He Ran's Little Stratagem

The subway was packed, and Chen Wen could only stand.

His handsome face and the sword on his back immediately made him the most eye-catching person in the carriage.

Two young girls sat on a bench, stealing glances at Chen Wen while whispering to each other.

They would occasionally playfully nudge each other, their faces flushing red.

"Go ask for his WeChat."

"You saw him first, why don't you go?"

"But I'm already taken."

"There are so many people, it's embarrassing!"

The two girls shoved each other for a while but ultimately didn't gather the courage to approach Chen Wen.

It was hard to say whether this was unfortunate or lucky.

After all, given Chen Wen's personality, even if they had exchanged WeChat IDs, it was unlikely anything would have come of it.

If he found them annoying, Chen Wen had plenty of "good sisters" waiting in his blacklist.

Chen Wen didn't realize that two more girls had briefly fallen for him until he got off the subway.

Following the address Si Jiao Ji had given him, Chen Wen arrived at a villa district and took out his phone to make a WeChat call.

In Hu City's Longmen Villa District, at Si Jiao Ji's house.

He Ji was playing a game on his ultra-wide computer in the living room.

After his game character died again, He Ji reached out and grabbed his phone, unlocking it with his fingerprint.

However, after trying all five fingers, the phone screen remained completely unresponsive.

He Ji stared, stunned.

Why was it a demo phone?

And why did the demo phone's case look exactly like his own phone's case?

Suddenly, He Ji felt that something was not right.

"Da Bai!" He Ji shouted.

Hearing his boss's voice, a chubby young man immediately ran over to He Ji. "What's up, President He?"

"Did you see my phone?"

Da Bai blinked, then pointed at the phone in He Ji's hand. "Isn't it right there in your hand?"

"This one's fake!" He Ji pressed the power button a few times, but there was no reaction.

"Uh..." Da Bai rubbed the back of his head and scanned the room, but couldn't find his boss's phone. "Besides your sister wandering around earlier, only Diao was here."

Diao was a Shiba Inu. If it had taken He Ji's phone, He Ji, no matter how engrossed in his game, would have noticed.

Besides, what kind of dog would go to the trouble of using a demo phone as a diversion?

So the answer was obvious.

"He Ran!"

"Come out here!"

He Ji circled the living room but couldn't find her, so he went upstairs to He Ran's bedroom.

"He Ran!!"

Bang bang bang!

"Woof woof!"

He Ji pounded on the locked bedroom door a few times. Immediately, a dog bark came from inside.

He Ji: "?"

What the heck?

Was Diao in there too?

"Open the door! Give me back my phone!" He Ji yelled impatiently.

Creak~ The door opened.

"...Okay, okay~ I'll open the door for you then~" He Ran, revealing two white legs under an oversized shirt, walked out of the bedroom while on the phone. "Thanks, Master~"

After hanging up, He Ran's innocent expression immediately turned into one of suppressed glee. She shoved the phone into He Ji's hand and skipped towards the stairs.

"Hey, hey, hey!" He Ji grabbed his sister's arm. "What's going on? What kind of trick are you pulling now?"

"Don't pull me!" He Ran shook off her brother. "Master is still waiting for me~"

"You contacted Gu Wen?!" He Ji exclaimed, then looked confused. "Wait! How did you know my phone password?!"

He Ran said cheerfully as she went downstairs, "You forgot? Last time you used Diao's paw to record a fingerprint, and you never deleted it."

"???" He Ji was stunned. He looked down at Shiba Inu Diao, who had just come out of the bedroom and was rubbing against his leg, and felt a sudden pang in his tooth.

You big-browed, big-eyed traitor!

Following He Ran downstairs, He Ji walked out the villa door, through the small garden in front of it, and to the main entrance. There, he saw He Ran greeting the incredibly handsome Gu Wen.

He was wearing ordinary clothes, but with the Elucidator on his back, Chen Wen exuded an ethereal, otherworldly aura as he walked.

Even from a distance, He Ji couldn't help but freeze for a moment.

When he got closer, he saw He Ran take the Elucidator from Gu Wen and thank him with a charming smile, "Thank you, Master, for coming all this way. I'll take this sword on behalf of my brother for now, and return it to you in a few days."

Hearing this, He Ji's toothache intensified.

"Hello," Chen Wen said, greeting He Ji as he approached.

"...Mm," He Ji's eyes were conflicted. He shot a subtle glance at He Ran before finally saying, "Thank you for making the trip. It's been a hassle."

"You're welcome."

Chen Wen nodded, completely oblivious to the subtle tension between the siblings.

"Master, what's this?" He Ran, sharp-eyed, looked curiously at the box in Chen Wen's hand.

Chen Wen raised the gift box, "A Children's Day gift."

"Really?" He Ran exclaimed in surprise, "Is it for me?"

"Of course not," Chen Wen looked at her strangely, "It's for my girlfriend."

Stunned by Chen Wen's words, He Ran stiffened. Meanwhile, He Ji, covering his stomach, convulsed with silent laughter.

"Master, Master~ Since you're already here, why not come in for a bit? My handicraft room is still being renovated, could you give me some advice?"

He Ran cast aside her momentary embarrassment and, like a little rabbit, continued her soft offensive.

"No, I have other matters to attend to. I must be going," Chen Wen flatly shook his head and waved goodbye to the siblings.

"Farewell, Gu Wen. I'll return the sword in a couple of days," He Ji called out.

"Brother!" He Ran stamped her foot in frustration, "Why aren't you helping me!"

"Help you with what!" As soon as Gu Wen was out of earshot, He Ji's demeanor changed, "You little brat, remember this! If you dare to touch my phone without permission again, I'll expose your true colors in front of Gu Wen!"

"What are you talking about~ I'm genuinely seeking knowledge this time~ I just want to learn more skills from Master~" He Ran put on a spoiled act, drawing circles on the ground with her toes, "I haven't looked at anything in your cloud drive at all, big brother~"

He Ji: "!!!"

"Those are things normal guys have, nothing strange about it!" He Ji argued stubbornly.

"Oh?" He Ran tilted her head, as if two devil horns had sprouted above it, "Are things like that also something normal guys watch?"

"Holy crap?!" He Ji panicked, "I haven't even watched that stuff! Someone sent it to me as a prank!"

"Who knows about that?" He Ran hopped into the house, "No wonder you've never had a girlfriend. I don't know if I should talk to Mom about it..."

"Wait!" He Ji hurriedly chased after her, "Just tell me, what are your conditions?"

"Help me invite Master to our house to teach me woodworking!"

"No way!"

"Then I'll return this Elucidator later."

"This..." He Ji looked conflicted, "Fine..."

"You're a good brother," He Ran turned and patted He Ji's shoulder, a sly smile curving her lips.

[Impression Inquiry]: He Ran's role is twofold: to foster a closer relationship between Chen Wen and Si Jiao Ji, and to highlight Chen Wen's straightforward, "straight man" personality. However, I'm concerned that many might perceive her as manipulative. If the feedback is negative, I will adjust her role accordingly.

[Friendly Recommendation]: Almost forgot, recommending a book, Starting with Contract Pets, a spiritual recovery pet novel~