessly. It seemed Chen Ting’s wedding had indeed been delayed again, fueling her resentment.

Chen Ting was used to bullying Sisi, so she was clearly blindsided by this counterattack. Sisi’s tongue was as fast as a machine gun. In a fit of peak fury, Chen Ting raised her hand to slap her, but was forced back by Gu Chengfeng’s dark, terrifying glare.

“Shen Sisi, now that you’ve found a backer, you think your wings are strong enough, don’t you? You actually dare to insult me to my face!” She hissed through gritted teeth, “Just you wait. Your little moment won’t last. When the manager comes, I’ll make sure he throws you out!”

“Who is causing a scene here?” The manager of the State-Run Restaurant hurried over, his mustache practically quivering with irritation.

“Manager Liu, you’re finally here!” Chen Ting cried.

Liu Yonggui took a closer look and recognized Chen Ting immediately. Wasn’t this the future daughter-in-law of the paper mill director? She was always seen with the director’s son. Seeing a regular—and a big spender—Liu Yonggui greeted her with a smile. “Oh, it’s you… What happened?”

Chen Ting acted high and mighty, gesturing with her chin. “Hurry up and kick these paupers out of here.”

Liu Yonggui turned around, but when he met Gu Chengfeng’s frost-covered face, his expression changed instantly. “It’s you! My benefactor!”

If his attitude toward Chen Ting was the oily flattery of a businessman, his attitude toward Gu Chengfeng was one of heartfelt respect and gratitude.

Shen Sisi’s tense body suddenly relaxed. “You two know each other?”

“More than just know each other! This benefactor saved my entire family’s lives!” Liu Yonggui slapped his thigh in excitement, quickly pulling out a pack of cigarettes and offering one to Gu Chengfeng with both hands.

Gu Chengfeng glanced at Sisi and the child out of the corner of his eye and waved the offer away. “I’ve quit.”

Liu Yonggui quickly stuffed the pack back into his pocket. Memories of the past seemed to bring tears to his eyes. “Benefactor, you haven’t been here in so long!”

“It has been a while. I intended to bring my wife and child for a nice family gathering, but I didn’t expect… that we’d be on the verge of being kicked out!”

“Who? Who dares to offend my benefactor?”

Gu Chengfeng looked toward Chen Ting, a dangerous storm brewing in his dark eyes.

Liu Yonggui understood immediately. “So it’s you… Miss Chen.”

Chen Ting remained arrogant, letting out a cold snort. “So what if it’s me? Manager Liu, I’m warning you for your own good—don’t let them dine and dash on you.”

“Bah!” Liu Yonggui spat on the floor near Chen Ting’s feet. “Forget one meal; even if he came here every single day, I wouldn’t charge him a single cent! If it weren’t for him, my whole family would have burned to death in that fire years ago.”

“As for you—who asked for your meddling?”

Chen Ting was speechless, like “a mute swallowing bitter herbs.” She truly hadn’t expected Gu Chengfeng to know the manager, let alone save his family. But so what? It didn’t change the fact that they were poor.

“Fine. Even if I was meddling, my good intentions are being treated like dirt.”

Good intentions? Shen Sisi’s brow furrowed. She was almost amused by the woman’s audacity.

Gu Chengfeng’s gaze became as sharp as a dagger. “Manager Liu, we are heading to the private room to eat. Please deal with this ‘trash’ that’s looking for trouble.”

Liu Yonggui gave a curt nod and made a “please leave” gesture toward Chen Ting. “Comrade, after you!”

Chen Ting’s face turned ashen. She ground her teeth, wishing she could tear the people in front of her apart. “Manager Liu, my fiancé is one of your biggest clients. Are you sure you want to offend me?”

“Biggest client?” Liu Yonggui sneered. “You’ve signed for over a dozen meals here, and every time you say you don’t have the cash to settle up, dragging it out day after day. We are a small shop; we can’t afford to host ‘big guests’ who have no money in their pockets but act like emperors. Please, leave.”

Being humiliated in front of Shen Sisi felt like her face had been thrown to the ground and shattered into pieces. At this point, the onlookers, never ones to miss a show, began to laugh mockingly.

“And she called the others paupers? Turns out they’re the real paupers, signing tabs they can’t pay. How embarrassing!” “Exactly. They look all fancy and respectable, but they’re just deadbeats.”

Chen Ting, overwhelmed by suppressed rage and embarrassment, couldn’t stay a moment longer. She grabbed her bag and stormed toward the private rooms. As she walked, she looked back one last time, glaring venomously at Shen Sisi and Gu Chengfeng.

“You two just wait. This isn’t over!