Reborn in the 80s: Everyone Falls For Me
Chapter 183 - 182: Change Strategy (3 updates)

Chapter 183: Chapter 182: Change Strategy (3 updates)

But jealousy was burning within him, obliterating all his rationality.

Upon hearing her impolite retort, Jin Yu, with clenched teeth, blurted out something he didn’t mean, "Who the hell cares about you? I just don’t want to be a cuckold. If you want to be with that man, terminate the engagement first. Don’t flirt with him right in front of me."

Xu Niannian’s heart inexplicably ached. After Jin Yu spoke, he moved back agitatedly, putting distance between them, and watched Xu Niannian coldly.

Xu Niannian glared at him, "Is that what you think of me, that I’m flirty and have no regard for my reputation?"

Even though their engagement was a sham, she understood the serious implications very well.

If she really got involved with another man first, no explanation would be sufficient. Once the engagement was broken, no matter who initiated it, it would be perceived as her being unfaithful, and that’s why the engagement was called off.

Besides, he had his own past love. She had never restricted him, so what right did he have to criticize her?

Xu Niannian’s eyes turned red, whereas Jin Yu, already enraged, became even more furious when he heard her mention the issue of reputation.

So she didn’t get involved with that man improperly, merely because of her concern for reputation and not because of him.

Jin Yu felt both furious and wronged, "I don’t care what kind of person you are, what does it have to do with me?"

After he spoke, he left the kitchen with a huff. Luckily, there was only a curtain instead of a wooden door; otherwise, he would have slammed it loudly.

Xu Niannian was even angrier, "What a freak. If it’s none of your damn business, why bother saying all that to me?"

The couple’s argument in the kitchen could be heard by everyone outside. Jin Yu stormed out of the shop frantically.

He even kicked the threshold forcefully. Xu Zhiqiang, worried, hurried into the kitchen.

Liu Wendong, concerned for Xu Niannian, also rushed into the kitchen.

Xu Niannian immediately hid her rage and asked casually with a smile, "What’s up?"

She had the appearance of someone who hadn’t just been arguing.

All Xu Zhiqiang’s intended comfort got stuck in his throat and he swallowed it, "It’s nothing."

He walked out of the kitchen, while Liu Wendong looked at Xu Niannian intently, his gaze complicated. Although he didn’t catch exactly what they had been fighting about, he felt it was because of him.

"Are you... okay?"

"Okay? What would be wrong?" Xu Niannian smiled and said, "Go and wait outside for a bit. I’ll make some noodles for you. Old classmate, consider this a treat from me."

Liu Wendong looked at the forced cheerfulness on her face and felt especially sympathetic, "Did you and your husband fight because of me?"

"Husband?" Xu Niannian’s mouth twitched, "He’s not my husband."

Hearing this, Liu Wendong’s eyes lit up immediately, as if hope had been restored, "He’s not your husband?"

Xu Niannian saw the hope in his reaction and frowned, "But he is my partner. We are engaged to be married after the New Year."

Of course, this was just an excuse. She had simply recognized Liu Wendong’s feelings for her and didn’t want to give him any hope.

As her words fell, the light in Liu Wendong’s eyes gradually dimmed.

"I see..." He looked at her with a mix of awkwardness and longing, his hands nervously searching for a place to rest, "I must have disturbed you."

"Between classmates, what’s there to disturb or not disturb," Xu Niannian laughed, "Besides, I run a shop."

Liu Wendong heard Xu Niannian’s meaning loud and clear, they were only classmates and nothing more.

With a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, Liu Wendong turned and left the kitchen.

After arguing with Jin Yu, Xu Niannian felt somewhat discomposed.

On the other hand, after storming out of the shop, Jin Yu walked into the neighboring alley, irritable at everything he laid eyes on.

At the end of the alley, he realized it was a dead-end street. Angrily, he kicked the wall with all his might.

After the kick, Jin Yu cursed, "Fuck," and sat down on the ground, cradling his foot.

Damn, that hurt like a bitch.

He wondered if he had broken any toes.

Sitting in the alley, Jin Yu gradually calmed down.

Suddenly, he regretted his impulsiveness.

Damn, on what grounds did he have the right to be angry?

He had no status or position in front of her and yet lost his temper. Wasn’t that just asking to be despised?

How could he be so stupid.

Jealousy really had clouded his judgment.

No, he had to go back right away.

With that thought, Jin Yu struggled to his feet. As soon as he steadied himself, he staggered and nearly fell down again.

By the time he returned to the shop, that Liu whatever had already left. There were still other customers in the shop, but since it wasn’t mealtime, there were not many – only about five or six tables.

