Guo Shuxian placed the plate down directly and sat opposite Hao Jian, her gaze intensely fixed on him.
Hao Jian looked up at her, then shifted to the side to avoid facing her directly, and continued to eat his meal.
Seeing this, Guo Shuxian grew furious. I haven't even scorned you yet, and you dare to scorn me first?
Guo Shuxian snorted and began to eat as well.
"Mrs. Guo, what a coincidence to run into you here," said a portly middle-aged man with a somewhat sleazy appearance as he walked over. He had a parted haircut, was short in stature, and resembled those traitors in movies.
Upon seeing him, Guo Shuxian's brows slightly furrowed, and she said expressionlessly, "Coincidence? I think you knew I would be here from the morning."
She knew what this man was thinking: ever since their chance encounter at a charity gala, he had been pestering her nonstop, looking for various opportunities to interact with her.
There must have been people from his side at the auction today, so they informed him she was here.
"Mrs. Guo, what are you talking about? I genuinely just happened to pass by," retorted He Rongsheng, unfazed and unabashed as if he truly just stumbled upon her by coincidence.
Suddenly, He Rongsheng glanced at Hao Jian and frowned, "Kid, scram, give your seat to me!"
How could his goddess sit with such a poorly dressed loser? This was an insult to his goddess!
Hao Jian looked up at He Rongsheng, then lowered his head to continue eating, muttering indistinctly, "Idiot!"
"You." He Rongsheng's face turned dark instantly. This youngster was asking for trouble, daring to insult him?
He had assumed Hao Jian would choose to give way immediately because from their attire alone, the disparity in their status was evident. He could ruin him in minutes, but unexpectedly, Hao Jian was so lacking in self-awareness and even dared to talk back?
Well said! Guo Shuxian couldn't help but praise inwardly, and, considering Hao Jian's excellent response, she started to find him not so annoying anymore.
With an ashen face, He Rongsheng hesitated slightly then pulled out a stack of money from his bag, slamming it on the table with a snap, "This money is enough to cover several months of your salary, you loser. Take it and scram, I'm buying this spot!"
Normally, He Rongsheng would have had someone dispose of Hao Jian already, but with Guo Shuxian present today, he had to try buying Hao Jian off to maintain a good image in front of her.
At that moment, many people in the restaurant turned their curious gazes towards Hao Jian, and upon seeing He Rongsheng throwing a hefty stack of money, a wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd.
He Rongsheng seemed to greatly enjoy this feeling, his lips curving into a smug smile, boasting internally, 'I'm rich! I do what I want!'
Guo Shuxian also felt that He Rongsheng's actions were excessive. It was simply meant to provoke Hao Jian. Although she didn't like Hao Jian much, compared to He Rongsheng, she'd rather sympathize with Hao Jian.
Guo Shuxian had thought that this would be the moment when Hao Jian would stand up, angrily smash the stack of money into He Rongsheng's face, and yell, "Being rich doesn't make you great!"
But what she thought, was ultimately just what she thought.
Hao Jian hastily ate a few more bites of rice, then stood up, took the stack of money, and left.
He left? Just like that, Hao Jian walked away? Guo Shuxian was dumbfounded. Where was your dignity as a man? Where was your pride?
He Rongsheng's lips also curled into a scornful smile, "Just as expected, a poor loser!"
"Hao Jian! Are you just going to leave ?" Guo Shuxian roared, infuriated to see Hao Jian abandon her so ungraciously.
"Otherwise?" Hao Jian asked, puzzled.
"Didn't you hear him insulting you? Don't you have any boundaries left?" Guo Shuxian snapped, furious at his indifferent attitude. Why did it make her so angry to see him ?
"No." Hao Jian answered without a second thought.
"You." Guo Shuxian was so angry she could explode. How could there be such a shameless person?
"What's wrong with keeping me company?" Guo Shuxian said angrily. As a beautiful woman like her, there were plenty who wanted to dine with her. Yet Hao Jian would give up such a great opportunity for money, how could she not be angry?
She would rather have dinner with Hao Jian than with He Rongsheng because she knew that Hao Jian's gaze was pure when he looked at her, unlike He Rongsheng, who seemed like he wanted to devour her.
Flirting? Guo Shuxian was actually flirting with this guy? He Rongsheng could hardly believe his eyes. Was this the same Guo Shuxian who dominated the official scene?
Suddenly, He Rongsheng's face darkened, filled with jealousy. What exactly was Hao Jian's relationship with Guo Shuxian that she would act towards him?
"Better not, we are not even close. Besides, he already paid me, I can't just go back on my word, can I?" Hao Jian was not interested in being Guo Shuxian's shield.
"As your elder, I command you to sit down and dine with me!" Guo Shuxian ordered sternly.
"Didn't you disagree with me befriending Xiaoxiao earlier? If that's the case, you are no longer my elder." Hao Jian said seriously.
"I agree! I agree you can be friends with her, and I'll make sure she spends more time with you," Guo Shuxian said, exasperated. Was this guy really holding a grudge?
"You are insulting me!" Hao Jian glared at Guo Shuxian angrily. "Agreeing and disagreeing at will, do you think I, Hao Jian, am at your beck and call?"
"Then what do you want?" Guo Shuxian was almost in tears, this guy was definitely doing this on purpose!
"I want to be friends with you." Hao Jian rubbed his palms together, glancing shyly at Guo Shuxian. "Actually, I'm not interested in your daughter Xiaoxiao. What truly interests me is a mature woman like you."
"..." Guo Shuxian was petrified. She could never have guessed that Hao Jian would make such a suggestion. How could he be interested in her? He was her daughter's friend, and her daughter even had a crush on him!
Upon hearing this, He Rongsheng was nearly beside himself with rage. This kid dared to compete with him for a woman right in front of him?
In his heart, He Rongsheng prayed that Guo Shuxian would definitely reject Hao Jian.
Guo Shuxian hesitated for a moment, but then she said with a blush, "I accept."
Accepting Hao Jian was better than being harassed by He Rongsheng, since Hao Jian's boldness in speaking out meant that he had no ulterior motives, which was much better than He Rongsheng's secretive ways.
That's what she told herself, but in reality, she didn't mind befriending Hao Jian. In fact, she even felt a faint anticipation after hearing what Hao Jian had said.
Even though he was much younger, and he was the boy her daughter liked.