- Of course not.
Zhu Shuangyao wanted to stay away from the male and female leads, but the male lead didn't want her to. Two days later, after class, Lu Jing actually came to find her on his own initiative, and he was waiting for her openly at the classroom door.
Zhu Shuangyao naturally didn't want to have any interaction with the male lead. However, since the male lead specifically asked for her, when she tried to sneak away, Lu Jing's fans dragged her out and brought her in front of Lu Jing.
Lu Jing showed a gentle and elegant smile. "Hello, junior学妹."
Zhu Shuangyao was quite flattered. "Hello, senior."
"Junior, I have something to talk to you about. I'd like to invite you to dinner. How about we talk while we eat?" Lu Jing smiled harmlessly, but Zhu Shuangyao vaguely felt that he was not as easy - going as he seemed.
Since she wanted to stay away from the male and female leads, she refused. "No, sorry, senior. Let's just talk here."
"Are you sure?" Lu Jing glanced around. Although class was over, the students were still there, slowly packing their things and stealing glances at them from time to time.
Zhu Shuangyao very naturally changed her tune. "How can I let the senior invite me? It should be me inviting you. How about we go to the Time Restaurant at the school gate?"
Lu Jing nodded. "Okay."
The two came to the Time Restaurant as agreed. Lu Jing asked for a private box. After they were seated, Lu Jing said, "Junior, I won't beat around the bush. I want to know what you and Yunyun talked about that day."
Zhu Shuangyao's smile froze. If she told him about the blind date, she would offend the female lead. If she concealed it, she would offend the male lead. So... which one would be less painful to offend?
"Do I really have to say it? Can't I just keep it a secret?" Zhu Shuangyao made a last - ditch effort.
Lu Jing stroked his chin and smiled even more gently. "Everyone knows that you and I came to the Time Restaurant together. But I only like Yunyun and I never take the initiative to find girls. So, did you threaten me in some way to make me come to you?"
From the story, it's clear that Lu Jing will do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. He is good at using public opinion and guiding people's thinking. He was threatening Zhu Shuangyao. If she refused to talk, she would be publicly criticized on the school forum.
"Senior..." Zhu Shuangyao said embarrassedly. "Why don't you ask the senior sister yourself..."
Just then, a restaurant waiter opened the door. Behind her was a tall and exquisitely beautiful girl. She gave a slight smile to the people in the box. Lu Jing took a closer look. It was none other than Cen Yun!
Zhu Shuangyao acted very understanding. "I've called the senior sister here for you. No need to thank me. I'll treat you today. Just deduct the money from my membership card. Goodbye, senior."
Zhu Shuangyao picked up her bag and politely left the box. "Goodbye, senior sister. I'm sure the senior will be very happy to see you." Before Cen Yun could reply, Zhu Shuangyao slipped away.
It was not until she ran out of the Time Restaurant that Zhu Shuangyao let out a sigh of relief. She was so brave. This move had offended both of them. She was really good at digging holes for herself!
But if she didn't do this, Lu Jing would never let it go today. And she couldn't break her promise to Cen Yun. She was going to confess her love tonight. She had prepared for so long. How could it all go to waste?
Lu Jing was a scheming and unscrupulous person, but his feelings for Cen Yun were real. So calling Cen Yun over was the best way for her to get rid of Lu Jing, although the consequences would be... quite dire.
Stop thinking about it. She hoped that her confession tonight would be successful. Zhu Shuangyao clasped her hands together and prayed devoutly.
To make sure everything was perfect, Zhu Shuangyao arrived at the revolving restaurant early. She checked the music, the dinner, and the fireworks that were going to be set off. Only when she was sure everything was okay did she sit down.
Huo Qizheng's phone beeped. He turned on the screen. It was a message from the app he had installed on Zhu Shuangyao's phone, showing her browsing history in recent days.
He had a strong desire for control. Since he found out that Zhu Shuangyao was the variable, he had no intention of letting her out of his control. So he investigated her and installed the app. But he never expected... that she had fallen in love with him at first sight and was preparing a grand confession?
If he accepted her confession... he would have many conveniences. He could always keep track of Zhu Shuangyao's movements, and maybe even find out the reason for his repeated rebirth.
But feelings couldn't be used as a bargaining chip. So the result was doomed from the start. Even if he had once been a little attracted to her, they could never be together. It was better not to have something that was tainted.
There were still five minutes until their appointed time. Huo Qizheng was almost there. Zhu Shuangyao nervously held her phone. All she could hear was her irregular breathing and her pounding heart. This was her first time... her first time being so proactive. She thought she could calmly say those words, but... just thinking about it made her heart race.
Click -
The door opened. She heard the doorman say, "Mr. Huo, please come in."
