As the saying goes, "Buddha relies on gold adornment, and people rely on fine clothing." Dressed in a high-end men's outfit, Zhou Yi was so handsome that the sales clerk beside him couldn't take her eyes off him.
Zhou Yi adjusted his collar and looked at the young man in the mirror wearing a crisp white shirt.
His tall stature, striking features, and aloof expression, paired with the high-quality shirt, made him the epitome of an untouchable heartthrob—the kind who seemed distant and unapproachable.
Many girls these days were drawn to this type of cold, mysterious handsome guy, finding the distance intriguing.
Zhou Yi decided to embrace this "male god" persona.
After purchasing the designer shirt worth thousands, he checked his phone and noticed his balance had increased again—thanks to the admiration from the sales clerk and passersby.
He glanced around and realized many girls in the mall were staring at him.
"He’s so handsome—is he a rookie idol or something?"
"I kinda want to ask for his WeChat, but I don’t dare. His gaze is so icy."
"Me neither... I’m scared of being rejected."
The whispers of the girls behind him reached his ears.
Zhou Yi turned his head slightly, and the two girls immediately blushed, avoiding his gaze and pretending to fiddle with their phones.
After he left, they excitedly snapped photos of his profile and silhouette, posting them on their university’s forum.
"Holy crap, just saw an insanely hot guy. Is he from Huai University? Anyone know him?"
The post quickly went viral, though Zhou Yi remained unaware that he’d already earned a new nickname: "The White Shirt Heartthrob."
Under the scorching sun, Zhou Yi walked toward a fast-food restaurant.
He looked up at the azure sky, where a towering skyscraper pierced through the clouds in the distance—the city’s bustling commercial center.
A memory surfaced: Chu Han once sneered down at the original host of this body.
"See that skyscraper? Wen Hao’s family’s company is up there. That’s a height you’ll never reach in your lifetime. How dare you compare yourself to Wen Hao? Know your place."
The girl’s mocking expression and condescending tone were etched vividly in the original host’s memories.
Just seeing that building triggered the recollection.
"Never reach, huh..." Zhou Yi murmured to himself, his eyes fixed on the skyscraper. "We’ll see about that."
Zhou Yi wasn’t the original host. He was ambitious by nature, and even without the original host’s grudges, he had no intention of living an ordinary, unnoticed life.
His destiny was to live a life of grandeur.
Inside the fast-food restaurant...
You Man checked her reflection in the mirror and glanced at the time on her phone. She pressed her lips together, meticulously inspecting every inch of her face.
Today, she had carefully filled in her eyebrows and applied a subtle coat of lipstick—a muted rose shade that added just a hint of color to her complexion.
You Man stared blankly at the lipstick in her hand.
She knew she shouldn’t be doing this, yet she couldn’t help but want to look her best before seeing Zhou Yi.
She understood exactly why.
A woman beautifies herself for the one she admires—she wanted to capture Zhou Yi’s attention.
It had been so long since she’d last worn lipstick that she could barely remember.
On the sink counter sat the hand cream Zhou Yi had given her. She picked it up, examined it, then set it back down with a sigh.
Her mind kept replaying Zhou Yi’s gentle demeanor and the words he’d spoken.
But she constantly reminded herself: Zhou Yi was just a student. She couldn’t entertain improper thoughts about him.
The more she resisted, the more she longed to see him.
Last night, as she lay in bed, Zhou Yi’s voice filled her thoughts before sleep took her. She was falling deeper, unable to pull herself free.
"Man Jie, are you in there?"
Zhou Yi’s voice came from outside. You Man took one last look at her reflection before hurriedly stashing the lipstick and hand cream in the drawer.
"You’re early today, Xiao Yi." When she opened the door, her fingers curled nervously. She stole a cautious glance at Zhou Yi—and froze.
This young man before her... was Xiao Yi?
Dressed in an elegant white shirt, with his bangs no longer obscuring his face, his refined features struck You Man like a bolt of lightning.
She was speechless.
"Man Jie, what’s wrong?"
Zhou Yi knew exactly why she was reacting this way.
She’d already been deeply affected by him yesterday. Now, seeing his dramatic transformation, her admiration soared even higher.
Unsure, You Man whispered, "Xiao Yi?"
Zhou Yi smiled warmly, his handsome face leaving her flustered.
"It’s me. What, did a haircut make me unrecognizable?"
He raised an eyebrow, and You Man’s cheeks flushed crimson.
The original host had always hidden behind long bangs and glasses, leaving You Man with only a vague impression of a pale-faced boy.
In her memories, his face had always been obscured. Now, with his hair trimmed and glasses gone, he looked like... this.
"I’m just surprised. Xiao Yi is... so good-looking. I’ve never seen anyone as handsome as you in real life. Did I act weird just now?"
You Man touched her burning cheeks, too shy to meet his eyes.
Zhou Yi’s gaze was deep and mesmerizing, like a whirlpool pulling her in, making escape impossible.
Tilting his head, Zhou Yi leaned against the doorframe and brought his face closer to hers. Suddenly, he chuckled.
"Man Jie, you look beautiful today."
In his past life, Zhou Yi had dated at least twenty or thirty women, many of whom wore makeup. He could tell at a glance.
You Man had clearly filled in her brows and applied lipstick. Though subtle, the difference was noticeable upon closer inspection.
There was no denying her natural beauty. Her eyes were inherently alluring, and with the delicate arch of her willow-leaf brows and the slight upward tilt of her outer corners, she looked even more enchanting—like a seductive fox.
Yet her gaze remained innocent and shy. This contrast stirred something deep within Zhou Yi, darkening his eyes.
You Man abruptly looked up, and their eyes locked. She felt as if she couldn’t breathe.
"At my age, beauty doesn’t matter anymore. Don’t tease me, Xiao Yi."
She quickly pushed past Zhou Yi and hurried to the dining table, pouring herself a glass of water.
If that moment had lasted even a second longer, she might have lost control and hugged him.
She needed water to cool down before she did something reckless.
Zhou Yi followed and sat beside her.
As You Man reached for a second glass, Zhou Yi "accidentally"—or perhaps not so accidentally—grabbed her hand instead of the cup.
You Man felt an electric jolt run through her the moment their eyes met. She looked up to find the boy gazing at her with an innocent expression.