Chapter 150: Seriously, There’s Something Wrong With Their Heads
Still, business was business, and Li Zexing wasn’t a complete pushover.
Li Zenan knew his words had been a bit harsh, but he couldn’t suppress his anger.
The thought of Fu Cheng treating his own body so carelessly, letting it waste away rather than actively seeking treatment, made him incredibly frustrated.
"Sorry." Li Zenan paused for a moment before apologizing. "I’m in a bit of a bad mood."
Li Zexing closed the cabinet door. "Brother, your work on the front lines is stressful enough. You should meddle less in other people’s affairs. He’s not a child anymore; it’s normal for him to have his own ideas."
"I know."
Li Zexing promised Li Zenan he would start a video call once he got to Little Deer Cuisine, then temporarily ended their call.
Heading downstairs, Li Zexing selectively ignored Li Long, who was sitting at the dining table waiting for breakfast, and tried to slip out unnoticed.
"Ah Xing." Li Long put down his newspaper and called out to his son. "Come here."
Li Zexing’s features scrunched up for a second, but when he turned around, his face was once again a carefree smile.
"Dad, I have something urgent at the company, so I’m skipping breakfast."
"How long could breakfast possibly take?" Li Long’s tone was gentle, but his gaze was sharp. "Skipping breakfast is bad for your health."
’Do you think I don’t know what you’re plotting, you little brat?’
’Don’t even try to say you’re tired of your mom’s sandwiches. Even if she put poison in it, you’d better eat it for me!’
Li Zexing took a deep breath and walked over to sit down, completely helpless.
He lowered his voice. "Dad, I’m already twenty years old."
The implication was clear: he was an adult now, so could his father please stop ordering him around like a child?
Li Long shot him a sideways glance and didn’t respond.
’So what if he’s twenty? In a parent’s eyes, even someone in their fifties or sixties is still just a kid.’
His rebellion having failed, Li Zexing could only scarf down his breakfast and flee the house as if escaping.
Saying he was going to the company wasn’t a complete lie. He had found time to look over the scripts Qin Shuangshu sent him and had chosen two that he was relatively interested in. He planned to finalize his next movie role with Qin Shuangshu today before going to pick someone up.
"Actually, I think *Dog Hero Fights Aliens* would be better." After hearing Li Zexing’s preferences, Qin Shuangshu cautiously offered his own opinion. "After all, the buzz from your last movie is still going strong. Dog Hero has become your signature role, so you should strike while the iron is hot and solidify that brand."
"And have to wear that Biting Inhibitor every time I attend a formal event?" Li Zexing pursed his lips. "In that case, someone else can have this ’signature role’."
When he first starred in *Dog Hero vs Nine-headed Monster*, he had signed a contract with a clause stipulating that for one year after the movie’s release, he had to wear the Biting Inhibitor whenever he attended a formal event. It was essentially a form of promotion.
Back then, Li Zexing had thought wearing the Biting Inhibitor was cool and awesome, so he agreed without a second thought.
Looking back now, Li Zexing really wanted to go back in time and give his past self a huge slap across the face.
’How was that awesome? How was it cool?’
’It was cringey beyond belief.’
Li Zexing absolutely refused to star in *Dog Hero Fights Aliens*, and there was nothing Qin Shuangshu could do about it.
After finishing their work discussion, Li Zexing drove to Lan Palace to pick up Princess Ruoxin.
"Brother Ze Xing!" The young woman’s voice was syrupy sweet as she called his name, demurely taking a seat in the back. "Where are you taking me to eat today?"
Out of Princess Ruoxin’s sight, Li Zexing’s lips curved into a playful smile. "If I tell you now, it won’t be a surprise."
’A surprise!’
Princess Ruoxin’s heart bloomed with joy. It wasn’t that she was particularly excited about the surprise itself, but rather that she was happy about the thought Li Zexing had put into it.
