Honey Stewed Squid

Chapter 14 - Love Rival!

Blueberry’s eyes widened, first looking at Tong Nian, then looking at that young pup of a lad, then looking back at Tong Nian, then looking back at that young pup of a lad…

“It’s K&K’s demo,” someone near them whispered.

“I really like him. He’s a little male god.”

Buzzing of voices and murmurs. The boisterousness from a moment ago had all but vanished, and all that remained were these looks of envious speculation and jealousy coming from all directions. “He said ‘Leader.’ That can’t be referring to— ”

“Gun has a girlfriend?”

“Impossible! My male god stays away from the charms of women!!”

……

“Go… in?” With a look of incredulity all over her face, Tong Nian quietly sought confirmation.

He wants me to go in?

Re—… really?

Pain suddenly came from her shoulder. Blueberry’s claws were fiercely pinching her. “Little Squidie, since when did you become someone’s wife?!!!! Someone’s wife? God, how come I was so slow in realizing this?!”

“I haven’t.” Those two words were simply too allusive … Her ears instantly burned. In a low voice, she explained, “He was just randomly making things up…”

“Who just randomly makes things up like that?!!!! Your Highness!” Tightening the hold of her claws, Blueberry pulled on Tong Nian’s arm with all her might. “Three years! We’ve hung out together for three years! You went and found yourself a— ”

Uh… what did she find herself?

What was ‘Leader’?

Blueberry’s words choked in her throat, and eagerly, she looked toward that young pup of a lad: What planet did your Leader come from?

demo was completely overwhelmed by Blueberry, whose dress from head to toe was like that of a domineering woman, and was taken aback for a moment before he forced on an awkward smile. “Sister-In-Law, there are only another five minutes before the event starts.” Since there were fans present, the entire time, he maintained a very, very proper expression, but his tone became progressively lower as he said, “Leader’s mood today… isn’t all that good.” After stating this, he fixed his gaze anxiously on Tong Nian, waiting for her, this life-saving straw that they could cling onto, to go in with him and stand in front of the muzzle of the gun for them.

Otherwise, who knew what other cruel ideas Leader would use to torture them?

Tong Nian felt as if her shoulder was going to snap soon from the grip on them…

She was nervous, but at the same time, intimidated by Blueberry’s tyrannical might, she asked in a tiny voice, “Um, then, may I bring a friend in?”

“No problem.” A happy grin immediately broke out across demo’s face. “If it’s Sister-In-Law’s friend, then there’s no problem at all.”

He took a step back.

Motioning to Tong Nian to step out from behind the security guards, he flashed a perfunctory smile at Blueberry before immediately turning around to lead the way. Here, in this situation, with all eyes centered on them and, furthermore, standing within the human wall formed by the security guards, she and Blueberry, two songstresses who were normally accustomed to seeing such grand scenes, actually felt something akin to stage fright. After all, their gatherings were all ones of elation and people declaring their love for them.

But now…

They were practically the public enemy. It was as if they were treading on thin ice, aaaah.

However, these were merely Blueberry’s feelings.

Tong Nian had already long since hugged her little backpack, and shuffling along, she drifted her way forward. Heartbeat, the eyes of the crowd, whatever—she had forgotten about all those things…

After they stepped inside, their view opened up. The very large lounge was seated full of people.

Very few women were in this VIP lounge area, in total just a few, so the appearance of two cutie-type girls stepping in through the doors truly did, for a moment, draw the gazes of everyone. Tong Nian secretly peered at her surroundings from the corner of her eye. Everywhere, there were boys, ranging in age from teens to early twenties and wearing all types and colours of team jerseys. In comparison, then, that man drinking water far off in the first row…

… was just tooooo manly.

All this while, Blueberry had been clutching tightly onto her arm until she saw Gun, and then she finally stutteringly asked, “Wait. That guy, isn’t he my hubby’s God Gun?”

If she could get an autograph, it would definitely be one year of not having to do the laundry!

“Mm…” Tong Nian hugged her backpack to herself and answered in a small voice, “It’s him.”

“Little Squidie”—Blueberry abruptly halted her steps and, using her sincerest look, gazed intently at her—“no matter who your man is, you must have him help me get Gun’s autograph, help my hubby get Gun’s autograph. Please, please. Begging you. Okay? Okay?”

“……” How was she going to explain this? …

“Oh, that.” demo thought Tong Nian was hesitating over whether she should or not, and helpfully, he answered for her, “Don’t worry. Even though Leader never gives autographs… he will definitely give face to Sister-In-Law’s friend.” He laughed impishly.

!!!!

Blueberry blacked out for a moment. “What did he say…?”

“Just…” Tong Nian felt she was super blameless in all of this. “Ah, just that his leader is Gun.”

!!!!

“My hubby’s male god is your man?!” Blueberry was about to pass out.

“That…” Tong Nian felt she was going to be beaten to death, and hurriedly, she begged in a low voice for mercy. “I swear, it’s not that I wasn’t going to tell you. I honestly… have only seen him two times. Today is the third…”

!!!!

“Two times and then he had you?!” Blueberry’s entire body seemed to heat up. She was alive again.

demo felt he had just heard an incredible secret.

