Chapter 189 Playing with My Life

Rose sat by the office desk in her bedroom, wearing a plain white nightgown. Her long hair seemed somewhat disheveled, and her face, devoid of makeup, appeared slightly pale. She wore a pair of black-framed glasses on her straight nose, holding a pen in her hand, writing something in a notebook. On the computer screen on the desk, there were numerous reports.

Upon seeing Yang Chen enter the room, Rose's eyes lit up with a hint of surprise. She put down the pen, took off her glasses, and smiled, "Honey, why did you come during the day? Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

Yang Chen walked over to Rose, picked up the pair of glasses she had taken off. They were just frames without lenses. He played with them while smiling, "Do I need to schedule time to visit my woman? I didn't expect my Rose darling to have such a professional side. You really look like a qualified office worker."

"How can an office worker work in pajamas?" Rose complained coquettishly, snatching back the glasses, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It's just for show, to give myself a scholarly atmosphere. Otherwise, managing those accounts feels awkward."

"What about you? Planning to expand your legitimate business like Zhou Guangnian from Dongxing?" Yang Chen asked curiously.

Rose shook her head, "No matter how whitewashed it is, the underworld is still the underworld. In this world, where there's light, there must be darkness. I don't think the underworld is necessarily bad, it's just that if you don't traffic drugs, sell human beings, or smuggle weapons, the basic income is not enough. So I've set up a few clean companies to balance the income and expenses."

Yang Chen agreed, "It seems that my Rose darling has understood the true essence of the underworld. There's actually nothing to compare between black and white. When they become big, they are just economic entities, a model of society. Just like without Yamaguchi-gumi, Sakura Society would be in chaos. If the Mafia were absent in Italy, half the country would be paralyzed. As long as it doesn't touch the bottom line of the national machinery, then getting bigger and stronger is acceptable."

Rose's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked, "Honey, are Yamaguchi-gumi and the Mafia formidable, or are you formidable?"

Yang Chen paused for a moment, feeling that there was nothing to hide from Rose, but he couldn't go into details. So he said, "I can only say that I'm not competing with them on the same level. If I have enemies, they certainly won't be them, and they won't be enemies with me either."

"Like the immortals in the sky don't fight with the emperors on the ground?" Rose asked.

"Something like that."

Rose didn't inquire further. She stood up from her seat, stretching her lazy waist. "Honey, wait for me, I'll take a shower and then come to accompany you."

"You said it nicely, why shower now? We'll have dinner later, can't you wait until tonight to shower?" Yang Chen asked with a wry smile.

Rose paused, turned around, her face slightly flushed with confusion. "Honey, weren't you here to... you know..."

"What?"

"You know, that kind of thing." Although they were very familiar with each other, Rose still couldn't bring herself to be too direct.

Yang Chen was at a loss, "Rose darling, why would you think that? When did I ever say that I came here just to sleep with you?"

Rose lowered her head and whispered, "Because you used to be like this before, I thought you came today for the same reason, so..."

Seeing Rose's reaction, Yang Chen's heart clenched with pain. Had he made her feel like she was only remembered when he needed to release himself in bed?! She always seemed to accept everything without complaint, as if everything were taken for granted. She still greeted him with the warmest smile every time, willing to spend time with him in such a confined space, without regret or complaint.

Yang Chen suddenly realized that he had hardly ever taken Rose out once. They had had so many primitive exchanges, yet they had never even had a simple meal together, watched a movie, or strolled around!

The most difficult thing to endure was a beauty's favor. Yang Chen looked at Rose, who seemed so helpless, as if she had done something wrong, and he wanted to slap himself.

Thinking of this, Yang Chen made up his mind and smiled gently, "Darling, change into something nice, we're going out."

When Rose heard Yang Chen say they were going out, she thought she had misheard. "Honey, did you say we're going out?"

"Yes, Miss Beautiful Rose, don't you want to have dinner with this poor office worker?" Yang Chen asked, looking disappointed.

Rose confirmed that she hadn't misheard, her expression rich with joy, touched, but more with confusion and awkwardness, as if all of this was too unreal.

"Then... then let me change my clothes."

Though a woman, Rose was evidently much quicker in dressing up than other beauties. She simply changed into a violet-toned floral maxi dress, paired with a pair of crystal-colored high heels, slightly covering her tall and curvaceous figure, yet still alluring. Her lightly made-up face was flawless. Ten minutes later, she walked out of the bar, arm in arm with Yang Chen.

Rose understood that Yang Chen wanted to go out on a date with her, and her smile became much brighter. The unexpected surprise made her feel somewhat dreamy.

"Honey, where do you want to go for dinner?" Rose affectionately asked Yang Chen, ignoring the curious glances from some of the Redbud Society's men around the bar.

