Green Tea? She's Clearly a Hidden Gem!

"Hehe, you're messing around with Zhao Qiulu, why do you need my help?"

Su Muzhi walked out of the room, wrapped in a down jacket.

"Didn't we always do this back then?"

Jiang Linyuan headed to the living room to grab the kettle; he was a bit thirsty.

"Fair point."

Su Muzhi followed behind him, nodded, and then a smile spread across her face.

"I've been feeling uncomfortable around that Zhao Qiulu too. You should have some fun playing with her emotions."

"Why do you feel uncomfortable around her? Miss Zhao hasn't even said a few words to you, has she?"

"It's the look in her eyes. When I'm standing with you, she only interacts with you, but her gaze involuntarily falls on me."

"Maybe she's just reminiscing about the past or something?"

"Hehe, that look didn't seem like it."

As they talked, they reached the living room. Jiang Linyuan picked up the kettle, poured himself a cup of tea first, then poured one for Su Muzhi.

"Xiao Su, can you really judge someone's character just by their eyes?"

Jiang Linyuan took a sip, feeling warmth spread through his body.

It felt as satisfying as taking a piss.

"Hehe, actually, I have mind-reading powers too."

Su Muzhi smiled, holding her teacup and taking small sips.

So everyone's a superpower user, huh?

Fine, I won't hold back either.

"Xiao Su, actually, I'm an immortal. I know a great divine ability called Heaven and Earth Manifestation! But since we're in an age of fading spiritual energy, I can only transform part of it."

Jiang Linyuan put on a deeply solemn face.

Energizing! Exciting!

"Hehe, then show me next time?"

Su Muzhi's gaze traveled downward along him, the corner of her mouth curling up.

"The technique cannot be passed on lightly."

"Let me see the technique."

"Then you'll have to initiate me into the dao."

"If I nod, would you dare to agree?"

Su Muzhi glanced at him sideways.

Jiang Linyuan fell silent.

If he got initiated into the dao with Xiao Su now, he wouldn't be able to learn techniques with the Department Head anymore.

Nor could he join the cult with the Thief Saint, or even hold Xiao Yilin's hand.

But that wasn't necessarily true...

Man, thy name is greed.

"Let's talk about Miss Zhao's situation."

Jiang Linyuan set down his teacup.

Seeing that he had no intention of continuing, Su Muzhi let out a cold laugh and vented all her pent-up frustration onto Zhao Qiulu.

"So you want me to put on a big breakup act with you? Then watch her put on that pitiful face while secretly jumping for joy like a little clown?"

"Why would I do that?"

Jiang Linyuan shot her a surprised look.

That would be completely handing over the initiative to Miss Zhao.

"Well, how should I put it? If you want her to like you, don't you have to go along with her wishes?"

Su Muzhi asked.

"That's not right, Xiao Su."

Jiang Linyuan shook his head.

"For someone like Miss Zhao, you have to first give her the feeling that everything is under her control, and then ruthlessly throw her off balance!" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"A sense of falling from grace?"

Su Muzhi thought for a moment, then asked.

"Exactly."

Jiang Linyuan nodded.

"The more you do that, the more her mindset shifts. From initially wanting to play around, she'll become someone who doesn't want to lose. The feelings might be fake, but the obsession becomes real."

"Like this, with half-truths and half-fictions, it's easy to move her."

After hearing this, Su Muzhi narrowed her eyes.

"That sounds kind of familiar."

"Xiao Su, don't slander me. I never used that trick on you. Except for the very beginning, I've rarely schemed against you."

"Really?"

"I've never liked lying, Xiao Su."

Su Muzhi let out a smile and said with absolute certainty.

"If you ever get married to someone in the future, you're definitely going to cheat."

That's why I'm a bachelor for life.

Jiang Linyuan thought to himself, but said aloud instead,

"Why are we talking about me again? Xiao Su, don't get distracted. Later, when we go into the room, you do this..."

Su Muzhi glanced at him but didn't say much, just listening.

...

After conspiring with Xiao Su, Jiang Linyuan carried the kettle back to Zhao Qiulu's room.

She had somehow taken off her coat, leaving only a white base layer, and was curled up on the bed. Hearing the noise, she lifted her head slightly.

"Thank you for staying with me."

