Chapter 208

At the scene, Cao Zijin and Liu Feifei were enjoying lunch together.

This was arranged by the production team at a designated restaurant, where everyone was eating together. But at the table, many people were joking around, talking about Ye Aotian.

“Hahaha, I’m dying! Ye Aotian, you’re trending! You’ve gained a ton of female fans. That’s pretty rare!”

Ye Aotian said, “I like women, not men. How do I deal with this?”

The director said, “No need to deal with it. Just let it be. It’s fine, totally normal. Lots of girls love shipping CPs like this. As long as you’re sure you’re fine, it’s all good.”

“I’m sure I’m fine!”

The director said, “But when I saw you holding Feifei, I was cracking up. You looked so practiced at it.”

The whole table burst into laughter, and Ye Aotian sighed helplessly.

“But seriously, you’re blowing up. The views are skyrocketing. The video of you stopping that guy at the event got posted, and in just a few hours, it’s already got tens of millions of views. Right now, your popularity and short-term hype are directly challenging Brother Di’s.”

Ye Aotian said, “I think we can still get along well.”

After all, if you thought about it, Brother Di was technically his younger brother. Ye Aotian hadn’t expected such a connection.

When everyone was about done eating, Cao Zijin and Liu Feifei got up to leave.

Ye Aotian glanced over, then hurriedly followed them out.

At the entrance, Ye Aotian looked at Liu Feifei and said, “I have something I want to say to you.”

Cao Zijin said, “I get it. I’ll wait for you up ahead. Feifei, hurry up!”

Cao Zijin left.

Liu Feifei lowered her head, pretending to blush, and said, “What … do you want to say?”

Ye Aotian said, “It’s not a big deal, just … today, you’re okay, right? It didn’t scare you, did it?”

“Not really, but I was a bit shaken up afterward.”

Ye Aotian said, “So you were scared. You need to be careful at these events from now on. If I hadn’t been there, you might’ve actually gotten hurt.”

If you weren’t there, I’d be setting off firecrackers in celebration. I’d even burn incense! Danger only shows up wherever you are, okay?

Ye Aotian took a deep breath and said, “Feifei, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?”

Liu Feifei looked at Ye Aotian and said, “Oh, what are you talking about? I don’t like you.”

Ye Aotian felt like he’d been struck by lightning. “This … why not?”

“I just don’t like you. There’s no reason. Do I have to like you just because you’re nice to me? That’d be tough, because tons of people are nice to me.”

“But … there’s got to be a reason, right?”

You’re an idiot. Is that reason enough?

But she couldn’t say that. Liu Feifei said, “There’s no reason. I just don’t like you. It’s purely because it’s you. If someone else was nice to me, I might like them.”

“Then … what about the stuff I bought you … and all those …”

“You want them back? If you do, I’ll give them back. It’s no big deal. I don’t need that stuff.”

Suddenly, Ye Aotian felt completely disoriented.

In truth, Liu Feifei’s words were the most hurtful. If she’d given a reason for not liking him, it might’ve been something guys could latch onto—a flaw they could work on changing. It would give them hope, a sense that their shortcomings could be fixed. But when Liu Feifei said she purely didn’t like him because it was him, unrelated to any flaws or virtues, that was the ultimate blow.

No matter what he did, she wouldn’t like him. It was just dislike—pure, unadulterated dislike.

“I … understand. I wish you well, but I’ll still hold onto my feelings for you.”

Liu Feifei said, “So, will you still be nice to me?”

“I will … As long as you’re not married, I’ll keep being nice to you. I believe my efforts will move you eventually.”

Liu Feifei said, “Then good luck. But let me be clear: I said I don’t like you, so don’t get any ideas. I hate people who think I owe them a reason for not liking them. I just don’t like you—there’s no need for a reason.”

With that, Liu Feifei walked away.

Ye Aotian was left standing there, his heart pierced like a hedgehog.

Honestly, at that moment, he suddenly felt like a clown. For the first time, he doubted his confidence. But he quickly adjusted. Maybe he’d pressured her too much, pushed her too fast.

Of course, tons of people were nice to her. If she liked everyone who was nice to her, she’d have to date a million times.

Looking at it that way, she was actually pretty innocent—not the type to like someone just because they were nice to her.

Hahaha, his taste was still pretty good. It just … stung a little in his heart.

After thinking it over, he sent Liu Feifei some money.

“I know you don’t care, but take it. Buy some new clothes.”

Liu Feifei saw the transfer, accepted it without a second thought, and didn’t even bother replying. The next second, she forwarded the money to Chen Fan.

“Are you nuts? Throwing money at me like I’m a beggar? What’s with 520,000? You drunk or something?”

[520,000 Yuan = ~72,000 USD]

“No, Ye Aotian sent it to me. I think he’s annoying, so I don’t want it. Chen Fan, big brother, didn’t you just start a company? You must be short on cash. Take this 520,000. It’s unexpected money, right? Love you, Chen Fan, big brother.”

Oh, come on.

You … you’re too much. Really too much. If the protagonist found out about this, he’d probably strangle me. Wait, actually, it might not matter—I am the villain.

No, wait, I almost got sucked into this. Damn it, forget it. I’m done dealing with you guys.

“Keep the money. Spend it however you want. Don’t shove it at me—it’s gross.”

“Hmph, Chen Fan, big brother, you don’t love me anymore. You must be with another woman.”

“You idiot. When did I ever love you? Stop it.”

“I’ve been so good to you. I even shared my favorite bone with you, and you still don’t like me.”

“Sorry, I’ve gone celibate. I’m a monk now.”

“Then I’ll sweep the floors at your temple.”

“I’m at a nunnery.”

“You … fine, I’ll shave my head.”

“Okay, let me tell you a secret: I’m actually a girl.”

“And I’ll tell you a secret: I’m a cute boy.”

Ugh. Chen Fan put down his phone. Goodbye. He couldn’t keep chatting with her—if he did, she’d really drag him into her nonsense.

Ye Ziyue said, “What’s this?”

…

“Nothing much, just a super annoying person spouting some useless nonsense. By the way, where were we?”

Ye Ziyue said, “We were talking about that story you mentioned.”

Chen Fan said, “It’s a pretty simple story, really. Just an ordinary guy dealing with a bunch of nonsense after gaining some power.”

In truth, Chen Fan was talking about his own experience when he first transmigrated to this world. After all, it’s rare to open up and share heartfelt thoughts with someone after so long. Doing so made him feel a bit more at ease, at least.

“If everything is unchangeable, how do you deal with it?”

“Just go with the flow. It’s your birthday—let’s not talk about such awkward topics. Let’s switch to something else. I’ll have them play a song for you.”

Chen Fan waved to a waiter.

Ye Ziyue said, “You’re the first person to spend my birthday with me.”

“Oh? That’s surprising. How does the Ye family usually celebrate birthdays?”

“How else? Just like that. What, did you think it’d be some big spectacle with firecrackers or something?”

“I thought it’d be a huge deal. Didn’t expect you’d be alone. That’s kinda pitiful.”

Heh.

“You know, sometimes you really don’t know how to talk.”

“Thanks for the compliment. How else would I make people hate me?”