Jealousy and Food

Su Luqi, ever the charmer, led Lu Siyan into a dazzlingly opulent restaurant. Crystal chandeliers glittered overhead, casting a warm glow on the plush velvet seating and polished mahogany tables. The air hummed with the low murmur of conversation and the clinking of expensive silverware.

As they were being led to their table, a young, well-dressed man stopped Su Luqi, his eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Excuse me, miss," he began, a confident smirk playing on his lips, "but I couldn't help but notice—"

Before he could finish his well-rehearsed line, Lu Siyan felt a surge of possessiveness. He wasn't sure where it came from, this sudden urge to shield Su Luqi from the attention of this… interloper. He felt his hands clench, his breath quickening. Was this… jealousy?

He tried to take a deep breath, to calm himself down. He repeated his usual mantra: "Stay calm, Siyan. Don't overreact. You're just… anxious."

But the anxiety wouldn't subside. It was an echo of a deeper fear, a fear he had carried with him since childhood: the fear of abandonment, of losing the family he so desperately craved. He had a sudden, irrational vision of his future wife, his future children, turning away from him, leaving him alone… just like his parents had.

Su Luqi, sensing his distress, glanced at him. She saw the tension in his shoulders, the slight tremor in his hands. With a gentle smile, she reached out and took his hand, her touch soft and reassuring.

The anxiety melted away, replaced by a wave of warmth and gratitude. He looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and… something more. He was starting to realize that Su Luqi was more than just a "sugar baby." She was… a lifeline.

"Don't worry, Siyan," she whispered, her voice soothing. "I'm here."

And in that moment, he believed her.

With a dazzling smile that could melt glaciers, Su Luqi turned back to the young man, her eyes now cold and sharp. The poor fellow stammered, his confidence crumbling under her icy gaze. He mumbled an apology and quickly retreated.

"Shall we?" Su Luqi said to Lu Siyan, her smile returning, warmer this time, just for him.

She led him to a secluded table by the window, overlooking the city lights. As they sat down, she took charge, ordering a selection of exquisite dishes with an air of authority that both impressed and intimidated Lu Siyan.

"You seem to know your way around this place," he commented, watching her with a mixture of fascination and awe.

"I have… certain connections," she replied, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "And… a taste for the finer things in life."

"Like… ten-million-dollar lottery winners?" the AI quipped. "Or maybe… unsuspecting office workers with a penchant for financial risk?"

Lu Siyan ignored the AI, his attention focused on Su Luqi. He was starting to realize that he knew very little about this woman, this… enigma… who had entered his life so suddenly and so dramatically. But one thing was certain: she was captivating. And he was falling for her… fast.

****

The food arrived, a symphony of aromas and colors. Su Luqi, who had been a picture of elegance moments before, transformed into a whirlwind of enthusiastic consumption. She attacked the dishes with a gusto that both shocked and fascinated Lu Siyan. He watched, his own appetite momentarily forgotten, as she devoured oysters, slurped down lobster bisque, and expertly wielded chopsticks to demolish a plate of delicate dumplings.

"Wow," he finally managed to say, his voice a mix of amusement and disbelief. "You're… really enjoying that."

"It's delicious!" she exclaimed, her mouth full. "And I'm starving!"

"Starving?" the AI whispered. "She ate like a bear coming out of hibernation! I'm worried about the restaurant's supply chain!"

Lu Siyan watched as she polished off another plate, her movements surprisingly graceful despite her voracious appetite. He couldn't help but be mesmerized by her lips, the way they moved as she ate, the slight sheen of sauce that clung to them. He found himself imagining… other things… those lips could do.

"Someone's got a wandering eye," the AI whispered. "Or maybe just a wandering… imagination."

Lu Siyan's cheeks flushed. He quickly looked away, pretending to admire the view. He was starting to feel… flustered. He had never been this… attracted… to anyone before. Su Luqi had a way of making him feel things he had never felt, desires he had never known.

Su Luqi, noticing his slightly dazed expression, smiled knowingly. She picked up a particularly succulent piece of lobster and held it out to him.

"Here," she said, her voice soft and seductive. "Try this. It's amazing."

Lu Siyan hesitated for a moment, then took the lobster from her hand. As he ate, he couldn't help but notice the way her fingers brushed against his, the lingering warmth of her touch.

"Mmm," he mumbled, his mouth full. "It is good."

"Good?" she repeated, her eyes twinkling. "It's divine."

"Divine… and expensive," the AI whispered. "Remember, Siyan, every bite is another dent in your ten million. Hope you're keeping track of the ROI."

Lu Siyan ignored the AI. He was too preoccupied with the woman sitting across from him, her eyes sparkling, her lips slightly parted. He had a feeling that he was about to make a very… expensive… mistake. But he also had a feeling that he wasn't going to regret it.

****

The meal concluded, and Lu Siyan, feeling a pleasant warmth from both the food and Su Luqi's company, rose to pay the bill. As they approached the counter, a strikingly attractive woman, dressed in a designer outfit that screamed wealth and sophistication, sidled up to Lu Siyan.

"Excuse me," she purred, her eyes sparkling with calculated interest, "but I couldn't help but notice you came out of the Diamond Room. That's quite the exclusive table. You must be…" she paused, letting the implication hang in the air.

Lu Siyan, still slightly dazed from the opulent surroundings and Su Luqi's captivating presence, blinked in confusion. Before he could respond, Su Luqi stepped forward, her smile as bright as the diamonds adorning her ears.

"Oh, darling," she said to Lu Siyan, her voice dripping with faux concern, "you seem to have attracted a… fan."

She turned to the woman, her smile now as sharp as a shard of glass. "He's with me, sweetheart," she said, her voice laced with a subtle warning.

The woman, momentarily taken aback by Su Luqi's icy tone, opened her mouth to retort. But before she could utter a word, a waiter, seemingly out of nowhere, bumped into her, spilling a glass of bright red juice all over her pristine white dress.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" the waiter exclaimed, his voice filled with exaggerated remorse.

The woman sputtered, her face contorted in a mixture of shock and anger. She glared at the waiter, then at Su Luqi, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. But before she could unleash her fury, Su Luqi gave her a look – a chilling, deathly glare that seemed to pierce through her very soul. The woman's anger evaporated, replaced by a sudden, inexplicable fear. She mumbled something about needing to clean up and quickly retreated.

Lu Siyan, oblivious to the silent exchange, just chuckled. "Clumsy waiter," he commented.

"Indeed," Su Luqi replied, her smile returning, as sweet as honey. "Now, where were we?"

She turned to the cashier, her eyes now sparkling with amusement. "The bill, please," she said, her voice regaining its usual charm.

As Lu Siyan paid, he couldn't help but feel a sense of… relief. He wasn't sure why, but he was glad that the woman had been… dealt with. He glanced at Su Luqi, who was now humming a cheerful tune, her eyes sparkling with mischief. He had a feeling that she had something to do with the "accident." But he didn't care. He was just happy to be with her.

"You're… quite protective," he commented, watching her with a mixture of admiration and… something more.

"Only of what's mine," she replied, her voice soft and seductive.

"Mine?" the AI whispered. "He's not a possession! He's a… person! He's a… sugar daddy!"

Lu Siyan ignored the AI. He was too preoccupied with the woman beside him, her touch, her scent, her… everything. He was falling deeper and deeper into her web, and he didn't even want to resist.