Manipulative Harem God

513  Zhang Wei making a scene? Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Murong Jinxiang's initial encounter with the monks left her thoroughly bewildered.

They had appeared unannounced at her doorstep, presenting a curiously odd bowl brimming with a shimmering liquid and requesting that she dip her hand into it.

This wasn't a solitary event; they had been canvassing the neighborhood, diligently testing every household for several days.

Driven by curiosity, she submerged her hand into the mysterious liquid, which erupted into a radiant white glow, leaving her utterly astonished.

From that moment, these persistent bald monks became a constant annoyance in her life, harassing her to undertake a journey to Xing Cheng and visit the Shaolin Monastery.

Their insistence grew more unsettling when they mentioned that the Abbot himself wished to meet her personally, intensifying her suspicions and deepening her reluctance.

In truth, the entire ordeal was surreal.

The bald monks' solemn chants of "Reverend Sister" echoed oddly in her ears.

Had they presented themselves in a slightly more conventional manner, perhaps she might have been more inclined to heed their peculiar request.

"..."

After listening to her animated rant about the monks and her refusal to follow them simply because they addressed her as "Reverend Sister," Zhang Wei found himself utterly speechless.

"Huh? What's wrong, is there something on my face?" Murong Jinxiang's eyes twinkled, her cheeks flush with a beautiful rosy tint as she caught him staring, even while she recounted her experience.

Zhang Wei deliberately nodded with exaggerated slowness. "Yes." He reached out, his hand moving toward her intrigued face, and—

Pinch!

"—"

Murong Jinxiang was struck silent, fixing him with a deadpan stare. "So funny, isn't it?" she retorted, her tone laced with annoyance yet melodious to the ears.

Zhang Wei's response was teasing, "More than you," as he casually pulled a cigarette and lighter from his pocket, igniting Murong Jinxiang's frown into a deeper crease.

"Smoking is not allowed here," Murong Jinxiang said, her discomfort apparent as she watched him place the cigarette between his lips.

22:34

Zhang Wei offered a sly smile. "I need something for taste."

"Then eat food," Murong Jinxiang retorted sharply.

"My food is there; do you want me to go ahead and eat it?" Zhang Wei teased, his tone playful.

??

Murong Jinxiang fell silent, speechless.

She glanced over her shoulder, following his pointed finger, but when she spun back around in bewilderment, she found him pointing at her rosy lips and gently touching them.

A flush of embarrassment mixed with annoyance colored her face. "Don't mess around," she snapped, slapping his hand away.

"Haha..." Zhang Wei chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye.

He pondered whether he possessed a natural talent for provoking their kind.

Murong Jinxiang had already lost her appetite, yet the only way to feign indifference towards Zhang Wei was to pretend to eat.

Since he stubbornly clung to her left hand, she resorted to using her right.

"Mm?"

At that moment, Zhang Wei finally released her hand, surprising her and drawing a relieved sigh as she turned to him with a look of quiet gratitude.

But her moment of relief was abruptly shattered.

Screech.

In an instant, Zhang Wei seized her waist with a firm grip, encircling his arm around her and pulling both her and her stool closer to him.

"..."

Murong Jinxiang's face darkened, her anger simmering just beneath the surface.

Zhang Wei grinned mischievously at her, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh, I forgot this," he chuckled, nodding towards the plate of spaghetti that now seemed to be left alone on the table, without any owner.

With a swift movement, he grabbed the plate and placed it squarely in front of her, as if reinstating its owner's claim.

"Xiaowei, please, let me go," Murong Jinxiang whispered with deliberate softness, her voice tinged with a hint of desperate urgency.

She twisted her waist gently, trying to slip from his grasp without causing a scene, her movements cautious and hushed to avoid drawing any unwarranted attention.

Zhang Wei, however, appeared utterly unbothered by her discomfort. His grip remained firm, his voice low and slightly teasing as he leaned in closer

"Women shouldn't be wandering alone at night. Where do you think you're going? Let me be your escort—for your safety," he suggested, his tone laced with a protective edge that bordered on possessiveness.

As he spoke, he squeezed her waist a little too firmly, silently cursing the layers of clothing that denied him closer contact.

"Ah!?" Murong Jinxiang couldn't help but let out a surprised gasp.

"!!"

Her hand flew to her mouth, muffling the sound abruptly.

She froze, her eyes darting around in panic before a sigh of relief escaped her as she realized they remained unnoticed.

Her complexion, which had drained to a ghostly pale, flushed back to life as she ceased her struggles and leaned in closer to Zhang Wei, her voice soft and pleading.

"Wei, I've told you, there's nothing between us. It can't happen," she murmured, her eyes moist with unshed tears as she gazed into his, begging for understanding.

Inside, Murong Jinxiang's mind raced. 'Is he high?' she wondered nervously.

The girl who had arrived with him was clearly intoxicated, and it was possible Zhang Wei was too, though it was hard to tell through his usual stoic demeanor.

'If I push him away too harshly, he might make a scene. Better to handle him with care,' she reasoned silently.

"Listen, Wei," Murong Jinxiang continued, her voice a careful blend of firmness and soothing tones, crafted to calm the brewing storm without inflaming it further. "Let's not cause a scene tonight. I promise to join you for a drink another time, okay?"

Zhang Wei's face darkened, his eyes flickering an unsettling red as his voice escalated.

"You think I'm making a scene?" he demanded, his tone growing louder, filling with a mix of hurt and anger.

"!!"

Murong Jinxiang flinched visibly, her lips pressing tightly together in a subtle display of fear. "N-No—"

Bang!

Zhang Wei's hand slammed down on the table, making a sharp, resonant sound that cracked through the ambient noise.

"Jinxi, I asked you something!" he spoke louder, his expression intense.

"!"

Murong Jinxiang frowned as he gripped her hand tighter, causing a painful noise to escape her lips.

She turned to find the eyes of everyone in the vicinity on them, a mix of confusion and surprise etched on their faces.

With a sigh of frustration, she stood, her expression steeling with resolve. "Xiaohan, if this customer faints, please escort him somewhere safe," she directed firmly.

"Y-Yes, madam!" Xiaohan, the second waitress who had arrived earlier, responded nervously.

Her eyes darted between Zhang Wei and Murong Jinxiang, sensing the tension and uncertainty of the situation.

Murong Jinxiang then turned to leave, her posture rigid with suppressed emotion, prompting Zhang Wei to raise an eyebrow in surprise.