Swamp Murder

Swamp Murder. 33

Wang's Pov.

The seating arrangement fell into place naturally, but not without a bit of quiet maneuvering on my part. The moment we approached the table, I grabbed Zhan's wrist and gently pulled him to sit beside me on the right. He raised a brow, amusement flickering across his sharp features, but he didn't resist. Instead, he settled into his seat with an effortless grace, his suit barely creasing as he leaned back slightly.

On my left, Lusi plopped down with a huff, still shooting me occasional side-eyes, probably still processing why I was hosting dinner. Mia followed next, choosing the seat beside Lusi, and adjusting her emerald gown as she got comfortable.

Grandma, ever composed, took the seat next to Mia, giving me a small nod as if silently approving of my choice for the evening. Beside her, Ji Li claimed his spot, looking as relaxed as ever, though his sharp gaze occasionally flickered toward Zhan with something unreadable.

Then there was Dre and his boyfriend.

Dre, always full of energy, slid easily into the seat next to Zhan, his boyfriend right beside him. From the moment he sat down, he was close to Zhan, maybe a little too close. He leaned in, his playful nature on full display as he whispered something in Zhan's ear that made him chuckle.

I frowned slightly.

Not that I had a problem with Dre he was a great guy, and his relationship with his boyfriend was solid. But the way he casually draped an arm over the back of Zhan's chair, the way he leaned in like they shared some inside joke it made something simmer under my skin.

Zhan, for his part, seemed unbothered. If anything, he looked amused by Dre's antics. He turned to him with that easy smirk of his, saying something in return that made Dre laugh.

Lusi nudged me, breaking my thoughts. "You good?"

I forced a smile. "Of course."

She followed my gaze, her lips quirking. "You sure? Because you look like you're about to throw Dre across the room."

I scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous."

"Uh-huh." She smirked. "Can we order food now?"

I rolled my eyes, grabbing my glass of water just to give myself something to do.

Meanwhile, the conversation around the table had picked up. Mia was chatting animatedly with Grandma about a book she had just finished, Ji Li was listening quietly, offering occasional comments, and Dre, Dre was still entirely too close to Zhan for my liking.

Zhan, as if sensing my gaze, suddenly turned to me, his expression unreadable. "You okay?"

I took a sip of my water before answering. "Perfectly fine."

His lips twitched as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.

Damn him.

Menus were passed around, conversations buzzing as everyone decided on their meals. The waiter moved swiftly, taking each order, steaks, seafood, pasta, and exotic dishes that matched the luxury of the restaurant.

Drinks followed, wine for some, cocktails for others.

The table was set, and the night officially began.

An hour later, the food arrived, each dish plated to perfection, the rich aromas filling the air.

The steaks were seared to a flawless golden-brown crust, glistening with juices. Each cut revealed a tender, pink center, paired with buttery mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables.