No way out Daughter, if it really doesn't work, just go listen at the door.

Inside the room.

“Click, click.”

The crisp sound of the lock came from the door. After locking it, Shen Qinghan calmly returned to her seat and continued eating.

Everyone was speechless.

Not only was Tang’s Mother dumbfounded, but even Old Master Tang, who had been munching on naan bread on the side for a while, was thrown off by this sudden “gambit of a move.”

If he wasn’t mistaken, there had just been someone at the door, right?

Old Master Tang: “…”

Outside the private room.

Lin Baizhi stood outside with a face full of question marks, as if questioning her own existence.

The whole thing happened so fast that she hadn’t even caught a glimpse of her brother—though she had seen the ugly face of that certain troublemaker.

Shen Qinghan!!!

Lin Baizhi grit her teeth, her fair hands clenched into fists as she barely suppressed the fury brewing inside her. She knocked on the door again.

“Dong, dong, dong…”

“Excuse me, is Ye Cheng inside?”

“No, he isn’t.” Shen Qinghan’s voice came from inside the private room, decisive and cold.

Lin Baizhi: “…”

The smile on Lin Baizhi’s face stiffened a little. “Shen Qinghan, lying isn’t right, you know… Could someone inside please open the door?”

Even so, Lin Baizhi still maintained her “elegance” and restraint, showing her best side to Ye Cheng, doing her utmost to preserve the image of how they used to be.

Though… it had been exposed a long time ago.

That’s right.

Lin Baizhi had gone back earlier to thoroughly review the whole process, and had ultimately come to the conclusion that, with over ninety percent probability, her brother had recognized her the very first time he saw her.

Sure, women change a lot as they grow up, but the basic foundation remains—especially for two people who had known each other for so many years.

What she had thought was a carefully crafted “chance encounter” had actually been nothing but a clumsy performance, and she had even gone along with his act all this time without realizing it, patting herself on the back in secret.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt like elbowing the concrete ground after free-falling at 9.8 meters per second from the top floor of a villa.

That’s just life. Even if you feel like dying from shame, you still have to wake up the next day and get through things as usual.

Lin Baizhi had even made herself a calendar and a little notebook planner, with daily objectives for her “conquest mission,” specific timings, and even some dreamy daydream moments.

Reading it every day filled her with energy, cleared her mind, and made the world feel so fresh and bright!

Perhaps this was what being in a truly focused state meant!

Lin Baizhi waited outside, Meanwhile, the scene inside the room was completely different.

Tang Yuyao had already quietly put on her “pain mask,” wishing she could just disappear. How had all this trouble found her again, even when she was hiding out here?!

Ye Cheng wasn’t much better off. Though he was sitting upright, his back was soaked with cold sweat.

The bubbles floating above his head had been poked several times again, and for now they only showed “an even more terrifying scene.” He had learned his lesson—the best bet was to follow the hints from the bubbles.

In simpler terms, it meant Don’t move too fast, just accept your fate quietly—otherwise, you’ll end up in another situation like the women’s restroom incident.

What had already been sweating bullets for Ye Cheng would just pile on even more pressure.

Ye Cheng was starting to regret his choice. If only he’d known this whole “foresight” trick would be such a pain, he would have picked “avoid danger and seek good fortune” instead.

It’s like hedging risks in stocks or funds—same principle.

It was already messed up anyway, so he might as well double down. Maybe two negatives would somehow make a positive, right?

Anyway, let’s just eat for now.

Ye Cheng went from eating happily earlier, to eating nervously, to now eating while dreading what came next.

“Uh, Hanhan, that girl outside… she’s your classmate, isn’t she?” Shen Ming finally broke the silence after a long pause.

And it wasn’t just “classmate”—he had even met her before when doing business.

Lin Baizhi often appeared in public. Anyone with any status in the upper crust of Great Sea City knew who Lin Baizhi was, which was why Tang Shouye had once addressed her as “Young Boss Lin.”

That was quite the distinction!

Shen Qinghan replied flatly, “I don’t know her.”

Shen Ming: “…”

“Haha, then I must have been mistaken… By the way, Xiao Cheng, do you know her?” Shen Ming gave an awkward laugh, unwilling to go head-to-head with his daughter any longer, so he turned the spotlight to Ye Cheng, who was nervously scarfing down his food.

Ye Cheng: “…”

Brother Doudou, are you picking on me just because I’m easy to push around?

Bullying a nice guy like this!

Ye Cheng wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, stopped chewing, and swallowed: “Uh, I’m not sure, probably…”

“Hanhan, you heard that, right? Xiao Cheng says she’s your classmate, so I’ll go open the door. Leaving her out there like that isn’t good.”

Before Ye Cheng could even finish, Shen Ming jumped on his words, conveniently “filled in the gaps,” and went straight to open the door.

Ye Cheng instantly felt the cold stare from the young miss.

