Tang Zhen barely had time to react before the system started freaking out.
【Zhen, he called you “baby”! He actually called you “baby”!】
【Baby, baby… sounds so nice!】
Ren Yanjing’s voice was naturally magnetic, but when he said baby, it had an extra layer of charm. He gave Tang Zhen’s soft little face a gentle pinch. “No one’s bothering us here. Baby… can you say it again?”
Tang Zhen glanced at the task bar.
Ren Yanjing had only temporarily stepped away from the competition area.
But there were still lots of fans waiting for autographs.
The mission wasn’t over yet.
She needed to completely kill his idea of continuing to sign for the fans.
Taking a deep breath, her lashes fluttering, she blurted out quickly, “I said… can you not give them autographs? I don’t want you to.”
She had finally said it—the shameful, demanding request.
Such an unreasonable demand would surely irritate him.
And that was exactly what needed to happen. The male and second female lead were a bad match, accumulating tension bit by bit. Once enough built up, it would explode, they’d break up, and never speak again.
Now, the male lead was supposed to get annoyed and scold her for being selfish and unreasonable.
000 quickly reassured Tang Zhen before Ren Yanjing could speak. 【Zhen, don’t worry. It’s fine—you’ll just get scolded a little. In a few months, you two will part ways anyway.】
Tang Zhen had been bracing herself. “It’s okay, Sanquan.” Ren Yanjing was well-mannered. Even if he scolded her, it wouldn’t be harsh—just a few calm, serious words. She wasn’t worried at all.
But the scolding they were expecting… didn’t happen.
“Okay.”
Tang Zhen and the system: ???
Wait, he just agreed that easily?
She blinked in confusion, her pale little face looking dazed and sweet, her black eyes wide with innocent surprise—like a pure, tiny kitten.
“What’s wrong? Too happy?” Ren Yanjing noticed every subtle shift in her expression.
Tang Zhen blinked, a little embarrassed. “A bit…”
She had expected to be scolded, but wasn’t.
She thought the mission would be tricky, but it turned out to be ridiculously easy.
She wasn’t just a little happy—she was ecstatic. Her eyes sparkled like stars.
A glance at the task bar confirmed it: the mission was complete.
2 HP points had already been added.
The mission today was seriously worth it.
Thank you, Sanquan! Thank you, male lead!
Tang Zhen genuinely wanted to know why he had agreed. Her eyes shone with moisture, her voice soft and almost helpless, looking like a cute, gullible beauty. “I thought… you’d refuse.”
Ren Yanjing raised an eyebrow. “Why would you think that?”
Well… there were plenty of reasons.
Her request wasn’t exactly reasonable.
Fans wanted autographs—it proved he was popular.
And her telling him not to sign seemed petty and unnecessary.
Ren Yanjing took her hand. “I’m not a celebrity. A few autographs are enough.” He’d never be a celebrity, and he certainly wouldn’t live off fans.
Besides… those fans had pushed his girlfriend out of the way.
Just imagining her circling anxiously, little face flushed, eyes slightly red at the corners, desperate to get back to him but unable to… he couldn’t help smiling.
So adorably clueless.
He was charmed by her silliness.
To make sure she remembered, he added, “Next time this happens, don’t move aside, got it?”
Tang Zhen whispered, “Got it.”
Meanwhile, the fans who hadn’t seen Ren Yanjing return were growing impatient.
“Could he really not come back?”
“His teammates are still here…”
“Where did he take his girlfriend?”
“I don’t know… it seems like she said something to him, and that’s why he left.”
“So frustrating! Finally got a chance to see him, and now who knows when we’ll get another?”
“There’s nothing we can do. We obviously can’t compete with his girlfriend. She calmed him down first, and that’s fine.”
All this chatter reached Li Ran and her friend.
Her friend clicked her tongue, eyeing everyone with annoyance. “Didn’t expect to run into them again.”
Li Ran tilted her head curiously. “You’ve met them before?”
“Yeah. They went to see the sunrise; my friends and I happened to be there. Almost got into an argument back then.”
Li Ran felt an inexplicable unease. She didn’t know either of them, but still… she smiled politely, saying nothing.
Her friend draped an arm over Li Ran’s shoulder. “You want to join his team?”
Li Ran didn’t deny it. “Yes.” Ren Yanjing and his teammates were outstanding. She was skilled in robotics research too, and she wanted to chase her dreams with them.
“Go for it!” her friend encouraged.
Even though she was annoyed that Ren Yanjing had left the fans and his girlfriend behind, she couldn’t deny his talent.
He was remarkable.
If she joined his team, her future would be secure.
And his team was all male—if she got in, she’d be the only girl, sure to be spoiled.
As they talked, security began shooing people away. “He’s not signing anymore. Go do what you came to do, or get autographs from someone else.”
“What? He really isn’t coming back?”
“No, why not?”
“Please… I really want his autograph. I’ve liked him for so long…”
Meanwhile, Ren Yanjing, forgotten by the fans, was chatting quietly with his teammates.
“Jing God, what’s up? Just leaving the fans and ‘sister-in-law’ behind like that?”
He glanced at Tang Zhen obediently standing by. “My girlfriend got jealous. She doesn’t want me signing for them.”
Zhang Mian burst out laughing. “Hahaha, your girlfriend is too cute! She even got jealous?”
“Who made them push her out?”
Zhang Mian continued, still chuckling. “I saw her from the crowd—standing on tiptoe, trying to get back to you but couldn’t. I felt so bad for her!”
Ren Yanjing smiled faintly. She looked so helpless and wronged, pushed aside by the crowd.
“Anyway, I’m not a celebrity. No more autographs from me. If they want them, they can ask the team.”
“Wow, bro, you’re way too considerate to your girlfriend. Got it!”
After a while, Ren Yanjing led Tang Zhen back to the competition area.
The awards ceremony was about to start. Once it finished, the day’s event would finally be completely over.