“CEO Ling, I think you have misunderstood.” Bai Zhen Zhen suppressed her emotions as she explained to Ling Hao Chen, “There was never any ‘play hard to get’. I have no interest in the position you offer, nor do I have any interest in you as a person.”

“But I’m interested in you.” Ling Hao Chen’s eyes were full of possessiveness.

Bai Zhen Zhen was truly resigned.

In the olden Mary Sue novels, as long as you are a lead character, you would be imbued with a love-addled brain. It doesn’t matter whether you are a genius businessman, or a abstinent CEO. The moment you meet the female lead, you suddenly lose your mind and inexplicably fall deep in love with her.

On the other hand, Bai Meng Ru was standing by the side, almost going insane with jealousy.

However, she still pressed down the jealousy in her heart, and whispered with seemingly good intentions to Ling Hao Chen: “CEO Ling, my sister is naturally stubborn. But it’s alright, I will help you persuade her.”

Ling Hao Chen wasn’t in a hurry, merely raising his brows towards Bai Zhen Zhen: “Woman, you will be mind sooner or later.”

After speaking, he turned and left without looking back.

Before Michael left, he even bowed to Bai Zhen Zhen: “Ms Bai, please enjoy your dinner with your family…”

After witnessing such a disturbance, Bai Zhen Zhen had no mood to eat dinner.

Bai Meng Ru walked over to Bai Zhen Zhen, her expression apologetic: “Sister, why are you not talking? Are you… still angry with me?”

Bai Zhen Zhen avoided Bai Meng Ru’s attempt to hold her hand.

Bai Meng Ru was taken aback. Her sister had never been so indifferent to her before.

“Did you get the handphone number?” Bai Zhen Zhen suddenly asked.

Bai Meng Ru looked at Bai Zhen Zhen in confusion.

“Since you managed to find Ling Hao Chen’s company, then I’m sure you have a thorough understanding of his phone number, and his personal information already, am I right?” Bai Zhen Zhen laughed, “If you want to suck up to others, you can do it yourself. Don’t use my name to trick others.”

“Sister, you misunderstand me, how could I have such thoughts…” Bai Meng Ru looked aggrieved.

“Good.” Bai Zhen Zhen replied lukewarmly, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Ling Hao Chen has a fiancee. You better not have any ideas about him.”

Bai Meng Ru’s expression was a little stiff: “I- I don’t…”

“Meng Ru, you are indeed in the wrong for this incident!” Father Bai seriously admonished, “No matter what, this is our family’s business. What does it have to do with that boss? He originally had impure intentions towards Zhen Zhen. Aren’t you pushing your sister into a dead end by finding him?!”

“Old Bai, what kind of words are you saying? Didn’t Meng Ru do it out of worry for your illness?” Yang Ping Su spoke up for her daughter.

Bai Meng Ru started to sob quietly: “Dad, sorry, I really didn’t think so much…”

Father Bai couldn’t stand seeing his daughter cry, hurriedly changing his tone to a gentle one, soothing her: “Meng Ru, dad’s tone was a little strict just now, don’t take it to heart. Dad doesn’t blame you…”

Bai Zhen Zhen rolled her eyes.

Unexpectedly, this eyeroll was caught by Huo Xiang.

Huo Xiang even showed her a lively smile.

Bai Zhen Zhen: “…”

She also wanted to be a melon-eating audience, but why did she end up being the female lead?!

qwq

——-

On the morning of the second day, a bouquet of roses was sent to Father Bai’s ward.

The delivery boy even specially pointed out that this was a 99-rose bouquet from CEO Ling to Ms Bai, meaning “unyielding love” in the flower language.

Bai Zhen Zhen wanted to refuse it, but the delivery boy burst into tears, saying if the flowers were rejected, he would have to pay a penalty ten times the price of the flowers, and his one month of salary would disappear just like that.

He initially thought that putting it that way, Bai Zhen Zhen would definitely sympathise with him and accept the flowers, but…

“Are you stupid, or do you think I’m stupid? If the flowers are rejected, at most your store loses the income from this bouquet of flower! Tell me, what right does the sender have to fine you ten times the price of the flowers?!”

The delivery boy was stupified — Why doesn’t this girl play according to the rules?!

He had no choice but to slink out of the ward with the flowers.

By the side, Huo Xiang gave Bai Zhen Zhen a thumbs up: “Very good, Zhen Zhen! The logic is sound, killed it with a single move!”

Yang Ping Su, on the other hand, sneered: “You’re still pretending to be lofty. Wait till you grow older in a few years, see who will still choose to pursue you.”

Bai Zhen Zhen couldn’t be bothered with her.

Unexpectedly, half an hour later, another delivery boy walked into the ward.

“Hello Ms Bai, this is the flowers that CEO Ling sent to you.” Saying so, the delivery boy handed a card to Bai Zhen Zhen.

Bai Zhen Zhen took a closer look. Not only did the card not have a greeting, there was even a “threat” written on it: This city has a total of 101 flower shops. If you are not satisfied with this shop, I have 100 other ways to satisfy you.

Bai Zhen Zhen: “…”

Seems like, if she didn’t accept this bouquet of flowers today, she would be harassed by 100 flower shops.

“I will accept it, thank you.” Bai Zhen Zhen received the bouquet.

Huo Xiang was a little surprised: “It’s only the second bouquet, and you can’t hold it in any longer?”