Ye Cheng: “…”

Brother Doudou, just you wait. The next time your wife ties you up, I’ll raise the ransom demand to let her kill you!

“Click.”

Shen Ming opened the door, wearing a very humble and amiable smile on his face. “Manager Lin… classmate, please come in. There’s still room over here.”

Automatically, Shen Ming had started to call her “Manager Lin,” but given the “complicated” situation at hand, he corrected himself and made a welcoming gesture to Lin Baizhi.

Lin Baizhi was still striking her “white moonlight brushing her hair back” pose just outside, her eyes glistening with tears of longing and years of separation, as she looked toward Ye Cheng.

Ye Cheng: Chew, chew, chew…

Lin Baizhi: “???”

All her well-rehearsed charm had gone to waste, and her preparations were useless.

But it was no big deal—Lin Baizhi had the kind of personality that bounced back even stronger. She politely declined Brother Doudou’s invitation.

“Thank you, Uncle Shen. I’ll sit over there.” Lin Baizhi pointed to the spot next to Ye Cheng.

On the left, Tang Yuyao was cornered against the wall, gnawing on a baguette, trying to blend in like she was invisible. To the right, Shen Qinghan sat coldly with her arms crossed, staring at Lin Baizhi standing at the door.

Shen Ming: “…”

A spot? Where is there a spot? Am I missing something?

I don’t see one!

These three tragic questions flashed through Shen Ming’s mind. After a moment’s thought, he decisively decided to leave Ye Cheng on his own… Thank goodness his wife wasn’t here, it was such a relief!

Shen Ming had never felt so at ease. The worst was not having Madam here to stir up trouble—without her, Brother Doudou was invincible!

Under the gaze of everyone else, Lin Baizhi walked towards Ye Cheng and then… cut right past Shen Qinghan, finally sitting down in the narrow space between Shen Qinghan and Ye Cheng, squeezing the young miss aside.

Everyone: “…”

“Classmate, take it slower. You’ve got food all over your face…” Lin Baizhi said gently, like a devoted and loving wife.

Every time she said "classmate," the actions she took were poles apart from what a real "classmate" would do, creating a stark contrast.

Lin Baizhi pulled a tissue from her small crossbody bag and reached out to wipe Ye Cheng's face.

"Snap."

"Can't you see? This seat's taken." Shen Qinghan grabbed Lin Baizhi's hand, staring coldly at the latter.

Lin Baizhi's eyes lit up. Seizing the opportunity, she leaned into Ye Cheng: "Ow... it hurts, go easy..."

Shen Ming: "..."

If he remembered correctly... those two had just been trading blows evenly a moment ago. How had she suddenly turned so "delicate"? Even if she had the same frail constitution as his own daughter, it shouldn't be this bad—couldn't she even bear a light touch?

Soon enough, Shen Ming understood.

Especially when he saw Lin Baizhi crying out in pain while simultaneously burrowing into Ye Cheng's arms, as if she wanted to plaster herself onto him.

Shen Ming: "..."

Oh, so that's how it was... He was wondering—

Shen Ming: "???"

"I'll say it one more time: this is my seat!" Shen Qinghan didn't bother with words anymore. She grabbed Lin Baizhi with both hands and started dragging her away.

Lin Baizhi, for her part, was even more direct. Clinging to Ye Cheng, she stopped pretending entirely. The two of them were having a tug-of-war.

"What do you mean 'your seat'? It doesn't have your name on it. I was sitting here—what gives you the right to chase me off?" Lin Baizhi retorted with full confidence.

Everyone: "..."

The two quickly went from tug-of-war back to a scuffle. The second round had inexplicably started, and Shen Ming felt a headache coming on. So he was the key instigator, the fuse for this war?

Unbelievable!

"Hanhan, stop fighting. You're all classmates..." Shen Ming scrambled up and rushed over to mediate.

"Classmate" this, "classmate" that—but every punch landed for real.

Punches that hit flesh and bone—now that's a real classmate!

Ye Cheng: "..."

In the end, the brief conflict and outburst concluded with Ye Cheng taking 34 punches, 28 kicks, 12 slaps, and 8 elbow strikes... man!!!

When the fight ended, Ye Cheng sat between the two girls, separating them.

It became a seating arrangement of Tang Yuyao, Lin Baizhi, Ye Cheng, and Shen Qinghan.

Tang Yuyao: "..."

Wait—why was she the one getting squeezed out?!

Tang Yuyao got angry... and then all she did was get angry.

"Baizhi, why don't you sit over here by me? I could..." Tang Yuyao tentatively suggested.

"No thanks, this is fine." Lin Baizhi "politely" declined Tang Yuyao's offer, then scootched over, pushing Tang Yuyao another elbow-length away.

Tang Yuyao: "???"

Tang's Mother: "..."

Sweetie, maybe you should just go stand by the door.