Can following the rules be called rebirth?

Chapter 224, Section 222: A Trip to the Arcade

The soft strains of jazz music still lingered in the air.

After the constant whispering in her ear continued for a while, Gu Caiwei vaguely realized a fact.

That is.
Zhou Mingyuan doesn't seem to be taking the selection of a new store location very seriously.

What topics has he been talking about since we met?

Praise your makeup and outfit, joke about having a second stomach when eating sweets, and incidentally provide a little bit of emotional value.

He said he wouldn't gain weight in winter.

As for serious business, he didn't mention a single word about it.

The same will be true this time.

Gu Caiwei rested her chin on one hand and looked at Zhou Mingyuan beside her.

The other person seemed to be observing the blurry, moving figures outside the window, leaving her with only a profile view in the sunlight.

As she looked, her pair of bright, watery peach blossom eyes gradually narrowed.

"What are you looking at me for?"

"."

Was discovered.

Gu Caiwei quickly lowered her head, pursed her cherry lips, and looked at the box of small desserts that the waiter had brought in front of her.

Unconsciously, her fingertips tapped the delicate little silver spoon, the soft clinking sound going straight into her heart.

"This...this is delicious."

She finally found her voice and spoke in a soft, sweet tone.

"How delicious is it?"

Zhou Mingyuan casually asked a question, but his gaze fell on the corner of her mouth, and he couldn't help but laugh.

The little princess's lips had a tiny bit of cream on the edge, making them look even more glossy and full.

"Would you like to try some?"

Gu Caiwei scooped up a large spoonful of the fruit-covered part, put it in her mouth with satisfaction, and then pushed the small cake over.

The movements were extremely natural.

"Hmm~"

Zhou Mingyuan looked at the spoon that clearly bore her scent and lipstick marks, then at her bright, sharing eyes, and his actions were anything but polite.

Take a big bite.

Gu Caiwei's eyes widened immediately.

Not
its not right!
Why is he using the spoon he just used?

It's one thing to use it once, but to so readily return it to yourself is quite another.
"Indeed."

"It tastes even better than the cakes from the bakeries in Beiyuan!"

The rich sweetness explodes in your mouth instantly, accompanied by a colorful fruity aroma.

After taking a small bite, Zhou Mingyuan pushed the small cake back and whispered his feelings to Gu Caiwei.

So sweet.

So sweet!
I'm not talking about cake, of course.

The warm scent emanating from the man was the aroma of dessert, exactly the same as the memory on her tongue.

Does this count as an indirect kiss?

Gu Caiwei's cheeks were flushed as if they were on a fiery sunset, and she felt her whole body heating up.

As she held the small silver spoon in her hand, a thousand thoughts involuntarily popped into her head and jumped around in her mind.

On purpose?

There are disposable plastic cutlery on the table, why insist on using your own?

Was it intentional?

Boys are probably like that all the time—carefree and easygoing—they wouldn't notice such details.
"Eat quickly, eat quickly."

Zhou Mingyuan raised his middle finger, as if he had noticed her hesitation, and tapped the back of her hand with a smile, changing the subject: "We've looked at almost all the shops here."

"Let's finish eating so we can continue."

"."

Gu Caiwei nodded and continued to finish the remaining small cakes with the silver spoon without changing her expression.

Yeah, why think so much!
If he doesn't care, then I won't care either.

"We're finished eating! Shall we go?"

After taking small bites of the cake, she was about to reach for the coat placed opposite her when Zhou Mingyuan pressed down on her shoulder.

"Wait. Don't move yet."

The man produced a wet wipe from somewhere and lightly dabbed it on the corner of her mouth, near the edge of her dimple.

"There's cream here, you've eaten it all and you look like a little cat."

"It's available here too."

".oh."

again!

He's here again!
Gu Caiwei felt as if she were floating on clouds, or as if she were melting into the other person's unintentional actions.

The skin on my shoulder was burning hot from his light touch, my cheeks were burning hot, and even the tips of my ears were burning.

She wanted to dodge immediately, but her body was limp and powerless; she wanted to say she didn't need it, but her throat felt blocked, and she could only let out a kitten-like whimper.

"Are you done yet?"

The little princess turned into a wooden doll, leaving only a nasal voice with seven parts coquettishness.

"Don't worry, just wipe off the cream, it won't ruin your makeup."

Seeing Gu Caiwei's blushing expression, almost steaming with embarrassment, yet unable to cope, Zhou Mingyuan found it adorable.

He held a wet wipe and shamelessly ran it across her lips.

The distance between the two closed again.

The aroma of coffee, the sweetness of cocoa, and the clean, refreshing scent of a man blend together to create a dizzying, ambiguous atmosphere.

Three seconds, five seconds, ten seconds
My heart was pounding.

"Go away!"

It wasn't until the time exceeded the reasonable limit that Gu Caiwei could no longer keep up the act. She shook her shoulders, snatched the wet wipe from the man's hand, and glared at him fiercely.

This time, there's no need to guess.

This guy did it on purpose 100%.

Next is the inspection period.

Zhou Mingyuan and Gu Caiwei walked through the crowded streets of Optics Valley Square and strolled around the entire business district.

I visited Starbucks, explored niche coffee shops, and even frequented many independent coffee shops tucked away in the corners.

"Business seems to be just so-so."

"Most people in this world are all the same."

The two walked and talked, took the elevator directly to the top floor, and inspected the last competitor coffee shop.

"This seems to be the last one. Shall we go shopping at the International Plaza across the street?"

Gu Caiwei held her phone; the navigation on it had already been scrolled to the bottom.

"How about we call it a day? I'm really tired of browsing coffee shops. How about we just take a walk around?"

Zhou Mingyuan spoke in a very relaxed tone.

"Hey, why aren't you in a hurry at all!"

Gu Caiwei was actually getting a little numb to the similarities among coffee shops.

But after all, we're here on a business trip. We've only gone halfway through, and the partner already wants to slack off. What kind of behavior is that?

"What's the rush? Have you seen 'Love in a Puff'?"

Zhou Mingyuan shrugged, pointed in a direction, and strode forward, pulling Gu Caiwei along with him.

"No."

Gu Caiwei pondered for a few seconds, then gently shook her head.

"No wonder."

Zhou Mingyuan drawled out his words, his tone meaningful.

"What's wrong! So what if you haven't seen it?"

"It's alright, it's alright. It's just that this movie is quite a classic. There's a line in it that I'd like to share with you. If you haven't seen it, then forget about it."

"Li Zhi should have seen it; I thought she would definitely drag you along."

"Cut~"

Gu Caiwei pouted, sulking and ignoring him. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she pulled her phone out of her bag and immediately sent a WeChat message to Li Zhi.

I hate people who keep others in suspense the most!

[I've definitely seen "Love in a Puff," starring Miriam Yeung.]

The short-haired girl replied immediately.

What are some memorable moments?

[It must be that line of dialogue.]

Some things don't need to be finished in one night; we're not in a rush.

A good sister is a good sister; you can rely on her in times of need. Gu Caiwei put away her phone and watched Zhou Mingyuan walk aimlessly for a long distance, a small dimple quietly appearing at the corner of her mouth.

Ok.

Zhou Mingyuan is right; you don’t have to finish all your work in one day.

The important thing is to enjoy the time you spend together.

She quickened her pace to catch up, and saw the other person push open the heavy fire door. The noise was instantly shut out behind her, replaced by a bright and quiet silence.

Wow, this place is so beautiful!

I never expected to find such a pleasant surprise while just browsing around.

Not far from the coffee shop, on the top floor of the shopping mall, there is a semi-open rooftop garden, designed as a small sky oasis.

Outside the huge transparent glass fence is a superb view overlooking Optics Valley.

Skyscrapers stand tall, traffic flows like a river, and in the distance, the undulating skyline of Jiangcheng stretches out beneath the sky.

The wind is fiercer and purer at higher altitudes.

Gu Caiwei couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, and stood side by side with Zhou Mingyuan by the glass railing.

Her hair was blown about, and her fur collar fluttered in the wind.

She took a deep breath of the cool, free air, and the stuffiness she felt indoors vanished instantly.

The girl spread her arms as if to embrace the wind of the entire city, the hem of her cashmere coat fluttering in the wind.

"I just messaged her, and she actually saw that movie you mentioned!"

"It's normal. This movie is such a classic, it would be strange if she, a person from Guangzhou, hadn't seen it."

Zhou Mingyuan looked at her childlike actions and smiled as he continued the conversation.

"You know again?"

Gu Caiwei snorted coldly, her delicate eyebrows twitching almost imperceptibly.

"As if you know her very well."

"I understand a little, but not much."

Zhou Mingyuan seemed completely oblivious to the strange emotion in the girl's voice, and continued to walk a few steps toward Gu Caiwei with a smile on his face.

"."

Gu Caiwei turned her head away and remained silent.

But before a few seconds had passed, the man added something to himself, instantly disrupting all her thoughts.

"There aren't many like that. Compared to understanding you, they probably only have about a third the level of understanding her."

"You've even learned to put others down, how shameless!"

Gu Caiwei was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing, her peach blossom eyes curving into two crescent moons.

Emotions fluctuate like a roller coaster, but the outcome is like a kite, with the string firmly held in the other person's hand.

Seeing Zhou Mingyuan's cheerful expression, she felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

For the next few minutes, they remained silent.

The two stood side by side on the rooftop, overlooking the bustling Optics Valley below.

The vast city seemed to have become an exquisite sand table model, with all the noise filtered out by distance, leaving only a tranquility with a touch of alienation.

After coming down from the rooftop, Gu Caiwei seemed to have been revitalized.

"Hey, hey, hey!"

"Want to go play video games?"

The girl pointed excitedly to a brightly lit arcade on the street and turned to look at Zhou Mingyuan.

"You know how to play?"

"Sure! I'm a dance machine pro, an expert at claw machines, and I can even drive racing cars!"

Gu Caiwei tugged at the man's sleeve, her tone slightly coquettish, her eyes shining like stars.

"go!"

Is playing video games childish?
Eighteen is a very immature age!

Despite Zhou Mingyuan's hidden ambition to have lived two lives, he suddenly became interested and immediately turned around and went inside with Gu Caiwei.

The arcade was bustling with noise, and various game sound effects mingled together.

"Splash splash splash splash splash".

The automatic coin dispenser dispensed two hundred game coins.

Gu Caiwei rushed toward an empty dance machine with a clear goal in mind and skillfully inserted coins.

Dynamic music started playing, and dazzling arrows appeared on the screen.

The girl took off her cumbersome coat and handed it to Zhou Mingyuan. Wearing only a light purple cashmere sweater and a short skirt, she stood on the dance mat, turned around with a smile, and nodded at him.

Are you sure you're a dance machine pro?

Seeing Gu Caiwei's posture, Zhou Mingyuan couldn't help but cross his arms and suppress his laughter.

"Don't laugh! And don't compare me to your company's professional dance broadcasters!"

While telling others not to laugh at her, Gu Caiwei herself giggled.

A cheerful and energetic girl has this kind of magic.

Having been surrounded by love since childhood, her overflowing confidence makes her never ashamed to express herself.

Even though she knew perfectly well that Zhou Mingyuan's company had real dance masters and stunningly beautiful women with countless fans.

She wouldn't doubt herself because of this.

Jump if you want, and have fun.

So, she confidently stepped onto the youthful and invincible dance machine, and every move she made exuded boundless vitality.

As soon as the music starts, start swaying to the rhythm, regardless of whether there are waves or beats.

It's just so incredibly beautiful.

In fact, Gu Caiwei was not formally trained, and her movements were by no means professional.

But she had a great sense of rhythm and a light and agile figure, especially her long legs encased in light brown pantyhose, which drew beautiful arcs as she jumped and spun.

Her peach-pink lips were slightly parted as she stared intently at the screen. Fine beads of sweat clung to her forehead, and her cheeks glowed with a healthy rosy hue. She radiated a vibrant, luminous energy.

Zhou Mingyuan held her coat, leaning against a nearby pillar, his gaze fixed on her. He had never seen Gu Caiwei like this before.

So vibrant, so casual, so full of charm.

Having shed the refined exterior of a Shanghai heiress, her innate innocence and vibrant life force, nurtured by her pampered upbringing, were now fully revealed.

The noisy surroundings seemed to become a blurred backdrop; his world consisted only of the girl who was letting loose on the dance mat.

When the song ended, Gu Caiwei stopped, panting, her forehead slightly damp, her eyes sparkling with excitement, as if she had accomplished something remarkable.

"How about it? Would you call me a master?"

She ran up to Zhou Mingyuan, tilting her little face up and asking for praise.

Zhou Mingyuan looked at her bright eyes and lips that were even redder from exercise, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

He raised his hand and, with remarkable ease, gently wiped away a bead of sweat from the tip of her nose with his fingertips, a movement as light as a feather brushing against her skin.

"Awesome! Super awesome!"

"How about we invite you to be a dance streamer sometime?"

"I'm not going!"

Gu Caiwei stuck out her tongue, her expression incredibly cute.

"Let's go! Let's go play that!"

Undeterred, she dragged Zhou Mingyuan toward the basketball shooting machine.

Unlike outdoors, the arcade is warm and stuffy.

Zhou Mingyuan took off his coat and folded it together with Gu Caiwei's clothes. He rolled up the sleeves of his cashmere sweater, revealing his smooth forearms.

"Want to compare?"

Gu Caiwei looked at him defiantly and stood on the right, inserting a game coin.

"Could it be that you're also a skilled shooter? You're so versatile?"

Zhou Mingyuan picked up the basketball and looked over with a half-smile, naturally not wanting to spoil the fun.

He also bent down to insert a coin, and the two-person basketball shooting game quickly began.

"Yeah~"

Why can't I get in?

"Slow down! Slow down!"

Gu Caiwei is not a skilled shooter at all.

His movements looked professional, but his accuracy was far from perfect. Seeing Zhou Mingyuan's score getting higher and higher, he was so anxious that he jumped up and down.

The man's movements were concise and powerful; the basketball traced precise arcs and swished through the net, demonstrating extremely high scoring efficiency.

"Are you really good at basketball?"

There's no chance of catching up.

Gu Caiwei simply lay down and let herself be mocked, turning around to become a cheerleader and starting to comment on Zhou Mingyuan's clean and efficient movements.

His profile, focused on shooting, was sharply defined, and his muscular forearms were visible beneath his rolled-up sleeves, exuding a masculine charm unlike anything he usually possessed.

Watching him accurately sink each shot, seeing his effortless demeanor, and noticing the sparkle in his focused eyes...
The cheerleaders, who were the only ones there, gradually quieted down.

It wasn't until the end notification sounded that she belatedly started clapping like a little fangirl.

"Wow! You're amazing!"

(End of this chapter)