He stole his best friend's photos and fell for a tycoon's heir through online dating.

Do you come often?

Why come here so often?

Who do you come with often?

Um... I guess it's a way of encouraging people to come back often. If you say it's delicious, what else can others say? It's just polite talk. You're making a big fuss over nothing.

Xia Ruo stopped thinking about those words and began to eat heartily.

With food, she no longer felt restrained, using her chopsticks with great agility, her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster.

While engrossed in her meal, she suddenly became curious about what it was like for the aloof CEO to eat, and her eyes involuntarily darted upwards to steal a glance at President Huo.

The man lowered his head slightly, his slender fingers gently holding the cutlery, his posture dignified and composed, exuding a natural elegance and nobility.

He picked up food slowly and deliberately, and when he chewed, his lips and teeth were closed, making almost no sound.

Xia Ruo swallowed hard. Compared to her own eating habits, her own was indeed rather unseemly.

Xia Ruo just kept staring at the other side.

I have to say, this CEO Huo is indeed handsome.

His facial features were so deep and defined, as if carved by a knife and axe. His brow bones were high and sharp, his nose was high and straight, and his thin lips, when slightly pursed, carried an air of ascetic coolness. Yet, when he lowered his head, his drooping eyelashes added a touch of gentleness to his appearance.

The light fell on his profile, and the transition between light and shadow resembled a sketch, with every line perfectly placed.

Zhou Siyan noticed the intense gaze directed at him, looked up, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Is there something on my face?"

"No...no."

Xia Ruo was inwardly groaning: She'd been caught twice already. Did she really like looking at handsome guys that much?

She lowered her head like an ostrich, sipping the mango pomelo sago from her bowl, wishing she could bury her whole face in it.

"Hehe." Zhou Siyan chuckled softly.

"Drink slowly, no one's going to take it from you," he said, lowering his voice even further. "If it's not enough, you can have this bowl too."

"That's enough, Mr. Huo. Drinking too much will make you fat..."

Xia Ruo raised her head and said, her blush still lingering on her face. She didn't dare to look directly at Huo Sinian opposite her, her gaze drifting back and forth near his shoulder.

Zhou Siyan looked at the girl's small face, slender arms, and collarbone that was faintly visible at her neckline.

He frowned slightly.

"You're too thin."

"Girls should be thinner, haha..." Xia Ruoshuo laughed twice.

"So thin, how will you survive in the future?" His voice lowered, as if he were talking to himself.

"Mr. Huo, what did you say?" Xia Ruo didn't hear clearly and looked up.

"It's nothing."

"Oh," Xia Ruo responded, and was about to lower her head and continue burying her head in the sand when the person opposite her spoke again.

"Are you and Lin Wanzhi, who came in together, close?"

Xia Ruo was taken aback.

"Great, we're best friends."

Suddenly, a certain string in her mind clicked—

I'd completely forgotten! I'd just suspected back at the company that President Huo's purpose was to find out about Wanwan. My memory is terrible! I almost missed a chance to shine.

"Mr. Huo,"

Xia Ruo took the initiative, her tone carrying a subtle "I understand you" quality.

"Wanwan and I grew up together, and I know all her preferences."

Across from her, Zhou Siyan smiled knowingly, but Xia Ruo only saw the "as expected" part.

"Oh? Really? Tell me about it."

As expected!!! President Huo really came for Wanwan.

"Mr. Huo, Wanwan likes... doesn't like..." Xia Ruo cleared her throat and rattled off a whole bunch of things as if she knew them by heart.

Favorite colors, disliked foods, favorite celebrities, things you're afraid of, favorite weekend destinations...

He wished he could make a PowerPoint presentation out all the information about Lin Wanzhi from birth to the present.

After chattering away for a while, Xia Ruo picked up the chrysanthemum tea next to her and took a big gulp, her throat almost burning.

"It seems they really have a good relationship."

Zhou Siyan's gaze fell on her face, his tone indifferent.

"I know their likes and dislikes inside and out."

"Yes, Wanwan is a good girl." Xia Ruo put down her cup and nodded seriously.

Concentrating on drinking water, she naturally didn't notice the fleeting, dark look in the unfathomable eyes opposite her.

"In that case,"

Zhou Siyan picked up the teacup, his fingertips gently tracing the rim.

"I think if either of you had lied to the other, you would have forgiven each other, right?"

Xia Ruo's mind went completely blank.

Will she forgive him? In the original book, Lin Wanzhi did not forgive Xia Ruo.

She remembered that ending clearly—the moment the truth was revealed, the trust in Lin Wanzhi's eyes shattered into pieces, never to be pieced back together.

She forced a smile, suppressing her inner turmoil.

"Yes... I think so."

Wanwan is so kind, and we're best friends. No matter... no matter what happens, she should forgive me.

By the end, her voice was trembling, and even she herself didn't quite believe it.

Zhou Siyan across from him clenched his fingers so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

His intention was simply to provoke this little liar and see her flustered and guilty.

But when the look of disappointment in her eyes caught his eye without warning, his heart suddenly felt like it had been violently clenched.

It felt like someone had stuffed a wad of wet cotton into his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.

He suddenly felt ridiculous—he wanted to see her panic, but when he actually saw her upset, he was the first one who couldn't bear it.

Ultimately, I couldn't bear it.

He lowered his eyes and softened his voice: "Some things aren't simply black and white. If you make a mistake, you can correct it."

Xia Ruo looked up and was stunned for a moment.

A lingering sadness, not yet fully faded, remained in those peach blossom eyes, slowly replaced by doubt.

Is Mr. Huo... comforting her?

"Are you full?" He didn't look at her, his tone returning to its usual indifferent tone, but much gentler than before.

Xia Ruo nodded mechanically.

Zhou Siyan got up, picked up his coat from the sofa, took a tissue from the table, walked over to her, and handed it to her.

"Thank you, Mr. Huo, but I don't need it." She waved her hand, her voice still muffled.

Zhou Siyan looked at the girl's unhappy face and sighed helplessly.

The next second, he bent down and brought his fingers close to her face.

The moment the tissue touched the corner of her mouth, she smelled the faint scent of cedar from his cuff, mixed with the warmth of his body, as it brushed against her face.

She froze completely.

"I have to wipe your mouth while I eat with you." The voice carried the indulgent tone of coaxing a child.

He casually tossed the tissue into the trash can next to the table.

He straightened up, draped his coat over his arm, and turned to walk towards the door.

"Let's go, I'll take you home."

Xia Ruo sat in the chair, stunned for several seconds before she came to her senses. She hurriedly grabbed her bag and ran after him.

-

The car started and soon arrived at Xia Ruo's dormitory building.

Xia Ruo opened the car door, turned to look at Huo Sinian, and bowed politely with a smile towards the car:

"Mr. Huo, thank you for taking me back to school, and thank you for treating me to a big meal."

Zhou Siyan nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on her face:

"Okay, get some rest."

"Mr. Huo, please be careful on the road too."

After Xia Ruo finished speaking, she closed the car door and turned to walk towards the dormitory building.

A night breeze blew in her face, carrying the scent of grass from the direction of the playground. She took a deep breath, feeling that tonight's "trap" had finally come to a safe end.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of a car window rolling down behind me.

"Xia Ruo".

She paused, then turned around.

Zhou Siyan sat in the driver's seat, his profile illuminated by the streetlights: "You can think carefully about what I just said."