Mini Date

The night had deepened. It was time to text each other again.

For the first time, Yang Jia Xing hesitated. He leaned back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling.

He asked himself whether he should still text Chen Si Yang.

What made Yang Jia Xing retreat wasn't Chen Si Yang's attitude, but what had happened earlier in the kitchen.

He had stood by the stove cleaning up, moving slowly as he watched Tang Zhi Chu and Chen Si Yang interact.

He had noticed the difference between himself and Tang Zhi Chu.

Yang Jia Xing considered himself a sincere person. If I like you, then I'll tell you with all my heart that I like you.

But Tang Zhi Chu wasn't like that. He quietly showed the other person through his actions.

Logically speaking, his own rhythm should have been the best on the first day, while Tang Zhi Chu should have had the least presence. With an opening like that, why had he still gradually drifted farther and farther away from Chen Si Yang?

Just now, Yang Jia Xing had found a small part of the answer.

I like you in the way I like you.

He likes you in the way you like to be liked.

He had to admit that Tang was better than Huang. But Tang Zhi Chu's initial introversion? Or perhaps his low profile? Or maybe it had all been an act? It had fooled him.

Everyone had thought he talked little and lacked presence because his poor circumstances had made him insecure.

But that perception was subjective and unfair. From a results-oriented perspective, that unfairness wasn't unfair to Tang Zhi Chu—it was unfair to Yang Jia Xing himself.

Because from the very beginning, Yang Jia Xing had never taken him seriously. He had never considered Tang Zhi Chu a rival at all.

Tang Zhi Chu had turned the tables precisely by taking advantage of everyone's perception of him.

Anyone could tell from Chen Si Yang's current attitude that she was interested in Tang Zhi Chu.

Yang Jia Xing asked himself, Would I spend that much effort and time researching something so time-consuming and labor-intensive based on what the other person liked?

For example, the kind of QQ candy Tang Zhi Chu had made today?

Yang Jia Xing felt that he probably couldn't do it. That wasn't his view of love. That was what made him hesitate.

He felt as though he didn't have as many cards as Tang Zhi Chu.

So it was Tang Zhi Chu who truly made Yang Jia Xing hesitate.

If he didn't text Chen Si Yang, then should he text Zhou Yun?

Just as Yang Jia Xing hesitated, a vibration suddenly sounded.

Tang Zhi Chu picked up his phone and looked at it, a smile appearing on his face.

"The food was delicious, the candy was sweet, and Tang Zhi Chu is handsome too."

Beside him, Huang Ze Jun turned his head away, thinking, That text came really fast. Look at that smug face!

Huang Ze Jun also picked up his phone, typed out a text, and sent it.

A moment later, Huang Ze Jun let out a sigh of relief.

Jiang Lan's text had still come.

"Rest early"

Although it was only four words without even a punctuation mark, which was admittedly a little sad, Huang Ze Jun felt there was still a chance. He just had to put more thought into it.

Just as Tang Zhi Chu was composing a reply, his phone suddenly vibrated again.

Another text popped up.

"I read the book you recommended. It wasn't good."

Tang Zhi Chu froze for a moment. It was obviously from Zhou Yun.

Tang Zhi Chu's phone had vibrated twice. Huang Ze Jun turned to look at him, and Yang Jia Xing also shifted his gaze away from the ceiling.

He got another text?

At this point, the texting segment had practically become an open secret.

Jiang Lan had texted Huang Ze Jun, so it went without saying who had sent Tang Zhi Chu those two messages.

Huang Ze Jun looked across at Yang Jia Xing again, and suddenly he didn't feel so sad anymore.

A stunned expression appeared on Yang Jia Xing's face.

E-Even his backup was gone?

Tang Zhi Chu, who had received two texts, wasn't particularly happy.

Zhou Yun's message didn't seem like one sent out of affection. It felt more like a declaration of war.

The next morning, Tang Zhi Chu came downstairs much later than usual.

After returning to the dormitory yesterday, he had stayed up late doing many things of his own.

The villa was empty. Everyone had probably gone to work.

When he entered the kitchen alone, he found something unusual—there was actually food on the dining table.

A bowl sat upside down on a plate, with a small note on top.

"For Old Tang (^^)!"

Tang Zhi Chu lifted the bowl and found a sandwich underneath.

