Chapter 79: Do You Like Him?

Meng Xingzhe racked his brains, trying to figure out how to contact Yao Jia and get her to sit down and listen to his apology and explanation.

He thought about Kunyu Building, then Xingbei Technology, and finally going home.

After a hasty dinner, it was as if the food had opened a crack in his mind. He realized that since Yao Jia was too angry to deal with him directly, he could use Tian Huasheng as an intermediary to get her to respond indirectly.

He thought his plan was foolproof, but to his surprise, Yao Jia saw through his scheme in just three moves.

He felt both happy and anxious—happy that she understood him so well, but anxious because even the indirect route to contact her was now blocked.

He paced nervously around his house, moving from one room to another, from the doorway to the bedroom, and from the living room to the kitchen.

Suddenly, he realized how empty his home felt, as if its spacious embrace was waiting for a mistress to move in.

This thought made him even more anxious.

Returning to the bedroom, he dejectedly sank into his Gold Diamond 4D Massage Chair, holding his phone and mindlessly scrolling with his thumb.

Screen after screen of apps flashed by.

Suddenly, his finger stopped, hovering over a racing game.

In that moment, it was as if an invisible enlightened monk had imparted wisdom to him—of course, they hadn’t severed all ties; there was still this game!

They weren’t just friends in the game; he was even her mentor there!

As he opened the racing game, he became excited. Although the Massage Chair was off, he was trembling with excitement more than he ever did during a massage.

But after logging into the game and watching for a while, her avatar remained dark.

He didn’t usually play this game every day and had no idea how often she logged in.

But he had no choice; all other avenues were blocked. This was the only path that might still hold a glimmer of hope.

He logged into the game and waited, even though it was one-sided and uncertain. He consoled himself that it was better than having no hope at all.

Thinking she might log in and miss him, he quickly entered the chat box and left a message: [Are you there?]

After leaving the message, he suddenly realized how humble he had become. The once arrogant Meng Xingzhe, who was always the one being flattered, was now waiting for someone to contact him, even asking a pointless question when he knew she wasn’t there.

He bitterly thought that perhaps he was paying for his past arrogance.

He stared at the game interface, which remained unchanged. Her avatar was still gray, and no reply popped up in the chat box.

The seemingly dead interface made him more anxious the longer he stared at it.

Suddenly, the screen finally showed some activity. At first, he was excited, but then he was disappointed.

It was just Bei Luonan calling him on video.

Annoyed, he hung up and used another phone to call Bei Luonan back on video.

He now held two phones, one for the video call and one to keep an eye on the game interface.

As soon as the video connected, before he could complain, Bei Luonan preemptively started wailing. “Xingxing, I’m doomed! Little Xinxin found out I lied to her, and now she’s mad and ignoring me! My girlfriend is slipping away! I waited outside her building all night and couldn’t catch her. It’s over, she’s mad at me, and my heart is breaking. Please comfort me!”

Meng Xingzhe glared at him coldly, spitting, “Comfort you? I’m no better off than you!”

He paused, suddenly angry. “Your girlfriend?”

Here he was, stuck in a stalemate, while this shameless guy had already succeeded? It was outrageous!

“Explain it to me,” Meng Xingzhe glared at Bei Luonan on the video, “how did you win over your little bunny?” He paused, awkwardly adding, “Teach me.”

Bei Luonan was momentarily stunned, then leaned an ear toward the camera. “??? What did you just say? Are you asking me to teach you? I didn’t catch that, say it louder!”

Meng Xingzhe retorted, “Screw you!”

Being called out for asking for help made him a bit embarrassed and angry.

Bei Luonan pulled back his ear and turned his face back to the camera, smugly saying, “I don’t have an uncle.” Then, as if realizing something, he exclaimed, “Why do you want to learn this? Do you have someone in mind? Oh~ it’s Yao Xiaojia, isn’t it?!”

Bei Luonan felt like a detective. “I could tell from your guilty expression, it has to be Yao Xiaojia! Actually, I’ve noticed for a while now, you like her!”

