"What's wrong? Don't you want to admit it?" Ruolin felt that these words had a "petty person gaining power" connotation.
"So what if I caught someone out? Is it really necessary to be so unforgiving?" Ruolin thought angrily.
Seeing that Ruolin remained silent, he added, "However, I can give you a chance to make amends."
Sigh, he was the one who called and ruined her sweet dream, so how come he's the one in the right now? Ruolin felt a little confused. Fine, since he already knows her true colors and knows she's an imposter, she might as well go all out: "Okay, I lied to you, I'm sorry, okay?"
"The apology wasn't sincere enough."
"Then what do you want?"
"Treat me to lunch tomorrow." The answer was taken for granted.
"..." Ruolin truly understood what it meant to "lose both her wife and her army" this time. She had kindly arranged a blind date for her friend, only to waste a whole weekend and even have to forgo lunch. Besides, Han Haoxuan looked so wealthy; could she, a mere salaried worker, afford to hire him?
Her sixth sense suddenly told her that this blind date was a bottomless pit, and she would be deeply trapped in it, unable to extricate herself.
Really? Why would someone have such a strange thought?
"How about I treat you to a street food stall?" Ruolin tried to use this to discourage Han Haoxuan from treating her. How could the young master Han, who was used to eating delicacies, possibly condescend to eat at a street stall?
Unexpectedly, a completely unconcerned tone came from the other end: "Great! Are you going to 'Tianyi' or 'Changlong'? If I remember correctly, you graduated from D University and then stayed on to teach, right? So you should be more familiar with 'Tianyi'?"
"Tianyi" and "Changlong" are both well-known snack streets in the city. The former is adjacent to D University, and students and teachers from D University often choose to eat there because the food is delicious and inexpensive.
And D University is the university where Xinyu currently teaches.
But since Han Haoxuan saw through Ruolin's disguise as Xinyu, why did he still say those things? Ruolin was completely baffled. They say true wisdom appears as foolishness, so she might as well play the fool.
"It's true that we are familiar with 'Heaven's Will', but eating there all the time gets boring, so we might as well go somewhere else."
"Sure, you choose the location, I don't mind." His tone seemed casual.
"Then let's go..." Ruolin wished she could be possessed by the spirit of Ikkyu-san; she didn't want that guy to easily eat up all the money she had worked so hard to earn. After hesitating for a while, she finally came up with a decent idea, "The 'Delicious Restaurant' over at the three-way intersection, their food is truly amazing. It's so delicious, I guarantee you'll never forget it after just one bite." Ruolin boasted enthusiastically. Actually, the restaurant wasn't as delicious as she described, but it wasn't far from where she currently lived, so she wouldn't have to squeeze onto the bus. Han Haoxuan had his own car anyway, and since he wanted someone to treat him to a meal, he naturally had to pay a price.
Han Haoxuan readily agreed. Then he said, "I won't disturb your rest anymore, sweet dreams," and only hung up the phone with a smile after Ruolin did so.
The next day, when Ruolin arrived at "Delicious Delight," Han Haoxuan was already sitting at the table waiting for her.
She walked towards him somewhat nervously. She didn't know why, but she suddenly felt tense.
Today, Ruolin didn't wear a dress, but instead wore an even more outdated tracksuit. This tracksuit, to put it simply, is actually Xinyu's high school uniform. Xinyu said she wanted to dress more androgynously to hide her feminine charm, so it would be easier to dispel Han Haoxuan's bad intentions.
Looking up and seeing her, Han Haoxuan was momentarily stunned, forgetting what to say to her. Only when Ruolin approached did he smile and say, "You've come!"
He sat by the window, the midday sun shining in and casting a soft, golden halo over his face.
He smiled at Ruolin, revealing his clean and even teeth, as if he had an irresistible charm, making him stand out and appear dashing even in casual clothes.
Han Haoxuan's smile made Ruolin's heart flutter for a moment, but she quickly dismissed the thought, telling herself that her task today was to drive him away, to do everything in her power to drive him away.
"The environment here doesn't seem very good. Why don't we go somewhere else?" Ruolin said.
Xinyu said to try to cause as much trouble as possible. So Ruolin had to work hard to leave a bad impression on Han Haoxuan.
"Okay, I'll do as you say." Han Haoxuan stood up.
Ruolin was puzzled. She had been so late and changed the location repeatedly, yet Han Haoxuan showed no sign of anger at all.
