Chapter 80: I Am Xinghen

Yao Jia looked at the request her master had sent on the screen and started typing.

Bread King: [No problem. What do you want to eat?]

Meng Xingzhe held his phone in one hand, silently cheering with a fist pump in the other, a triumphant shout echoing in his heart.

As he typed, he almost sent “Pizza Hut” but managed to hit the delete key just in time. Pizza Hut had practically become his signature dining spot. If he really chose it, and she suddenly had a moment of insight, he might lose this last chance to connect with her.

Retracting his finger with a sense of danger, he thought for a moment and typed: [You’re treating, so you decide.]

Immediately, he saw—

Bread King: [Pizza Hut?]

Meng Xingzhe: “…”

Was this karma for all those times he borrowed money from her to eat at Pizza Hut?

Fortunately, another message popped up the next second.

Bread King: [Sorry, that annoying guy I mentioned earlier is obsessed with Pizza Hut. It made me blurt it out without thinking. Scratch that, let’s pick somewhere else.]

Meng Xingzhe couldn’t help but smile. So, he had influenced her more than he realized.

Xinghen: [No worries, let’s just go to Pizza Hut.]

Since it was their place of mutual understanding, how could they not choose it?

After settling on the location, they confirmed the time. Meng Xingzhe wished it could be as soon as possible, even breakfast the next day would be fine by him. However, they eventually agreed to meet tomorrow night at the Pizza Hut near Kunyu Building.

With the time and place set, Yao Jia was about to log off when her master surprisingly called her back—

Xinghen: [Don’t rush off!]

Bread King: [?]

Xinghen: [Aren’t you in a bad mood? As your master, I have to cheer you up before letting you go.]

Yao Jia: “…”

She thought her master was quite considerate.

Xinghen: [Come on, tell me, what would it take for you to forgive the person you like but are angry with?]

Meng Xingzhe watched the screen, anxiously awaiting her answer.

Yao Jia tilted her head in confusion as she typed: [Why do you seem so nosy today? Why do you want to know?]

Meng Xingzhe quickly replied with a plausible excuse.

Xinghen: [I’m gathering experience in advance. In case I upset your Master’s Wife in the future, I’ll know how to make it up to her.]

He couldn’t help but smile at Yao Jia’s profile picture on the screen.

—You don’t know, do you? You are your Master’s Wife.

Yao Jia pondered for a moment before replying.

Bread King: [I’m still upset, so I don’t want to forgive him right now.]

Another question came immediately.

Xinghen: [Aren’t you afraid he’ll turn around and like someone else if you don’t forgive him?]

Yao Jia reacted instinctively, replying quickly: [Then I’ll like someone else too!]

Meng Xingzhe almost wanted to slap himself after seeing this exchange.

He intended to provoke her, but ended up provoking himself.

He quickly tried to patch things up.

Xinghen: [Don’t do that, or you’ll both miss out on each other!]

Xinghen: [You were definitely just saying that out of anger. Now, calm down and think about what he could do to earn your forgiveness.]

Yao Jia felt like Xinghen’s words had hypnotized her. She really calmed down and thought about it.

Bread King: [He’s never directly told me he likes me, nor has he seriously pursued me.]

Her emotions surged: [Yes! He’s never seriously pursued me!!!]

Meng Xingzhe quickly asked: [What would you want him to do to pursue you?]

Yao Jia suddenly felt a bit strange.

Bread King: [Why are you asking for such details?]

Meng Xingzhe used the same excuse again.

Xinghen: [I’m just borrowing ideas for when I pursue your Master’s Wife in the future.]

Yao Jia thought, so you don’t even have a girlfriend yet. No wonder you’re so nosy, being a single man of a certain age.

She couldn’t help but feel a bit sympathetic towards her bachelor master and shared her childhood dream with him.

Bread King: [When I was little, I thought anyone who wanted to be my boyfriend had to do ten things that moved my heart. For each thing he did, I’d give him a Heartfelt Card. Once he collected ten, he could exchange them for a lively girlfriend! This is called Tenfold Heartfelt Effort! Isn’t this idea amazing? I’m sharing it with you for free. Use it when pursuing your Master’s Wife, and she’ll definitely give you a tenfold heart attack.]