His urge to tease Meng Xingzhe was so strong that he forgot his own troubles, focusing entirely on Meng Xingzhe. “Xingxing, you probably didn’t even realize it yourself, but you’re so different with Yao Xiaojia. You spoil her! If anyone else dared to talk back to you, you’d slap them, but when Yao Xiaojia does it, you’re as happy as can be, like a masochist! All your rules and standards crumble in front of her. For others, your principles are like iron walls, but for Yao Xiaojia, they’re meant to be broken! In front of her, you’re a man without principles!”

Meng Xingzhe’s face grew darker, and Bei Luonan found it more satisfying the angrier he looked.

Then Bei Luonan paused, puzzled. “Wait, isn’t Yao Xiaojia supposed to have a boyfriend? Are you planning to steal her away out of love?”

Meng Xingzhe glared at the screen, saying fiercely, “That guy named Yue isn’t her boyfriend!” He paused, lifting his chin arrogantly, “She doesn’t have a boyfriend now, but she will soon. It’ll be me.”

Bei Luonan watched Meng Xingzhe through the video. He was wearing his custom-made luxury pajamas, sitting in his opulent gold Massage Chair, head held high. It was supposed to be an impressive display, but the whole image was ruined by a misbuttoned pajama button.

“Can you fix your pajama button before trying to look cool?” Bei Luonan said, unable to hold back.

Meng Xingzhe quickly looked down, surprised to find a button misbuttoned.

“……”

For a moment, he felt like he didn’t recognize himself.

He used to consider being handsome, perfect, and well-dressed as his life motto. He could lose his head, but not his appearance. Yet now, he had a misbuttoned shirt all night without noticing or feeling uncomfortable.

Had he stopped caring about his life?

Upon reflection, he realized he had exchanged his life for hers.

He put down the phone he was using for the video call with Bei Luonan and used that hand to unbutton and rebutton his shirt properly.

His other arm, elbow resting on the Massage Chair’s armrest, still held the phone logged into the racing game.

As he was fixing his buttons, he suddenly heard a sound from the phone with the game.

Instinctively, he looked over—

Bread King was online and had replied: [I’m here now, did you need something?]

In his excitement, his hand shook, and the phone slipped from his grasp, smacking him in the face.

He fumbled to pick up the phone and reply, but the more anxious he was, the clumsier his hands became. The phone screen slid down his face, and he pressed the phone to his face with one hand—while Bei Luonan was still wailing about Little Xinxin on the other phone—so he temporarily held the phone to his face with one hand and used the other to grab the phone with Bei Luonan on video, irritably telling him, “My life is online, get lost!”

He abruptly ended the video call with Bei Luonan.

When he picked up the other phone again, he saw that the chat box already displayed a message he had accidentally sent: [dakdjdkfkdfj]

“…………”

For two seconds, he was completely stunned.

—His face was so advanced it could accidentally type a reply!

The screen quickly showed Bread King’s puzzled response—

Bread King: [What the heck?]

Meng Xingzhe hurriedly sat up straight in the Massage Chair and replied: [Hit the wrong key.]

Yao Jia looked at the reply on her phone, briefly wondering if she was chatting with a cat, because even trying to type that wrong would be difficult.

She was just about to ask if there was something important when a message from the other party popped up on the screen.

Xinghen: [Haven’t seen you online for a while. How have you been?]

Meng Xingzhe held his phone, taking slow, deep breaths. He had carefully chosen his words, clearly concerned yet trying to appear nonchalant.

Bread King: [Not so great.]

He quickly asked: [What happened?]

Bread King: [Nothing much.]

Meng Xingzhe: “…”

How should he continue the conversation? He racked his brain and decided to take a bold approach—

Xinghen: [Still not telling me? Tsk. Do you look down on your master?]

Xinghen: [Come on, let’s have a race. If you lose, you have to tell me what’s bothering you.]

Meng Xingzhe thought that wasn’t enough, so he added a provocative twist—

Xinghen: [Don’t tell me you’re afraid to lose and don’t dare to compete.]

He anxiously and nervously waited with his phone in hand.

Thankfully, his little rival responded: [Are you kidding? I dare to compete whether I win or lose!]

