Chapter 10: The Handsome Encounter

Zhang Xiluo declined the first request, but the other person sent it again, this time with the note: Zhou Yao’s boyfriend, Lin Yiming.

She accepted. The chat box showed “typing” for a long time before a message finally appeared.

“Sister, hello. Could we meet in person?”

“Time and place.” Zhang Xiluo already knew why he wanted to meet and didn’t refuse.

“Thank you, Sister. Please come to the café where I work. I’ll treat you to coffee.”

“All right.”

Once the time was set, Zhang Xiluo stopped replying. She took a shower and lay in bed scrolling through her phone.

Li Mingye was caught up in another round of rumors—this time with a rising starlet, her looks pure and sweet. Since meeting his first love, he seemed to have developed a more refined taste.

The next day, Zhang Xiluo chose a deep V, high-slit dress, let her hair down, applied a light touch of makeup, and drove her Panamera to the appointment.

“Sister.” Lin Yiming was waiting at the door, visibly stunned by her appearance.

Zhang Xiluo smiled gently and walked over to him.

“If you have something to say, just say it.” She set her bag down and stirred the coffee Lin Yiming had made for her.

“Sister, I know it’s shameless to say this, but I hope you can give us more time. I’m graduating next year and I’ll work hard to earn money.”

“Does she know you came to see me?” Zhang Xiluo took out the IOU and placed it in Lin Yiming’s hand. “I’m not short of money. Let’s just forget about this.”

Lin Yiming stared at her in shock, their eyes meeting. He blushed without realizing it and quickly looked away.

“That won’t do,” he refused. “A debt must be repaid.”

They really were a good match—responsible and proud, untouched by the stench of money.

If not for Li Mingye, that cunning wolf, they probably would have stayed happily together.

“How do you plan to repay it?”

“I’ll take on more part-time jobs and earn more.”

“Be practical. What’s your major?” Zhang Xiluo interrupted, seeing his awkward and embarrassed expression.

“Business management.”

“How about this? I’ll take over this café and let you run it. Give me half the profits until the debt is paid off.”

“This…” Lin Yiming was at a loss for words. He’d never met anyone so generous and wealthy.

He felt he shouldn’t refuse, yet he was ashamed to accept.

“Can’t do it?” Zhang Xiluo asked deliberately.

He gritted his teeth and nodded firmly. “I can.”

“Good. What’s your girlfriend’s major?” she continued.

“Piano.”

After a few seconds of thought, Zhang Xiluo offered, “I’ve been wanting to learn piano. Let her be my private tutor—one thousand per lesson.”

“Sister, there’s no need for that, we—”

“If you agree, I’ll have a lawyer draft an agreement.” Zhang Xiluo gave him no chance to hesitate. She wrote down the address of Dongshan Villa. “Have your girlfriend come see me there this weekend.”

With that, she took the IOU and left.

Lin Yiming stood at the door, watching her drive away, stunned yet again.

Back at the villa, she began arranging the living room, hanging several recent oil paintings—white flowers under moonlight, and a silhouette of a loving couple.

She had time and place; all that was left was the right people.

After finishing up, Zhang Xiluo showered and prepared to rest, when Jiang Xueting called.

“Luoluo, there’s a party with some handsome guys. Come join us.”

“Sure, I’ll be right there.”

Zhang Xiluo immediately got up to change and asked Xiao Zhao to drive her to the location.

Jiang Xueting waited at the entrance, with another woman beside her. Zhang Xiluo thought she looked familiar.

“Come on, let’s go in. This is my new friend—she organized this get-together.”

Jiang Xueting linked arms with Zhang Xiluo, while the other woman kept glancing at her with ill intentions along the way.

Zhang Xiluo looked back, but the woman quickly averted her gaze.

When the private room door opened, Zhang Xiluo froze. This wasn’t a party with handsome men—it was a battlefield…