I bought a secret manual of the Hehuan Sect for ten yuan.

"It seems like you don't have a good relationship with your family."

"How did you know? No, why do you ask?"

"Not a single family member came to your birthday party, isn't that obvious? And those so-called friends of yours, your relationship with them is probably just so-so, right?"

"Indeed, I don't really want to celebrate my birthday. It's just that I go through it every year. I feel like something's missing if I don't do something special. My friends were also encouraging me, so I just did it."

"There's an undeveloped area on Liuguang Island. Would you consider outsourcing it?"

Li Shuyan became wary, flipped over and straddled Qin Ge, grabbing his neck with both hands, her expression both cute and fierce, "You've shown your true colors, haven't you?"

"Is this all you're trying to do with me?"

"That's right, I want to lease that area for development!" Qin Ge frankly admitted, "But the main reason is that you're good-looking and attractive."

He stretched out his hands confidently, full of arms, saying, "You like playing like this? You should have said so earlier!"

Li Shuyan leaned down and nuzzled her head against Qin Ge's neck. "Stop messing around, I really can't take it anymore."

"Were you serious?"

"I can't make that decision for you, and I can't help you with that."

"My dad doesn't let me get involved in work matters. All he cares about is figuring out which rich young master I should marry into, so that we can have a powerful alliance."

"Your wishful thinking has backfired, huh!"

Qin Ge straightened his back. "Having such a beauty by my side is not a loss."

The two cuddled together until noon when Li Shuyan's phone rang.

After a brief pause, she frowned. "I don't..."

She suddenly stopped talking, looked at Qin Ge, blinked her beautiful eyes, and smiled, "Okay, I understand."

Li Shuyan threw her phone aside and clung to Qin Ge, saying, "You have to take responsibility for me!"

......

In the evening, Qin Ge and Li Shuyan arrived at a restaurant called Time.

"Shuyan, you're here!"

As soon as the two entered, a young man greeted them with a bright smile, clearly having been waiting at the door.

The man was well-dressed and handsome; he was Wu Zhaonan, yet another blind date arranged for Li Shuyan by her father, Li Shaoting.

Li Shuyan didn't want to come, but Qin Ge's presence made her change her mind.

We can't let this turtle protein benefit us; we have to make good use of it.

When Wu Zhaonan saw Li Shuyan linking arms with Qin Ge, the smile on his face vanished instantly. "Shuyan, who is he?"

Qin Ge smiled and extended a hand. "Hello, my name is Qin Ge, and I'm Shu Yan's boyfriend."

"Young Master Wu Zhaonan, right?"

"I heard from a story that Young Master Wu insisted on treating us to dinner, and I couldn't refuse his hospitality, so I shamelessly came."

"Young Master Wu, you probably don't mind, do you?"

"Boyfriend?" Wu Zhaonan's face darkened instantly as soon as he grasped Qin Ge's hand, and he unconsciously increased the pressure on her.

He cast a questioning look at Li Shuyan, "Shuyan, when did you get a boyfriend? I had no idea!"

"Mr. Li has never..."

"ah--"

A sharp pain shot through Wu Zhaonan's hand, and he cried out in agony, "What are you doing?!"

"Let me go!"

He glared angrily at Qin Ge, wincing in pain.

Qin Ge released her grip and feigned surprise, asking, "Is Young Master Wu in pain?"

"That's strange. You were the one who used force first. I thought it was your habit to greet people, and that it would be impolite not to respond."

"Don't blame me!"

"You—" Wu Zhaonan gasped, rubbing his right hand. "Shuyan, who is he? Don't you need to give me an explanation?"

"Young Master Wu, are you hard of hearing? Didn't you hear Qin Ge say he's my boyfriend?" Li Shuyan suppressed a laugh. "Besides, why should I explain myself to you?"

"When did I start needing to explain to you that I have a boyfriend?"

"Are we that close?"

I felt incredibly satisfied after saying those words.

Wu Zhaonan had been pursuing her for a long time and had been rejected by her many times, but he still clung to her like a leech.

She even resorted to a "roundabout approach," trying to get things done through her father when things didn't work out with her. Her father was also out of his mind, and for some reason, he was so fond of Wu Zhaonan.

This time, she somehow managed to persuade her father to make sure she came to the dinner appointment!

"I..." Wu Zhaonan was speechless for a moment.

Li Shaoting did intend to match him up with Li Shuyan, but since they were both respectable people, they wouldn't be so open about it. At most, they would say that the young people should have a meal together and chat more to get to know each other.

They wouldn't say anything like "blind date" or "let them develop a deeper relationship."

Even if something was said, it's not a valid reason to issue an order.

"Shuyan, I know you still have a prejudice against me. Perhaps something I did caused you to misunderstand."

"But I really like you. Our families are well-matched. Give us a chance. If you get to know me better, I believe you'll like me too!"

"Is it because I couldn't be there for your birthday yesterday that you're upset with me?"

"I can explain. You didn't tell me in advance that it was your birthday. When I found out, I was dealing with an important social engagement and couldn't get away."

"You don't need to hire someone to act out a scene to make me give up, do you?"

"I can tell you clearly now, I will never give up. As long as you remain unmarried, I will not marry!"

That's why Wu Dashao is so clever; when there's no way to back down, he finds one himself.

This not only eased his embarrassment but also gave him a reason to feel better, allowing him to make a declaration.

That's killing many birds with one stone.

"acting?"

"Young Master Wu, aren't you overestimating your own importance?"

Li Shuyan snuggled closer to Qin Ge, but it still wasn't enough, so she tiptoed and kissed Qin Ge on the cheek.

"I never bothered to prove to you that Qin Ge is my boyfriend, but I'm telling you now so you can give up completely and stop bothering my dad!"

"I can also tell you clearly that there's no point in trying to convince my dad. If he likes you, then go ahead and marry him!"

Wu Zhaonan was speechless, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.

The face-saving gesture she had just made was ruthlessly torn down by Li Shuyan, who didn't give her the slightest bit of face.

What upset him the most was that the intimacy between Li Shuyan and Qin Ge didn't seem like an act.

He only presented himself as a devoted gentleman in front of the Li family; in reality, he was a womanizer. Having been with countless women, how could he not see the state of their relationship?

But where did this Qin Ge come from? I've never heard of him before. How did he suddenly become Li Shuyan's boyfriend?

Qin Ge pulled his hand away and wrapped it around Li Shuyan's slender waist, looking at Wu Zhaonan provocatively, "Young Master Wu, shall we still eat?"

"You don't seem to have much of an appetite. Shuyan and I are done eating. Remember to pay the bill!"