He immediately set up a racing room. To ensure victory, he didn’t show off this time. He skipped the system-issued basic car and quickly exchanged his K coins for a better car.

He had never been so focused in this game before, reaching a level of concentration that was almost trance-like. When his car crossed the finish line, he nearly broke the server’s record.

Returning to the chat, Meng Xingzhe messaged: [Once your master takes action, winning is out of the question for you. So, tell me, why are you upset?]

Yao Jia stared at her phone in disbelief. Tonight, Xinghen seemed to be on a roll, leaving everyone in the dust. She even wondered if he was a professional player.

Bread King: [I mentioned a colleague to you before, the one who stays calm watching horror movies. Turns out, he’s a big liar!]

Meng Xingzhe held his phone, exhaling nervously.

Xinghen: [How did he deceive you?]

Bread King: [He’s actually from another company, hiding his true identity while working at ours!]

Meng Xingzhe could almost see her pouting through the screen. His heart softened.

Xinghen: [Did he steal company secrets? If so, he’s definitely scum.]

Meng Xingzhe decided to continue his bold approach, criticizing himself to see if she would join in or defend him.

He watched the screen, holding his breath, cautiously and tensely.

Bread King: [Emmmm, not exactly… He’s not a bad person and didn’t actually steal any secrets.]

Meng Xingzhe jumped up from his massage chair and stood on the floor.

She was defending him! She couldn’t help but defend him even in front of a stranger!

He felt overjoyed, as if the future was bright. His excitement turned into energy, making him pace quickly around the room.

Glancing at his reflection in the window, he saw himself running with joy, looking like a fool!

He quickly stopped and sat down on the floor.

He typed on his phone: [So you don’t really blame him? Then why are you upset?]

Bread King: [He said a lot of hurtful things to me.]

Meng Xingzhe’s heart ached.

Xinghen: [Did he make you sad?]

After a while, Bread King replied: [Yes.]

Meng Xingzhe felt a deep pain for her and wanted to kick himself.

He sincerely sent: [Then say a bunch of hurtful things to him too, don’t let him off easy.]

This time, Meng Xingzhe waited a while before Yao Jia replied. Her response made his heart melt.

Bread King: [But if I do that, won’t he be really upset too?]

—He won’t be. He deserves it. Ignoring him will hurt him more.

Meng Xingzhe didn’t dare send the truth.

He thought he might as well ask directly, to get it over with—

Xinghen: [You care so much about his feelings. Do you like him?]

After asking, his heart raced, unsure if Yao Jia would answer him, just a master in a game.

Yao Jia looked at the question on her phone. She thought it was strange how nosy her master was today.

But then again, he was someone she knew from the virtual world, and in the real world, they were just strangers.

Some things are easier to tell a stranger.

She typed the truth.

Bread King: [Yes.]

Bread King: [I like him.]

Who knew her virtual master had such a strong gossip spirit? After knowing the answer, he still wanted to explore its depth—

Xinghen: [Really like him?]

She laughed, thinking this master was really inquisitive. But since they didn’t know each other, it didn’t matter. Plus, she felt like she needed someone to talk to.

Bread King: [Yes, maybe more than I realized.]

Meng Xingzhe looked at the words on the screen, feeling like he died at that moment.

Died from happiness!

Another message popped up, the original question.

Bread King: [By the way, you asked earlier if I was around. What was it about?]

Meng Xingzhe saved the message where she said she liked him, intending to keep it forever.

He figured the time was right.

Xinghen: [Do you remember the bet we made during our master-apprentice race?]

Yao Jia held her phone, thinking for a moment, then remembered.

Back then, she and Xinghen raced, and the loser would become the other’s apprentice. She lost and, accepting her defeat, agreed to be his apprentice.

But she felt she couldn’t lose her spirit, so she told him, to celebrate having such an honorable apprentice, she would give him the chance to have her treat him to a big meal anytime, anywhere, regardless of cost.

She replied: [I remember.]

Xinghen: [I just wanted to bring that up. I’ve been craving something delicious lately. How about you treat your master to a meal?]