However, that joy came to an abrupt halt when Shen Lan got into the car.
"Wait a minute!" Princess Ruoxin’s face was clouded with irritation. "Why are you getting in the car?!"
Shen Lan was both awkward and terrified. She subconsciously glanced at Li Zexing, an action that only fueled Princess Ruoxin’s fury.
"Don’t you look at Brother Ze Xing!"
’This detestable woman! She’s not allowed to steal glances at my Brother Ze Xing!’
Li Zexing set the destination, put the car on autopilot, and turned his head, telling Princess Ruoxin in a flat tone to calm down.
"Shen Lan wanted to meet with you, and I’m just acting as the middleman. Don’t fight in my car, or you can both get out."
Li Zexing was more patient with his family, but with outsiders, he wasn’t nearly as accommodating.
He wasn’t fond of either Shen Lan or Princess Ruoxin, let alone inclined to give them any special treatment.
Princess Ruoxin pressed her lips together tightly, her eyes glaring daggers at Shen Lan.
’It’s all her fault! If it weren’t for her, Brother Ze Xing would never have been harsh with me!’
Shen Lan forced the corners of her mouth into a strained smile.
’No, this isn’t how I thought it would go at all.’
’Good heavens, I’m supposed to be repairing my image with Princess Ruoxin and winning back her favor, not being despised by her like this!’
’Think. I have to think of a way to turn this situation around.’
After running through various ideas in her mind, Shen Lan finally came up with something to say. Just as she was about to open her mouth to ease the tension, Princess Ruoxin whipped her head around and gasped.
"How did we get to the checkpoint for the Lower City District?"
Shen Lan also looked out the window. She hadn’t been paying much attention to where they were going, and only now did she realize the car had already passed the checkpoint and entered the Lower City District, a place she knew all too well.
Li Zexing pulled the Biting Inhibitor out of his belt pouch, put it on while looking in the mirror, and said nonchalantly, "It’s good to try a place in the Lower City District once in a while. It’s something new, isn’t it?"
The moment he put on the Biting Inhibitor, his image instantly transformed to match Dog Hero. Princess Ruoxin cupped her cheeks, her eyes turning into a fangirl’s starry gaze.
She really, really loved the way Li Zexing looked with the Biting Inhibitor on. It was so handsome, so cool!
"Mhm, mhm, Brother Ze Xing is right. The restaurants in the Upper City District all serve the same few things over and over. There’s nothing new at all."
Shen Lan was speechless.
’And this airhead gets to be a princess?’
’Does she have any idea how different the Lower City District is from the Upper City District?’
’What kind of good food could you possibly find in the Lower City District?’
’Cement-flavored Insect Cakes? Or expired, sour nutrient liquid?’
’Seriously, the food in the Lower City District is worse than pig slop. I really don’t know what’s gotten into Li Zexing, or Princess Ruoxin for going along with his madness.’
’Honestly, there’s something wrong with their heads.’
Shen Lan was ranting furiously in her head, but she didn’t dare let any of it show on her face. She simultaneously suspected Li Zexing was messing with her and blamed herself for not choosing a restaurant instead of leaving it all to him.
If she had picked the place herself, she definitely wouldn’t have chosen a restaurant in the Lower City District.
’If Princess Ruoxin is unhappy with the food later, will I still be able to salvage my image?’
Shen Lan put her head in her hands in frustration. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, and by the time the car came to a stop, she still hadn’t come up with a good plan.
However, when she saw where the car had stopped, it felt like something had slammed into her brain, and her pupils dilated abruptly.
’Li Zexing... he must have done this on purpose!’
’Otherwise, why would he pick Shen Lu’s restaurant out of so many others? How dare he! Isn’t he afraid I’ll go complain to Aunt Lin?!’
Shen Lan glared at him, but Li Zexing didn’t even spare her a glance. He was already starting a video call with Li Zenan. When the call connected, he flipped the camera so his brother could see everything.