Chapter 35 shows that you really don't like girls, right?

"Tsk." Bai Yeke looked at her phone screen, slightly speechless.

Yi Sheng and she sat opposite each other, both scrolling through their phones and eating breakfast.

The egg pancakes I made this morning turned out really well, golden on one side and slightly charred on the other. They smelled delicious with a little bit of chili sauce on top.

Yi Sheng observed Bai Yeke's expression, took a sip of warm milk, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Sigh, there's a little trouble." Bai Yeke pursed her lips before speaking again, "A friend..."

The feeling was subtle. Bai Ye only used the word "friend," but Yi Sheng had a feeling, "That guy who gave you chopped chili peppers?"

"Ah..." Bai Ye felt there was no need to hide this from Yi Sheng. "Yeah."

"Heh." Yi Sheng's guess was confirmed. "What does he want with you?"

This sounds a bit like prying into someone's private life.

Although they lived under the same roof and often chatted about everyday matters, it was usually up to each person to initiate the conversation, and there should always be some boundaries between friends.

The thought only flashed through Bai Yeke's mind briefly, and for some reason, she actually wanted to... show it off?

It's not just Yi Sheng who's coveted by many; she's just as good, and she has her own admirers.

"Ahem." Bai Ye blinked, feigning nonchalance, "He wants to ask me out."

Yi Sheng raised an eyebrow.

Bai Ye was really bad at this kind of thing, so she simply handed over her phone and said, "That's it."

Zheng Xiao, who was sitting across from her, was making plans with her while simultaneously complaining to her.

"Ms. Bai, are you free at noon? Let's grab some coffee. To show my sincerity, I'm inviting you a whole morning in advance."

—I also have something to say to you.

Relationships are inherently two-way. I'm not a guy who likes to chase after people, and I don't think girls should have that aloof attitude of waiting to be coaxed and pursued.

Of course, in the process of dating, coaxing girls is a fun thing between boyfriends and girlfriends. If we continue to date, don't worry, I will still do a good job.

—What I mainly want to say is that understanding and getting to know someone can't be something only one person takes the initiative for, right? That would be disheartening.

—Have you ever heard the saying, "I walked 99 steps toward you, but you weren't willing to take even one step"?

—In our conversations or our last meeting, I was the one who initiated things. I've always thought that this time, it's your turn to take the initiative.

—If we're a good match, you should have this kind of understanding.

—But I've been waiting for weeks, and you haven't done it.

So, I'm a little disappointed in you.

If this wasn't Bai Yeke's phone, and if this person wasn't trying to meet up with Bai Yeke, Yi Sheng would find it really hard to watch.

Her brows gradually furrowed, and the corners of her eyes twitched slightly.

Looking at her changing expressions, Bai Yeke suddenly felt that her "presentation" was a bit stupid.

Her blind date was really of such poor quality that Yi Sheng's expression twisted like this.

After reading it, Yi Sheng handed the phone back to her with a complicated expression.

After taking it, Bai Yeke guiltily lowered her head and bit into the egg pancake without making a sound.

"He asked you out for coffee," Yi Sheng stated casually.

"Yeah." Bai Ye made conversation. "He asked me out for milk tea last time."

Yi Sheng asked in surprise, "You two even drank milk tea together?"

They seemed surprised that Baiye might accept the other party's invitation.

"Oh, right," Yi Sheng remembered, "so you also brought back his chopped chili peppers."

Bai Ye felt the topic was inexplicably dangerous and didn't respond.

Yi Sheng added, "We've never had milk tea together."

?

Is this line of thinking correct?

Bai Yeke whispered a reminder, "I've had it before. I bought two cups of the same flavor when I went to the mall that time."

"I remember now." Yi Sheng looked at the milk beside her. "I want to drink milk tea tomorrow. Can you make it?"

“You can try it,” Bai Yeke explained, “but it will definitely taste different from what’s sold in stores.”

