Chapter 290: Are You Really Capable or Not?
“Juan, over here,” Xu Shuai waved enthusiastically towards Wang Li Juan and her crew.
“Why is it just you here?” Shen Meng Jie blurted out instinctively when she saw only Xu Shuai standing alone.
“Old Huang already went ahead to book a private room, and Brother Ao is busy preparing his confession plan. Li Long Long also wants to confess to the senior girl. They think they’ll be here soon. I’m just waiting here for you guys to arrive, then we’ll head to the restaurant together.”
After Xu Shuai finished explaining, Shen Meng Jie snorted with amusement, “Confession plan? Someone like Dragon Brother actually worries about confessing?”
“Don’t laugh, Ming Jie. Brother Ao is taking this seriously. Let’s go first, I bet Old Huang’s already got everything set up.”
Then, Xu Shuai turned with a mischievous grin and leaned close to Wang Li Juan, whispering, “I saw your favorite fried lump on the way here. I bought some for you—go ahead and eat.”
While speaking, he unzipped his jacket, pulled out a box of fried snacks, and handed it to Wang Li Juan.
Wang Li Juan glanced at her two roommates, who were smiling warmly at her, and her cheeks flushed a bit. “I wanted to buy it myself if I wanted to eat.”
“I just like buying it for you,” Xu Shuai grinned playfully.
Seeing the contrast, Shen Meng Jie realized how good she had it—someone around her who genuinely cared.
“Go ahead, lead the way,” Wang Li Juan said with a playful determined tone, though she happily took the fried snacks from Xu Shuai.
“Okay,” Xu Shuai chuckled awkwardly and headed to lead the way.
Wang Lu Juan took a deep breath, opened her fried snacks, and handed some to Shen Meng Jie and Han Xiao Jing. “Try it. Fried lump is the best during this season.”
“We won’t eat. Xu Shuai is watching,” Shen Meng Jie teased with a smile.
Xu Shuai, at the front, hurriedly turned away to avoid looking at Wang Li Juan, which made Han Xiao Jing try not to giggle.
Soon, they arrived at the restaurant.
Huang Fei saw everyone and stepped forward to greet them, initially planning to get closer to Shen Meng Jie.
But he remembered what Lao Ao said—start from being simple friends.
So he restrained himself and politely invited everyone into the private room, placing the menu on the table and spinning the lazy Susan to pour drinks. “I ordered some dishes—add more if you want. We’re quite a few.”
“Old Ao and Old Li are on their way; they should be here soon.”
Huang Fei, who was wealthy enough not to care much about splitting bills, and Xu Shuai, who didn’t shy about ordering food, picked two hot dishes and handed the menu to Shen Meng Jie.
Not long after, the door was pushed open.
Long Ao Tian and Li Long Long burst into the room, joking and laughing as they entered.
“Sorry, got delayed on the way. Something came up,” Long Ao Tian declared apologetically.
Shen Meng Jie chuckled softly, “No worries. With such a busy person as you, we can wait a bit longer.”
It was supposed to be a confession, yet he still insisted on acting so grand. Hmph!
But after saying it, she immediately regretted it.
Her emotions usually stayed calm, but when she saw Long Ao Tian, she just couldn’t keep her cool.
“Here’s a fish for Meng Jie. It’s on me,” Long Ao Tian said with a grin.
She looked up at him with a slight frown, confused. “I told you I don’t want you buying me things?”
“Not that, I just think you’re pretty good at picking on people,” he said with a smile.
Everyone burst out laughing.
Shen Meng Jie shot him a resentful look. “Fine, fine, I’m the best at nitpicking. You better eat the whole fish.”
Han Xiao Jing and Wang Li Juan looked at Shen Meng Jie in surprise—such a fierce person suddenly turning obedient in front of Long Ao Tian.
While they pondered that, waiters gently knocked on the door and placed the cold dishes on the table.
“One more crate of beer, three bottles of fruit juice.”
“Two bottles of fruit juice,” Shen Meng Jie said with a smile to the waiter. “That’s enough.”
“Hey, don’t drink too much or you’ll turn red and cry,” she teased.
“Long Ao Tian, can’t you stop underestimating me?” Wang Li Juan challenged.
“Hah, I can’t help it. Someone’s impression of me is just too deep,” Long Ao Tian replied with a chuckle.
“You’re the same—last time I bought wine, you drank it all,” Shen Meng Jie accused.
“That’s not true. I hid the last bottle, but Huang Fei drank it,” Long Ao Tian defended.
Hearing that Long Ao Tian hid the last bottle, Shen Meng Jie chuckled. “Letting you get away with it… I should have nagged you more!”
“If I’d known, I’d just punch you and make you cry for hours.”
“Can’t you let me have some? I’m a girl too,” Shen Meng Jie said annoyed, feeling like Long Ao Tian never really let her have her way.
That night, she still wouldn’t get her turn.
“Later, I’ll let you drink two more bottles. Deal?” He opened a beer and handed it to Shen Meng Jie. “Here, ladies first.”
Han Xiao Jing smirked, knowing Shen Meng Jie, who was stubborn yet slightly clumsy, and encountering Long Ao Tian, was like a showdown.
Eating and drinking meant more than just sustenance—it was a friends’ gathering.
They were all the same age, in the same class, and once the conversation started, there was no stopping it.
Shen Meng Jie finished her drink, glancing faintly at Long Ao Tian as he chatted and laughed, then gently put down her glass and smiled softly. “I heard you’re preparing to confess to your girlfriend?”
“Need help brainstorming?”
Long Ao Tian didn’t reply right away. He just turned to Huang Fei and Xu Shuai.
Facing his gaze, Xu Shuai chuckled nervously and sipped his drink, pretending to apologize.
“No need. Our Big Four of the 147 know all their tricks. Confessing is a piece of cake for us!”
Shen Meng Jie propped her chin on one hand, sneering. She’d seen through her three roommates long ago.
She believed Huang Fei and the others could come up with good ideas; otherwise, she’d have more faith in pigs climbing trees.
“Since you helped me before, I’ll return the favor now. Let’s consider it a fair exchange.”
Worried Long Ao Tian might refuse, she quickly added, “And don’t girls usually know what kind of surprises and romance they want? I’m just trying to help.”
Seeing her, Long Ao Tian thought she was quite right—girls really do understand each other best.
If you ask Qing Xue or Wan Ning, those nosy girls would probably tell the little girl the same night.
Faced with Long Ao Tian’s gaze, Shen Meng Jie’s heartbeat unexpectedly sped up.
She quickly looked away, impatient. “You helped me, so I’ll help you come up with some romantic ideas—just a little, to settle the score.”
“Can’t you just make up your mind? How are you more hesitant than I am? Can you really do it?”
