An Unexpected Encounter

Yun Xiaoran had thought they could just pick any place for a meal.

He had never expected Zhou Zeyu to go to so much trouble, deliberately choosing the Seaview Western Restaurant, where the average bill ran upwards of a thousand per person.

Zhou Zeyu had chosen this place for two reasons.

First, it was truly beautiful. With the bustling traffic outside, the skyscrapers across the water, and the little boats out at sea, the view was magnificent.

Second, in an area where every inch of land cost a fortune, this restaurant offered reasonably priced food that also tasted good.

If they were lucky, they might even run into a celebrity. Dining with a view of the sea and a celebrity nearby-wasn't that a refined sort of pleasure?

The restaurant also seemed to cater to somewhat introverted people like Yun Xiaoran. Partitions surrounded each dining area, making it almost a private room and offering a decent amount of privacy.

Zhou Zeyu had reserved a table by the window. By the time they sat down, the server had already brought out five or six dishes.

The delicacies from land and sea came in small, exquisite portions, their dazzling array of colors almost overwhelming.

"These are all dishes I consider specialties here. If you like them, we can try some others afterward."

"Okay."

They were halfway through their meal when a striking figure suddenly approached their table.

She set down the two drinks in her hands and sat beside Zhou Zeyu.

"Hey, cousin, what brings you here?"

The woman spoke with a charming smile, her eyes full of amusement as she looked at Zhou Zeyu.

Then she turned her attention to Yun Xiaoran. When she noticed his rather plain clothes, all cheap, off-brand street-stall purchases, her smile faded a little before she settled beside Zhou Zeyu.

What a shame. If his family were better off, dating him might make for some sweet memories.

But if he dressed this plainly, forget it.

Zhou Zeyu took the initiative to introduce her.

"Xiaoran, this is my cousin, Zhou Yanqi."

Zhou Yanqi smiled faintly before speaking.

"Hi. You must be the Big Shot my cousin keeps talking about, the one he can't get out of his head."

Zhou Zeyu hadn't told Zhou Yanqi that this man was Lone Cloud, one of VA Station's top creators, whose video had made the Top 100.

So Zhou Yanqi had simply assumed that Yun Xiaoran was another Little Singer quietly making his mark on VA Station.

But...

He was quite handsome. In fact, his looks matched Zhou Yanqi's tastes perfectly, without a single unnecessary detail.

Still, even if he couldn't be her boyfriend, there was no reason she couldn't tease him a little.

Yun Xiaoran frowned slightly, though he didn't neglect any of the proper courtesies. He had originally thought he would just be having a meal with Zhou Zeyu.

Why had a cousin suddenly appeared out of nowhere?

The less of this pointless socializing he had to do, the better.

"Don't be shy. Here, have a drink. If you want some other milk tea or something, I can go buy it."

As Zhou Yanqi offered him the drink, her flirtatious eyes kept roaming over Yun Xiaoran, showering him with hints and attention.

Zhou Yanqi also came from a wealthy family. With her sweet yet mature beauty, she had no shortage of admirers.

Yun Xiaoran was clearly a poor boy who had never weathered the storms of love or money. With just a little effort, she could have him wrapped around her finger.

Then she could dump him and have a little fun with the boy.

Zhou Yanqi's assessment was indeed correct. Yun Xiaoran was a poor boy, and he had never experienced the great ups and downs of wealth.

But by now, Yun Xiaoran had tasted every flavor love had to offer, from sweet to bitter.

"Thanks, but I don't drink that stuff."

Yun Xiaoran bluntly and decisively rejected Zhou Yanqi's frontal assault.

What Zhou Yanqi hadn't expected was that Yun Xiaoran genuinely didn't like those drinks-and had absolutely no interest in the woman before him.

Zhou Yanqi said, "N-no way..."

Sometimes, love was like that. From his very first glance at her, Yun Xiaoran felt as though he could already foresee everything beyond this hurdle, all the torment and trials he would have to endure.

His heart was sealed in concrete. He had no strength left to love.

Zhou Zeyu was utterly stunned. His cousin was practically a Player, running circles around those men. He had originally intended to warn Yun Xiaoran not to fall into her trap.

He hadn't expected Yun Xiaoran's resolve to be as unshakable as an old monk deep in meditation.

He had no interest in this woman whatsoever, and both of them could see the cold indifference in his eyes.

Well, damn.

Zhou Zeyu stared in astonishment at his defeated cousin.

"Master, I understand now! To write love songs, your heart first has to be harder than steel!"

But Yun Xiaoran had already seen Shen Jin. Leaving attraction aside, even a simple comparison of their looks put Zhou Yanqi far behind her.

Right, he was here to discuss songwriting techniques. He couldn't let his cousin interfere.

Suppressing a laugh, Zhou Zeyu waved his cousin away.

"All right, go on with whatever you were doing. Xiaoran and I have something to discuss."

Though Zhou Yanqi was reluctant, she could only open her mouth without saying anything and leave in a huff. She had certainly underestimated her opponent at their first meeting.

Yun Xiaoran finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Yun Xiaoran remained sparing with his words. He rarely spoke at length, mostly giving an answer for each question.

Zhou Zeyu's personality complemented his. Even after they had eaten and drunk their fill, he wasn't in a hurry to leave, keeping Yun Xiaoran there to discuss things for another half hour.

"I can't hold it anymore, Xiaoran. I'm going to the restroom. We'll pick this up when I get back."

Zhou Zeyu really needed to go, so he could only pause their conversation and hurry to the restroom.

Just as Yun Xiaoran was about to take out his phone to pass the time, Zhou Yanqi seized her chance.

Zhou Yanqi appeared with a video playing on her phone.

Since small talk hadn't worked earlier, she would start with the subject he knew best.

"I can't help becoming a stubborn fish..."

Yun Xiaoran had his head lowered over his phone. Hearing the song, he froze briefly, then looked up and met Zhou Yanqi's alluring, blinking eyes. She seemed to have completely forgotten their earlier awkward encounter.

Yun Xiaoran knew that Zhou Yanqi was only growing more determined with each setback. What had started as a simple desire to tease him had now become an urge to conquer him.

"My cousin says you're really talented at music. Could you listen to this song?"

As she spoke, Zhou Yanqi restarted the player. A familiar melody came from it-it was the very music Yun Xiaoran had created.

Yun Xiaoran: "..."

The faint smile on his face made Zhou Yanqi think she had scored a resounding victory. And so a peculiar scene unfolded in the restaurant.

A beautifully dressed woman, her eyes brimming with smiles, held a phone close to the ear of a seated young man.

The young man leaned toward her phone, coming within a centimeter of her fingertips. Neither of them noticed how intimate that distance was.

Just then.

A tall woman with an outstanding presence walked into the restaurant, wearing a white sweatshirt and black stockings that reached above her knees. The stockings showed off her long, shapely legs to full effect.

Even sunglasses, a mask, and a baseball cap couldn't hide her lovely, delicate face and elegant bearing. The moment she entered, most of the diners turned slightly to look.

They barely even noticed the equally beautiful woman beside her. Sister Hua's presence was hardly weak, but next to Shen Jin, she could only serve as a backdrop.