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Chapter 86: Chapter 86: You Two Are a Couple, and I’m the Cover

The car couldn’t go any further, so the three of them had to walk. Their ridiculously good-looking faces drew quite a bit of attention.

Zane Lancaster, determined to make things difficult for Ian Sterling, dragged him to the front to lead the way.

This left Lynn Winslow walking all by herself behind them.

Two men of about the same height, both with such striking good looks, walked ahead. While older passersby might have just admired their faces, the younger ones were different. Girls walking by whispered amongst themselves.

It wasn’t until Lynn Winslow walked up beside the girls that she overheard what they were saying.

”Look at those two handsome guys. They’re so close, there’s definitely something going on between them.”

”I know, right? Even though there’s a girl behind them, what kind of ’good buddies’ walk ahead and leave their girlfriend to trail behind all alone?”

”I bet the girl is one of their sisters, just brought along as a cover.”

Lynn Winslow didn’t have much of a reaction to their words. In fact, she gave the backs of the two men ahead a long, meaningful glance.

Ian Sterling, being dragged along by Zane Lancaster, walked ahead with an annoyed expression. He turned back, wanting to take Lynn’s hand, but he was met with her meaningful gaze. Zane gave him another tug, so he had to give up on the idea.

It was rare for him to be thwarted like this. When had Mr. Sterling ever been so aggrieved? He was just afraid Zane Lancaster would run his mouth in front of Lynn Winslow’s grandfather, although he was pretty sure Zane would do that anyway.

The shop was said to be decades old and had probably made a good deal of money. The decor was decent, and the place was clean.

The three of them chose a four-person table further inside. Lynn Winslow sat by herself on one side, and just as Ian Sterling was about to sit next to her, Zane Lancaster dragged him over to sit with him instead.

The waiter brought over their orders. Zane Lancaster lowered his head and took a sip of douzhi, nearly gagging. He stuck out his tongue in disgust and obediently switched to his soy milk.

And even though Ian Sterling was a Quartos native, he couldn’t stand the taste of douzhi either and stuck to the soy milk in his bowl.

Lynn Winslow looked up at the two men, a sudden smile playing on her lips. ”Did you know some girls were gossiping about you two back in the alley?” she asked.

Ian Sterling blinked, puzzled. ”What?”

Zane Lancaster didn’t seem to care, sipping his soy milk as he listened.

”They said...” Lynn Winslow glanced at their arms, which were almost touching since they were both in short sleeves and the table wasn’t very big. She laughed. ”They said that you two are the real couple and I was just brought along as a decoy.”

”PFFT—”

Zane Lancaster sprayed a mouthful of soy milk everywhere. Fortunately, Lynn was sitting across from Ian, so she wasn’t in the line of fire. The spray did, however, douse a large, bald man who was sitting with his back to them, eating a fried dough stick.

The man, dressed in a loose white tank top that revealed thick, tattooed arms, slowly turned his head to glare at the trio.

Zane Lancaster clapped a hand over his mouth, his face a mask of embarrassment. Lynn couldn’t suppress a laugh but still hurried to apologize, pulling out her phone to offer the man compensation.

The man shot a menacing look at Zane Lancaster, who leaned sideways toward Ian Sterling and whispered, ”Can you take him?”

Ian Sterling, clearly enjoying the spectacle, smirked. ”Nope. You’re on your own.”

Lynn couldn’t just stand by and watch Zane Lancaster get beaten up on his second day in Quartos, so she kept apologizing.

”Sir, my brother didn’t do it on purpose. Tell you what, just name your price. Whatever it is, we’ll pay. Consider it for dry cleaning your clothes.”

The man turned to look at Lynn. A pretty girl always has a softening effect. He snorted. ”A thousand!”

”Done!” Lynn quickly scanned his payment code. The man didn’t linger. As soon as he received the money, he downed the rest of the douzhi on his table and left.

Lynn breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the two men.

Ian Sterling recoiled in disgust, making sure no part of him was touching Zane Lancaster.

Zane Lancaster gritted his teeth. ”How is this my fault? I only lost it because of what you said.”

Ian Sterling shot back with a hiss, ”Wasn’t it your fault for insisting on dragging me up front that caused this whole misunderstanding? What right do you have to blame Lynn!”

”You—”

”Both of you, shut up and eat!” Lynn shot a glare at each of them, playing no favorites.

After they finished eating, the three of them headed out. This time, Zane Lancaster didn’t drag Ian Sterling to the front, but he insisted on walking on one side of Lynn.

They sandwiched Lynn between them. She took a deep breath and asked Zane with a strained smile, ”So, where would you like to go next?”

Zane Lancaster glanced around, then said to Lynn, ”How about we let my ’brother-in-law’ here make a recommendation?”

Ian Sterling said coldly, ”My suggestion is we go our separate ways. You go back to your hotel, and Lynn and I will go back to Amberly Bay.”

”Oh.” Zane Lancaster wasn’t angered by this and simply nodded. ”In that case, I’ll just come visit Amberly Bay. I didn’t get to see the inside earlier, so I’m curious about the decor.”

”It’s been a while since I’ve had your tea. You should make some for me.” He bent down, about to rest his hand on Lynn’s head, when Ian yanked her into his arms. ”We’re going out!” he said through clenched teeth. ”I know a good place!”

He looked ready to explode. To soothe him, Lynn held onto his arm or his hand for the rest of the journey.

By noon, Ian had brought Zane to the same hot pot restaurant he and Lynn had visited before. While Ian was speaking with the chubby owner, Lynn lowered her gaze and sent a text to Zane.

[Can you please stop provoking him?]

[Look at the state you’ve gotten him into.]

Her heart ached for him, so her bias was unconscious.

Zane Lancaster glanced up at Ian and Lynn, a smirk playing on his lips as he typed his reply: [What? He stole my childhood best friend—you, the girl I looked after like a little sister—and I’m not even allowed to give him a hard time?]

Lynn was about to type back when Ian turned around and saw her. He frowned. ”Who are you texting?”

”No one,” Lynn said, shaking her head. She locked her phone and set it aside.

The chubby owner shot a look at Zane Lancaster before stepping out of the private room. Standing outside, he clicked his tongue, instructed a waiter to bring their food, and then leaned against the wall to text Jasper Jennings. He sent a private message because Ian Sterling was in their group chat.

[Just met Finn’s rival. He’s no pushover.]

[He’s got the looks and height to match Finn, plus he and Lynn Winslow are childhood friends. Tsk tsk, Finn’s got his work cut out for him.]

Jasper Jennings was in a meeting, listening to his executives give their reports, when his phone buzzed twice. He glanced down, then, his curiosity piqued, he picked up the phone. Ignoring the stares from his father, Mr. Jennings, and countless other executives, he lowered his head to type a reply.

[Snap a pic and let me see. I’ve only heard about him, never seen the guy myself.]

When it came to Ian Sterling, they were always dying for gossip.

The chubby owner replied: [I’ll sneak in and grab a pic in a bit.]

Jasper Jennings sent back an ”OK” emoji and placed his phone back on the desk. When he looked up, he met the icy stare of his own father.

Mr. Jennings snorted and looked away, simply waiting for the meeting to end so he could give his undisciplined son a proper lecture.