Yi Sheng nodded, quite satisfied. "It's alright."

Bai Ye belatedly realized that this woman was ordering her around again...

Well, when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.

"So, are you going to have coffee with him at noon?" Yi Sheng asked.

“I don’t want to go.” Bai Yeke’s expression was numb. “Who wants to accompany him on his diet? He doesn’t eat lunch and just sits there drinking milk tea and coffee.”

“However,” Bai Yeke sighed, “I should still go. I need to make it clear to him that I don’t want it to happen again.”

The date was to be held at a high-end coffee shop.

Bai Ye was still a little confused. How did Zheng Xiao suddenly level up, going from Mixue Ice Cream City to here? What kind of stimulus did Zheng Xiao receive?

"Hehe, don't be surprised." Zheng Xiao invited her to sit down. "Sometimes, I also come to places like this with my colleagues."

“After all, given our status and level, it’s not easy for us to go to very cheap places.” Zheng Xiao said this with a hint of boasting.

“We went to Mixue last time because we weren’t familiar with each other, and there was no need to come to a place like that. If it wasn’t suitable, it would be a waste of each other’s resources,” Zheng Xiao said with a smile.

"Oh." Bai Yeke finally understood.

It turns out that was a test, so she has now passed the first hurdle and is qualified to be brought to the coffee shop by Zheng Xiao.

How many hurdles do you have to pass before you're qualified to have a full meal at a restaurant?

Just thinking about it makes me feel exhausted.

"Mr. Zheng, I'm sorry." Bai Ye didn't want to waste time. After finishing her coffee, she wanted to go back to the company and eat some bread. "I came here mainly to tell you that we are not suitable for each other."

"What?" Zheng Xiao was stunned for a moment, then chuckled awkwardly, "You're kidding, right?"

Bai Ye shook her head and quickly added, "By the way, I'll pay today, no need to split the bill. I'm so sorry to have made you come all this way."

Seeing Bai Yeke's serious attitude, Zheng Xiao was both confused and flustered, and hurriedly called out to her, "Wait."

"What?" Bai Yeke had already stood up.

"I...but..." Zheng Xiao didn't understand how things had suddenly turned out this way. "Why?"

"Are you feeling pressured because of what I said to you this morning?" Zheng Xiao guessed randomly. "Or... do you not like this coffee shop?"

"Neither."

Bai Ye thought about it. Her acquaintance with Zheng Xiao stemmed from a blind date, or more accurately, from that "family" that valued matching social status.

“Actually, I’ve cut off all contact with my family.” Bai Yeke nodded slightly, thinking that this explanation would be easier for them to accept. “So, we’re not from the same world.”

Zheng Xiao seemed to have been struck by lightning. For a moment, his expression was conflicted, but then he quickly made a decision, "It's okay, I don't care!"

?

!

Bai Ye was caught off guard by Zheng Xiao's words. What did Zheng Xiao mean by that?

Break free from family and embrace true love?

That's a bit scary. They haven't gone that far, have they?

They're barely even in the initial stages of getting to know each other; they haven't even confirmed their relationship yet. What's all this fuss about?!

After Zheng Xiao spoke, he took a deep breath, as if he had made a decision and the matter was settled.

He adopted a reliable, masculine demeanor, saying, "However, it's best not to cause too much trouble with your family!" He earnestly advised, "Children should always fulfill their filial duties, and I believe Miss Bai is a warm-hearted woman."

?

Bai Ye had never seen anything like this before; it was practically a forced sale. Seeing Zheng Xiao about to walk around the table and come over, unsure whether he wanted to shake her hand or give her a hug, she quickly took a few steps back. "Mr. Zheng, I have to go to work, so I can't chat any longer!"

"Let's end things here!" Bai Yeke reiterated. "In any case, I feel we're not a good match, so let's not contact each other anymore. I wish you a better marriage."

She almost fled, but she didn't forget what she had said. She paid the bill at the front desk as she passed by, hoping that this would be the end of it all.