First, they went to several restaurants nearby. As soon as they sat down and got the menu, Ruolin started shaking her head and saying that the food didn't suit her taste, and then she left, making Han Haoxuan keep apologizing to the restaurant staff.
Ruolin wondered if she had gone too far, but in order to avoid being harassed by Han Haoxuan in the future, she had no choice but to harden her heart.
"Since there aren't any restaurants nearby that suit your taste, why don't we drive somewhere else?" Han Haoxuan suggested.
"Alright." Ruolin was also a little tired from running.
"My car is parked across the street. Are you going to wait here for me or come with me to get it?"
"Let's go together." Ruolin was quite unaccustomed to her outfit today, because she was already quite old, and wearing a school uniform to pretend to be a high school student made her feel like she was trying to look younger.
The light turned green, and Ruolin walked across the street. Suddenly, a car making a left turn sped towards her, and before she could react, she was pulled into someone's arms. She found herself in Han Haoxuan's arms, his fresh and pleasant scent filling her nostrils. She couldn't quite describe the scent, but it stirred a strange sense of attachment within her.
Realizing the inappropriateness of her actions, Ruolin hurriedly broke free from Han Haoxuan's embrace.
"Be careful when crossing the road, don't rush," Han Haoxuan's gentle voice rang out.
"Mmm." Ruolin lowered her head, feeling a flush on her face and her heart pounding as if it were about to leap into her throat. This reminded her of the first time she met Han Haoxuan, when he accidentally kissed her, and the second time, when he hugged her. In Ruolin's eyes, these were intimate gestures between lovers, so how could she have done all these things with Han Haoxuan, someone she had only met twice? What was even more infuriating was that she couldn't feel any remorse.
"Let me help you cross the street," Han Haoxuan said, taking Ruolin's hand.
Han Haoxuan's palms are large and thick, and have a good feel.
Ruolin's palms were a little sweaty.
She tried to shake off his hand, but it wouldn't obey her. It was as if being held like that gave her a sense of security. And it even felt like she was holding the whole world in her grasp.
"Are you nervous? Have you never been held hands by a boy before?" Han Haoxuan asked.
"Hmm. What about you?" Ruolin had been pursued by boys in college, but her mother instilled in her the idea that she shouldn't date before graduation. Ruolin, who had always been a good girl, actually rejected many boys' advances. So she had never been in a relationship, let alone held a boy's hand.
"A man approaching thirty who has never held a woman's hand is absolutely lying. But holding your hand feels very different. Your hand is so soft and small, and most importantly, holding your hand suddenly makes me wish time could stand still."
Upon hearing these words, which sounded like a confession, Ruolin panicked and quickly shook off his hand.
"What? Don't you like me holding your hand?" Han Haoxuan asked, slightly embarrassed.
"..." Ruolin did not answer.
"If you don't like it, I won't hold your hand," Han Haoxuan said with a touch of self-deprecation.
Chapter Five
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The two walked across the road in silence. Only after getting into the car did Han Haoxuan break the silence and remind Ruolin to fasten her seatbelt.
"What do you like to eat? Where do you want to go?" Han Haoxuan asked.
"Could we go to a quieter restaurant with fewer people?" While bothering others, Ruolin was also bothering herself, and she was getting tired of "causing trouble." She figured she might as well fill her stomach first, and then continue "causing trouble."
"OK."
The car started, and a breeze ruffled Ruolin's hair.
She was quite flustered and had no confidence at all about whether she could continue acting.
She really wanted to know why Han Haoxuan would say those things to her if he already knew she wasn't Xinyu herself.
"Do you really hate me?" Han Haoxuan suddenly asked.
"Uh...it's not that I hate it, it's just..." Ruolin stammered, unsure of what to say.
"Then why didn't you want to see me and lied and said you were going to do outdoor sketching today?"
"Is this what you mean by me lying?" Ruolin was puzzled. Didn't he know she was an imposter?
"Yes. Is there something else you're hiding from me?"
"No, no..." Ruolin quickly shook her head.
"..." Han Haoxuan turned to look at Ruolin, not noticing her slightly flustered look, chuckled, and asked seriously, "Is lying one of your strengths?"
Ruolin glanced at Han Haoxuan and said irritably, "Is it okay if it's just instinct?"
"Your school actually hired someone like you, who lies on an instinct, as a teacher. Aren't you afraid of misleading students?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
"Yes, what I'm most worried about right now is not finding a restaurant you like today. If that happens, I'll be the one who's in trouble. I've always thought I was picky enough, but I didn't expect you to be even more difficult to please than me!"