Bai Zhen Zhen didn’t reply Huo Xiang, turning to her dad: “Dad, Doctor Zhang checked on you in the morning, saying that your operation was very successful and you can be discharged anytime. You just have to come back after a month for a review session. I’ll go do the discharge procedures now, we will leave early this afternoon.”

Yang Ping Su agreed with Bai Zhen Zhen’s decision: “If he can be discharged earlier, then try to discharge earlier, save money!”

Father Bai also nodded.

He could tell that Huo Xiang was a little dispirited, thus smiled: “Lil’ Huo, after you are discharged, come to Uncle Bai’s house to play!”

Hearing that, Huo Xiang’s spirit immediately perked up: “Ok, since Uncle Bai has said so, I will definitely come!”

Bai Zhen Zhen glanced at Huo Xiang from the corner of her eye.

She couldn’t help but give a bad review in her heart: This random passerby sure has many tricks up his sleeve.

——

Holding all the various necessary paperwork, Bai Zhen Zhen went to the reception to settle the discharge procedures.

After that, she headed back to the ward.

Halfway through, she ran into Huo Xiang in the middle of the corridor.

Holding his handphone, he waved it at her.

“That Mr Jiang from the day before just called me.” Huo Xiang said straightforwardly.

Bai Zhen Zhen was taken aback: “It’s only been two days, why did he call so fast? Didn’t he say the class gathering will be next month?”

Huo Xiang shook his head: “He wasn’t looking for you about the class gathering, but to invite you to attend his birthday party.”

Birthday party?!

Bai Zhen Zhen immediately reacted.

She remembered this part of the plot. This was an important part of the original book. The female lead attended the second male lead’s birthday party. However, she was worried that the first male lead would misunderstand, and thus didn’t tell him about it beforehand. She didn’t expect that her younger sister would “accidentally” leak it to the first male lead, causing a misunderstanding between the first male lead and the female lead.

After that, the first male lead went to red-handedly catch the “adulterous couple”, making a big fuss at the party. The female lead was both angry and embarrassed, parting ways angrily with the first male lead, purposefully throwing herself into the arms of the second male lead to spite him…

Anyway, the plot was full of drama worthy of puking blood.

“I’m not going.” Bai Zhen Zhen said firmly.

“I’ve already agreed on your behalf. Tomorrow afternoon, at Diamond Hotel’s Sky Garden.” Huo Xiang replied without any change in emotions.

Bai Zhen Zhen: ???

Huo Xiang explained: “Don’t you want to let that big boss give up on you? I’ll give you a suggestion — attend that Mr Jiang’s party and rekindle your old relationship with him. Wouldn’t you be able to get rid of that big boss successfully this way?”

Bai Zhen Zhen rolled her eyes at him: “So you want me to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire? Wouldn’t I still be cooked alive?!”

“You shouldn’t be? I see that Mr Jiang is a talented man, and his character is quite good. You also said that your relationship with him was quite ambiguous in high school…”

“That was all in the past,” Bai Zhen Zhen immediately interrupted Huo Xiang, “I don’t like any of them, so you should stop randomly matchmaking me.”

Huo Xiang pretended to be surprised: “You don’t like any?! Both of them are outstanding figures. Zhen Zhen, I didn’t expect your requirements to be so high?”

“This has nothing to do with high requirements…”

After hearing Huo Xiang’s words, Bai Zhen Zhen felt even more depressed.

If she really went for it, it wouldn’t take more than a few days for the women around the first, second and third male lead to realise the “threat” she posed to them, and begin a round of bloodbath…

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Bai Zhen Zhen’s mind, thoughtfully saying: “In fact, this ‘bad idea’ you came up with is somewhat reasonable. Didn’t you mention previously that the best way to refuse someone is to make them give up completely!”

Huo Xiang didn’t know what she was getting at: “So?”

“So I can have you pretend to be my boyfriend and attend the party together. This will make them give up!”

Huo Xiang answered without hesitation: “I refuse. You’re not my type!”

“Are you dumb! It’s just an act; I’m not asking you to be my real boyfriend!” Bai Zhen Zhen glared at Huo Xiang.

After a pause, she still felt a little unhappy in her heart, “From your tone, it seems like having me as a girlfriend is wronging you.”

“How could that be, Zhen Zhen. You are so pretty, how could it be wronging me…” Huo Xiang’s words took a turn, “But when it comes to relationships, it still boils down to what the two parties feel about each other.”

Bai Zhen Zhen saw how reluctant Huo Xiang was, reaffirming in her heart that he really was just a cannon fodder random passerby. She felt further at ease knowing that he wouldn’t develop any feelings for her.

Pretending to be serious, she said: “I don’t care if you are willing or not, anyway you owe me money, so you should help me. Also, if you act with me this time, I won’t charge you interest on your debt.”

“Interest?!” Huo Xiang looked astonished, “When I borrowed money, you clearly said there was no rush to pay it back, and you never mentioned the word ‘interest’ either!”

“Just because I didn’t mention it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. I am your creditor; I have the final say.” Bai Zhen Zhen shamelessly said, threatening, “To help or not, depends on you. 3, 2…”

“Help, I will help!” Huo Xiang quickly agreed.

Bai Zhen Zhen’s tone was full of schadenfreude: “That’s the spirit! It’s not like I’m asking for your life!”

“Reluctance” was written all over Huo Xiang’s face.

But the moment he turned around, his eyes curved into crescent-like moons, like a hunter happily watching its prey walk into its trap.

— System: “Oh my god, there’s still this kind of strategy?!”

— Huo Xiang: “You obviously don’t understand women. This move is the most cliche… Playing hard to get.”