Chapter 28: An Unusual Date

"Why don't you ask how I knew where your shop is?"
In the car, Zhou Yun posed the question.
It was an attempt to spark conversation; in her eyes, Tang Zhi Chu had always been a social black hole.
"The bag from last night?"
"Smart."
Zhou Yun rolled her eyes—some people are sharp, just not talkative.
Yesterday’s bag with the ingredients came from the shop, customized with its name.
Clearly, the conversation died there; Tang Zhi Chu fell silent once more.
Zhou Yun thought to herself that this person was resisting her with every fiber.
If Chen Si Yang were here, wouldn’t she at least ask if I’ve eaten? I’m at your shop’s doorstep, yet you don’t invite me in?
Luckily, Zhou Yun was already acquainted with this stubborn, unyielding stone and thought, you'll suffer soon enough.
Tang Zhi Chu more or less guessed Zhou Yun’s intent.
From the first time she targeted Chen Si Yang, Tang Zhi Chu realized Zhou Yun wasn’t actually interested in Yang Jia Xing. Yang Jia Xing was, at best, a tool.
She was here for Chen Si Yang.
If Chen Si Yang had sung that first time, Tang Zhi Chu could foresee Zhou Yun using it as a talking point on the show.
She treated everyone well; compared to Chen Si Yang, it made Chen Si Yang look proud and aloof—another point to exploit.
If you’re so good and sociable, why are you cold only to Chen Si Yang? Isn’t that targeting her?
But what was Zhou Yun’s true aim?
To break into showbiz? To become an influencer after the show?
Tang Zhi Chu suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for Chen Si Yang, targeted for nothing.
Did he treat Chen Si Yang well? Was it wholehearted?
Given their current relationship and status, the better things were for Chen Si Yang, the better for Tang Zhi Chu.
He wasn’t deliberately targeting Zhou Yun; their goals overlapped to some extent, there was no avoiding it.
Still, Tang Zhi Chu felt he was more transparent—at least everyone benefited.
"You’re not taking me out of town, are you?" Tang Zhi Chu asked suddenly.
Zhou Yun was driving, and with a turn, she merged onto the ring highway.
A faint smile finally appeared on Zhou Yun’s face. "Scared?"
Tang Zhi Chu frowned, wondering if Zhou Yun was planning something big, and that both of them wouldn’t return to the villa tonight.

"Not really, just curious where we’re going."
Yu Zhou was known as the Mountain City; the main urban area alone was surrounded by four great ranges.
Zhou Yun drove for an hour, finally stopping at the foot of a mountain. Tang Zhi Chu couldn’t immediately recognize which mountain it was.
A sense of foreboding struck him—being invited by someone like Zhou Yun was never a sign of goodwill; this was no traditional date.
"Get out, Tang," Zhou Yun said.
Tang Zhi Chu suddenly clutched his stomach. "I think I have a stomachache."
"A stomachache?"
"Mm."
Zhou Yun pointed to a small cluster of buildings to the left of the parking lot. "There’s a clinic over there, come on, I’ll help you over."
Tang Zhi Chu paused, rubbing his stomach vigorously. "That’s odd, it just cleared up."
Zhou Yun: "....."
Once Tang Zhi Chu got out, Zhou Yun took a backpack from the trunk and handed him a bottle of water.
"Our gym sometimes organizes outdoor fitness activities—this is one of the places we frequent. See those stone stairs ahead? That’s our path up the mountain." Zhou Yun’s preparations were thorough, evident from her backpack.
Tang Zhi Chu glanced at his own legs, not hiding his annoyance. "Mountain climbing?"
"Yes, you’re here already—surely you won’t back down?" Zhou Yun smiled.
Before Tang Zhi Chu could answer, she opened her backpack and pulled out a set of clothes—white sportswear.
"This is for you, should fit—I bought the largest size. Here’s a hat, do you want knee pads? There’s sunscreen, but the April sun is mild..."
Tang Zhi Chu surveyed the area, weighing the consequences if he simply turned and walked away.
His calculation wasn’t about Zhou Yun, but the cameramen he spotted with their equipment.
Clearly, this date was approved by the show’s producers, and there were probably more filming personnel around.
After a moment of silence, Tang Zhi Chu accepted the clothes from Zhou Yun.
It wasn’t a public space; there were lockers for storing clothes, a quick registration and key, and he changed.
Coming out, he saw Zhou Yun tying her hair into a ponytail; she too had changed, and Tang Zhi Chu recognized her yoga pants, though she wore a jacket to cover her upper body.
"You’ve got a good figure. Usually you wear loose clothes, but something more fitted brings out your strengths. Nice frame, just too thin. Why not get a membership at my gym? I’ll train you," Zhou Yun said, smiling at Tang Zhi Chu.
Tang Zhi Chu let down his guard; since there was no escaping, he might as well enjoy it. It was only mountain climbing, after all.
"A homebody, sworn enemy of gyms," he replied.

"That’s because you haven’t been. You’d love it, I promise. Our gym has plenty of girls—pretty ones, great figures, and we host events, games and all."
"I’ve been. It’s nothing compared to gaming at home."
No matter what Zhou Yun said, Tang Zhi Chu wouldn’t take the bait.
Zhou Yun shot him a glare and headed out.
It was afternoon, but fortunately April’s sun was gentle.
There were others around; soon enough they encountered people descending from the mountain, some carrying fishing gear.
Zhou Yun led the way, the stone steps spaced with small platforms every few dozen stairs.
At first, they could walk side by side, but gradually Tang Zhi Chu lagged, panting and supporting his knees.
Zhou Yun seemed entirely at ease, her steps light.
On a platform ahead, Zhou Yun grinned at Tang Zhi Chu. "Can you manage?"
Tang Zhi Chu said nothing, but quickened his pace.
The climb wasn’t straightforward; the path twisted endlessly with the mountain’s contours, the end nowhere in sight.
After nearly an hour, Tang Zhi Chu was done, dropping onto a stone bench on a platform.
Sweat glistened on Zhou Yun’s forehead and her cheeks were flushed.
She knew her own speed, and was surprised—she’d expected him to collapse long ago, but he had some stamina.
Zhou Yun sat beside him, handed him a tissue, and said, "Take a photo for me, will you? I haven't been here in ages."
Tang Zhi Chu took the tissue, wiped his sweat, and tried to steady his breathing. "No wonder... no wonder they say nothing is more poisonous than a woman's heart."
Zhou Yun paused, then burst out laughing.
Indeed, since joining the show, she hadn’t felt this happy.
The first night, not a single text arrived—she’d felt a bit dejected.
She’d stayed up till three or four that night, then realized things couldn’t go on like this; all the effort spent joining the dating show would be wasted as a marginal figure.
If so, what was the point?
So she planned to set herself against Chen Si Yang.
But Tang Zhi Chu kept disrupting her plans.
Inviting Tang Zhi Chu to climb the mountain was, in part, an act of revenge.