The Obsessive Tycoon Claims the Deserted Heiress-Chapter 57 - 056: Would you like to try the couples’ set meal?

Qin Huai initially thought that after she dragged Yu Zhi away, Lu Li would also step back to avoid trouble and join Lin Chengyu. But she was still too naïve.

After barely running a few meters, Lu Li quickly caught up and took the spot on Yu Zhi's right side, leaving just half a person's width between them.

Watching this unfold, Qin Huai shook her head silently and decided not to bother anymore.

After two laps, most of the students in Class 7 collapsed unceremoniously on the ground, their flushed cheeks as red as ripe tomatoes, with sweat-soaked bangs clinging to their foreheads, making for a rather bedraggled scene.

The gym teacher kindly gave them a two-minute break, then spoke up again: "Get into pairs, and each of you do thirty sit-ups."

"Ahh!! Teacher, please have mercy!" freewebnσvel.cøm

"Thirty will definitely kill me..."

"I'm too young to die!"

"..."

Wails and groans erupted one after another, as everyone started pleading miserably.

"Make that forty." A cold, detached voice cut through their ear canals, instantly silencing everyone.

The quicker students had already paired up and rushed to the green mats.

Seeing this, Qin Huai turned her head to Yu Zhi and asked, "You first or me first?"

"Me first." Yu Zhi lay down, clutching her head, and started moving once Qin Huai held onto her ankles.

The school skirt the girl wore was already short enough, and Qin Huai couldn't help but feel anxious staring at the pair of smooth, pale legs in front of her.

Just as she was thinking about finding something to help cover her, a large jacket dropped accurately over the exposed legs.

Looking up, Qin Huai met Lu Li's dark eyes. "Hold her ankles with less force," he said.

It was a blatant suggestion to go easy on her, but that was Qin Huai's intention anyway. She lowered her voice, "Got it."

Lu Li stood silently by for a moment, only leaving after making sure Yu Zhi was fine, yet his gaze never truly strayed from her.

Some distance away, under a large tree, Yu Xinman held a stack of books while glaring venomously at Yu Zhi.

She had been on her way to find their homeroom teacher when she stopped after spotting Lu Li here.

She hadn't expected to witness such a scene.

No one else seemed to notice, but she saw clearly the emotions in Lu Li's eyes.

Yu Xinman's grip on the books tightened gradually. She had already granted Yu Zhi the luxury of a life steeped in wealth and prosperity—a tremendous act of grace on her part. And yet, Yu Zhi had the audacity to vie for the person she liked.

What a despicable thing.

**

On the way back to the classroom from the sports field, the dial of Yu Zhi's watch vibrated twice against her wrist.

She glanced at it subtly, turned to Qin Huai, and said, "I'm going to the restroom."

Exhausted and drowsy, Qin Huai yawned. "Want me to come with you?"

"No need." Dropping this reply, Yu Zhi walked briskly to the far end of the staircase.

Taking advantage of the absence of people, she took out a yellow "Out of Order" sign from behind the restroom door, set it up, and locked the door before heading to the last stall.

She glanced at the incoming call and unread message displayed on her watch, tapped twice on the right-hand side, and a text message popped up.

[The invitation has been secured.]

Yu Zhi curved her lips slightly and quickly typed a reply before returning the missed call.

In just a few seconds, the call was answered, and a warm voice came through. "Little Zhi, are you free to meet tonight?"

Raising her brow slightly, Yu Zhi glanced through the door crack. "Not during dinner, I've already made plans."

There was a two-second pause on the other end before he chuckled. "Then after dinner, I'll send Secretary Li to pick you up."

"What's up, old man?" The unexpected request made Yu Zhi suspicious.

Unperturbed by her choice of address, the man confirmed the time and reminded her sternly, "You have to come tonight."

"Alright." Hanging up, Yu Zhi stared at her watch, frowning in thought for a while before leaving the restroom.

As the setting sun cast hues of orange and red across the sky, its warm radiance enveloped the entire city.

During dismissal, students from every class rushed out of the classrooms, flooding the hallways and staircases.

Lu Li and Yu Zhi met at the staircase landing. To avoid a repeat of last time's school forum drama, they exited the school gates one after another.

"Where are we eating?" Yu Zhi asked, standing on the curb and slightly tilting her head to look up at him.

Lu Li pointed to a black car parked just ahead on the right. "Get in first, you'll see in a bit."

"Okay." Without asking further questions, Yu Zhi followed him into the car.

The car drove all the way to the city center and stopped outside a Western restaurant.

Lu Li, ever the gentleman, opened the door for her and, standing by her side, tilted his chin toward the restaurant. "The food here is really good; I'm sure you'll like it."

As he spoke, his gaze lingered on her profile. The soft breeze gently tousled her ebony, silky hair, brushing it lightly across her cheek.

Both the weather and her seemed so lovely that he wasn't sure whether to envy the breeze or the strands of hair so close to her.

Yu Zhi nodded, the corners of her lips lifting into a faint but polite curve.

The Western restaurant's decor was elegant and exquisite. A crystal chandelier of unmistakable luxury hung in the center of the hall, while glass flooring revealed an artificial creek below, where koi fish swam freely.

In addition, a white piano was situated in the heart of the space, where a young man sat, immersed, playing a melodious tune.

The server led them to a window-side table, smiling professionally as he held the menu. "Our chef recently designed a new couple's set meal. Would you like to try it?"

Hearing this, Yu Zhi paused mid-motion, her hand reaching for a water glass. Startled, she asked, "Couple's set meal?"

"Yes, it's perfect for the two of you." The server opened the menu and laid it in front of Yu Zhi. "The restaurant is having a promotion now, so this set is only 9,999 yuan after the discount."

The server wore an expression that virtually screamed, *It's a bargain, don't miss out.* Confidently, he assumed they'd order it—modern couples seemed particularly attracted to symbolic numbers like 999 or 1314. Surely, they wouldn't let this lucky number slip by.

"No, thank you..." Lu Li's fingers curled uncomfortably, and the tips of his ears flushed faintly red.

As much as he liked the word "couple," now wasn't the right time. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

The server was visibly taken aback. "Are you sure you won't reconsider?" This scenario wasn't going as he'd imagined at all.