"I'm just a bystander."

Jiang Linyuan poured her a cup of tea and handed it over.

"Why did you take off your coat?"

"The underfloor heating in the room is too hot. It's a bit stuffy."

Zhao Qiulu scooted her body a little closer, as if that made it easier to take the tea.

"Mhm, drink some hot water to warm yourself up. Get some rest early. After a good sleep, everything will be fine."

Jiang Linyuan nodded and glanced at his phone.

Why hasn't it rung yet?

"You're right."

Zhao Qiulu took a sip of tea.

"Bang!"

"So hot!"

She let out a surprised cry, losing her grip on the teacup, and water spilled all over herself.

Seeing this, Jiang Linyuan rushed over.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine. I just didn't expect the water to be that hot."

Zhao Qiulu glanced at her wet chest and said in a low voice.

You might as well say I drugged it.

Jiang Linyuan didn't call her out on it and simply said,

"If you're really uncomfortable, you can take a shower."

The room had its own bathroom, which made things convenient.

"No need. I'll just take it off and sleep later."

Zhao Qiulu smiled faintly.

See, there she goes, seducing again.

"I'll be going then. I won't disturb you."

Jiang Linyuan prepared to turn and leave.

Right then, Zhao Qiulu's phone rang.

She froze for a moment, then picked it up, looked down at it with a smile, and answered.

"Li Wang, have you thought it through?"

"...I have. This way, we're just torturing each other. Better to break up early."

Li Wang's voice came through the phone, tinged with the smell of alcohol.

And he put it on speakerphone, as if afraid I wouldn't hear, right?

"Then look at where I am right now. Is it a hotel?"

Zhao Qiulu held up the phone and rotated the front-facing camera 180 degrees around herself.

"...Why is your chest wet?"

Li Wang suddenly asked.

"I spilled water while drinking."

"Where's the cup? Turn on the rear camera and let me see."

Zhao Qiulu froze for a moment, then looked at Jiang Linyuan standing in front of her. Instead of turning on the rear camera, she said,

"We're about to break up, and you're still doubting me like this?"

"I told you to turn on the rear camera!"

Li Wang suddenly roared.

"Fine! I'll show you!"

Zhao Qiulu, as if triggered by his yelling, directly switched to the rear camera.

Wow, that was way too obvious.

Jiang Linyuan thought.

"Hahaha..."

Li Wang on the other end of the line laughed first, then bellowed in fury,

"Zhao Qiulu! Don't tell me! You're fucking spending the night at this 'friend's' house!"

"Friend?! Looks more like a boyfriend to me!"

Zhao Qiulu gripped her phone, her eyes wide.

"Can't you use your brain?! If I were really cheating, would I voluntarily turn on the rear camera and not even try to hide it?!"

"Who knows?! Someone from a powerful family like yours might not even care!"

Li Wang shouted at Zhao Qiulu through the phone, then yelled,

"Put him on the phone!"

"What for? This is between us!"

"The hell it is!"

Seeing her defending Jiang Linyuan even at this point, Li Wang couldn't hold back his cursing.

"Do you have any conscience toward me, Zhao Qiulu?! I chased you for almost half a year! If you didn't want to be with me, why did you agree to my confession?!"

"Huh? If you just wanted to play around, find someone else! I really like you, I truly like you! Why?! Put him on the phone! Put him on the phone!"

His voice shifted from initial anger to sorrow, and by the end, it was even tinged with sobs.

"Give me the phone."

Jiang Linyuan walked over.

Zhao Qiulu froze for a moment, then handed him the phone.

Li Wang on the phone screen stared at Jiang Linyuan, not saying a word. His eyes were red-rimmed, and his hair was a mess.

"Do you really think I did something with your girlfriend?"

Jiang Linyuan asked.

"What else could it be? In the middle of the night, the two of you in one room—don't tell me you were playing cards."

Li Wang said.

"Let me put it bluntly. Your girlfriend is no good. Just part ways amicably."

Jiang Linyuan's voice was loud and completely unguarded. Even Zhao Qiulu could hear him clearly.

Li Wang on the other end was stunned.

"You know?"

What?

Wait, buddy.

Jiang Linyuan's brain was short-circuiting. Forget it, forget it, never mind. Time to unleash Xiao Su!