Chapter 830 — A Billiards Challenge

To be honest, Zhen Yingjun did not take Wei Zhao seriously in the slightest. Yellow-rank expert, green-rank expert—what did any of that matter in the eyes of his father's musketeer squad? Nothing but trash. The sort of fellow you settle with a single shot. Was there really any need for such caution?

Since Zhen Yingjun insisted on going through with it, Zou Ruoguang was at a loss. Fortunately, as long as Zhen Yingjun did not resort to force, Wei Zhao presumably would not hold Zou Ruoguang responsible. All Zou Ruoguang could do now was look out for himself; whether Zhen Yingjun managed to provoke Wei Zhao's displeasure was no longer Zou Ruoguang's concern. After all, the two families were merely partners.

Wei Zhao requested a billiard table, paid the fee, and sat quietly to one side watching Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu play.

Though it was their first time playing billiards, the two had watched plenty of matches on television before, so they mimicked the stances convincingly enough.

As for the rules, neither of them understood them very well. But this was no professional match, so there was no need to play by the rules. They simply each took a suit of balls and took turns shooting; whoever potted all the balls of their own suit first would be the winner.

Zhen Yingjun watched Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu playing over there, and his heart itched. A flash of inspiration struck, and he devised a way to strike up a conversation. He rose and walked over.

"Would the two fair ladies care for a billiards coach?" Zhen Yingjun tried his best to make his smile look dashing and sincere. He had already observed from the sidelines that both Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu were complete billiards novices—first-timers who had never played before—and that was why he had thought of this opening.

Gu Mengyao raised her eyes and gave Zhen Yingjun a cool glance. She was rather curious: had he not seen what happened to that red-haired fellow earlier? How did he still dare to come over and chat them up?

Shen Yushu, however, did not think so much about it. She was having a wonderful time, having fluked several balls in a row like a blind cat stumbling on a dead mouse, and just as she was delighting in her luck, Zhen Yingjun interrupted her. Instantly displeased, she frowned and waved him off: "I'm very good, I don't need you to teach me!"

Zhen Yingjun was not discouraged. He stood there and introduced himself: "I am Zhen Yingjun, vice chairman of the Donghai City Billiards Association. I have won many awards in provincial billiards competitions!"

"Oh?" Shen Yushu blinked, looked at Zhen Yingjun, then turned to Gu Mengyao: "Yao-yao, what did he say?"

"He says he really is handsome..." Gu Mengyao was somewhat speechless. The sheer nerve of this man—meeting someone for the first time and praising his own looks. Did the man have no sense of shame?

"Handsome? Doesn't seem very handsome to me. He's not even as good-looking as Brother Shield!" Shen Yushu studied Zhen Yingjun for a few moments, then waved her hand impatiently: "Hey, move aside, don't get in the way of my game!"

Zhen Yingjun was furious. These two little girls were actually ignoring him? In the provincial billiards circles, how many players did not know the great name of Zhen Yingjun? But then it occurred to him that these two girls were probably playing billiards for the first time, so it was only natural they did not know his name. He swallowed his anger and continued: "My name is Zhen Yingjun—it's not that I really am handsome!"

"Oh, I see. Then you do have some self-awareness. But if that's the case, why don't you change your name to Zhen Nan Kan?" Shen Yushu said, puzzled.

"Ahem! Let's not discuss that. Let's talk about billiards first, shall we?" Zhen Yingjun was displeased. Even if I'm not truly handsome, I'm certainly not truly ugly! My looks are among the finest, aren't they? He did not want to dwell on this topic, so he steered the conversation back to billiards: "Billiards isn't played the way you're playing it. It should be like this..."

"Ugh, aren't you annoying!" Seeing Zhen Yingjun fussing and making a pointless spectacle of himself beside her, Shen Yushu grew irritated: "I'm known as Shu, the Billiards Queen—do I need you to teach me? Hurry up and stop making a nuisance of yourself here. With your level of skill, you want to teach me?"

"What do you mean, my level?" Zhen Yingjun felt a surge of anger at Shen Yushu's jibes. He was not stupid; since Zou Ruoguang had said Wei Zhao was formidable, he would not openly provoke Wei Zhao. After all, he was outnumbered and no match for Wei Zhao, so he kept his flirting at a normal level and had no intention of using force the way the red-haired fellow had: "I am the vice chairman of the Donghai City Billiards Association!"

"Oh, I've beaten plenty of vice chairmen." Shen Yushu really found Zhen Yingjun rather tiresome. She knew exactly what he was after, but since the man's approach was comparatively mild, there was really nothing she could do about him.

"What!" Zhen Yingjun was stunned with anger by Shen Yushu. He prided himself on his high skill at billiards. Though his original purpose had been to pick up girls, someone had insulted the skill he excelled at most—how could Zhen Yingjun tolerate that? At the Donghai City Billiards Association, he was a figure surrounded and admired by all. Yet here, a beginner had spoken such boastful words to him, and Zhen Yingjun felt as if he had suffered a tremendous insult!

"Fine. Do you dare to play a match against me?" Zhen Yingjun said to Shen Yushu, forcing down the anger in his heart.

"Why should I compete with you?" Shen Yushu retorted.

"I... you..." Zhen Yingjun was momentarily at a loss for words. Shen Yushu's question left him unable to answer. Indeed—why should Shen Yushu compete with him?

"All right, stop getting in the way of my game!" Shen Yushu paid Zhen Yingjun no further attention. She waved him off and went back to playing billiards with Gu Mengyao.

Wei Zhao, sitting to one side, took all of this in. But he did not intervene. Although this Zhen Yingjun had shown improper intentions toward Shen Yushu and Gu Mengyao, he had not done anything out of line, so there was no need for Wei Zhao to step in.

A situation like this was best left for Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu to sort out themselves. If Wei Zhao had to step in for every little thing, if even something this simple required his attention, then the two of them really would become hothouse flowers, and that would do no good for their growth.

He was going to leave in the end, after all. He could hardly stand guard over them for the rest of their lives, could he? True, there were times when Wei Zhao felt the urge to protect those two pretty girls forever, but he could still tell the difference between what he wished for and what was real.

Never mind whether Tang Zhi would agree to it; even if she did, he could hardly have her living under the same roof as the young lady and Shen Yushu, could he? And then bring his old man over as well? The whole family living together in bliss, from then on leading a carefree life?

It sounded rather lovely, but it did not seem very realistic.

:.: