Before Qian Wei could continue, Lu Xun spoke up, unhurried. “You’re not intruding.”

Qian Chuan wasn’t about to let an opportunity like that slip by—he immediately looped an arm around Lu Xun’s shoulders. “Come on, buddy, let’s eat together, it’s on me tonight.”

Qian Wei knew Lu Xun was tall, but she hadn’t expected him to actually stand slightly taller than Qian Chuan’s own six-foot-one frame. She stood rooted to the spot, staring dumbfounded as the two of them walked into the hotpot restaurant together.

What had Qian Chuan just said? Treating? This guy was normally stingy as could be with Qian Wei, showing not a shred of sibling affection—if she hadn’t pulled out the heartbreak card, he wouldn’t have thought to treat her to so much as a bowl of hot soup, and now he was offering to pick up the tab for everyone???

Also standing there, rooted in place, was Mo Zixin. She bit her lip, her expression far from pleased. When Qian Wei greeted her, she returned it with a somewhat perfunctory nod.

Qian Wei didn’t need Mo Zixin to say a word to know how she must be feeling. She’d come out for a two-person date, and out of nowhere two extra people had barged in—and to make matters worse, the emotionally tone-deaf Lu Xun had just casually turned the whole thing into a foursome dinner.

Mo Zixin still hadn’t quite recovered her composure when they sat down, coming across a bit cold—not that this dampened lovestruck Qian Chuan’s enthusiasm in the slightest.

“Here, have some juice.”

“Zixin, do you eat spicy food? Let’s get a split pot—this place’s spicy broth is intense, I don’t want it to be too much for you.”

“Here are your chopsticks.”

“Want me to get you some hotpot sauce?”

Qian Wei couldn’t stand watching anymore. “Qian Chuan, can you just sit down and eat properly? Why are you showing off so much?”

“Serving a girl is just what a gentleman ought to do.”

“Then why don’t you ever serve me?”

Qian Chuan pursed his lips. “You’re so manly, does that even count as being a girl?”

Such a heartless traitor—the moment he had a girl he liked, he forgot all about his own sister. Qian Wei felt a wave of regret; what had blinded her in her past life to help this guy steal someone’s girlfriend? She’d needlessly offended Lu Xun, her future meal ticket, for nothing. Not worth it. So not worth it.

While Qian Chuan was busy being so eager and attentive, Lu Xun remained utterly unmoved on the other side. There’s nothing like a direct comparison to make the difference obvious—and if this kept up, how could Mo Zixin possibly feel good about it? Qian Wei kept glancing at Lu Xun, shooting him meaningful looks, trying to hint that he ought to get up and do something for Mo Zixin too. But Lu Xun completely failed to catch on—not only did he remain seated like some young master with no intention of moving, he even ordered Qian Wei, who’d gotten up to fetch sauce, around instead.

“Seafood sauce, satay sauce, sesame sauce, one spoon of sesame oil.”

Qian Wei: “What???”

Lu Xun smiled faintly. “Mix me a bowl of sauce too, since you’re going anyway. Did you get all the ingredients I want?”

Oh, Lu Xun, Lu Xun. With that lordly attitude of yours, no wonder someone stole your girl in the last life!

“Come on, Zixin, try a stuffed meatball, they’re this place’s specialty.”

“This tripe’s ready, here, have a taste.”

“Want me to get you some watermelon or other fruit?”

The whole meal had basically turned into a grand performance of Qian Chuan showering Mo Zixin with attention, leaving Qian Wei sitting there fuming uselessly, while Lu Xun remained entirely unruffled, showing not a hint of the jealousy or unease that ought to accompany watching another man covet the girl you liked. He ate with great refinement, as though the meal weren’t hotpot but some Michelin-starred feast. Mo Zixin, thanks to Qian Chuan’s attentive service, finally began smiling, and even so, Lu Xun remained indifferent, quietly eating his own meal at his own leisurely pace, showing no intention whatsoever of stepping in as Mo Zixin chatted and laughed with Qian Chuan.

What was she supposed to do now? Was history really going to repeat itself? Would Mo Zixin be swept away by Qian Chuan all over again? Would she herself once more become the target of Lu Xun’s retaliation as the woman who stole his girl?

Qian Wei kept glancing between Qian Chuan, Mo Zixin, and Lu Xun, her nerves fraying more with each look.

Shameless as ever, Qian Chuan didn’t register even a hint of Qian Wei’s freezing glares. In his bid to win the beauty’s smile, he was clearly willing to sell out anything.

“Actually, I usually just keep my head down and study hard—I’m not really the type to hang out with a rowdy crowd, so I hardly ever go out shopping. Today was a special case.” Qian Chuan sighed. “The reason I’m out today is because Qian Wei just got her heart broken, and I came along to help her cheer up. See all these bags? I bought them all to make Qian Wei feel better.”

Devoted to his studies, simple in his social life, pure of heart, deeply attached to his sister, generous, gentle and considerate—that was the impression Qian Chuan’s little speech was designed to leave with Mo Zixin.

This guy—he might act carefree and easygoing most of the time, but when it came to being cunning, he pulled no punches. What a schemer!

Mo Zixin was clearly buying it—she pressed her lips together in a smile and glanced at Qian Wei. “You two have such a close relationship. Qian Wei, I really envy you. I wish I had a brother like that too.”

Qian Chuan seized the opening. “No problem at all—I’m probably a bit older than you, why don’t I be your big brother too.” He was ready to push his luck further, but at that moment, Lu Xun, who had been quietly saying nothing this whole time, finally reacted.

“You got your heart broken?” Lu Xun looked up at Qian Wei.

“Of course she did—she used to secretly like this buddy of mine, and then it turned out he had a girlfriend, and she was devastated. Honestly, if Qian Wei had told me sooner, I’d have found some way to get her together with my buddy, no matter what.” Qian Chuan picked up the thread, then steered the conversation back to Mo Zixin. “Zixin, if you ever need help with anything, don’t be like Qian Wei and keep it to yourself—just tell me, and I’ll definitely sort it out for you.”

At that moment, Qian Wei felt genuine admiration for Qian Chuan—she’d never realized before how skilled he was at this. No matter the topic, he could effortlessly steer it back around to serve his own ends. A true prodigy, in his own way.

But what could Qian Wei say? She could only blame herself for digging her own hole—there was no way to clear things up now. Still, she wasn’t too bothered; after all, neither Lu Xun nor Mo Zixin was likely to take much interest in her love life anyway—at most it was gossip to be heard and forgotten.

Facing Mo Zixin, the girl who’d captured his heart at first sight, Qian Chuan grew even more animated—a beautiful woman’s smile was the best catalyst of all. He grew even more diligent about serving food, filling bowls, pouring water, until at last he stopped even pretending to hide his obvious intentions, completely ignoring both Qian Wei and Lu Xun at the table. Qian Wei kicked him under the table a few times to get him to tone it down, but he simply ignored those too, until finally she gave him one really hard kick—but perhaps love truly does give a person strength, because this kick shook the entire table, knocking the meatball Lu Xun had been about to eat right off his chopsticks, and Qian Chuan didn’t so much as flinch, carrying right on with his cheerful chatter. In the end, when Mo Zixin got up to get more sauce, he trailed after her like a devoted knight-errant.

That left just Lu Xun and Qian Wei sitting at the large hotpot table.

“Enjoyed kicking me just now, did you?”

Lu Xun spoke right as Qian Wei had a stuffed meatball in her mouth; the words startled her so badly she accidentally bit through the filling, and the scalding broth inside came gushing out, burning her badly enough that she spat the meatball straight out without a shred of dignity. It landed in the bowl in front of her, splashing broth everywhere.

Lu Xun leaned swiftly backward, as if dodging any potential splatter headed his way. He frowned and checked himself over thoroughly, and only after confirming he hadn’t been hit did he shoot Qian Wei a warning look.

Bad miscalculation—of all people, she’d kicked Lu Xun. No wonder Qian Chuan hadn’t reacted at all…

“Misunderstanding, misunderstanding!” Qian Wei hurried to explain. “I was actually aiming for Qian Chuan. Please, don’t hold it against a lowly fool like him—he’s from the Physical Education school, you know how it is, that brain of his would be a waste even as hotpot filler.” Qian Wei said, quite seriously, “Don’t worry, I promise, I absolutely won’t let Qian Chuan pop up again to ruin your date with Mo Zixin. I’ll drag him off in a minute.”

Lu Xun glanced at Qian Wei, pressed his lips together, and said nothing.

Qian Wei felt a bit moved—so it seemed that even someone like Lu Xun, destined to command the legal world with unmatched power in the future, could be this hopeless when it came to youthful romance. Men really were a species that needed a bit of a wake-up call sometimes.

“Lu Xun, when you like someone, you have to go after her. When it comes to love, a man’s got to take the initiative.” Qian Wei’s tone turned earnest. “I know you’re used to being fawned over all the time, so it must be hard to suddenly switch gears, but a girlfriend is meant to be doted on.” Qian Wei pointed toward Mo Zixin and Qian Chuan chatting nearby. “I can deal with Qian Chuan for you, sabotage him and all that, but Mo Zixin is so pretty and smart—even without Qian Chuan, someone else will come along to chase her. You can’t keep this up. You need to put yourself out there more, show off your full charm—for instance, look after Mo Zixin more while eating, serve her food, offer to get her sauce.”

“When did I ever say I wanted to pursue Mo Zixin?”

Just look at that—even caught red-handed, he still wouldn’t admit it?!

“You already went on a date with her, just the two of you—isn’t that pursuing her?” Qian Wei gave him a knowing look, all but wearing an expression that said, “Young man, no need to be shy, just be honest with yourself.”

“She invited me to thank me for helping her at the gym last time.” Lu Xun paused. “I turned her down at first, but she kept asking, insisted several times.”

Qian Wei looked deeply grieved. “Look at you—Mo Zixin has already bravely taken that first step, and here you are, not even appreciating it properly. Isn’t the whole point of social courtesy that favors go both ways? She treated you to a meal today, doesn’t that give you the perfect excuse to treat her back? Keep this back-and-forth going, press your advantage, and the two of you could actually end up together!”

Qian Wei was about to say more, but Qian Chuan was already leading Mo Zixin back their way. She shot Lu Xun a wink and, on cue, fell silent.