Chapter 145: Nowhere to Run (1)

"Miss Qiao, Young Master Yu is already waiting for you in the car."

Hearing the driver's words, Qiao Xi did not refuse and walked over with him.

Yu Fan was already inside the car. The driver opened the door for her, and she got in.

Afterward, the driver closed the door, walked over to the driver's seat, and slowly drove away.

About ten minutes later, the car came to a stop.

Yu Fan stepped out of the car, and Qiao Xi also pushed the door open and got out. Looking at the restaurant ahead, she could tell at a glance that it was extremely upscale.

"I hope you will like my arrangement." Yu Fan walked over and extended a hand to her like a true gentleman.

Qiao Xi looked at his hand but did not place hers in it.

Yu Fan did not mind. The two of them entered the restaurant together, and he pulled out a chair for her.

"Thank you," she said, sitting down.

Yu Fan walked around and took the seat opposite her.

There was no need to order; as soon as they sat down, waiters began serving dishes, which clearly meant everything had been reserved in advance.

Watching dish after dish being placed on the table, Qiao Xi frowned.

The dishes on the table were all her favorites. This could not possibly be a coincidence; it was obvious her privacy had been investigated.

Lifting her gaze, she looked at Yu Fan.

"Is it to your taste?" Yu Fan asked.

"I know your background is powerful, and investigating someone is the easiest thing for you to do, but doing this is disrespectful." Qiao Xi's tone was calm, but her expression was indifferent.

Yu Fan gave a low chuckle, adding a trace of gentleness to his usually cool demeanor.

"If asking someone what my girlfriend likes to eat counts as disrespectful to you, I will ask you in person next time."

"You know I am not just referring to this," Qiao Xi said.

Yu Fan certainly knew. He offered a brief explanation, "As for telling Ouya to stop you from getting into a fight, someone wanted to curry favor and deliberately notified me."

Gu Heng was injured and hospitalized, and she had taken revenge for him. Even if she had not purposely spread the word, it was hardly a secret. It was entirely possible that someone in the know thought she was Yu Fan's girlfriend and informed him out of a desire to flatter him.

Even so, it could not be completely ruled out that he had not investigated her, but pursuing the matter now was meaningless.

"Do you think I am someone who can be easily bullied?" Qiao Xi looked at him and asked.

"Why would you ask that?" Yu Fan met her gaze.

"You know in your heart."

"So?"

"You went back on your word first, so don't blame me for exposing the truth."

"I called it a bet, but I never said I wasn't interested in you."

"I don't need to keep cooperating with you just because of your interest," Qiao Xi stated plainly.

"Indeed," Yu Fan nodded.

Qiao Xi sensed he had more to say, so she remained silent.

And he did continue, "Then from this moment on, I am formally pursuing you, and it has nothing to do with any bet."

As he spoke, his gaze was fixed directly on her. His deep, dark eyes were bottomless, yet extraordinarily intense and overbearing.

From the very beginning, Qiao Xi knew he was a man extremely difficult to deal with.

Especially being the object of his interest—it was a huge trouble. But at least now, their relationship had been clarified.

"I hope you keep your word," she said, standing up. "There is no need to share this meal, and I believe there won't be any need for it in the future either."

With those words, she turned to leave, but before she could take a single step, her wrist was caught.

She turned back, unaware that he had closed the distance so much; her lips almost brushed against his nose.

Instinctively wanting to step back and keep a distance from him, he instead wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled firmly, causing her body to collide against his chest.