CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE (39) Business Partners

What was she blabbering on about?

And why was she being so friendly to him? The way she spoke to him, someone would think they were close pals.

A waiter arrived just in time to save Su Yuanqi whose teeth was clattering. It felt like she was purposely teasing him but then, why would she?

It was not like, he was as wealthy as she was or anyone close to her.

"Good evening, Mr and Mrs Chen."

The three guards: "..."

Xu Dandan: "O"

Su Yuanqi expression said it all, from shock to disbelief then to giving up. How he turned from the popular Yuanqi the Chef to Miss Chen's lover and now to her husband was confusing.

Were people that blind or just stupid? What was the initial thoughts in their head? They let go of their mouth just to spout whatever pleased them...

Rose was carefree though, as if none of it concerned her, she collected the menu from the waiter and started to order.

Xu Dandan panicked. What was Rose doing? Why wasn't she clearing the waiter's misunderstanding?

She took a step forward ready to clear the air but felt a tug by her side, turning to see Duyi as he grabbed her hand and headed for their own table.

"Did you hear that, too?" Dandan tried to speak in a hushed tone.

"We all did." Mingyu replied, sipping his fruit juice through the straw.

"I don't think it's something to worry about." Donghai seriously said.

"It's everything to worry about." As Xu Dandan continued to speak, her eyes didn't leave Rose's table. Her mind went back to how she had booked the table... sh*t! Xu Dandan facepalmed. It was her own fault.

*

"Seeing that you are still the same, means one thing, and that's that you're fine." Su Yuanqi said out of sincerity, but he didn't know his mere words sounded way to friendly to everyone around, including Rose whom asked in return.

"Uhh, are you happy to see me?"

Su Yuanqi scoffed. "Why not?" Then continued. "You can't just run away after destroying my restaurant."

His last statement caused Rose's lips to quirk. "I thought of you as a nice person."

"And I thought of you as an evil, wicked young lady."

"I'm actually sweet." Rose informed. "Do you want to see?"

"No." His crisp reply only triggered Rose but she held back, not wanting to scare him like the last time. Then she suddenly wondered why she enjoyed teasing him? They weren't acquaintances, but yet, it didn't stop her.

"Fine, I'll cut to the chase."

Rose took out the two files in her bag, pushed it towards him and gave him time to go through it.

Reading through the fifteen page file, Su Yuanqi didn't rush to conclusions instantly.

He took his time, marking every word as if to pin it to his memory.

The waiter returned to serve them and also left, while Su Yuanqi continued to read.

In the contract it stated clearly that he owned 49 percent of everything, while she owns 40 percent and the remaining 11 percent went back to the Chen Empire.

'She sure is smart.' He remarked internally.

As the restaurant to be was still under construction, she would be paying for all the loss as well as his chefs salaries until the construction is complete.

The restaurant won't be under The Chen Empire but they will both be co-owners. Also for the fact that The Chen food company had its own farm, all their products will come directly from the farm.

Special dinner could be attended to upon earlier request, and with him as the main chef, he was the one in charge of it.

No mistake was allowed...

He narrowed his eyes at that. 'What does she even think of me?' He suddenly wanted to know.

He read on until the last page where her signature and date, lay waiting for the other person to do the same. Also the red colored stamp, was a hint for him to stamp too.

Rose pushed a fountain pen towards him, he picked it up, signed and wrote down the date.

After signing the two contract, and stamping, he looked her dead in the eyes and commented.

"Don't play with me," his voice carried a touch of threat to it but since there were directed at Rose, she neither flinched nor had a change in expression.

Rose stretched out her hand to him, and the latter shook it.

"To new business partners," she raised her white champagne glass. "Cheers."

Su Yuanqi did the same. "Cheers." The glasses clinked against each other.

Rose smile as she raised the glass to her mouth, said a lot about how happy she was. It also didn't go unnoticed by the man sitting opposite her.

*

"Thanks," Su Yuanqi's single statement caught Rose by surprise.

She tilted her head to the side while pointing her index finger at herself then asked. "Me?"

"Yes,"

Rose said nothing this time.

"I'm sorry for also being rude the first time..."

"No, I'm the one that is sorry." She had unjustly attacked him. The only reason he was angry was because she had destroyed something that meant a lot to him. Being sorry wasn't enough if you still repeat the same thing you apologized for, so when saying sorry, be sure to change. "I promise it won't happen again." Rose also put a hand on her chest as if to pledge to him.

"Great, then." How terrible his night had been after their first encounter, he didn't want to think about it. Thank God for Zemin. "I'd worry less of being defensive, at least."

Rose's lips twitched. "Sure."

"Also you can stop complimenting me," he stylishly lifted the corner of his lips. "I've heard a lot of that."

"Eiish, look at you being so confident." Rose jeered. "Stop flattering yourself."

His dry laugh came then he asked. "I had thought you had good eyes, do you need me to recommend you to an optician?"

Rose rolled her eyes at him.

He ended up having the last laugh. Since she enjoyed teasing him, he'd like to spice it up a bit.

She watched him for a very long time, without blinking, while she admired his laughing, she was also busy wondering what was so funny.

They agreed on sharing the bill this time, unlike the last time after arguing over it.