If this was the third time and the last time was the second time, then that meant… it only took one meeting for Leader to snare Sister-In-Law??!! What kind of efficiency was that? The blood in his body also seemed to be boiling. Gossip flooded his brain. He could not wait to go back and share with everyone this secret about Leader and Sister-In-Law that really could not NOT be shared. Immediately, he gave a cough and said, “Well, Sister-In-Law, I’m going to go first now.” Once he said this, he dashed away.

The young pup of a lad ran speedily, and in just a short while, he had thrown himself into the group of K&K members…

… leaving behind Tong Nian and the already very-apparently-exhilarated-and-acting-rather-abnormally, domineering woman, Blueberry beside her…

Using her for once slightly clearer awareness to assess the current situation, she explained quietly, “His… temper isn’t very good. In just a sec, you absolutely must not ask any questions. I’ll… go back and explain everything to you, ’kay?”

But, what am I going to explain? T.T

Forget it. I’ll think about the things that will happen when I go back when I actually do go back.

Blueberry instantly recovered her vigour. She nodded, then nodded again, but after thinking briefly, she felt something was wrong. “Hey, that’s not right. Little Squidie, are you not able to rein in your man? His temper isn’t very good, so you’re just going to keep letting him do it and spoiling him? That’s not right. That’s not good. Men are the type where the more you spoil them, the worse they get—”

“We’ll talk about this when we get back, okay?” She was about to cry.

“Oh, oh. Don’t worry.” Making a gesture like holding a zipper, Blueberry slid it across the front of her lips. “I guarantee I’ll play dead all the way to the end and absolutely will not disturb you as you guys whisper sweet nothings to each other.”

……

She had already chosen to give up explaining.

Slowly, she shuffled over there until she was in front of him, where she stopped. “You… were looking for me?”

Gun was holding a black insulated mug and had just poured a cup of water for himself. He saw her, then threw a glance at the unfamiliar woman behind her, a rather displeased look on his face.

“This is my friend,” Tong Nian explained in a soft voice. “She and I came together.”

“Sit,” he instructed simply, his voice incredibly hoarse.

“Oh, okay.” Tong Nian tugged on Blueberry’s sleeve and circled around to the row behind him.

The latter had already long been influenced by what she had heard, having listened to her husband give numerous descriptions of God Gun, and knew that he was genuinely the proud and aloof type of person. Naturally, then, she did not take to heart that this man had spoken so little and followed Tong Nian to obediently take a seat.

“Have your friend sit in the row behind. You come over here,” Gun added flatly, his back toward them. His voice was already naturally low and throaty to begin with, having a slight husky quality to it. Now, though, he seemed to have a cold, and hence, he sounded even more unapproachable.

Feeling caught in a tough spot, she looked at Blueberry.

Blueberry immediately smiled, her eyes brimming with a look of “Do as you wish, do as you wish. Please treat me like I’m just thin air.”

At last, her mind at ease, she tentatively circled her way back again. Glancing down at the seat beside Gun, she deliberated whether he had meant that she should sit close beside him… or with one seat between them…

Gun raised his brow, not knowing why she was still staring dazedly.

Straightaway, she halted her ponderings, and with a slight warmth flushing her cheeks, she sat down directly next to him.

Anyway… it was you who told me to sit…

She silently thought this.

He carried on drinking his water, feeling a bit of a headache.

From the instant they stepped in here, that group of punks had not quieted down, the entire time making a fuss and causing a ruckus, saying that they saw Sister-In-Law. They had even had an animated discussion, using different ways to criticize him for being hardhearted and cold, for not knowing how to tenderly treasure the “fragrant, jade-like beauty,” and for actually making the lady-boss of K&K stand there in the fan camp…

Throat hurt. He really could not be bothered with wasting time to talk such nonsense with them.

Based on his observations of the situation, this bunch would not be settling down within the next short while, so he simply sent demo out to tell her to come in and watch the competition together with them.

Sure enough, this was very effective. Immediately, there was no more ruckus.

But… he nevertheless needed to give the little lady a reasonable explanation.

“The members of my team like you very much,” he suddenly spoke.

“Mm?” I don’t really know them all that well?

“That’s why,” he began, trying as much as possible to wear a smile and make it seem as if he was speaking the truth, “they want to treat you to watch the competition for free.”

“Oh.” Undisguisable disappointment could be seen in her. “Thank you.”

He detected it. “What’s wrong? You don’t want to watch?”

“No.” She hastily shook her head. “I do.”

“Then wait ten minutes and walk into the arena with me.”

She nodded, then very obediently clasped her bag to herself, waiting quietly.

Waiting…

And in passing, sneaking a peek at him.

Huh? Playing with his mobile phone again?

Is it really all that fun? …

He hasn’t noticed?

Let’s steal another look.

……

With his left hand, the person beside her flipped through the new game he had just downloaded. His right hand, as before, held the paper cup, and he took sip after sip of water to soothe his throat. He knew all along that Tong Nian was watching him, and finally…

A little irritated with her glances, he resolutely lifted his eyes and directly seized her peeping gaze with them.

!!!!

I’ve been caught…