Chapter 5: Caught
She wasn't allowed in.
Heavens knew what kind of bad luck Liang Xiaoluo was dealing with.
"I…" Liang Xiaoluo stammered, her forehead damp with cold sweat as she anxiously glanced over her shoulder. What could she do? She couldn't get inside, and the loan sharks were closing in.
The waiter looked at her disheveled state with disdain, his eyes filled with scorn. His tone turned sharp as he snapped, "Miss, if you don't have a reservation, I can't let you in. Please leave immediately."
Typical snooty staff.
But Liang Xiaoluo remained rooted to the spot. She couldn't back down now. The loan sharks were still after her.
Then her gaze landed on the restaurant's name. A flash of inspiration struck her. Grabbing the waiter's sleeve, she blurted, "Wait! Didn't you say that anyone who's dined here before can enter without a reservation?"
The waiter hesitated, eyeing her suspiciously before nodding. "Uh… yes." Then, with a sneer, he added, "But don't tell me someone like you has actually eaten here?"
Liang Xiaoluo ignored his mocking tone. Releasing his sleeve, she exhaled deeply, feeling like she'd found her lifeline. "Please check your records for someone named Nan Shaojie. He dined here on the 20th of last month."
She remembered the day vividly. The restaurant was upscale, and Nan Shaojie, her childhood companion, had taken her there for dinner before heading abroad. They'd laughed, talked, and shared a warm, unforgettable meal.
Hearing the name "Nan Shaojie," the waiter's expression turned incredulous. He regarded her like she was insane but still walked over to check the records. When he returned, he was visibly surprised. "You know Nan Shaojie?"
The heir to one of the world's top ten corporations?
"Yes," she replied firmly. "Now let me in."
"Really?" The waiter's disbelief lingered, his eyes narrowing. "You're saying you know Mr. Nan?"
Liang Xiaoluo grew desperate. Her voice trembled as she grabbed his arm again, shaking it. "I do! I really know Shaojie-ge. Let me in, please!"
"Then can you call him?" the waiter asked skeptically.
Before she could respond, the ding of an elevator echoed. She turned her head in horror to see the loan sharks stepping out, their eyes locking onto her.
"There she is!" one shouted. "Brothers, grab her!"
The group charged toward her, their menacing voices growing louder. Panic overwhelmed Liang Xiaoluo as she shoved the waiter aside and darted into the restaurant. She couldn't afford to get caught.
"Stop right there, you little brat!" The shouts followed her.
The waiter, torn between chasing her and handling the new arrivals, tried to block the thugs. "Gentlemen, you can't enter without a reservation."
"Get lost!"
In one of the private rooms, Ye Tianlin sat with his usual icy demeanor, his phone pressed to his ear. His grandfather's pre-recorded nagging droned on. It was yet another attempt to guilt him into attending this blind date.
And here he was, face-to-face with his grandfather's "meticulously selected" candidate.
"Hello, I'm Meng Yao," the woman across from him said, her soft, shy voice paired with an almost angelic smile. She was undoubtedly beautiful, her makeup subtle and her demeanor demure—a picture of grace and charm.
To most men, she would have been irresistible.
"Oh," Ye Tianlin replied curtly, his indifference palpable.
He'd glanced at her briefly upon entering. She was indeed attractive and refined. But no amount of polish could hide the overpowering scent of perfume wafting from her—a cloying aroma he associated with the shallow women frequenting nightclubs. It made his stomach churn.
His cold attitude visibly unsettled Meng Yao, but she forced a bright smile. "Actually, we met a few times when we were kids. I used to call you Tianlin-ge. Can I… still call you that?"
She waited, her expression bashful yet hopeful.
But Ye Tianlin didn't even spare her a glance. Lifting his coffee cup, he took a slow sip, his posture exuding disinterest.
Underneath his frigid exterior, his thoughts drifted back to the woman from the previous night—the one who had left him feeling something entirely new.
Meng Yao felt like she was talking to herself. Embarrassed but determined, she pressed on. "Tianlin-ge, I heard you enjoy golf and swimming. I like those too. Maybe we could go together sometime?"
At this, Ye Tianlin's sharp eyes finally lifted to meet hers. "Oh? I thought you preferred nightclubs."
The color drained from Meng Yao's face, her carefully constructed facade faltering. Stammering, she tried to deny it. "N-no, of course not! I'm not that kind of girl…"
"Tianlin-ge?" His voice turned icy, his gaze piercing. "Did I give you permission to call me that?"
Her confidence shattered, Meng Yao shrank back. "I-I…"
"Leave," Ye Tianlin said, his tone devoid of warmth. "You have one minute. If you're still here after that…"
Realizing her mistake, Meng Yao scrambled to her feet, grabbing her bag. She fled, nearly tripping over herself in her haste.
Not sparing her another glance, Ye Tianlin sipped his coffee. The date, arranged with such care by his grandfather, had been nothing but a waste of time.
Just as he was about to leave, the door burst open with such force that it startled him. Annoyed, he turned to see who had dared disrupt his peace.
It was her.
Liang Xiaoluo, breathless and panicked, stumbled into the room. She'd been cornered in the hallway and, seeing a pale-faced woman rushing out of the room, had acted on instinct. She pushed the door shut behind her and locked it, her chest heaving as she searched for a place to hide.
Then her gaze landed on Ye Tianlin. Their eyes met, and her blood ran cold.
Not him again.
What kind of rotten luck was this?
Ye Tianlin's annoyance melted into amusement, a sly smile creeping onto his lips. His earlier anger faded as he recognized her. This was turning out to be an unexpectedly pleasant encounter.
Before either could react further, loud pounding on the door shattered the tension.
"Open up, you little brat! If I get my hands on you, you'll regret it!" the loan sharks bellowed.
Panicking, Liang Xiaoluo pleaded, "Please, let me hide here. I'll repay your kindness, I swear!"
Without waiting for his response, she dashed into the private restroom and locked the door.
Ye Tianlin stared at the closed restroom door, a mix of irritation and amusement flickering across his face. She hadn't even recognized him, had she? The audacity of this woman.
He swung the door open, stepping into the hallway to confront the thugs. His icy glare sent a chill down their spines.
"You said you were going to teach someone a lesson?" he drawled, his tone sharp enough to cut.
The leader of the group paled, slapping one of his lackeys. "Why didn't you tell me it was Ye Ershao dining here, you idiot!" Turning to Ye Tianlin, he bowed repeatedly. "Apologies, Second Young Master Ye! We didn't mean to disturb you. It's our mistake entirely."
Uninterested in their groveling, Ye Tianlin waved them off. "Get lost."
The thugs scurried away without another word. He turned back to the restroom, where his unexpected guest was hiding.
A sly smile tugged at his lips.
"Woman," he muttered under his breath, "you've got some explaining to do."