"You just realized that?! It's because I'm so difficult to please that I'm still unmarried!" Ruolin seized the opportunity to shift the blame onto herself. Hmph, I am the difficult one, let's see if you still dare to be interested?
"That's perfect. I'm also a bit difficult to please, so we're a match made in heaven. How about you consider marrying me?" Han Haoxuan said in a seemingly casual tone.
"You'll regret it if you really get married." Ruolin just took Han Haoxuan's words as a joke.
"No, as long as you dare to marry me, I won't regret it." Han Haoxuan's tone seemed very serious this time. "Seriously, Xinyu, you might as well consider the issue of marriage."
He called her Xinyu! Ruolin suddenly felt a pang of sadness. Perhaps what he liked was only Xinyu's background. Xinyu was a local, from a well-off family, and had a good job. But what if he knew she wasn't Xinyu at all, just a penniless office worker adrift in a foreign land? Would everything change?
"Actually..." Ruolin wanted to tell him the truth, but she hesitated. Firstly, she was afraid of causing trouble for Xinyu, and secondly, since she and Han Haoxuan were now strangers, she decided to keep it a secret.
"It's alright, my heart can take the test. Just say what you want to say." Han Haoxuan glanced at her.
"You're not my type. I've said that before. So please don't waste your time on me," Ruolin said, feigning indifference.
"I want to know the real reason." Han Haoxuan wasn't stupid. He always felt that she was acting strangely. He could sense that she liked him, but she always denied it. Moreover, today she seemed to be deliberately testing his patience.
"I prefer men who achieve success through their own hard work, rather than those who live a carefree life because of a good family background," Ruolin said earnestly.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons she likes Mu Jingyan? His family background is average, but he works very hard and is now the financial director of a company. He is her crush and also her role model.
Although Han Haoxuan was outstanding in every way, almost impeccable, Ruolin still felt as if they were from two different worlds. If they were together, wouldn't she become a modern-day Cinderella? She never believed Cinderella was happy. Fairy tales often end happily, not as they begin. Cinderella marrying into a castle doesn't guarantee happiness. Princes and princesses are the perfect match.
"Yes, sometimes, having a good family background means you can get what you want with less effort than others. But does having a good family background guarantee a carefree life? My path hasn't been smooth sailing. I've achieved what I love through my own hard work. My father always wanted me to take over his business, but I wasn't interested in media. I was interested in e-commerce, so I went against my parents' wishes. Because I secretly changed my major behind my family's back, my relationship with my father became very strained. Now that my career is doing well, my relationship with my father has gradually improved. I wouldn't say I'm very successful now, but at least I didn't rely on my family; I got to where I am today step by step through my own efforts."
After hearing Han Haoxuan's words, Ruolin realized she knew too little about him. Perhaps he wasn't the spoiled brat she imagined. Ruolin suddenly didn't want to use any of the underhanded tricks Xinyu had suggested. She felt that using them would make her seem extremely childish in front of the charming and gentle Han Haoxuan. Although she didn't want to date him, she didn't want to leave him with a bad impression either.
“You’re so different from all the blind dates I’ve ever met,” Han Haoxuan continued when Ruolin remained silent.
"What's the difference? Aren't they all two eyes, one nose, and one mouth?"
Han Haoxuan smiled and said, "Other people go on blind dates with only one goal: to get married. And I'm not bragging, but with my qualities, other girls would be scrambling to marry me. But you say I'm not your type. I want to ask you a question: were you really going on this blind date with marriage in mind?"
"I didn't want to get married so early; I was forced into blind dates." Of course, Ruolin wouldn't reveal the specific reasons for the blind dates; she wouldn't betray her good friend Xinyu.
"Oh? Forced into a blind date? Me too. I usually look down on blind dates, but who knew this one would lead me to meet you. Seriously, what kind of man do you like? Besides achieving success through your own efforts, what other essential qualities do you have? I want to become the kind of man you like." Han Haoxuan said earnestly.
Ruolin racked her brains trying to find Han Haoxuan's flaws, but she couldn't find any. Was he really that perfect?
Left with no other choice, Ruolin could only ramble on: "Uh... the man I like should have Fei Yuqing's voice, Tony Leung's eyes, Andy Lau's nose, and Wu Chun's lips."
"Hehe, if you combine these four elements in one person, wouldn't that person become a 'four unlikes'?"
Ruolin smiled shyly.
Chapter Six
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The car stopped in front of an Italian restaurant.
The restaurant had a great atmosphere; it was quiet with few customers.