Hanging Xia Qiuzhi, Wang Xuan's Hostility

After leaving Zijin Bay, he first opened a forum to check the posts—there was an entire thread mocking Gao Wenhao.

Seeing so many people ridiculing Gao Wenhao put his mind at ease.

As he scrolled, his phone battery dipped into the red.

"Guess it's time to change my phone. This battery just doesn’t last."

The original owner’s phone was an older domestic model, used for several years. While it was still functional, the battery life had become unreliable.

Zhou Yi took a taxi to an Apple store and bought two of the latest iPhones—one for himself and one as a gift for You Man.

Moving into his newly purchased house today would be too rushed, so he decided to postpone the move until tomorrow.

For tonight, he’d return to his small rental place to sleep.

But he hadn’t had dinner yet, and his stomach was already growling.

He planned to meet up with You Man, grab a meal, and then head back to his place.

On the way, Zhou Yi’s phone kept buzzing nonstop. He opened WeChat to check.

After the whole house-buying incident, even more people had added him.

Aside from girls, quite a few guys from the forum—who were just there for the drama—had somehow gotten hold of his WeChat.

One guy with an anime profile picture had sent a friend request with the note: "Daddy, add me!"

Zhou Yi couldn’t help but laugh. He didn’t mind adding someone with a sense of humor like that.

After approving the request, he started replying to the messages in his inbox.

[Wang Yixin (SweetTooth): I saw Gao Wenhao’s livestream on the forum. He looked like such a clown, lol.]

[Zhou Yi: He was the one who stuck his face out asking to get slapped. Not my fault.]

Wang Yixin had been laughing at Gao Wenhao the entire livestream.

When she saw Zhou Yi buy a house without batting an eye, her fondness for him skyrocketed even more.

What else could he be if not a tall, rich, and handsome prince? Thinking back to their kiss earlier, she couldn’t help but blush.

Though Wang Yixin had her share of cunning, she was still just a girl who hadn’t stepped into society yet. How could she not be smitten with a high-value guy like Zhou Yi?

Her best friends kept pressuring her in their group chat to ask Zhou Yi about his background. Curiosity got the better of her, so she finally caved.

[Wang Yixin (SweetTooth): You’re so cool! Can I ask… is it true what they’re saying? Are you really from a wealthy family?]

[Zhou Yi: No, I’m just an ordinary guy.]

[Wang Yixin (SweetTooth): So humble~ Other rich guys flaunt their money like the world needs to know, but a true young master stays low-key, just like you!]

[Zhou Yi: I’m not a young master.]

[Wang Yixin (SweetTooth): Okay, okay, got it~ I understand what you mean.]

Zhou Yi smirked. He was doing this on purpose.

He wanted people to know he had money—but he couldn’t be the one to broadcast it.

Gifting Wang Yixin expensive presents was step one.

She had a wide social circle and loved showing off. Word about his wealth would spread fast.

Chu Han would definitely take action, and his reputation points would rise.

As for the flattery, all he had to do was deny it.

Money attracted girls, but acting like a nouveau riche would only make them like his wallet while despising him as a person.

After exchanging a few more messages with her, he stopped replying.

A male god had to maintain a certain level of aloofness—no need to overdo the responses.

Next, he turned to Xia Qiuzhi’s messages.

He’d been stringing her along all day. She had sent message after message, but Zhou Yi hadn’t replied once.

9:40 AM.

[Xia Qiuzhi (Ah-Zhi): Yi-gege, I know I treated you badly before. I’ve realized my mistakes. Please don’t be mad at me anymore, okay?]

10:17 AM.

[Xia Qiuzhi (Ah-Zhi): Look, here’s a photo of us on the swings when we were kids. Back then, we promised to be best friends forever.]

[Xia Qiuzhi (Ah-Zhi): [Photo]]

1:09 PM.

[Xia Qiuzhi (Ah-Zhi): What’s your relationship with Su Ning? Why is everyone saying you like her?]

2:24 PM.

[Xia Qiuzhi (Ah-Zhi): Sorry, I shouldn’t have questioned you like that. I just can’t stand the thought of someone else being more important to you than me. I really don’t want to lose you as a friend.]

5:54 PM.

[Xia Qiuzhi (Ah-Zhi): Yi-gege, let’s visit the orphanage together this weekend. The director is sick—I’m not lying.]

7:40 PM.

[Xia Qiuzhi (Ah-Zhi): Please reply… I’m begging you.]

