Shen Qian stared at Xi Zhen, took a deep breath, and began, "Let me tell you, even though my mom said she quite likes you, there's absolutely no chance between us. You know what kind of person I am. To be honest, if I had known it was you coming today, I wouldn't have come at all. I would have just rejected. But I also have self-awareness and know that you definitely wouldn't be interested in me either. So let's just have a peaceful meal together. Anyway... anyway, I won't pursue anything with you." As he finished speaking, Shen Qian's cheeks blushed, and his tone and words involuntarily softened. He couldn't help but feel the gaze of his arch-nemesis looking at him was too unsettling.

Shen Qian was both timid and afraid.

Xi Zhen frowned as he watched Shen Qian. He was just about to speak when he saw Shen Qian suddenly stand up from his chair and hurriedly walk out.

"Do you really not want to stay with him any longer?"

"Stop!" Xi Zhen's expression turned cold, his gaze as icy as the winter. His tone, unusually unpleasant.

Although he is usually cold and aloof, his tone of speech is never aggressive. In the eyes of others, he might come across as simply being devoid of emotions.

However, this time, it truly made Shen Gan feel his bad mood.

Shen Qian paused in his tracks. He had already reached the door, but he abruptly stopped because of Xi Zhen's words.

"Why do you care, huh? Can't I go to the bathroom by myself?!" Shen Gan turned around, his face looking aggrieved and on the verge of tears. "Why are you being so unreasonable?!"

Xi Zhen: "..."

After finally solving the complicated task of going to the bathroom, Shen Qian let out a sigh of relief. As he washed his hands, he quietly pondered in his mind whether he should just leave later and leave Xi Zhen behind alone.

After all, he felt that even if he and the other person went back soon, there wouldn't be much to talk about, which would be rather awkward.

The more Shen Qian thought about it, the more he felt that running away was a viable option. He quickly dried his hands and sneaked a peek at the bathroom door, making sure that Xi Zhen wasn't waiting nearby to guard him. Then, he swiftly ran out.

Once outside the hotel entrance, Shen Qian felt the air he inhaled was sweet.

Thinking about Xizhen waiting for him, Shen Qian felt a slight twinge of guilt in his heart, but it quickly dissipated.

He took out his cellphone from his pants pocket, preparing to make a call to have someone pick him up. Just as he took out his cellphone, it started ringing.

Shen Qian fixed his gaze and his eyebrows furrowed once again. After hesitating for a while, he finally picked up the call.

"Hello, Mom..."

"Hey, son, how did your conversation with Xizhen go?"

"Well...it's alright, I guess..."

"What do you mean 'just okay'? Let me tell you, don't even think about trying to deceive me! And don't even think about sneaking out secretly! Otherwise, you'll face my disciplinary measures when you come back tonight!"

Shen Qian: "......"

Family law takes care of matters...

Shen Qian trembled all over at the thought of being forced to eat raw onions again.

Without waiting for his response, Su Wan continued, "Son, do you know how powerful the Xi family is?"

"I don't know," Shen Gan answered truthfully, "but I do know how powerful our family's influence is."

Su Wan sighed deeply and said with great concern, "My son, we can't afford to provoke the Xi family. If you don't stay with Xi Zhen, he... he will bankrupt our family!"

Shen Qian rolled his eyes and said, "Mom, have you been reading too many romance novels?"

"Really, my son, Mom isn't lying to you!" Su Wan's tone was especially sincere, genuine, and heartfelt. "Even if our family goes bankrupt, you won't be able to escape Xi Zhen's clutches. You'll have to sell yourself to repay the debt."

Shen Qian shuddered from the coldness of these words. Though he knew that this was a fabrication from his mother's president novel, he couldn't help but imagine the scene in his mind: Boss Xi, smoking a cigar, sitting on a luxurious leather sofa like an emperor, commanding his subordinates, "It's getting cold. It's time to bankrupt the Shen family."