Zheng Xiao, standing behind her, froze. After seeing her pay the bill, he chuckled softly with a touch of indulgence. He muttered to himself, "Did I push her too hard? I need to give her some time."

Back at the company, with about forty minutes left before the lunch break ended, Bai Yeke, feeling irritable, pulled out a pack of soda crackers from her drawer and started chewing them.

She was eating while playing on her phone when a new message appeared at the top of the screen.

A Life of Tranquility: How is Miss Bai faring in her battles?

"Cough cough!" Bai Yeke choked on the biscuit crumbs.

Talking about the battle situation? Do you even know how to choose your words? You really have no conversation skills!

However, this battle situation... no, this predicament, is truly shameful.

Coconut Cola: I've made it clear to him.

As for what he thinks, Bai Ye has no idea.

Thinking back to Zheng Xiao's words and her reaction at the time, Bai Yeke felt that if she were to bring it up, Yi Sheng would definitely laugh at her!

"Hey! Have some water." He Xin pushed her cup closer. "You didn't eat lunch, and you're rushing back to eat cookies. Did you go thieving?"

Baiye can drink water, but shakes its head.

She didn't want her colleagues to know about her frustrating experience.

The phone vibrated, and Bai Ye looked at the screen, momentarily dazed. It displayed "Mom".

"Hello." Bai Yeke answered the phone.

"Little Ke..."

"Hey, Mom." Hearing my mother's voice again, even though it had only been a little over a month, I felt a little disoriented.

"It's been so long, and you still haven't come back..." Mom's voice choked up after only a few words on the other end of the phone.

“I…” Bai Yeke sighed, feeling a little like crying, but said soberly, “I’m all grown up now, it’s not good for me to stay in his house all the time.”

“What do you mean his house?! This is our..." Mom instinctively retorted at first, but then lowered her voice halfway through, “Oh~ you’re a good child, your dad is just too impatient.”

“Mom, he’s not my dad. I visit my real dad every year during Qingming Festival,” Bai Yeke stated calmly.

“You…sigh!” Mom seemed to know that there was no way to reconcile the relationship between her stepfather and Bai Yeke. “You didn’t want to go on blind dates arranged by him, and you were so rebellious that you said those kinds of things. Why would I force you to come back?”

Baiye remained silent.

"As long as you're okay, that's all that matters." Mom choked up again.

"I've been doing well lately," Bai Yeke quickly said. "Mom, how about you?"

"What else could I possibly want? At our age, as long as our children and families are doing well, that's enough."

"..." Bai Ye was quite opposed to this idea, but she couldn't change it. She could only say, "Don't always go along with him. You're getting old. You should eat and rest when you need to. It's not like we don't have a housekeeper at home."

"Mmm, mmm," Mom smiled.

As always, whenever she said that, her mother would happily agree, thinking that Baiye doted on her, but she didn't seem to listen.

Bai Ye sighed.

"Where are you staying now?" Mom asked with concern. "Do you have enough money?"

“That’s enough.” Bai Yeke smiled. “I’m staying at a friend’s house. She’s been very kind to me. She also helps me with my work. I’ve been promoted to top designer and have received a lot of bonuses recently.”

"A girl?" Mom asked sensitively, then quickly added, "Oh, what am I talking about? Of course it's a girl! She can't live with a boy before marriage!"

"I know."

"Hmm..." Mom hesitated, "That girl was quite nice to you... You really don't like girls, do you?"

"Huh?" Bai Yeke was slightly taken aback.

It was as if an ancient bell in my heart had been struck very hard, making a loud "hum" sound, and I lost all reason.

"I know you're the one who's making me angry. I heard from them that you and Zheng Xiao have started seeing each other again, which is a good thing." Mom chuckled to herself again. "Mom's fine, you just focus on your work."

Bai Ye dug her palms together with her nails, hummed in response, and hung up the phone.