Meng Xingzhe stared at his phone, dumbfounded.

Ten heartfelt things, ten…

This was indeed a long and arduous road.

After finishing the conversation with Yao Jia, Meng Xingzhe was still excited, thinking about what he should say and do when they met tomorrow to quickly ease her anger.

The more he thought about it, the less confident he felt. He decided to video call Bei Luonan for advice: “Something big is happening tomorrow. Help me come up with a plan.”

Bei Luonan yelled into the phone: “What do you take me for? You hang up on me and call me at will, treating me like a servant?!”

He continued to rant without taking a breath.

Meng Xingzhe: “You’re an incredibly handsome person.” He forced himself to say.

Bei Luonan immediately stopped: “I am indeed! So, what’s the big deal?”

Meng Xingzhe told Bei Luonan about finally arranging to meet Yao Jia and asked, “How should I act tomorrow to completely ease her anger?” He paused, his voice becoming awkward and hesitant, “You know, guide me.”

Bei Luonan arrogantly said, “Beg me.”

Meng Xingzhe gritted his teeth: “I’m begging you, damn it!”

Bei Luonan laughed heartily, momentarily forgetting his own troubles with his girlfriend.

“First of all, stop trying to show off. That’s more important than anything!”

After work the next day, Yao Jia told Yao Bingkun she had plans and wouldn’t be home for dinner.

Yao Bingkun didn’t ask much, just reminded her, “You can come home late, but you can’t stay out overnight without reason.”

Listening to her father’s advice, which offered freedom yet had limits, she almost felt like he had some upgraded insight, knowing she was about to meet a male friend.

She didn’t dress up too much today, thinking that meeting an online male friend shouldn’t be overdone to avoid giving the wrong impression.

She didn’t wear a dress, opting instead for a seasonal pantsuit from a certain brand. Her hair was loose, straight down her back, and with each step in her high heels, it gently swayed, making her look both chic and beautiful.

She walked into Pizza Hut like this.

Meng Xingzhe sat on a long bamboo bench across the street, his eyes following Yao Jia.

Three months ago, she was a budding, slightly naive Little Ponytail. Now, she had grown and matured into a blooming red rose at the peak of its beauty, exuding a pure yet alluring charm that captivated without her even knowing.

Watching her walk in, his heart pounded. He thought he was doomed; his age had gone to waste.

Why was he acting like a young boy now?

Seeing her sit by the window, he got up from the bench.

He had meticulously prepared for this meeting, hiring the top stylist in the industry to come to his home. From his hair to his shoes, everything showed signs of careful attention.

As he left, even the stylist couldn’t help but say, “Mr. Meng, I’ve seen many good-looking people, but today, you’ve reached a new peak in my already high standards! Honestly, even the top stars in the entertainment industry can’t compare to you!”

The stylist also said, “No matter what important meeting or grand event you’re attending today, you’ll surely outshine everyone!”

But he told the stylist he was just going to Pizza Hut.

The stylist’s expression instantly cracked.

Thinking of the stylist’s reaction, he couldn’t help but chuckle.

How could outsiders possibly understand what Pizza Hut represented between him and her?

He adjusted his collar, straightened his tie, smoothed the hem of his suit, took a deep breath, and strode into Pizza Hut.

Yao Jia sat at the window seat they had agreed upon, waiting for her perpetually late master from the virtual world.

As she waited, growing increasingly bored, she suddenly heard a chorus of gasps around her, as if the young girls had just seen their beloved idol.

Casually, she glanced up, following the direction of the commotion towards the entrance.

What she saw made her heart skip a beat, her mouth slightly agape.

It was Meng Xingzhe.

Today, he was devastatingly handsome.

He truly resembled a heartthrob idol, walking through the whispers of admiration from the young girls, heading straight towards her.

He sat directly across from her at the table.

His eyes were fixed on her, unblinking.

