Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

He soon arrived at the restaurant Xu Qingyue had mentioned and walked inside.

Xu Qingyue was already waiting. Zhao Dong smiled, walked over, and sat down opposite her.

Waving a hand in front of her face, he teased, "What are you daydreaming about, beautiful?"

Xu Qingyue, who had been gazing outside in a daze, snapped back to reality. Looking across at Zhao Dong, her face flushed as she smiled. "Guess what I was thinking about?"

"Don't tell me you were thinking about me," Zhao Dong joked.

Xu Qingyue's cheeks instantly flushed crimson. She shot him an annoyed glare. "You're really full of yourself, but… you're not wrong."

Zhao Dong was taken aback for a moment, then he rubbed his nose and laughed, a bit embarrassed.

Seeing this, Xu Qingyue couldn't help but chuckle. "Are you actually getting shy?"

"How could I be?" Zhao Dong retorted stubbornly. "My skin is thicker than a castle wall."

"Hahahahaha, you narcissist…" Xu Qingyue let out a string of bell-like laughter.

Zhao Dong was warmed by her laughter. Under the soft lighting, her face was stunning. She had well-proportioned features, her jet-black hair draped over one shoulder, her eyes like shimmering water, and her cherry lips revealing pearly teeth—a classic beauty.

Xu Qingyue noticed his stare. Their eyes met for a moment before she quickly looked away, her cheeks burning hot.

They ordered their food, after which an awkward silence fell between them. For a while, neither knew what to say, though their eyes kept meeting. The atmosphere grew strangely intimate, and Xu Qingyue secretly clenched her fists, her palms slick with sweat.

Strangely, seeing Zhao Dong now doesn't bother me. In fact, I'm actually a little happy… What's going on?

Soon, the dishes arrived, finally easing the tension.

The blush on Xu Qingyue's face faintly subsided, and she adopted a serious tone. "Zhao Dong, thank you so much for everything you've done recently."

"It was nothing, just a small effort," Zhao Dong said with a casual smile, digging into the food on the table. He was genuinely hungry.

Watching his face, Xu Qingyue felt herself zone out. After a moment of silence, she said softly, "I heard about the competition. It's a pity I can't help, but you must be careful."

Zhao Dong was a little surprised. He raised an eyebrow and smiled. "It seems a lot of people know. Don't worry about it."

He glanced at Xu Qingyue again, then thought for a moment before saying, "By the way, there's something I need to tell you. I don't think Cang Yunhao is a good guy. You should be careful around him."

"I… I know…" A hint of bitterness flashed in Xu Qingyue's eyes.

"You know? Then why don't you stay away from him?"

Xu Qingyue gave a bitter smile and sighed softly. "Cang Yunhao has been after me for a long time, but honestly, I've never liked him. If it weren't for our pre-existing engagement, I would have never paid him any mind. And… and my friends have seen him with other women multiple times. They told me everything. He's just scum!" As she spoke, Xu Qingyue grew more agitated, and a few tears streamed down her face.

Zhao Dong sighed and said comfortingly, "If you ask me, it's better to end an unsuitable relationship sooner rather than later. It's better to rip the band-aid off quickly. But that's just my opinion. After all, you're the only one who knows if the shoe fits, right?"

Although he felt Cang Yunhao was a scoundrel, Zhao Dong didn't want to sow discord. No one could know if Xu Qingyue might change her mind in the end.

The two were deep in conversation, completely unaware that in a corner of the restaurant, Cang Yunhao was staring at them with a dark expression. Earlier that day, as he was leaving, he had seen Xu Qingyue and Zhao Dong whispering together. If the mayor hadn't been present, he would have confronted her then and there. Because of that, he had followed her after she left.

Who would have thought he'd actually catch Xu Qingyue and Zhao Dong meeting in private?

Damn you, Zhao Dong! How dare you touch my woman? You're asking for death!

Watching the two of them chatting so happily, Cang Yunhao was seething with rage, wishing he could tear Zhao Dong to pieces.

Filled with boundless fury, he stood up and walked directly over, sitting down right beside Xu Qingyue.

Xu Qingyue frowned at the sudden intrusion. When she saw who it was, she was startled. "Mr. Cang, what are you doing here?"

Cang Yunhao's smile didn't reach his cold eyes. "Qingyue, am I not allowed to be here?"

Xu Qingyue furrowed her brow. "That's not what I meant. I'm just surprised."

"Surprised?" Cang Yunhao said sinisterly. "What's there to be surprised about? If you can eat here, why can't I?"

Her frown deepened. "Mr. Cang, have I offended you? Why are you being so aggressive?"

Cang Yunhao's face darkened as he slammed his hand on the table. Xu Qingyue jumped, exclaiming, "What are you doing?!"

"What am I doing?" Cang Yunhao sneered. "Xu Qingyue, you have the nerve to ask me that? If I hadn't shown up, you'd probably have run off with this pretty boy, wouldn't you?"

Xu Qingyue stared at him, unable to believe what she was hearing. Her voice was soft, but her eyes had turned icy as she asked, "Cang Yunhao, what do you mean by that?"

"You know damn well what I mean! And you know damn well what you've done!" Cang Yunhao shot her a cold glance before turning his gaze to Zhao Dong. "Brat, nothing to say now that I'm here? Feeling guilty?"

Zhao Dong frowned. Ever since Cang Yunhao had sat down, he had simply continued eating, completely ignoring him. He hadn't wanted to bother with the man, but it seemed trouble had found him anyway.

He picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth, put a cigarette between his lips, and glanced at Cang Yunhao indifferently. "Talk to you? Who do you think you are? Why would I talk to you?"

SLAM!

Cang Yunhao slammed the table again, shooting to his feet. "Zhao Dong, don't be shameless!" he roared.

The entire restaurant turned to look at them.

Zhao Dong just smiled faintly. "Get lost, you moron. I'm not stooping to your level. Besides, who do you think you are? So what if I'm having dinner with Qingyue? It's none of your business."

Cang Yunhao gritted his teeth. "I'm Xu Qingyue's fiancé! How is it none of my business? You're having dinner with my fiancée—have you no shame? You bastard, I didn't realize you were so good at seducing women!"

Zhao Dong's gaze grew cold. He stared at Cang Yunhao and said, word by word, "Say that again."