Hahaha, Si Yiheng really hit the nail on the head.
Shu Yu poked the cushion with her slender white fingers and grumbled softly, “Tie Dan, Si Yiheng is actually kind of smart! We explained so much for nothing earlier—he definitely came here just to ask that one question.”
Tie Dan was also at a loss. They’d acted for ages, only to end up performing to an empty audience.
Si Yiheng had been waiting for them all along.
Didn’t the book-transmigration bureau owe its host some compensation for assigning such a difficult target?
Si Yiheng knew he’d guessed right when Shu Yu didn’t reply for ages.
She always went silent when she was feeling guilty.
ATM: Looks like you don’t want to see me anymore.
Shu Yu didn’t even know what to say. He’s being this straightforward? How am I supposed to answer that?
Tie Dan squeezed its eyes shut tightly, [Calm him down first!]
Tie Dan: [Throw a tantrum! Be unreasonable!]
Little Fish Swimming Around: I don’t! You’re wronging me!
Little Fish Swimming Around: Brother, have we grown apart? Do you not want to be with me anymore? If you don’t, you can just say so—you don’t have to insult how I feel about you with questions like this. I won’t bother you, I’ll leave quietly.
Si Yiheng fell silent for several seconds.
ATM: Are you turning this around on me?
Shu Yu: ……
She let out a bitter laugh, then quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. She didn’t dare show how resigned she was—afraid fate would decide she wasn’t humbled enough and hit her with something even worse.
Little Fish Swimming Around: Don’t you have work to do?
ATM: I do.
Little Fish Swimming Around: Then go work. You don’t need to chat with me.
ATM: ……
Little Fish Swimming Around: Do you know what kind of boyfriend I like?
ATM: No.
Si Yiheng figured she was just rambling to change the subject and dodge his question.
Little Fish Swimming Around: The kind who’s a take-charge dad outside, a loyal puppy at home, a wolf in bed, a bank in his pocket, and an Emperor Qin who waits on me hand and foot.
Si Yiheng stared at the message without a word.
Little Fish Swimming Around: Got it?
ATM: Mm.
Little Fish Swimming Around: Brother, go earn money then. I’m going to sleep.
ATM: Mm.
Shu Yu was sure he’d been so shocked by her made-up list that he’d forget all about pressing her.
When Si Yiheng stopped messaging her, she finally relaxed again and switched to her chat with Shen Qinghan—who’d sent her a whole flood of texts.
Shen Qinghan: Did Si Yiheng reach out to you?
Shen Qinghan: Why don’t you break up with him? I’ll introduce you to someone who’s not so calculating, and he’s just as rich.
Shu Yu was at her wits’ end. It was bad enough Si Yiheng kept pestering her—why did Shen Qinghan keep pushing her to split up too?
Little Fish Swimming Around: Not a chance.
After all, Si Yiheng was her only mission target. It would be useless to get together with anyone else.
Shen Qinghan had no idea what was holding her back. He was annoyed that she liked Si Yiheng so much—even knowing how cunning he was, she still wouldn’t leave him. Was that slimy, scheming man really that good?
Meanwhile, in the lab.
Si Yiheng’s junior was looping a Douyin video.
A girl’s voice played from the speaker:
This is what girls want: a man who acts like a protective dad outside, a devoted puppy at home, a beast in bed, a walking bank, and an Emperor Qin who waits on her hand and foot.
The junior asked, “Is that how you get a girlfriend?”
Si Yiheng said nothing.
“Senior, is that how you got Sister-in-law?”
Ever since Si Yiheng had gone out in the rain to hold an umbrella for his girlfriend, everyone on campus knew he was taken. His junior was eager to pick up tips.
Si Yiheng: “No.”
The junior scowled. “I knew those clickbait accounts were lying.”
Si Yiheng: “…They’re not lying.”
At least, that was what Shu Yu said she wanted.
The junior’s eyes went wide. “Senior, do you act like her puppy at home too?”
Si Yiheng: ……
“No wonder you rush over whenever it rains to hold an umbrella! So that’s what being a puppy means! I’ve got it now!”
Si Yiheng: ……
He decided not to waste his breath on the chatterbox.
He was about to leave after finishing his experiment when his junior hurried over again. “Senior—they’re spreading rumors about Sister-in-law on the forum.”
Si Yiheng’s eyes turned cold. “Forward it to me.”
On his way out, he read the thread—already thousands of replies long. The posts picked apart her looks, slandered her character, and dragged her through the mud. But no one ever used her name—only “Si Yiheng’s girlfriend.”
He messaged Shen Qinghan.
Si Yiheng: Send me the contact info for that lawyer your family used before.
When the Shen Group had been targeted by smear campaigns, that lawyer had not only restored their reputation but also made the culprits pay dearly. He was the perfect person for this.
After sending that, he messaged Shu Yu again. No reply. So he did what always worked—money.
ATM: Red packet.
ATM: Red packet.
ATM: Transfer ¥100,000.
ATM: Transfer ¥100,000.
ATM: Transfer ¥1,000,000.
Shu Yu had been sketching her line art, almost done, when her phone buzzed. She didn’t look up.
Tie Dan: [Si Yiheng sent you more money—this time a million.]
Her hand jerked, ruining the line. She tapped undo, then finished the last part with her stylus.
Her eyes lit up. “Did he actually listen when I said I wanted a boyfriend who’s a walking bank?”
Tie Dan: [Who knows—but he really is a walking bank.]
She didn’t take the money right away. “Do you think if I keep ignoring him, he’ll just keep sending me money until we hit ninety million?”
Tie Dan: [If that happens, we’ll finish the mission way ahead of schedule!]
Neither of them actually believed it would happen—but that didn’t stop them from grinning at the numbers.
Then Shu Yu saw Shen Qinghan’s reply, and her joy turned to dread.
Shen Qinghan: What did you do to him? He’s asking for a lawyer’s number—are you getting sued?
Shen Qinghan: Shit—get out of the country right now. I’ll buy your ticket.