Xu Niannian was busy working in the kitchen.

Seeing him come in, Xu Zhiqiang’s face broke into a smile, "Brother-in-law, you’re back."

Jin Yu grunted, and the anger from the day was soothed by that term "brother-in-law."

"I’ll go help your sister," he said and went into the kitchen. Xu Zhiqiang watched Jin Yu’s back in surprise. How come he left fine and came back limping?

Lifting the kitchen curtain, Jin Yu saw Xu Niannian stir-frying while also having to attend to cooking noodles.

Busy and sweating profusely, the sight immediately filled Jin Yu with tenderness.

If only I had known, I wouldn’t have run out like that.

Walking over silently, Jin Yu lifted his hand to rest it on Xu Niannian’s shoulder, "Let me help you."

Xu Niannian was focused on stir-frying, and since Jin Yu’s footsteps were virtually silent, she was startled by the sudden touch on her shoulder and let out a scream. The spatula she was using to cook with jabbed upward, flipping several slices of fat into the air.

The fat arced through the air and, with a "smack," landed on Jin Yu’s head.

Jin Yu: "..."

Xu Niannian, still shaken, turned around and saw it was Jin Yu. She breathed a sigh of relief, but then immediately puffed up her face, "Why did you even come back?"

Jin Yu, messing with his hair, pulled off the two slices of fat from his head, lowering his stance, "I’m sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about," Xu Niannian turned back to continue stir-frying.

Jin Yu knew he was at fault, after all, they had agreed not to interfere with each other from the start.

But he was restless, he was jealous, he was envious.

"I shouldn’t have said those things about you."

"No, you’re not wrong. I am. After all, in your eyes, I’m a woman of loose morals who flirts with anyone she sees. How about this, let’s find a time to annul this engagement, since it’s fake anyway."

"No way," Jin Yu snapped his head up, firmly opposing.

Xu Niannian turned to look at him, "Jin Yu, why are you so against it?"

She stared at him suspiciously.

After Jin Yu had left earlier, she had given it some thought.

It seemed like Jin Yu cared about her too much, something that wasn’t part of their original agreement.

Moreover, she vaguely realized, Jin Yu seemed to have feelings for her that were somewhat different.

She had tried her best to ignore it, telling herself that she was reading too much into things.

But his behavior today was too much like jealousy.

Didn’t he have someone he loved? Had his affections shifted?

Ha... Men!

They are indeed creatures that judge by appearance.

The thought of Jin Yu possibly falling for her sent bubbles of joy through Xu Niannian’s heart, yet she was also very resistant to the idea.

Jerk.

Jin Yu pursed his lips, suddenly wanting to act impulsively. As he was about to speak his mind, he saw the rejection in her eyes and changed his words, "Don’t you know that men are sensitive about these kinds of issues? Whether our engagement is fake or not, I don’t want to end up being pointed at by others later."

To make his point more believable, Jin Yu added, "After we annul the engagement, you can find whoever you want."

Xu Niannian: "..."

She had actually forgotten about that.

Fine then, men are pigs.

Hearing his response, while feeling relieved, she also felt an inexplicable emptiness in her heart.

She was in a foul mood.

Xu Niannian stamped her foot angrily, rolling it over his: "Mind your words next time, please."

After speaking, she carried the dishes out.

Jin Yu’s face went the color of liver as the foot she had stepped on was the very one he had kicked out just before.

But seeing that she had forgiven him, Jin Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

At least he had managed to soothe her.

It truly was a pain.

Heaven knows how much he wanted to be frank with her and tell her that the person he was looking for was her, that she was the one he cared for.

But he didn’t dare to speak those words now.

The path to wooing his wife was a long one. When would she come to like him?

Their current relationship was neither cold nor warm, neither close nor distant, and it certainly wasn’t moving forward.

He had wanted to blend into her life quietly and gradually, letting her fall for him over time.

But he realized that without expressing his true feelings, everything he did seemed awkward and unnatural, and he would always have to find some lame excuse.

After some thought, Jin Yu decided to gradually let her see his true feelings...

Otherwise, it was just too frustrating.

The restaurant’s income on the second day was nearly thirty yuan higher than the first.

In just one day they made 72 yuan, and even after deducting costs, they netted about 50 yuan.

This was only the second day, and the business could only get better from there.

Although it was only a 20-yuan increase in income from the first day, it was already a good sign.

Twenty yuan, equivalent to six or seven hundred yuan in a later era, made Xu Niannian especially happy.

In high spirits that evening, she had Jin Yu teach her self-defense techniques, but Jin Yu actually only had her practice the horse stance.