Yao Jia, mouth still slightly open, took a moment to recover. Glancing around, she noticed the girls at other tables were reluctant to tear their eyes away from Meng Xingzhe.

An inexplicable irritation welled up inside her.

Did he really need to flaunt himself like this just to go out?

“How did you know I was here?” she asked, looking at him with irritation. “I don’t want to talk to you today. You should leave.”

Meng Xingzhe looked at Yao Jia, a slight smile curving his lips.

The girls at the nearby table gasped audibly, unabashedly exclaiming, “That smile is too handsome!”

Meng Xingzhe ignored them. His gaze was solely for Yao Jia.

Yao Jia, however, was even more annoyed by the noise around her. With a stern face, she said to Meng Xingzhe, “You should leave. I’m meeting someone, and he’ll be here soon.”

Meng Xingzhe smiled, looking at her. “He’s already here.”

“…?” Yao Jia was confused, her bright face full of puzzlement. “What do you mean?”

Meng Xingzhe leaned slightly forward, his gaze deep and focused on her eyes, speaking each word slowly and deliberately, “I am Xinghen.”

It took Yao Jia a full two seconds to process the words, not just with her ears but with her mind.

She blurted out, “Did you buy Xinghen’s account?”

Meng Xingzhe was momentarily taken aback, then emphasized, “I am Xinghen, the real Xinghen.”

Yao Jia stared at him. “When was the first time we raced together?”

Meng Xingzhe: “The night before we first met.”

Yao Jia continued her rapid-fire questioning: “What car did you drive in our first race?”

Meng Xingzhe: “The seven-day trial car provided by the system.”

Yao Jia: “What was the first message you left me in the game?”

Meng Xingzhe: “A question mark.”

Yao Jia: “And what did I reply?”

Meng Xingzhe: “Two question marks.”

Yao Jia leaned back in her chair.

“You’re really not someone who bought the account halfway through? You’re the original Xinghen from start to finish?” Her face was full of disbelief, her heart unable to accept it.

Could such a coincidence really exist in the world?!

Meng Xingzhe looked at Yao Jia’s wide eyes and incredulous expression, nodding slowly and heavily.

The next second, he saw Yao Jia grab her bag and stand up to leave, her actions tinged with a rush of anger.

He quickly got up, his long legs crossing over to block her path.

To prevent her from leaving, he shamelessly sat down on the long bench, trapping her inside. No matter how angry she got or how much she stomped her feet, she couldn’t get out.

People around them were watching.

Even though Yao Jia was angry, she still cared about her image and didn’t want to be a spectacle. Since he was blocking the exit like a mountain, she had no choice but to sit back down in a huff.

She turned her face towards the window, refusing to look at him.

A waiter came over, and Meng Xingzhe hastily ordered to send him away. Then he turned his head, seeing Yao Jia’s angry profile. She was glaring out the window, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, her cheeks illuminated by the sunlight, looking both fair and delicate, her lips pursed in displeasure.

His gaze softened instantly.

Even when angry, she was so lively and beautiful.

Suddenly, she turned back, glaring at him with a fierce look and asked, “You knew I was Bread King all along, didn’t you? You had this backup plan ready, didn’t you? You deceived me in real life and continued to deceive me in the game? And now you have the nerve to trick me into buying you a meal?!”

As she spoke, her anger grew, and she couldn’t help but hit him with her small bag.

Though the gesture was more about the momentum than force, he pretended to dodge, oddly feeling a bit happy being hit by her.

He wondered if this was what Bei Luonan meant by the fun of dating.

After she finished, he sought her eyes, explaining sincerely, “I admit I went to Kunyu under a pseudonym to deceive you; that was my fault. But in the game, this pseudonym wasn’t a trick. It was entirely coincidental, a fate between us!”

Yao Jia’s anger gradually subsided, and she slowly calmed down.

He finally caught her gaze, leaning closer, looking into her eyes, and told her in a low, deep voice, “Yao Xiaojia, believe me, under the pseudonym ‘Xinghen,’ our meeting was without any ulterior motives. It was purely destiny!”

