**********

CHAPTER 172

"Ye Cheng!"

"Do not play that card with me." Ye Cheng's smiling face dropped as he brought his eyes back to linger on Li Jing.

He had clearly told her not to invite any of the guys she mentioned to him to come but she did.

"Is this all or should I be expecting more?" He threw the question at Li Jing without a second thought.

One couldn't blame him as he was expecting this to be a time alone with her. He was hoping to bond well with her and get to know her better but she went ahead to test his patience and invited his friend.

"I do not understand." He could see her confusion laced on a full scale in her eyes but it did not change how he felt.

"I told you not to invite them. This was my thank-you dinner, Li Jing. Why is he here? Is that how little I mean to you?" Ye Cheng asked her. He clearly ignored the fact that his friend was present.

"Oh, that! It is also to thank him for helping out with the case yesterday and no, you do not mean little to me, Ye Cheng, why would you say that?"

"Then you owe me another dinner too because I also assisted. This one was different. You should know. This dinner was supposed to be special."

"Okay, cry baby. You can have your special dinner another day. Besides, you mean to tell me that you would be able to finish all these dishes?" Yi Wang Lei teased his friend as he too took a seat opposite of Ye Cheng.

"No one asked you to take a seat, Wang Lei."

"I was invited to dinner which means, I can seat. Also, I brought champagne to go with and from the look of things, this table is lacking one."

"Pff, I can order more and better quality, you know."

"Still doesn't change a thing, you know," Yi Wang Lei fired back at his friend. The food before him looked so delicious and sumptuous. Never was he going to give in to Ye Cheng's secret tears and forgo such a nice meal. No way.

He already came prepared with his stomach empty. Ever since Ye Cheng briefed him about Li Jing and how he met her, he had been anticipating having a taste of her meal.

Imagine the kind of joy he got when Li Jing called him this morning, inviting him for dinner.

To her, it would not make much of a difference since both men were friends as and Ye Cheng and herself weren't dating. She just wanted to thank them both together and the more the merrier.

She never thought it would anger Ye Cheng.

"Please guys, I wanted to have dinner together and celebrate yesterday's success. So pardon me, Ye Cheng. I PROMISE YOU WOULD GET ANOTHER DINNER."

"Hey what about me?" Yi Wang Lei cried out as Li Jing took her seat close to Ye Cheng.

Ye Cheng shot him a deathly glare, hoping and praying he would shut up but he didn't.

"Don't give me that look. How come you get to enjoy a double dinner?"

"You should be thankful I am still letting you stay here to have dinner."

"What right do you have?"

"I own the building," Ye Cheng shot back, causing Yi Wang Lei to keep quiet. The latter had completely forgotten about that aspect and thought he could brag but been reminded like that, he had no choice than to shut up if he wanted to enjoy Li Jing's meal.

"Don't be selfish and learn to share."

"Not her at least."

"I meant the food. You can keep your woman."

"Even the food. You are not allowed to if I say no."

"Big Bully! Hmm!" Yi Wang Lei scoffed and folded his hands on his chest while waiting for Li Jing to declare the meal open for eating.

In their bid to fight for who was more prioritized, both of them had forgotten Li Jing was there and went on whispering to each other.

Yi Wang Lei called her Ye Cheng's woman and that in turn ended up making her cheeks warm and red.

Just when Ye Cheng was to ask her to give the go-ahead, he caught her blushing and smiled at himself. They had completely forgotten, hadn't they?

He reached for her hand and light pressed on it, letting his middle finger circle and rub at the centre of her palm to ease her.

"Hey. Are you okay?"

"Umm.." Li Jing nodded her reply then tried and steadied her breathing before smiling at both them and declaring the meal open.

"Yay!"

"Eat small. Do not make your plates full and serve yourself," Ye Cheng ordered.

Li Jing let out a burst of hearty laughter at his child-like behaviour. It was cute though. If only his employees could see him this way, they wouldn't be scared anymore.

"Let's dig in."

"Sure," Both men replied and started eating.

They did not eat in silence and enjoyed telling stories and talking about some latest happenings while sharing a little bit of their life history.

As they spoke, the doorbell came and Li Jing stood up to answer it but Ye Cheng held her hand. "Relax, I would get it for you."

"Thanks."

He gave her a nod and excused himself. "Expecting someone?" Yi Wang Lei asked her as he noticed the confused look on her face.

"No."

"Okay, then it may be his."

"Huh?"

"Relax. I bet he has a surprise for you." Yi Wang Lei did not want to outrightly spill the beans but knowing his friend, there was no doubt that the words he said had not angered him.

Seeing as he did, Yi Wang Lei was happy. He was trying to help his friend see that he had a soft spot for Li Jing and he should take the opportunity before it was too late.

"Thank you." The door closed and Ye Cheng returned to the dining table. "Li Jing, this is for you."

"Oh, My Gooooddd!"