After Disabled A was Reborn, She Got Scummed Again - Chapter 18

What if Qin Xiao suddenly did something affectionate and ended up offending the young lady from the Shang family? Would she hold a grudge?

After all, the Shang family was one of the top families in the capital, and this Miss Shang was notorious for doing things her own way. It seemed like only Qin Xiao could keep her in check.

And besides… weren’t the two of them technically love rivals now? Was it really okay for them to be having a meal together at the same table?

Just then, Qin Xiao looked up toward Chu Qiyan’s direction. Her usually cold, phoenix-shaped eyes held a rare hint of gentleness.

It was because Chu Qiyan looked visibly conflicted and even slightly hesitant.

“I’m fine with it,” Qin Xiao said calmly, then went right back to work.

Chu Qiyan parted her lips as if to say something but ended up holding back. She licked her lips.

“Great, it’s settled then,” Shang Niannian chimed in cheerfully.

Chu Qiyan shot Qin Xiao a subtle glance, her eyes tinged with quiet frustration.

“Have you heard about the Cheng family? Rumor has it that their long-lost illegitimate daughter just came back… it’s caused quite a stir,” Shang Niannian gossiped with interest.

“What? The Cheng family?” Chu Qiyan asked in confusion.

The Chengs were one of the four powerful families in the capital. How had she only just heard about such big news?

“You didn’t know? What do you even know? No wonder you always get overshadowed by that little white lotus Chu Qian!” Shang Niannian huffed.

“Anyway… the legitimate daughters of the Chengs are all Omegas, and now suddenly there’s an illegitimate Alpha daughter in the picture. This one’s worth watching. She came from Haicheng and apparently only learned of her true identity when her mother was on her deathbed,” Shang Niannian explained in more detail.

“…I see…” Chu Qiyan nodded slowly. The mention of Haicheng made her heart skip a beat—Chu Qian was from there too…

“Special Assistant Liu, look into the Cheng family. I want full background info on all of them,” Qin Xiao instructed without looking up.

Both Shang Niannian and Chu Qiyan turned to glance at her, surprised she was interested in this matter too.

“All right, let’s go eat,” Qin Xiao said coolly, lifting her eyes.

“Yes! Let’s go, Sister Qin! I made a reservation at Mò Yún Lóu,” Shang Niannian said proudly, eyes sparkling as she looked at Qin Xiao.

“Right, Qiyan?” she turned to call her again.

“…Sure,” Chu Qiyan replied, resigned.

“Qin Xiao—” Chu Qiyan had barely opened her mouth when Shang Niannian grabbed her and dragged her toward the elevator.

“Fiancée, what’s wrong? Don’t want to go?” Qin Xiao teased, noticing her hesitation.

“…I do,” Chu Qiyan said, her voice low. Under Shang Niannian’s wide-eyed glare, thick with warning and threat, she had no choice but to nod.

This time, Chu Qiyan was certain—Qin Xiao was doing it on purpose. She sneaked a glance at her.

The group split into two cars and headed for Mò Yún Lóu. Naturally, Qin Xiao and Chu Qiyan shared one vehicle. Even though Shang Niannian was clearly unhappy about it, she didn’t dare pull Chu Qiyan away with Qin Xiao watching. If she made too big a fuss, Qin Xiao might just kick her out.

She shot Chu Qiyan a glare but said nothing more. “See you soon, Sister Qin!” she called sweetly.

Chu Qiyan had heard of Mò Yún Lóu—it was notoriously hard to book restaurant, and supposedly the restaurant was very picky about who they served. She’d only ever heard rumors.

When they arrived, she realized calling this place a restaurant didn’t feel right. It looked more like a tranquil garden—artificial hills, ponds, and trees weaving together in a picturesque setting.

Her first impression: beautiful. Stunning.

The lake reflected the sunset, the sky painted in red and orange hues. The scene was both serene and dazzling.

They crossed a stone path paved with cracked ice-pattern tiles and paused at a stone bridge, watching the shimmering sunset mirrored in the water.

Chu Qiyan stood beside Qin Xiao in silence, quietly taking in the breathtaking view.

“You don’t need to be so guarded around Niannian. She means no harm,” Qin Xiao suddenly said. Her voice was cool, but carried a soft warmth.

“Mhm, I know.” Chu Qiyan smiled at her.

Indeed, compared to her scheming younger sister, Shang Niannian was simple and straightforward. She simply liked Qin Xiao and wanted to be near her.

She could even tolerate Chu Qiyan’s presence and treated her fairly well, despite her occasional spoiled-princess attitude.

After spending the afternoon together, Chu Qiyan had developed a bit of a fondness for her. If it weren’t for Qin Xiao between them, they might have been good friends.