She felt as if his gaze had cast a spell on her, compelling her to look back, to listen, letting his voice enchant her.

Her heart suddenly raced, her cheeks and ears seemingly warming up.

She was inexplicably annoyed with herself, wondering why her emotions were so easily swayed by him. She pushed his face away.

People around were still glancing at them. How could he not feel embarrassed, getting so close to her under so many eyes?!

Was being good-looking an excuse for having thick skin?!

“But you knew ‘Bread King’ was me and didn’t tell me ‘Xinghen’ was you!” She tried to maintain her angry demeanor.

She couldn’t forgive him so easily!!!

“But I only found out recently,” Meng Xingzhe explained.

“How recent is ‘recently’?” Yao Jia asked, cheeks puffed with frustration.

Meng Xingzhe thought she was unbearably cute. No matter how mature she acted in front of others, she could be a little girl in front of him. His voice softened, “The day you threw yourself into my arms.”

“…” Yao Jia’s eyes glazed over for a moment as she thought back, then she became even more indignant, “Pfft, I was scared by your horror movie prank, who threw themselves at you?!”

She paused, trying to keep her anger burning, and asked again, “Then why, when you knew Bread King was me, didn’t you tell me Xinghen was you?!”

The waiter brought over some snacks and drinks.

Meng Xingzhe raised a hand to stop the waiter who was about to leave, “I’d like to change my drink to something hot.”

The waiter acknowledged and left to place the order.

Meng Xingzhe turned back to Yao Jia.

Initially furious, Yao Jia found her anger dissipating as the waiter interrupted, leaving her cheeks puffed in a show of defiance, glaring at Meng Xingzhe.

When he spoke, she nearly lost the last of her anger.

“That night, my mind was all over the place because you threw yourself into my arms. I spent the whole night thinking about how you ended up there, how it felt to hold you, how warm and soft you were…”

His voice was muffled by Yao Jia’s hand covering his mouth.

Yao Jia’s face turned red as she said, “Stop talking about such nonsense, aren’t you embarrassed in public?!”

Meng Xingzhe took her hand, not letting go, and smiled, “Okay, I won’t say it.”

Yao Jia pulled her hand back as if she’d been shocked.

“Anyway, that night I was so confused, both excited and sad because you said you had a boyfriend. I thought, even if I told you Xinghen was me, what would it matter?”

Hearing her own lie about having a boyfriend, Yao Jia’s anger deflated, and she shrank back a little.

The waiter returned, bringing pizza and a hot drink.

Meng Xingzhe handed the hot drink to Yao Jia, “It’s getting cold, you should drink something warm.”

He adjusted her plate, cut the pizza, and placed a slice on her plate, arranging the cutlery within her reach.

Then he turned to her and asked, “Do you want to eat with your hands? Let’s see who can eat the messiest?”

Yao Jia immediately thought of the time she tricked him into thinking the messier you ate fried chicken, the better it tasted.

She couldn’t help but almost laugh, quickly turning her head to look out the window.

Meng Xingzhe watched the slight curve of her lips, unable to tear his gaze away.

When Yao Jia turned back, she tried to maintain a fierce expression.

“You went through all that trouble to get me here, not just to talk about the game, right?”

Meng Xingzhe had initially planned to grab a slice of pizza with his hands to make her laugh.

Hearing her words, he quickly put down the pizza, wiped his hands, and leaned closer to her.

She looked at him, leaned back, and said with disdain, “Sit across from me if you want to talk!”

He ignored her request, not moving an inch, and smiled mischievously. “If I don’t block you, I’m afraid you’ll run away.”

Yao Jia almost wanted to shout “Help!” and “Harassment!”

The next second, Meng Xingzhe’s smile faded. He looked at Yao Jia with a focused and serious expression.

Yao Jia felt as if his deep, dark eyes were a vortex pulling her in uncontrollably.

She heard him sincerely apologize.

“Yao Xiaojia, I want to apologize first, a formal apology. I shouldn’t have deceived you or said those hurtful things.”

Suddenly, he leaned closer again. His handsome face and tall, attractive body exuded a strong masculine charm. Yao Jia’s heart pounded.