Yang Chen thought for a moment and asked, "Rose darling, I remember you have a car, so why don't we drive your car and go somewhere farther for dinner? It's too late to walk."

Rose's bright eyes lit up. She took out her iPhone with a dark blue case and made a call.

"Xiao Zhao, send the car I bought in the first half of the year to the entrance of the bar. I need it."

Yang Chen watched as Rose instructed the person. He couldn't help but sigh. Once upon a time, he used to command people like this, but now he was the one being commanded. Although it was his own doing, he had also descended to the level of the common people.

In less than ten minutes, the car sent by Rose's man was parked at the entrance of the bar. The driver got out of the car, looking at Rose with admiration, and handed the car keys to her with both hands.

Rose directly gave the keys to Yang Chen. "Honey, you drive. I'm not very good at driving."

A woman who knows how to drive saying she's not good at it, besides being cute, is to always be able to watch the man drive. Rose belonged to the latter.

Yang Chen was somewhat surprised because Rose's new car, a sapphire blue Lotus, was extremely rare in Yansha, a domestic Lotus sports car from Britain.

This kind of car was also considered a famous high-end sports car brand overseas, and its unique design style was passionately pursued by countless car enthusiasts. Its beautiful streamlined design was extremely attractive to female car enthusiasts.

However, in Yansha, Yang Chen saw it for the first time, even in the car museum of Lin Ruoxi's rich woman, there was no such car.

"Did you choose it yourself?" Yang Chen opened the car door for Rose and asked.

Rose gracefully got into the car, fastened her seatbelt, and smiled embarrassedly. "I understand things like murder, arson, loan sharking, and kidnapping, but I'm clueless about cars. They showed me a few pictures, and I thought this car looked nice."

Yang Chen said discontentedly, "Don't keep talking like you're a mafia boss, scaring the passersby isn't good."

Isn't he the mafia boss? Rose pouted but still nodded obediently.

Driving the attention-grabbing Lotus, Yang Chen took Rose directly onto the elevated expressway, speeding all the way to a lakeside area in the suburbs of Zhonghai, where there were many high-end western restaurants.

Since he wanted to make his woman feel romantic and enjoy the beauty of the outside world, he couldn't make it too simple.

Whether Rose cared or not was one thing, but what Yang Chen did was another.

When they got out of the car, Yang Chen held Rose's hand. "Wait a moment, let me open the door for you."

Saying this, to Rose's awkward gaze, Yang Chen got out of the car and circled around, opening the car door for Rose and making an inviting gesture.

"Please, beautiful lady."

The male waiters at the restaurant entrance watched this scene, but they were accustomed to it and didn't find it strange. But Rose was different. Yang Chen suddenly taking her out was already surprising enough, and now he was serving her like a princess. It felt awkward, but also sweet, and her face flushed with embarrassment.

Some things, no matter how embarrassing, women would still enjoy them.

Hand in hand, they entered the lakeside western restaurant. The overall structure was a mix of European-style wood and iron, with many decorations resembling saddles, horseshoes, and knight armor.

Dim yellow lights emanated from glass lampshades, enveloping the entire restaurant in a haze of ambiguous atmosphere.

Seeing Rose looking around with curiosity, Yang Chen felt even more tender towards her. "In the future, I'll take you out more. You've earned so much money, have countless subordinates, yet you always confine yourself in such a small space. You're wasting your life."

Rose shook her head. "No, since I met you, I've never felt bored. I'm happy when you're around, and even when you're not, waiting for you makes me feel fulfilled."

"If I were an actor, I'd definitely shed tears now. Unfortunately, I'm not, but please believe me, you've moved me again," Yang Chen said sincerely.

This woman always used the most direct and natural expressions, which deeply touched people.

Rose smiled sweetly. "Actually, I don't think I'm suitable for this kind of occasion. Look, other women go out carrying a handbag, some even wear hats to places like this for dinner. I just casually put on some clothes and came here, feeling like a country bumpkin."

"How about I buy you a handbag later? I've never seen you carrying one. Let me buy one for you," Yang Chen suggested eagerly.

Rose shook her head. "If I needed one, my subordinates would have sent hundreds to me by now. I purchase my daily necessities in bulk directly. I don't carry a handbag because I don't need to. If it were a sheath for a knife or a holster for a gun, hmm, if I could buy limited edition classic firearms that are already out of production, I would prefer that a little more."

The waiter leading them to the table clearly hesitated for a moment.

Yang Chen knew the poor guy was startled, and couldn't help but laugh. "Darling, didn't I tell you? Stop thinking about fighting and killing all the time. Taking care of flowers and planting grass is enough. Shooting guns and fighting are all men's business."

