Chapter 7: Staking a Claim
Shen Zhouyue remembered there was a highly-rated restaurant nearby, so he immediately suggested they go there.
Chris glanced at Shen Zhouyue’s clothes and asked, somewhat puzzled, “Are you sure?”
“It’s not exactly cheap to eat there.”
Although he could treat him, Shen Zhouyue might not necessarily agree to it.
“It’s fine. I still have enough money to treat myself to a meal occasionally.”
The two headed toward the hotel not far away. It was still half an hour before the usual dinner rush.
They sat in the lobby. After they ordered, people began to trickle into the hotel restaurant.
Since they had arrived early, the food was prepared and set out quickly.
Shen Zhouyue tried to ignore the awkward feelings in his heart and took the initiative to find a topic of conversation.
Just as he discovered that the other party shared his hobbies and they were chatting happily, Yu Tingzhou’s voice suddenly rang out from behind him.
“What are you doing here?”
Shen Zhouyue’s train of thought was interrupted. He turned around blankly.
Yu Tingzhou was standing behind him, frowning.
Not far away, several people were looking in their direction; they were likely partners who had come with Yu Tingzhou.
“I… I’m having dinner with a friend…”
“Friend?”
Shen Zhouyue nodded, faintly sensing Yu Tingzhou’s displeasure.
But he didn’t understand why.
“Didn’t you say you had never been to the US before? Where did this friend come from?”
Yu Tingzhou noticed that the man opposite was looking at Shen Zhouyue with a strange gaze, so he took Shen Zhouyue’s hand, intending to lead him away.
But Shen Zhouyue found Yu Tingzhou’s series of actions completely baffling.
He looked at Yu Tingzhou with furrowed brows. “What on earth are you doing?”
“Your partners are probably still waiting for you there. It’s not very appropriate for you to waste time here, is it?”
Chris also spoke up at this moment, “Zhouyue, this is…?”
“His man!”
Before Shen Zhouyue could speak, Yu Tingzhou began to stake his claim.
Their marriage was just an agreement; it was fake.
But with Yu Tingzhou putting it that way, it seemed somewhat ambiguous.
Shen Zhouyue’s face flushed red instantly. He rolled his eyes at Yu Tingzhou. “You… what nonsense are you talking about?”
Yu Tingzhou reached out and pulled Shen Zhouyue into his arms, whispering in his ear, “Don’t forget, we got the certificate. It’s legal.”
The hot breath from his speech hit Shen Zhouyue’s ear. The moist, warm sensation made Shen Zhouyue’s ears turn so red they looked like they might bleed.
“Yu Tingzhou, what are you doing!”
Shen Zhouyue was like a rabbit with its fur bristling. If not for the arm around his waist, he might have jumped up right then and there.
“It seems you have other matters to deal with, Zhouyue. Here is my number. Let’s eat together another time if we get the chance?”
Chris could see that the relationship between Shen Zhouyue and Yu Tingzhou was unusual, so he took the initiative to step back.
“Consider today’s meal my treat!”
Yu Tingzhou pulled the person in his arms tighter but didn’t stop them from exchanging contact information.
However, upon hearing that Chris wanted to treat them, he proactively said, “No need. I’ll pay for this meal.”
“Consider it a treat from us, the couple.”
Before Chris could speak, Yu Tingzhou called over a nearby waiter and handed him his card, indicating he was paying for the table.
Shen Zhouyue was completely confused by the series of developments unfolding before him.
He looked at Yu Tingzhou blankly, unable to understand what he was doing.
Chris waved his phone to indicate they should contact each other later, then turned and left.
“Mr. Yu, we may have a marriage certificate, but I am an independent person. It’s not very appropriate for you to do this!”
Yu Tingzhou didn’t speak. He just sized Shen Zhouyue up. “Although the marriage agreement is fake, it doesn’t mean you can have ambiguous relationships with others during the marriage.”
“You haven’t explained things clearly about that An’an from yesterday, and today there’s another friend. Shen Zhouyue, just how many things have you hidden from me? I’m really curious!”
Originally, Shen Zhouyue was huffing with anger, wanting an explanation from Yu Tingzhou, but hearing An’an’s name spoken by Yu Tingzhou, he couldn’t help but feel guilty.
“I… I just met him today. He helped me…”
Shen Zhouyue explained the situation with Chris but kept his mouth shut about An’an.
Yu Tingzhou sneered, “And what about An’an?”
Shen Zhouyue hurriedly pushed Yu Tingzhou, nimbly slipping out of his embrace. “Your partners are still waiting for you.”
As he spoke, he nudged Yu Tingzhou in that direction, while he took the opportunity to try and leave.
But Yu Tingzhou didn’t give him the chance.
“Since you’re here, come with me to meet Mike!”
Having lost his chance to escape, Shen Zhouyue followed by Yu Tingzhou’s side like a wilted flower.
“This is your newlywed spouse, Yu? Truly beautiful. No wonder Yu left us behind the moment he saw him.”
Shen Zhouyue looked at Yu Tingzhou with a surprised expression. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but felt there was nothing to say.
“Don’t listen to Mike’s nonsense; he just loves to exaggerate.”
Yu Tingzhou pulled Shen Zhouyue to sit beside him and handed him a menu. “Choose what you like to eat.”
Shen Zhouyue wasn’t used to such occasions. He smiled shyly and stared silently at the menu in front of him, though his thoughts had long since drifted away.
“Have you chosen?”
Yu Tingzhou’s voice rang in his ear. Shen Zhouyue snapped back to reality, noticing that the eyes of the others at the table were all on him.
He hurriedly pointed out a few dishes at random, handed the menu to the waiter standing by, and then sat there like a wooden post, staring into space.
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