Xia Qiuzhi had never been this desperate before.

In the past, it was always Zhou Yi sending her messages, trying to make her laugh, doing everything for her. Now, the tables had turned.

Zhou Yi finally decided it was enough when he saw her last message.

[Zhou Yi: Got it. Just let me know when.]

The moment his message went through, Xia Qiuzhi replied instantly.

[Xia Qiuzhi (Ah-Zhi): Do you have to be so cold? You weren’t like this before. You used to dote on me, Yi-gege. Can’t we go back to how things were?]

[Zhou Yi: It’s better if we keep our distance. I don’t want Wang Xuan getting upset. If it causes a fight between you two, it’ll be my fault.]

[Xia Qiuzhi (Ah-Zhi): You… know about him?]

[Zhou Yi: Saw it on his Moments. There’s no need for you two to argue over me. I genuinely wish you both the best—now and before.]

Wang Xuan, that green-tea guy, used to pull the same act—pretending to be jealous of the original Zhou Yi, making Xia Qiuzhi comfort him.

He loved stirring the pot, constantly making Xia Qiuzhi angry at the original Zhou Yi until she grew sick of her childhood friend.

Now, Zhou Yi was returning the favor.

If Wang Xuan could play the game, so could he.

[Xia Qiuzhi (Ah-Zhi): What right does he have to be upset? We’ve been friends for years. If he gets mad, that’s his problem. What kind of guy is that petty? A relationship like that won’t last.]

How hypocritical.

Back then, the original Zhou Yi was the problem—the one who was "too sensitive." Now, the roles had reversed.

[Zhou Yi: Then set up a time for the three of us to talk. I still consider him a brother, honestly. Being caught between you two is hard for me.]

[Xia Qiuzhi (Ah-Zhi): Okay~ After we visit the director this weekend, let’s all have dinner together.]

[Zhou Yi: Sure. Just make sure he’s okay with it first. I doubt he’d be happy sharing a meal with me. If he’s reluctant, we can drop it.]

Zhou Yi’s words were deliberate—planting the seeds of discord.

The moment Wang Xuan showed even a hint of displeasure, Xia Qiuzhi would resent him for it.

Xia Qiuzhi called Wang Xuan.

"This weekend, Yi-gege and I are going to visit the orphanage director first. After that, the three of us should have dinner together."

Her tone was gentle, but Wang Xuan was still furious.

Ever since Zhou Yi’s glow-up, Xia Qiuzhi had been distracted, her gaze no longer filled with the same affection for him.

He’d also seen how many messages she had sent Zhou Yi—all left on read—while she kept spamming him like some desperate fan.

He couldn’t stand his girlfriend being so eager for another man’s attention.

Even if that person was her childhood friend.

Before, it was precisely because he couldn’t stand Zhou Yi that he went out of his way to drive a wedge between them.

Perhaps Xia Qiuzhi didn’t realize just how intimate she acted around Zhou Yi.

When she was annoyed, she’d pinch Zhou Yi’s ears and scold him.

When she was upset, she’d vent to Zhou Yi, crying pitifully in front of him.

When she was happy, she’d call Zhou Yi over, tilting her chin up proudly to show off her newly bought dress.

At times like these, Zhou Yi would just grin foolishly, and Xia Qiuzhi would poke his forehead, calling him a "hopeless straight guy."

Even when she was bored, the first person she thought of was still Zhou Yi.

One call, and Zhou Yi would come running—if he was even a little late, Xia Qiuzhi would still yell at him.

Standing in the corner with her hands on her hips, lecturing Zhou Yi, she looked like a haughty little princess.

"Little princess"—that’s what Zhou Yi called Xia Qiuzhi.

Of course, he could only call her that when she was in a good mood, or she’d get mad again.

Honestly, Xia Qiuzhi’s spoiled temper was entirely nurtured by Zhou Yi.

Every time this happened, he was always left on the outside.

It was as if the two of them shared a world of their own, while he, Wang Xuan, was just an onlooker.

But Xia Qiuzhi was his girlfriend—how could he ever feel at ease as long as Zhou Yi was around her?

His plan had already succeeded once; under his interference, the two had gradually drifted apart.

So why did it feel like everything had reset?

Except this time, the one who changed was Xia Qiuzhi.

Her feelings for Zhou Yi had only grown deeper.

All his efforts had been in vain—in the end, he’d only made Xia Qiuzhi realize she couldn’t live without Zhou Yi.

He felt utterly ridiculous.