Chapter 14 – The Simp Is Forcibly Loved by the Overbearing CEO 14

Lu Zihan had recently been subjected to endless cold shoulders and humiliation while seeking investors. Now, seeing these wealthy people, he was showing signs of PTSD. He shrank back, his head nearly touching his chest, feeling that a piece of trash like himself didn’t deserve to be in the same place as them.

It’s so suffocating. Someone help me. I want to escape…

It felt as if an invisible hand was strangling him, making it hard to breathe. A cool hand rested on his shoulder. A clear, pleasant male voice spoke up, “Miss Sheng, please watch your words. This is my friend, a very promising independent director.”

Shuang Yu’s defense of Lu Zihan was like a warm current flowing into his heart. After being constantly questioned and ridiculed, he had almost forgotten what it felt like to be respected.

Sheng Xiaojing was different from her humble brother, Sheng Xiaoran. She had always been arrogant and domineering. She looked down on Bai Shuangyu and felt that birds of a feather flock together; anyone who hung out with Bai Shuangyu couldn’t be any good either.

“Birds of a feather flock together. So-called ‘promising’ just means he’s still a good-for-nothing who hasn’t achieved anything. Describing it in such a high-and-mighty way, aren’t you afraid of being a laughingstock? Forget it, what else can I expect? A waste of space like you can only be friends with losers like this.”

Her eyes filled with contempt, and she spewed sharp, harsh words without hesitation. Lu Zihan clenched his fists, the veins on his forehead bulging. He could accept others denying him, but he couldn’t accept his friends being insulted because of him. A young lady from a wealthy family like Sheng Xiaojing was not someone they, as ordinary people, could afford to provoke. With just one word from her, they could be blacklisted from the entertainment industry for life. After all, her brother was the president of Star Brilliance Entertainment!

Gao Yiwen saw that Lu Zihan was getting emotional and quickly grabbed his hand, signaling him not to be impulsive.

“Yes, I’m indeed not worthy of being friends with someone as overbearing as you, Miss Sheng. You’re right, birds of a feather flock together. We’re not on the same path. My poor upbringing prevents me from looking down on people like a noble person such as yourself. After all, I don’t have an older brother to clean up my messes.”

Shuang Yu delivered a scathing comeback with a smile, even dissing Sheng Xiaoran in the process.

“Are you looking for death, you stinking nouveau riche!”

Sheng Xiaojing instantly flew into a rage and raised her hand to slap him.

“I’m Yu’s friend too, so does that make me a loser? Let’s just cancel dinner tonight. After all, we losers aren’t worthy of dining with two such high-and-mighty figures.”

No one expected Feng Yan to speak up in Bai Shuangyu’s defense. Sheng Xiaojing had been on vacation abroad and missed the banquet, so she didn’t know what had happened that night. She had a crush on Feng Yan since childhood, and she was kicking herself for not going to the charity banquet, which she later learned was a matchmaking event in disguise. When she found out her brother had invited Feng Yan for dinner, she shamelessly tagged along to get closer to him.

She was confident that Feng Yan wouldn’t know a minor figure like Bai Shuangyu, but to her surprise, they were already close enough to call each other by a single character. “Brother Feng Yan, how do you know him!” she stomped her foot in frustration, glaring resentfully at the innocent Shuang Yu. She was certain this scoundrel must have used some despicable means to latch onto Feng Yan.

“The FI Group will be jointly developing the Xisha Resort Island with Nianmeng. So naturally, our relationship is very close. Right, Yu?”

Feng Yan smiled faintly and looked at Shuang Yu’s hand on Lu Zihan’s shoulder. His gaze was so intense it felt like it could burn a hole through his hand. The stare was too sharp; a chill ran down Shuang Yu’s spine. He instinctively let go of Lu Zihan and nodded with a faint, cooperative smile.

Xisha Resort Island?! The pupils of everyone present constricted. This was the largest domestic tourism project of the year and had been the center of attention ever since FI announced it. Was Feng Yan insane? Why would he partner with the obscure Bai family! This was what Sheng Xiaoran and Sheng Xiaojing were thinking. Lu Zihan and Gao Yiwen, on the other hand, were filled with admiration. Bai Shuangyu was amazing to be able to partner with the FI Group. Following him was a promising path!

Sheng Xiaojing gritted her teeth so hard it seemed she wanted to skin Shuang Yu alive. Damn it, damn it, he must have used some dirty trick. Could he have put a curse on Brother Feng Yan?!

“I was originally planning to ask you to dinner another time, but since fate brought us together, there’s no time like the present. We all know each other, so let’s eat together.”

Feng Yan said with a radiant smile, giving no one a chance to refuse.

“I don’t think so. It’s not convenient.”

Shuang Yu rejected him with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Do you all think it’s inconvenient?”

Feng Yan raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a threat as he looked at the others.

“Whatever you decide is fine, Brother Feng Yan.”

A vicious glint flashed in Sheng Xiaojing’s eyes as a wicked idea formed in her mind.

“It’s our honor to have dinner with President Feng.”

Gao Yiwen certainly wouldn’t refuse an opportunity to build a connection with a powerful figure. As for Lu Zihan, he definitely didn’t want to, but it seemed he had no say in the matter. And Sheng Xiaoran, although he was uncomfortable, also wanted to take this opportunity to observe Bai Shuangyu, so he didn’t object.

Shuang Yu was once again forced into a situation he couldn’t refuse. But then he thought that having Wang Yunfei and Sheng Xiaoran meet was an excellent opportunity, so he had no reason to say no.

“Since no one has any objections, let’s eat together.”

He shrugged, his attitude changing from cold rejection to a beaming smile.

What is this little nouveau riche plotting now? He’s not one to give in so easily.

Feng Yan was curious but didn’t expose him. Just as Sheng Xiaojing was about to link arms with him, he stepped forward and casually draped an arm over Shuang Yu’s shoulders.

“Yu, have you missed me?”

The word “me” spoken in that intimate way sent goosebumps all over Shuang Yu’s body. He shot him a look as if he were a lunatic and, fighting the urge to throw him over his shoulder, replied with a fake smile, “I have too much on my plate. I barely have enough time to sleep, let alone think about you.”

“It seems I’ve put too much pressure on you. No wonder you’ve lost weight after just a few days. Next time you come over to my place, I’ll help you supplement your ‘protein’.”

Feng Yan winked suggestively, his words laced with innuendo.

Shuang Yu’s smile froze on his face. He asked Xiao Ai with a tremor, “It’s not the kind of protein I’m thinking of, is it?!”

[Oh, you’re awful… Xiao Ai is still a minor, please don’t be a bad influence!]

Xiao Ai replied shyly in his sea of consciousness.

Shuang Yu was speechless.

“Protein powder or eggs? I’ve lost weight recently too. I want to go to your place and get some supplements, Brother Feng Yan!”

The naive Sheng Xiaojing eagerly chimed in.

Shuang Yu looked at her with an indescribable expression, his eyes filled with sympathy. The clueless girl glared back, her expression clearly saying, “What are you looking at, you dead nouveau riche? Look again and I’ll gouge your eyes out!”

“That won’t do. My protein is special. Only Yu can have it.”

Feng Yan shook his head with a brilliant smile, flatly refusing.

Shuang Yu was speechless.

I’m so thankful, really, thank you so much!