If Qin Manshu had been as assertive and determined as before, Ji Shuli could have remained firm. However, Qin Manshu seemed to know Ji Shuli's weaknesses. In the past few days, she refused to talk about feelings with Ji Shuli, as if her pursuit of Ji Shuli did not exist. On one hand, she displayed her feminine charm and allure, and on the other hand, she acted as a generous and friendly friend to Ji Shuli.

Ji Shuli had no interest in Qin Manshu, so he naturally didn't notice that every seemingly unintentional action of Qin Manshu actually concealed scheming.

He finally remembered what his fitness coach had said: "She's not really your girlfriend, she's really sexy, oh wait, she's just trying to be sexy in front of you."

It wasn't that Qin Manshu had recently been chatting with Ji Shuli as if they were friends; rather, Ji Shuli simply hadn't paid attention to Qin Manshu's every hidden, scheming move.

Ji Shuli didn't try to be tactful anymore. He simply refused, saying, "I'm sorry, Miss Qin, but these past few days of getting to know you have made me even more certain about one thing."

"What's up."

“You’re really not my type. I mean, you’re great. My coach has praised you several times for your great figure, your excellent temperament, and your gentle personality. At least so far, I haven’t found any flaws in you. You’re great in every way, but nothing about you attracts me.” Ji Shuli paused for a moment and continued, “You’re obviously very reserved when you’re with me. I can feel that even when we’re chatting, you’re just going along with me. I admit that I enjoy chatting with you because you find all the topics that interest me, but this kind of interaction is too awkward and not natural at all.”

Qin Manshu clenched her hands, as if Ji Shuli's words were somewhat absurd. After a long while, she smiled and continued, "I thought you would like this feeling, going along with you, saying the things you like, being gentle and a little sexy, etc.—"

"You still need a feel for it."

"Because I'm not her, right?" Qin Manshu asked, somewhat out of control.

Upon hearing her words, Ji Shuli frowned slightly and asked with some curiosity, "What 'her'?"

Qin Manshu seemed to realize that she might have said something wrong. She seemed a little nervous, but she quickly regained her composure, took a deep breath, and said, "I meant your ideal type."

"I don't know what my ideal type is," Ji Shuli chuckled. "Maybe I don't have an ideal type. Maybe I'll find a suitable girl based on my family's arrangements in the future—"

Qin Manshu looked at Ji Shuli in silence.

Ji Shuli continued, "I already know today that you are a good cook. Perhaps you should invite someone who appreciates your cooking skills, rather than a man who may not be able to reciprocate your feelings."

"Are you rejecting me? Are you telling me that there's absolutely no chance for me, that even after spending these past few days together, your opinion of me hasn't changed at all?" Qin Manshu asked Ji Shuli.

“You need me to define who you are. I mean, you’re great, but we’re not a good match.”

Classic lines for saying no.

Qin Manshu seemed to find it hard to accept. She reflected on every step she had taken. Apart from deliberately getting close to him, she had done almost everything according to Ji Shuli's preferences, but now he was still rejecting her, rejecting her decisively without any room for negotiation.

"One last question," Qin Manshu said, looking at Ji Shuli. "I have one last question."

"What's the problem?"

"So, do you have a girl you like right now, even just a slight crush on her?

"There aren't many girls around me, so where would I find a girl I like?" Ji Shuli shrugged.

Qin Manshu pressed further, "Isn't there another girl with you?"

"What girl? I don't even know who else is around me. You mean that little brat Ye Zhiwei?"

"No." Qin Manshu steadied herself. She seemed to be bothered by something, and continued to ask with a clenched fist: "Didn't Uncle Ye's wife bring a girl with her?"

"You mean Ye Yingying?"

"She's quite pretty, young and cute. I met her last time, and her personality seems really nice too. You guys don't usually develop feelings for girls you've known for a long time. You've lived at the Ye family's house for so long, and you've spent so much time with that girl. It wouldn't be a problem if you fell for her, would it?" Qin Manshu asked.

This sounds familiar.

Ji Shuli paused for a moment, as if he had thought of something. He shook his head helplessly, looking at Qin Manshu shaking her head with a smile, and then seemed to think of something and laughed at himself.

"why are you laughing."

"Your words remind me of Zhiwei."

"Little cousin? What's your relationship with her?" Qin Manshu narrowed her eyes.

Ji Shuli smiled with a headache: "Did your little cousin say something to you? How come you think I will definitely like Ye Yingying, just like her? She is only about to take the college entrance examination. When I went to the Ye family, she was just a junior in high school. Even if I feel close to such a young girl, I would only treat her as a younger sister. How could I possibly like her? Besides, I don't know how your little cousin has brainwashed her. Every time she sees me, she avoids me from a distance."

As soon as Ji Shuli finished speaking, Qin Manshu tightened her grip, as if she were preoccupied with something else.

What's wrong with you?

Qin Manshu, who was still immersed in sadness, seized on a point Ji Shuli made and repeatedly confirmed with Ji Shuli, "You mean your little cousin thinks you will definitely like that girl named Ye Yingying?"

“What else could it be? Did she tell you something?” Ji Shuli said, somewhat troubled. “What, am I a pervert, or am I a hooligan in your eyes? No matter how scoundrel I am, I would never like an underage girl. Did that little brat secretly tell you something that made you misunderstand me like this?”

Qin Manshu's heart skipped a beat when she heard Ji Shuli's words. She tightened her grip. Just moments before, Qin Manshu had been discussing relationship issues with Ji Shuli, but now she looked deep in thought, lost in her own thoughts. So engrossed in her thoughts that she didn't even notice when her phone slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. Ji Shuli picked it up and handed it to Qin Manshu, asking, "Miss Qin, what's wrong? You seem a little unwell. Did I say something wrong that upset you?"

"No, of course not. You didn't say anything wrong. I just thought of something." Qin Manshu took the phone, took a deep breath, and said to Ji Shuli, "Mr. Ji, could you please keep our conversation today a secret, especially from my little cousin? Being rejected is really not a good thing, it's too embarrassing..."