【Gong Zi: What kind of music do you like? I can play it for you.】
Just as Gong Zi was about to give up waiting for Zhou Yi's reply, he finally responded.
【Zhou Yi: You like rock too?】
The word "too" here was quite telling.
Gong Zi's eyes lit up—so Zhou Yi also enjoyed rock music?
But he didn’t seem like the rock type at all.
A flicker of doubt crossed her mind—was he lying to her?
After a moment’s thought, she replied:
【Gong Zi: How about we go to a quiet bar tomorrow? A friend of mine owns one in City A. I’ll sing for you.】
【Zhou Yi: I’m fine with that. Ask the other team members too—if they’re okay with it, we can all go together.】
【Gong Zi: Great!】
After that, Zhou Yi fell silent.
Gong Zi lay on her bed, eyes sparkling as she typed on her phone, her legs unconsciously swaying in the air—a clear sign of her good mood.
She didn’t even realize how thrilled she was that Zhou Yi had agreed to her invitation. In the past, this would’ve been unthinkable.
【Gong Zi: Aren’t you going to say goodnight, Captain? You’ve hurt my feelings tonight.】
【Zhou Yi: Goodnight. You’re actually quite pretty without makeup.】
Reading Zhou Yi’s reply, Gong Zi rolled over in bed, grinning from ear to ear.
She decided then—tomorrow, she’d go for a light makeup look.
Zhou Yi knew exactly how to handle women.
Earlier, he’d brushed off Gong Zi’s attempts at seduction, but before bed, he indulged her with a goodnight and even complimented her beauty.
This push-and-pull left Gong Zi’s heart in turmoil.
This kind of flirtation was unlike anything she’d experienced before, and she found herself oddly drawn to the thrill of it.
Glancing at the time, she decided it was too late to disturb the others and resolved to message the team first thing in the morning.
Hugging her phone, Gong Zi scrolled through her playlist, pondering which song to sing for Zhou Yi tomorrow. Drifting off with sweet anticipation, she didn’t fall asleep until the early hours.
The next morning, Gong Zi laid out the day’s itinerary in the group chat.
Morning: sightseeing at a famous spot in City A.
Afternoon: exploring the bustling shopping district.
Evening: heading to the quiet bar.
No one objected to her plan—in fact, they praised her for taking the initiative to organize everything.
Gong Zi had put real effort into it, listing all the best food and entertainment options City A had to offer.
Reading the flood of compliments in the group, she leaped out of bed, cheering, "Yes! Mission accomplished!"
The group agreed to meet at 9 a.m.
Since the girls needed time for makeup, they didn’t set the meeting too early.
Gong Zi had assumed everyone would handle breakfast on their own, but Zhou Yi surprised them all by thoughtfully bringing meals for everyone, earning unanimous praise.
After finishing the breakfast Zhou Yi had bought, Gong Zi hummed happily in her room while getting ready. Today, she was determined to be the most stunning girl there!
She hadn’t packed many outfits for the trip—after all, she’d come for the competition.
Apart from the edgy outfit from the first day and the lacy pajamas from last night, the rest of her clothes were fairly plain.
She planned to shop for something new in the afternoon. For now, she opted for a simple white tee and jeans, her hair tied into a ponytail—exuding youthful energy.
Today’s Gong Zi was a far cry from yesterday’s version. The moment Wang Yuyan saw her in the lobby, she gasped,
"Wow, Gong Zi, you look so different today! Totally fresh vibes."
Gong Zi smiled, pinching the girl’s adorable cheeks. "You’re looking cute too, Yuyan."
Wang Yuyan wore a pink floral sundress, her hair in twin braids, paired with white canvas shoes and a bunny-patterned handbag.
The outfit made her look sweet and delicate, her dimples adding an extra dose of charm.
It wasn’t even 9 yet, and Gong Zi had thought she’d be the first one down. But Wang Yuyan had beaten her to it.
The two chatted about skincare until the others gradually trickled in.
Zhou Yi showed up in a black tracksuit.
Those in the know recognized the luxury brand logo on it.
The outfit had been picked out by Jiang Ruolan, who was practically Zhou Yi’s personal stylist at this point, handling even his travel wardrobe.
The sporty look gave Zhou Yi a different kind of appeal—clean, sharp, and brimming with youthful energy.