He walked in. Zhu Shuangyao heard his leather shoes gently tapping on the wooden floor. Those footsteps seemed to be stepping on her heart. She held her phone even more tightly.
It was not until Huo Qizheng sat in front of her that Zhu Shuangyao managed to control her nervous and excited emotions. She stood up and greeted him. "Mr. Huo, you're here. Please sit down, please sit down."
The violinist was very observant and started playing a very sweet piece. Zhu Shuangyao suddenly felt extremely embarrassed and quickly made a secret gesture for the violinist to stop.
Huo Qizheng didn't want to get entangled with Zhu Shuangyao. He came just to reject her. He stared intently at her. "I'm very sorry. I want to tell you that we two are..."
"Mr. Huo!" Zhu Shuangyao already knew what he was going to say. Anyone could tell what Zhu Shuangyao meant from this arrangement, and now she also knew what Huo Qizheng meant. She wrung the hem of her clothes with both hands. "I know you don't like me. Just... just act out a skit for me. Let me... let me be happy before you reject me, okay?"
For some reason, Huo Qizheng thought of the day when Zhu Shuangyao pretended to be Cen Yun to go on a blind date with him. She walked up to his table with blushing cheeks and bright, energetic eyes. There were so many beautiful women in the world, but only she had touched his heartstrings.
She was the only variable in his 3741 rebirths and the only time he had ever been attracted to someone. But he couldn't accept her, because he had no future.
"Mr. Huo, I think you should already know that I'm not Cen Yun." Zhu Shuangyao forced a smile on her face. "I'm very sorry for lying to you before, but Miss Cen and I meant no harm. Please don't take it to heart."
Huo Qizheng nodded. "Actually, I've seen Cen Yun from afar. I knew you weren't her. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to the date."
Zhu Shuangyao scratched her head and laughed stupidly. "It just occurred to me now. It's so strange that I pretended to be Miss Cen to reject you before but still wanted to confess my love to you. Fortunately, you're smart."
She took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. Although she already knew the result, she still wanted to express her feelings. She said, "Mr. Huo, I fell in love with you the first time I saw you. Please accept my confession."
As soon as Zhu Shuangyao finished speaking, bright fireworks suddenly exploded in the sky outside the revolving restaurant, lighting up the star - filled night sky. Each firework was in the shape of a heart, and each heart had the initials of Huo Qizheng's name.
These were customized fireworks that Zhu Shuangyao had specially ordered. She wanted to tell him that he had always been in her heart, and she also wanted to tell him that she had fallen in love with him at first sight.
Zhu Shuangyao smiled. "Mr. Huo, just... just watch the fireworks. They're actually quite beautiful."
Huo Qizheng turned his head and avoided Zhu Shuangyao's gaze. His heart seemed to be wrapped in a warm current, as warm as if he was soaking in a hot spring. He had lived for almost a thousand years and had seen all kinds of people and things, but he had never had such a feeling before.
She had presented her innocent heart to him. Without any desire, just a pure heart like a blazing sun. She just wanted to tell him that she liked him, but he was going to shatter this heart into pieces.
Huo Qizheng concealed the sadness in his eyes and whispered in a barely audible voice, "I like you too."
How I wish I could accept you, but I can't.
Zhu Shuangyao was waiting for Huo Qizheng to reject her. She knew he wanted to reject her. She just wanted to drag this out a little longer, a little longer, at least to prepare herself mentally.
A bitter smile appeared on Zhu Shuangyao's lips. The scenery in front of her slowly blurred and suddenly turned into strange and colorful things. Dazzling lights surrounded her, and Zhu Shuangyao couldn't help but close her eyes.
"Excuse me, what would you like, ma'am?"
Zhu Shuangyao subconsciously replied, "The same as this gentleman."
As soon as she said that, Zhu Shuangyao suddenly opened her eyes. The fiery sunlight shone through the transparent glass of the coffee shop and fell on the table, dividing it into different shades of color. The soft sunlight outlined the handsome profile of the man.
The difference was that a very enchanting mandala suddenly appeared on the man's cheek, stretching from his temple to his neck. His originally abstinent and cold aura suddenly became a bit more coquettish.
Zhu Shuangyao looked around at where she was sitting. This... wasn't this the coffee shop where she had gone on a blind date on Cen Yun's behalf a few days ago? But just now, she had been in the revolving restaurant!
She looked around in shock. The bustling crowd, the waiter who had asked the same question, Cen Yun with a blurred face sitting in the milk - tea shop not far away, and the same black coffee. All of these proved that she had actually returned to the day when she helped Cen Yun go on a blind date.
Everything was exactly the same, as if it was a copy of that day. There was only one difference, and that was - Mr. Huo?