How would you know if you don't try

In Kong Huaijin's world, she had hardly ever been rejected by anyone in her life.

Most people would beg and fawn over her—those she actively invited were anything but ordinary.

Today, Kong Huaijin had already added Zhou Yi on WeChat. She scrolled through his Moments, but it was set to "visible for the last three days," revealing nothing.

Mysterious.

Trying to deduce anything from his social media was nearly impossible.

Zhou Yi, on the other hand, could often extract a wealth of information from someone's posts. He didn’t want to give others the same opportunity to analyze him.

So he rarely posted—unless it was to attract beautiful women, crafting a persona when necessary.

Kong Huaijin sent him a message:

[Kong Huaijin: Yi, are you free next Wednesday? Let me treat you to dinner.]

At that moment, Zhou Yi was treating Jiang Ruolan to barbecue.

He hadn’t eaten much at dinner earlier, and since Jiang Ruolan had been waiting outside for him without eating either, they decided to grab some skewers.

He was meticulously peeling a crab for her.

When his phone lit up, he didn’t check the message immediately, merely glancing at it before looking away.

"Thank you, President Zhou. You’ve dirtied your hands." Jiang Ruolan then asked a server for a hot towel.

"Give me your hand, I’ll clean it for you." She smiled gently, and Zhou Yi extended his hand, letting her hold his wrist as she wiped away the grease.

Their eyes met, and that familiar ambiguous tension settled between them again.

The barbecue joint was lively even in October, packed with drinkers. Zhou Yi and Jiang Ruolan stood out in their sharp suits, drawing stares—especially from the men who couldn’t take their eyes off Jiang Ruolan.

Zhou Yi frowned and suggested, "How about we pack these up and eat by the roadside? Fewer people there."

Jiang Ruolan chuckled. "Sure. Though I’m sorry to make President Zhou eat on the street with me."

"It’s nothing. Let’s go."

They took their packed skewers and settled on a quiet stretch of sidewalk.

Few cars, fewer people—perfect for a late-night stroll, almost like a date.

"Sitting here eating barbecue with you reminds me of my college days. Feels like being young again."

"Next time, come visit my campus. Though Huai University’s cafeteria can’t compare to A University’s."

Zhou Yi seemed refreshingly down-to-earth around her. She smiled. "Alright."

With a sigh, she added, "I never imagined I’d be sitting on the roadside eating barbecue with my boss."

"Bosses are human too. Not all of us dine on steak and French cuisine. I prefer something with a bit of life to it—relaxing, enjoyable."

"That’s why you’re different from the others in my eyes."

Jiang Ruolan’s fondness for Zhou Yi grew stronger.

She loved this unconventional side of him—especially since she seemed to be the only one who got to see it.

Men often liked women with layers; the same went for women.

While Zhou Yi chatted with Jiang Ruolan, he hadn’t checked Kong Huaijin’s message. She waited and waited, but no reply came.

Was he asleep?

Without hesitation, she sent another:

[Kong Huaijin: Still awake?]

She wasn’t the shy, demure type. With men, she didn’t bother with subtlety—she went straight to the point.

Zhou Yi’s phone lit up again. This time, he opened it.

Kong Huaijin was inviting him out?

That didn’t seem like her style.

Based on their interactions today, her interest level didn’t seem high enough for her to be this eager.

So it had to be something else—maybe his medical skills, or a business proposal.

Jiang Ruolan noticed his silence. "Someone messaging this late?"

"Guess who."

"I wouldn’t know. You have so many friends, and I don’t know all of them."

"It’s that Kong family heiress from earlier."

Jiang Ruolan was genuinely surprised.

Had Zhou Yi’s charm really won over even the work-obsessed Kong Huaijin?

"And she’s reaching out to you now because...?"

"She’s asking me to dinner next Wednesday."

Jiang Ruolan’s expression dimmed slightly.

Of course.

Then again, falling for Zhou Yi wasn’t exactly shocking.

"But I’m not going."

Zhou Yi’s words instantly brightened her eyes again.

[Jiang Ruolan’s fondness +5]

Anyone else would’ve jumped at Kong Huaijin’s invitation without a second thought.

She was the Kong family’s heir—what man wouldn’t be tempted?

Yet Zhou Yi turned her down flat.

Whatever Kong Huaijin’s reasons were, Jiang Ruolan knew she wouldn’t have been able to refuse in his place.

"Why not? Getting close to Miss Kong would make things much easier for you in Huaihai."

"If I’m not interested in her, there’s no point in using her. Would you be happy if I went?"

Zhou Yi held Jiang Ruolan’s gaze as he said this, his words laced with implication—as if his refusal was partly to avoid upsetting her.

In other words, he cared about how she felt.

Her expression softened further. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her mood lifting.

With a playful raise of her brow, she said, "That’s your call, President Zhou. Just a lowly assistant like me wouldn’t dare interfere."

A few months ago, Jiang Ruolan would never have teased him like this.

But this faux-defiant remark betrayed her true feelings.

Women sometimes spoke this way when happy—saying the opposite, secretly hoping to be coaxed.

Zhou Yi opened a can of Coke and handed it to her. "Nonsense. You’re more than just an assistant to me."

Her heart skipped. As she took the can, their fingers brushed, but neither pulled away.

"Then what am I?" she asked, holding his gaze.

Zhou Yi suddenly grinned. "What do you want to be?"

He tossed the question back at her.

And so their dance began.

"If I say it, will it happen?"

"Maybe. How would I know unless you tell me?"

"But what if it’s not what you’re thinking?"

"You won’t know unless you try."

His words made her grip tighten abruptly. She debated whether to tear down that last barrier between them.

The Coke can crumpled faintly in her hand.

Then, as if electrocuted, both pulled back at once.

The can clattered to the ground, shattering the moment.