He lowered his voice. “I need to clarify some things with you, very important things.” His voice, with its raspy magnetism, was like a lover’s whisper, tempting her as he said, “That night I kissed you, I haven’t forgotten. I might never forget.”

Yao Jia’s face flushed a deep red.

“That was my first kiss,” he said, his voice even lower.

Yao Jia was stunned, her eyes wide.

She almost blurted out: Mine too…

“I really miss that kiss.”

Yao Jia felt like she was about to explode. Was he deliberately teasing her?

“Stop it! Don’t say another word!”

Meng Xingzhe looked at Yao Jia’s flushed face, his gaze softening, and couldn’t help but smile gently.

But that smile made Yao Jia’s heart race even more.

She raised her hand to push his face away. “Stop being so flirty!”

Meng Xingzhe caught her hand and laughed. When he first joined Kunyu Electric, he used to flirt with her intentionally, but she never fell for it.

Now, he wasn’t even trying, and she was finally responding.

He held her hand, not letting go. Her soft, delicate hand seemed to melt in his palm.

“I’ve never had a girlfriend. You misunderstood that night when you thought I was breaking up with someone. I was actually trying to persuade a company technician to stay.” He explained earnestly.

“I’ve taken many female employees from Kunyu Electric out for meals, but I never flirted with them. I only met them to discuss work and company development. It was they who often wanted to talk about personal matters.”

“I didn’t lose my house in any investment. I have several large houses. They all share one thing in common: they’re missing a mistress.” He rubbed her hand as he spoke.

Yao Jia’s ears burned as she pulled her hand away, fearing he’d grab it again. She quickly hid her hands behind her back.

With her hands behind her, she leaned back, looking like she was being obediently cornered.

Meng Xingzhe watched her, his heart full of tenderness.

“That day, it was pouring rain. When I saw you weren’t in the dorm, I was worried. I was afraid you’d get soaked. I guessed you went to the supermarket, so I went there on purpose to pick you up. It wasn’t a coincidence.”

Yao Jia’s heart thumped.

“After I kissed you, I was afraid you’d be angry. When I bought you candy to cheer you up, I thought you had a boyfriend, so I could only express myself subtly. I bought 520 pieces of candy, hoping you’d understand. But I was also afraid you’d really understand and tell me not to have any foolish hopes. Buying that candy was a struggle, a torment.”

Yao Jia’s heart ached slightly for him.

“And this is really important. You must know that when I said those harsh words to you, my heart hurt more than yours.” His eyes were deep, his voice gentle, as he spoke each word carefully.

Yao Jia bit her lower lip. She feared that if she let go, she’d end up acting spoiled under his indulgent gaze.

“And,” he continued, looking at her with newfound confidence and pride, “I know a lot about the law, not because I’ve been through any dramatic events, but because I minored in law. Yes, just a minor. It might sound a bit boastful, but I need you to realize that the person in front of you is truly outstanding and worth your serious consideration!”

“……………………” The blush on Yao Jia’s face disappeared instantly.

She knew it!! The arrogance in his bones would never disappear!!

The atmosphere was perfect. If he had just kept it going and said, “Please forgive me.”

She would have said “Okay!”

Now? Ha.

Yao Jia was trying to adjust to the huge emotional shift.

Suddenly, a stack of exquisite, gold-edged cards appeared in front of her. Yao Jia looked closely, and the edges of the cards were plated with real gold.

“?” She looked at the cards, then up at Meng Xingzhe. “What are these?”

Meng Xingzhe had that deep, slightly smiling, enchanting look again.

“Your ‘Heart Flutter Cards,’ a complete set of ten, custom-made overnight and a day.”

He suddenly leaned closer, locking eyes with her, capturing her gaze as if peering into her soul. He said, “From now on, every time I do something that makes your heart flutter, you give me a Heart Flutter Card, okay?”

His voice was low, with a bit of rasp, a bit of magnetism, a bit of magic and allure. “When I’ve collected all ten cards, I’ll use them to bring you home as my girlfriend, okay?”