Financial Emperor: After I Rose From the Dead
Chapter 39: Tap, Tap, The Menu List

Chapter 39: Tap, Tap, The Menu List

Rino was shocked at the spot once he approached the table.

"Madling?" his voice came sharp as he stared at the guy sitting across from Zaria.

But the moment the name slipped off his lips, a thought immediately struck him.

He wasn’t supposed to know Madling’s name yet. Or at least, act as if he knew who he was. He should have treated the matter like he met a rare young man with Zaria, but he had no control of himself at the moment.

Rino Carter was not alive when Madling came into Carter’s Group in his previous lifetime. The realization of his mistake made him stiffen, his expression briefly faltering.

He blinked consecutively, covering the lapse and changing his expression immediately to a blank space. But, Madling didn’t even look surprised.

Instead, he smirked lightly, keeping that usual calm and calculating eyes Rino saw the day he betrayed him.

"It seems like your brother has told you quite a bit about me," Madling said, reclining into his seat, taking Zaria’s hand into his like it was the most natural thing to do in the world.

Rino let out a short smile of pretense.

Good enough, his brother had come in contact with Madling in this lifetime early enough. Things seem not to be running exactly the same as they had in Rino Ikenna’s life.

So, that’s how the chain wrapped up.

Rino, however, ignored Madling, staring at their hands for a second too long.

Madling...

Rino’s fist clenched by his side.

...his archenemy.

The kind of person he wouldn’t mind twisting the neck of the world had been a lawless region. Even though, the world still acted lawless in the presence of laws.

Well, it was not the time to start seeking revenge. Neither is the café the right place for that. He had something more important he needed to achieve, and that was his vision.

Whatever the dirty web Madling was spinning with Josh, they should go on with it. If they were going to face early victory, would be better for them cause he would surely catch up.

And when he does...

When he did catch up with them... he did humble them all.

Brushing the rising tension away with a heavy exhale, he stepped closer to the table. Gently, he placed his hand over Zaria’s, the one Madling still held loosely.

"We should take another seat," he said to her, carefully brushing Madling’s hand off Zaria’s.

Zaria hesitated for a moment.

Madling raised a brow but said nothing as Rino guided her away.

Having approached the next table, Rino pulled out a seat for her to sit.

"You know, it’s not proper etiquette to call a girl out and leave her alone for over an hour. I only came to keep her company. You should at least thank me for the goodness, at least, be grateful," Madling called out.

Rino ignored him. He simply sat beside Zaria, in a way that blocked Madling entirely from his focus. If he liked, he should turn to a dog and bark, whine or even howl at him, it was none of his business now.

At least, for the fact Zaria now sat with him.

Before Zaria could even utter a word to Rino, Rino took the lead.

Although, he didn’t know what it was Zaria wanted to tell him, he thought the best thing to do was to apologize for disappointing her at first.

"I’m sorry," he said, his voice low.

Zaria, however, hadn’t expected this Rino to apologize. Judging from the first experience she had with him at Red Tann, she least expected Rino would have another conscience to apologize for his wrong doings.

Her intention for having accepted to meet Rino was to relay her information, and she had planned to leave once it struck 8:00 P.M.

The person who held her behind was Madling.

He had been sitting at a table by the other side of the café, at the back but had just turned up the moment she began to pack her handbag to leave.

So, Zaria thought, Rino should at least thank Madling for keeping her behind.

But she dared not mention it to Rino, not after seeing how harshly he had acted against Madling. She wondered if there was something going on between both of them in the past.

She wanted to think they knew each other beforehand but remembered when Madling mentioned that it seemed Josh had told Rino about him.

So—

Rino’s voice continues, cutting her through her thoughts. "There was an accident. One I... unintentionally caused while I traveled the road. I had to deal with it. I had to make sure everything was fine before I could leave."

His tone was honest. His eyes held the weight of regret, the look gushing from them layering advice before the beholder to have pity.

Zaria tilted her head. "It’s okay," she said with a small nod. "But... maybe invite him over? Madling. He was just trying to keep me company. He’s even the reason I remained."

Rino stared at her, then gave a bitter chuckle and shook his head. "No."

"Rino—"

"If you want him, then go and sit with him," he said bluntly, his voice wrapped in frost. "I didn’t come here to share my time."

Zaria blinked at him, caught off guard by how direct he sounded. The tension hung heavy until she decided to let it slide.

To change the topic, she tapped the menu list in front of them.

Rino didn’t understand her at first. He thought maybe she was trying to give him some kind of signal.

She tapped again.

But Rino’s mind had things so occupied in it that he couldn’t think to understand what she still meant.

"This is the menu, Rino," she now said softly, nudging it toward him. "Order anything. Whatever you pick, I’ll go with it."

Rino gave a small nod and scanned through the list quickly. Then, he looked over the counter where waiters stayed but found no one. They seemed to be busier this night.

Good thing, one of the waitresses came his way and he flagged her down.

"I’ll take the VitaFroot Signature. The fruit-infused juice with the core fruit still sunk inside. And make it two."

The waitress nodded at him and left.

Moments later, the drinks arrived in glass tumblers, with long transparent straws dipping down into the fruits nestled inside. Zaria sipped from hers first, watching Rino over the rim of her glass.

When she dropped the glass back to the table, she started. "So, do you know him from somewhere?" she asked with a low voice.

Rino shook his head. "No," he answered too quickly. "I’ve never seen him before except with my brother. Well, my action was just out of jealousy."

Zaria’s brows raised. A smirk slowly tugged at her lips. She leaned in a bit closer, her eyes glinting beneath the soft café light.

"Out of jealousy?" she highlighted the phrase. "Tell me you are not indirectly proposing that I be your girlfriend?"

Rino smiled, but not sheepishly, sipping from the straws.

"Is that what it implies?" he asked softly, dropping the glass back to the table.

"Is it?"

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