Rose rolled her eyes at him and remained silent.

Once they were seated, they ordered a bottle of 1983 Lafite, which was quite expensive and made the serving girl beam with joy. However, when Yang Chen ordered three steaks, the girl was puzzled.

"Sir, are you waiting for more friends?" the waitress asked.

Yang Chen shook his head. "No, I'll have three steaks for myself."

The waitress was speechless. "Fled in embarrassment."

Rose frowned. "Honey, eat more vegetables. Eating so much meat isn't good for your health."

Yang Chen shrugged indifferently. "Although scientific research and health studies all say that eating too much meat is bad for your health, I've developed a habit of liking meat since I was a child. I've spent almost all my years eating meat and drinking. Am I not doing well? Besides, Rose darling, you should know more about my physical condition than the average person. I'm no longer a normal human."

At the end, Yang Chen's expression turned somewhat bitter and resentful.

Rose complained, "What nonsense are you talking about? Don't speak ill of yourself like that. There's nothing abnormal about you."

Knowing that this woman didn't like him talking like that, Yang Chen didn't mention those grievances anymore. After the steaks arrived, he started enthusiastically cutting and eating with his knife and fork.

Although Rose hadn't eaten at a western restaurant often, she came from an affluent family with excellent upbringing. She ate with elegance and grace, sipping her wine naturally.

The two of them chatted and laughed about everything that had happened since they met, almost a year ago. Looking back, although this period wasn't long, there were too many things worth reminiscing and sighing about.

Just as they were enjoying themselves, the waitress suddenly approached their table with a bottle of Margaux wine, smiling at Rose. "Miss, a gentleman asked me to bring this bottle of wine to you and convey a message."

"What gentleman, and what message?" Rose didn't understand what was going on.

The waitress said, "The gentleman said, 'Only Margaux's royal temperament can match your beauty.'"

Rose was stunned and looked at Yang Chen across from her. Seeing Yang Chen's lack of reaction, she turned back to the waitress and said, "Take it back, I don't need it."

The waitress retreated, but not long after, a well-dressed, refined man with shiny leather shoes, neatly combed hair parted on one side, and gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose walked over, holding the bottle of world-class wine worth tens of thousands, and approached Rose.

"Miss, I'm Jiang Wen. I dared to offer this bottle of wine only because I admire your beauty. I hope I haven't offended you." Ignoring Yang Chen beside her, Jiang Wen smiled warmly at Rose.

Putting down her knife and fork, Rose frowned slightly. "I said I don't need it."

"Miss, I hope you can give me a reason for rejecting me. I believe that if you are willing to give me a chance to communicate with you up close, I won't be any worse than a vulgar man who orders three 22-ounce steaks for one meal," Jiang Wen's thinly veiled sarcasm was naturally directed at Yang Chen, who was still eating with his knife and fork.

However, Jiang Wen's self-proclaimed confidence of having exceptional standards only provoked Rose's extreme displeasure. Dark clouds began to gather on her pretty face.

At this moment, Yang Chen finished the last bite of steak, wiped his mouth with a white napkin, let out a satisfied belch, and said to Jiang Wen, "Hey, is this wine expensive?"

Jiang Wen didn't even turn his head, still gazing at Rose with intoxicated eyes, and replied, "Although Lafite is known as the queen of red wine, compared to this bottle of Margaux, it's slightly inferior. But you wouldn't understand even if I explained it to you."

"That may be so, but I guess I don't need to understand." Yang Chen stood up leisurely, reached out, and grabbed the wine bottle from Jiang Wen's hand.

Jiang Wen couldn't hold on, and the bottle was taken away by Yang Chen directly from his embrace.

"What are you trying to do?!" Jiang Wen glared at Yang Chen.

Yang Chen examined the label on the wine bottle, grasped the neck of the bottle, and smiled at Jiang Wen. "You'll find out soon."

Before Jiang Wen could react, Yang Chen swung the wine bottle in an arc!

"Bang!"

The sound of the bottle shattering echoed through the restaurant, and the splatter of red wine startled half of the diners!

The nearby guests were left dumbfounded!

With that swing, Yang Chen aimed the bottle directly at Jiang Wen's forehead.

Jiang Wen's eyes rolled back, and a stream of red liquid, whether wine or blood, poured down from his head. He staggered backward, stumbling a few steps, and collapsed under the table, seemingly unconscious!

"Hey, it's one thing to look down on me for eating a lot, but trying to steal a woman in front of me? Isn't that asking for trouble?" Yang Chen tossed the remaining glass portion of the bottle at Jiang Wen, then picked up a towel and wiped his hands.

The onlookers were stunned by the scene. Not to mention Jiang Wen's fate, just that bottle of wine alone was worth over ten thousand!