Tang Zhi Chu remembered that Chen Si Yang had wanted to make sandwiches on the first morning, but hadn't managed to.

With a sandwich, Tang Zhi Chu didn't need to cook for himself.

He poured himself a glass of water, then sat down and scrolled through his phone while eating.

He still had to go home later. His aunt had come over, and he couldn't leave an elder hanging.

Just as he was finishing the sandwich, someone came in.

It was Zhou Yun. Tang Zhi Chu greeted her good morning.

It was normal enough to see Zhou Yun at this hour. As the owner of a gym, her schedule was much freer than that of a small restaurant owner.

"Morning," Zhou Yun replied, then sat down across from Tang Zhi Chu.

Tang Zhi Chu felt a little uncomfortable under Zhou Yun's gaze and asked, "Had breakfast?"

"I have."

"Then did you need something from me?"

Zhou Yun nodded, then held out the hand she had kept beneath the table. She was holding a bottle of a drink—the product of the show's sponsor.

Tang Zhi Chu immediately understood.

She had issued a Mini date.

In other words, a mini date. She could invite one person on a private date, and the invited person could not refuse.

It was part of the Dating Show's rules. During the entire show, every guest had one chance to use a Mini date.

"Are you free this afternoon?" Zhou Yun asked.

Tang Zhi Chu seriously asked in return, "Are you sure you want to use this chance on me?"

Zhou Yun nodded.

"Alright, then."

At ten-thirty, Tang Zhi Chu stood at the door of his home.

He took out his keys and opened the door, coming face-to-face with Tao Bo, who was holding a mop.

"What are you doing here?"

"Cousin, you're back!"

They spoke almost at the same time. Then Tao Bo said bitterly, "Cousin, save me. My mom won't let me go home."

"????"

"My mom thinks I'd just play games at home anyway, so she made me come here to help out."

"You don't have a job?"

Tang Zhi Chu hadn't kept in touch with Tao Bo much and really didn't know his situation. He only knew that this cousin of his had graduated from college nearly a year ago.

Tao Bo shook his head. "I quit my job last month. I interviewed with quite a few companies, but they're all still telling me to wait for notification."

"I'm doing fine here. Tell your mom she doesn't need to trouble you with this."

Tao Bo shook his head. "I told her, but it didn't work. She wants me to help out at your restaurant. She wants me to learn some skills and become a chef."

"Do you want to learn?"

"Not really."

"Not really?"

"Not at all."

Tang Zhi Chu nodded. "Alright, I'll talk to your mom. By the way, where is she?"

"She went to the hospital."

Since his cousin hadn't left, Tang Zhi Chu looked around. Tao Bo had clearly slept on the sofa last night, and the quilt was still there.

It was probably Aunt's arrangement. Aunt cared a lot about such details and didn't want to touch someone else's bed without them knowing.

Tang Zhi Chu went to the kitchen first and opened the refrigerator, intending to put away the groceries he had bought, only to find that it was packed full.

"Um... my mom already bought groceries." Tao Bo's voice came from the doorway.

Tang Zhi Chu could only set the groceries aside for now.

"The sheets in my room were just changed. Sleep in my room. Why sleep on the sofa?"

"I think the sofa's pretty comfortable."

"My desktop computer works too."

"Then I'd better stay in your room. What about you, Cousin? You didn't come back last night."

After putting everything away, Tang Zhi Chu left the kitchen.

He gave Tao Bo a careful once-over.

Tao Bo did not look bad. From what he remembered, everyone in the Tang family was fairly good-looking. If he had to pick one, his own dad had the fiercest face—his cheeks had puffed out, giving him that fleshy, intimidating look.

But now that he had slimmed down, he looked much more pleasing to the eye.

Tao Bo was decent-looking, just somewhat timid, with a slight hunchback.

"Cousin, do you all live together?" Tao Bo asked again.

When he saw Tang Zhi Chu nod, Tao Bo grew curious, but did not ask any further. He felt a little embarrassed.

Men and women living together... wouldn't that mean...?

Tang Zhi Chu felt there was nothing much to tidy up in the house, and Aunt did not live here anyway. So he looked at Tao Bo. "Are you coming to the shop with me, or staying home?"

Tao Bo looked around before saying, "I'd better go to the shop with you."