That thought crossed her mind—and…

Qin Xiao, walking beside her, still wore that cold, detached expression. She appeared as if she was a celestial being, unaffected by the everyday world. And yet, every now and then, she’d show a flicker of gentleness.

Even toward Shang Niannian, she was the same. With her status and power, it would’ve been easy to brush the girl off. But she had gone out of her way to explain things and even allowed her to stay…

“What do you think?” Qin Xiao turned to her.

“Think of what?”

“Being my assistant,” Qin Xiao said plainly, eyes locked on her.

“I think… it sounds great. But it might be tough,” Chu Qiyan replied honestly, her lips curved into a soft, well-behaved smile.

Qin Xiao looked away without answering.

She had plenty of assistants, so the workload was manageable. That was her view—and the compensation was excellent.

They crossed the stone bridge and reached a refined little pavilion, with a plaque reading Wú Yōu (“Serene Wutong”).

Inside, the walls weren’t fully enclosed—four moon-shaped openings allowed glimpses of the scenery beyond. The decor was simple yet elegant: a perfectly sized square wooden table at the center, and a vase filled with bare branches in the corner. Everything radiated a classical charm.

Chu Qiyan now understood why getting a reservation here was so difficult. The atmosphere alone—the beauty, the thoughtful design—spoke volumes about the effort put into every detail.

“Sister Qin! How did you two get here before me?” Shang Niannian rushed in, out of breath.

At that moment, the warm yellow lights in the pavilion flicked on, casting a soft glow over them.

Niannian glanced at the two. Seeing that the air between them was still cool and distant, she finally relaxed.

A server came in with a teapot, pouring tea for them.

Chu Qiyan and Shang Niannian sat facing each other, both flanking Qin Xiao.

Here, there was no menu to order from. The dishes depended entirely on what ingredients were sourced that day—and the chef’s mood.

“Good evening. Here’s today’s menu. Do you have any dietary restrictions?” another server asked. The menu was simple, handwritten on a piece of kraft paper.

“Could you call your head chef over?” Shang Niannian asked, clearly familiar with the routine.

“Of course, I’ll check.”

A moment later, a male Alpha entered the pavilion. His short hair was tucked under a chef’s hat, his demeanor refined and cool. There was something warm and familiar in his smile, making him feel both approachable and oddly recognizable.

“Fei Yin, it’s been a while! Let me introduce you—this is Qin Xiao,” Shang Niannian said brightly.

“Hello, I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Fei Yin,” he said with a gentle smile.

“Hello.”

“Fei Yin, make everything mildly spicy and fully cooked, okay?” Shang Niannian requested firmly.

“Understood,” Fei Yin nodded, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but he remained composed.

Shang Niannian had a stronger palate, but today she adjusted everything for Qin Xiao’s tastes.

“And you?” she turned to Chu Qiyan.

“I’m good with anything. Chu Qiyan softly replied, “I’m not picky.”

Fei Yin kept that gentle smile throughout, his elegance making his handsome face even more striking.

Then, his gaze finally landed on Chu Qiyan. He paused, studying her.

“Have we met before?” he asked politely after a moment.

“…Sorry, I don’t think so,” Chu Qiyan said, meeting his eyes with a hint of confusion.

But at the same time, she felt it too—that strange sense of familiarity. Still, she was sure they hadn’t met. She’d never been to this restaurant before.

“My apologies. Please enjoy your meal,” he said with a smile and left.

“You know him?” Qin Xiao asked lightly, still looking out at the view.

“No.” Under Shang Niannian’s curious gaze, Chu Qiyan gave her answer.

“I thought so. How could you know Fei Yin? He’s the exclusive chef here. You probably haven’t even been to this place before,” Shang Niannian said, sipping her water. Her tone was casual, but it carried the same quiet superiority that Qin Xiao often did.

“Mhm…” Chu Qiyan turned back to the scenery outside. It really is beautiful here.

Soon, dish after vibrant, fragrant plate was brought out. Each one was artfully presented and delicious. Even the more humble home-style dishes tasted amazing.

Once the last dish was served, Fei Yin appeared again.

“This is a complimentary drink,” he announced, placing a glass before her. “It was inspired by this young lady, and I’ve named it First Glance.”

“…Thank you,” Chu Qiyan nodded politely.

“A chance meeting is a kind of fate. May I know your name, miss?”

“Chu Qiyan.”

“Thank you, Fei Yin,” Shang Niannian added. She came here often and had built a rapport with him—hence the hard-to-get reservation.

“My pleasure. Enjoy your meal, Miss Chu,” he said warmly before turning to leave.

Qin Xiao’s gaze followed him out, her eyes thoughtful. The name Fei Yin struck a chord—there weren’t many with the surname Fei in the capital.

Seems like there are still a lot of people in this city I don’t know enough about, she thought.

“First Glance?” she echoed the name softly. The cold tone at the end of her sentence was unmistakable.