Transmigrated Into a Book: The Villain I Raised Is Plotting Against Me! - Chapter 33

The shop was relatively old, with a sign that read “Chen’s Wonton Soup.”

Inside, the place was quite full, with nearly every table occupied.

Mu Chen weaved through the crowded space, with Hua Shaoyi stumbling slightly behind him.

He found an empty table and ran his fingers over the surface.

It was clean and smooth, without a speck of dust. This cleanliness, despite the shop’s worn exterior, was likely the reason it remained so popular.

Hua Shaoyi sat down without hesitation and cheerfully called out, “Boss, two bowls of wonton soup! One extra spicy, one mild, no spice!”

She naturally ordered for Mu Chen, as if she had done so countless times before.

And just like that, memories flooded back.

“Mu Chen, I’m taking you to have the best wonton soup ever!”

A lively, youthful girl had pulled a shy boy along at a run.

They reached a small shop, and she sat down with a familiar ease, cheerfully ordering, “Aunt Zhang, two bowls of wonton soup. My usual, and make the other mild, no spice!”

Mu Chen had been surprised at how well she knew his preferences.

Hua Shaoyi, her face bright as a flower, said in her clear voice, “I noticed that every time we eat, you avoid the spicy food. I figured you can’t handle it.”

In that moment, Mu Chen’s heart had raced. An indescribable feeling surged through him, making him want to hold the girl tightly.

And so he had.

“Mu… Mu Chen, are you okay?”

A trembling, feminine voice brought him back to reality.

He realized he had instinctively pulled Hua Shaoyi into a tight embrace. Her delicate face shone with a pure, magnolia-like smile, her lips slightly curved in happiness.

All the customers had stopped eating, watching the young couple with teasing smiles.

“Hey, why not sit and hug properly…”

“Oh no, I can’t see anything anymore…”

“I feel full just watching them…”

Mu Chen, now flustered, awkwardly let go of Hua Shaoyi. He sat down, trying to regain his composure without explaining anything.

But the spontaneous act had already made Hua Shaoyi’s heart soar.

Just then, the owner arrived with the wonton soup. Hua Shaoyi said nothing further.

A bowl of fragrant, mild wonton soup was placed in front of Mu Chen.

Hua Shaoyi, on the other hand, was served a bowl of spicy wonton, its red oil sizzling on the surface.

She looked like a child, her eyes filled with innocent joy.

She carefully scooped a wonton into her mouth with a porcelain spoon.

The spicy flavor exploded in her mouth, leaving a lingering, delicious aftertaste.

Mu Chen looked at the wontons in his own bowl, their white, plump forms floating beneath a sprinkle of green onions. His appetite stirred.

He picked up his spoon, scooped two wontons, and popped them into his mouth.

Aside from burning his tongue, he tasted nothing…

“How is it, Mu Chen?” Hua Shaoyi asked, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the refined man sitting across from her.

Mu Chen: “…”

He couldn’t exactly say he tasted nothing, could he?

It had been so long since he’d eaten wontons that he’d forgotten how hot they were.

“They’re fine,” Mu Chen responded, maintaining his composed demeanor, showing no hint of whether he liked them or not.

Hua Shaoyi misinterpreted his neutral response as disappointment, her face showing subtle traces of dejection.

Mu Chen’s lips moved slightly, but in the end, he said nothing more.

“Hey, isn’t this the school beauty? It’s been a while…”

A cocky, raspy voice cut through the air, making Mu Chen clench his fists in anger, his face turning cold.

There was a loud “bang,” and the voice’s owner brazenly sat next to Hua Shaoyi.

His voice lowered, dripping with suggestiveness, “Shaoyi, why didn’t you reply to my message yesterday?”

Yi Hu, dressed in flashy pink clothes with a blindingly shiny gold chain around his neck, squinted his long, narrow eyes, his demeanor arrogant. He reached out his thick arm, attempting to wrap it around Hua Shaoyi’s waist.

Hua Shaoyi’s face turned pale, her eyes filled with humiliation and unshed tears.

Suddenly, a pair of chopsticks slapped away Yi Hu’s disgusting hand.

Yi Hu’s handsome face contorted in anger, his expression growing fierce. “Mr. Mu, Hua Shaoyi is my woman! Stay out of this!”

Mu Chen, his face cold, was reminded of unpleasant memories. His tone was sharp. “First of all, Hua Shaoyi is my friend.

Second, I won’t allow you to touch her without her consent!”

Hua Shaoyi bit her lip so hard it bled, but she didn’t notice.

“Heh, Shaoyi, am I your boyfriend or not?”

Yi Hu rubbed his reddened hand, a wicked smile on his face.

Hua Shaoyi desperately wanted to say no, but she couldn’t. Her mother was still under his control!

Feeling utterly defeated, her face drained of all color, she answered, “Yes…”

That single word hit Mu Chen like a stone, sending ripples through his heart.

It was just as absurd as it had been in high school…

Mu Chen stood up and faced Yi Hu seriously. “Then it seems I’ve been meddling.

And, Hua Shaoyi, if you have a boyfriend, you shouldn’t be asking me to dinner. We wouldn’t want any misunderstandings, so let’s not contact each other anymore.”

Without a second glance, he strode away.

Hua Shaoyi’s eyelashes trembled as tears slipped down her cheeks, but she had no reason to stop him.

She gazed at the bowl of wonton soup, still steaming hot.

What a pity. She’d finally gotten the chance to eat with him again…

Yi Hu, seeing Hua Shaoyi’s expression, assumed she was reluctant.

Cruel words spilled from his mouth, “Hua Shaoyi, have you forgotten that I’m your ‘boyfriend’?”

Hua Shaoyi spoke softly, “Of course, I remember. When will you finally let me and my mother go?”

Two years ago, Hua Shaoyi’s mother had remarried, and unfortunately, her stepfather had a son, Yi Hu.

Yi Hu never accepted their intrusion and constantly found ways to torment Hua Shaoyi.

Not wanting to cause her mother any more pain, Hua Shaoyi had chosen to endure it in silence.

The boy from her past had been a glimmer of light in her dark memories.

He was the person she had cherished, but everything had been ruined by Yi Hu.

Yi Hu was pleased to see the light in her eyes fade, replaced with despair and emptiness.

That’s how she should look. Those beautiful eyes should only reflect him!

“You’ll never escape me,” Yi Hu said with a twisted smile, his deep eyes filled with madness.

Hua Shaoyi couldn’t bear to listen any longer. She grabbed her small white bag, clicked her high-heeled boots, and quickly left the shop.

She looked around frantically, but the figure etched in her memory was nowhere to be found.

Was she too late… after all?

Mu Chen stood hidden behind a white wall, watching as Hua Shaoyi seemed to search for someone.

The tall man following her caught up, said something to her, and led her away obediently.

T/N: Daym, we’ve got some angst plot here I guess?