"Captain looks so handsome today..."
Wang Yuyan clutched her bunny bag, eyes twinkling like stars, her round, wide gaze utterly endearing.
Jiang Cong chuckled. "See? The moment Captain arrives, all eyes are on him. When will I ever get that kind of attention?"
The group burst into laughter.
Kong Xiaohe suddenly started coughing mid-laugh. Zhou Yi glanced at him—his face was unnaturally pale.
"You okay? Not feeling well?"
Kong Xiaohe shook his head with a faint smile. "I’m fine, Captain. My health’s always been like this. Used to it."
Zhou Yi motioned for him to extend his hand. After a brief hesitation, Kong Xiaohe complied.
Everyone watched curiously as Zhou Yi took his pulse.
Wang Yuyan blinked in amazement. "Captain knows medicine too...?"
Zhou Yi’s expression turned focused, his brows slightly furrowed. Gong Zi found herself staring, mesmerized.
There was truth to the saying—a man looked his most attractive when he was serious.
Using his basic medical skills, Zhou Yi assessed Kong Xiaohe’s condition. No major illnesses—just innate frailty, the kind no amount of supplements could fix.
The downside of such a constitution was that he fell sick more easily than others, took longer to recover, and often seemed listless.
Zhou Yi’s current abilities could cure it, but to avoid raising suspicions, he couldn’t perform an instant miracle.
"I can treat this. Tonight, I’ll give you acupuncture and prescribe some herbs."
Kong Xiaohe was stunned.
He’d consulted countless specialists—both Western and traditional Chinese medicine—yet none had helped. How could a college student like Zhou Yi claim to fix it?
Frankly, Kong Xiaohe was skeptical.
But since Zhou Yi meant well, he agreed, though without much hope.
With that, the group set off for the scenic area.
City A’s attractions were vast—just one spot could keep them busy for hours.
Lu Youyou, well-versed in the area’s history, acted as their guide, explaining the significance of each landmark.
The afternoon became Gong Zi’s time to shine.
Coming from a wealthy family, her seemingly simple outfits were actually high-end designer wear.
She knew every hotspot in the shopping district and spared no expense, leading the group into luxury stores and footing the bill without hesitation.
City A’s commercial hub was on another level compared to Huaihai—skyscrapers everywhere, prices jaw-droppingly high.
Gong Zi strode in without batting an eye.
"Feel free to pick whatever you like—it's my treat."
Gong Zi's extravagant gesture left everyone stunned.
There wasn't a single item in these shops priced below a thousand yuan.
Embarrassed by her generosity, they all tried to decline politely.
But Gong Zi was insistent, and eventually, they reluctantly chose the cheapest trinkets to avoid further refusal.
Wang Yuyan pouted sheepishly and said, "I only treated everyone to milk tea earlier—I feel so bad."
Lu Youyou reassured her, "Don’t worry about it. How about we pick out a gift for Gong Zi later?"
Wang Yuyan finally brightened up. Her family wasn’t as well-off as Gong Zi’s or Lu Youyou’s, so she couldn’t casually splurge on luxury items. Lu Youyou’s suggestion subtly spared her pride.
Silently, she vowed to work harder on her livestreams. Once she earned enough, she’d repay Lu Youyou and Gong Zi with proper gifts.
Meanwhile, the guys had already agreed to treat the girls to dinner that evening.
Technically, Zhou Yi could easily cover all their expenses without a second thought.
But doing so would only stir resentment among the other guys—there was no need for that.
Surprisingly, Kong Xiaohe gifted Zhou Yi an expensive wallet.
A several-thousand-yuan wallet was no small purchase for a college student.
Zhou Yi hesitated to accept, but Kong Xiaohe smiled and explained, "I’ll be bothering you tonight, Captain. Since we’re not exactly close, it’s only right I give you a little something in return."
A "little something."
Turns out, he was another rich kid in disguise.
Kong Xiaohe was remarkably low-key—nothing about him hinted at wealth.
He dressed plainly, spoke humbly, and wore a faint, approachable smile, far from the flashy stereotype of a wealthy heir.
Had Zhou Yi paid closer attention, he might have noticed something about Kong’s surname.
In Huaihai, the surname "Kong" carried a certain weight.
After all, the city’s richest man shared the same name.