“Xingxing, can we meet?” You Huan asked straight to the point.
Ruan Xingyao was a little surprised, her red lips slightly parted.
It took her a few seconds before she said, “Right now? Sure, where should we meet?”
You Huan gave her the name of a restaurant.
Ruan Xingyao asked, “Then can I bring Baiyi? My dog.”
She had just promised to take Baiyi out for something delicious, and she wasn’t about to break that promise to her puppy.
When Baiyi heard her words, he happily bounced around.
You Huan replied, “Sure, see you in a bit then.”
After hanging up, Ruan Xingyao took Baiyi and headed out.
The restaurant You Huan mentioned wasn’t too far from her home—only about twenty minutes away by taxi.
When she got out of the car, she saw a girl with a high ponytail standing at the restaurant entrance.
Although she had never met You Huan before, she was sure this girl was her.
Sure enough, You Huan looked over, immediately smiled, waved at her, and had a shy, sweet expression.
Ruan Xingyao walked over with Baiyi in her arms, not feeling the awkwardness of meeting an online friend for the first time—on the contrary, she seemed completely at ease.
Of course, that was because You Huan was very beautiful, and as a face-connoisseur, Ruan Xingyao simply couldn’t look away.
You Huan sized her up, and seeing that she didn’t seem to have any negative feelings toward her, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Xingxing, let’s go in,” You Huan said.
Ruan Xingyao nodded, her gaze landing on the restaurant’s facade.
She asked with some doubt, “Can Baiyi really go in here?”
The place looked expensive, not like a pet-friendly restaurant.
You Huan smiled and said, “Don’t worry. Normally, no, but for us, yes—my family owns this place.”
Ruan Xingyao let out an “oh.” Indeed, money and power were wonderful things.
The two went inside and headed straight for You Huan’s private dining room.
Ruan Xingyao placed Baiyi on a chair, and soon, a waiter brought him a bowl of steak and salmon.
“Er! Er! Er!”
【Delicious delicious delicious! So good! Way too good! I want more!】
Baiyi quickly finished the steak and salmon, licked his mouth, bounced up, and barked “wer wer” toward Ruan Xingyao.
Ruan Xingyao patted its big head and said, “Sit still, no being greedy.”
That bowl was already a big portion — if it ate more, this little stinky dog’s belly would burst.
Baiyi “werwer” grumbled, whining to show its dissatisfaction.
You Huan was amused by its behavior. “Later I’ll have them pack a few portions to take home, so you can keep them in the fridge and give them to it anytime.”
Ruan Xingyao didn’t stand on ceremony with her. She nodded and said, “Then I’ll thank you on Baiyi’s behalf.”
The waiter came in again, this time bringing in the dishes Ruan Xingyao and You Huan had just ordered.
“Miss, the dishes are all served,” the waiter said.
You Huan acknowledged, “Alright, you can go now. Unless I call for you, don’t come in and disturb us.”
The waiter agreed and left the private room.
Ruan Xingyao had already picked up her chopsticks, but hearing You Huan’s words, she stared at her without blinking.
She said, “What you just said makes me have to be on guard.”
After all, it was their first time meeting.
Now she was on You Huan’s turf, and if You Huan wanted to do something to her, she really wouldn’t have a way to stop it.
You Huan chuckled, picked up some shrimp with her chopsticks, and placed it in Ruan Xingyao’s bowl. “Don’t worry, I have absolutely no ill intentions toward you.”
Ruan Xingyao didn’t touch the shrimp, instead keeping her eyes on You Huan. “Since we’re being direct, let’s make this clear — I haven’t withdrawn the money you tipped me yet. When I do, I’ll return it to you, but I can’t do anything about what the platform deducted.”
You Huan replied, “No need. I’m not short of money, and I just wanted to give it to you.”
Ruan Xingyao was dumbfounded.
Her hands unconsciously crossed over her chest as she scooted back a little, watching You Huan cautiously.
“You’re not… harboring some strange thoughts about me, are you?” Ruan Xingyao asked.
After all, she was pretty and cute — it was normal for people to like her.
You Huan burst into laughter. “Relax, I’m as straight as they come.”
Only then did Ruan Xingyao let out a breath of relief.
However, the very next second, she heard You Huan say, “But… I do have an ulterior motive.”
Curiosity piqued, Ruan Xingyao asked, “What is it?”
You Huan picked up her juice, took a sip, and finally said, “I want to pursue Ruan Xingzhuo.”
“Pfft! Cough cough cough!”
Ruan Xingyao nearly choked on her own saliva.
It took her quite a while before she asked, “Are you being serious?”
You Huan nodded. “Yes! Sister Xingxing, you’ll help me, right?”
“Uh… this…” Ruan Xingyao scratched her head, looking troubled.
She searched through the original host’s memories but had no idea what exactly was going on between You Huan and Ruan Xingzhuo.
In this situation, how could she possibly agree so rashly?
After thinking for a moment, Ruan Xingyao said, “How about you tell me what’s going on between you two first?”
You Huan nodded. “Ruan Xingzhuo and I went to the same kindergarten and elementary school. I’ve liked him since kindergarten. When we were going to junior high, I had planned to go to the same school as him, but suddenly my family sent me abroad. It was only recently that I found out something happened to him, so I rushed back to the country.”
Ruan Xingyao’s eyes widened even more.
After a long pause, she said, “So, you’re saying that since graduating from elementary school, you two haven’t met at all?”
You Huan’s mood sank, her eyelids drooping.
She said, “He doesn’t like me, and I didn’t dare to bother him, so I could only quietly keep an eye on him from a distance.”
Ruan Xingyao furrowed her brows. “So… you know what his current situation is?”
In an instant, You Huan’s eyes turned red, though she held back her tears.
“I believe he’ll get better,” she said. “And I’m willing to wait for him to recover.”
Ruan Xingyao’s frown deepened.
Taking a deep breath, Ruan Xingyao said, “To be honest, I really can’t understand your feelings. From what you’ve told me, you two only had some childhood connection, and for years you haven’t even interacted. Are you sure your feelings for him are still the same as before?”
After all, from her perspective, in these years Ruan Xingzhuo hadn’t really done anything that would make You Huan like him even more.
You Huan replied, “I know my feelings are hard to understand, but I’m certain—I just like Ruan Xingzhuo.”
She added, “Actually, I had thought that if Ruan Xingzhuo never liked me, I’d just quietly protect him from afar. But now that something’s happened to him, I want to do something for him.”
Ruan Xingyao sighed and asked, “Even if, in the end, you never get a response?”
— The end of the Chapter–
TL note : Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 50 chapters of the release :
https://www.patreon.com/DeCakraWnloverz
