A pampered young lady from a wealthy family is reborn, choosing a rich wife over a rich man.

"Sister!" Gu Huai hurriedly caught up.

He stepped in front of Meng Zhixue, blocking her path, and asked in confusion, "Why are you suddenly angry? Don't go yet, can you let me finish what I have to say?"

Meng Zhixue stopped, her clean and charming almond-shaped eyes looking at him, and asked in an annoyed tone, "Whether you study or not, and what university you go to, has nothing to do with me, right? Don't mention any of your requests to me, I won't indulge you, or do things like kissing, hugging, or lifting you up high."

Gu Huai: "..."

Indeed.

But he really didn't think about kissing, hugging, or lifting him up high...

How could I dare?

He... he never even held hands with me!

His Adam's apple bobbed, and the redness from the tips of Gu Huai's ears quickly spread to the base of his neck.

The cool and aloof expression on the young man's face cracked, revealing his helplessness and anxiety underneath.

He quickly added, "Sister, I have no other requests. I just want to come see you once a week and treat you to a meal."

"Studying requires a balance of work and rest. Just consider this me inviting you to dinner as a way for me to relax a bit. Can you give me a chance?"

Meng Zhixue raised an eyebrow at him.

When Gu Huai met her gaze, his heart raced involuntarily. When he spoke again, this time he was truly pushing his luck.

He looked at her expression and tentatively asked, "And... can you promise me you won't date anyone else for this year?"

Meng Zhixue: "...?"

Gu Huai then said, "Since you have an agreement with me, you have to give me this year of exclusive time, right?"

"With me protecting you, even if you want to talk, no one will dare to talk to you! Anyone who dares to approach you, I'll break their legs!"

Meng Zhixue looked at him and suddenly found it a little funny.

What's with the talk of "breaking legs"? You're still just a little kid, yet you're acting like an adult man, marking your territory like that?

However, after thinking about it, she nodded.

It's fine to agree; it won't have much of an impact and will only benefit her.

She didn't want to be in a relationship in the first place, and Gu Huai's domineering nature was a good way to keep her away from unwanted suitors.

After all, those are all bad peach blossoms!

She remembered that because she was pretty, many men wanted to "take her as a mistress" during her college years, using all sorts of threats and inducements, which annoyed her to no end.

In her first life, she was just a young girl with little knowledge and experience, possessing only beauty but lacking intelligence.

Dealing with those people was a source of worry and fear for her; she lived in constant anxiety and barely managed to escape their clutches.

With Gu Huai's help in this life, those shady characters should think twice about the consequences of messing with her, and she should be able to relax a bit more, right?

That's one of the advantages of being a little kid.

Those who are tall and strong are perfect for being used as shields!

After making her decision, Meng Zhixue smiled and nodded, "Okay, I promise you! Anyone who dares to approach me will be in for a world of hurt."

Gu Huai's eyes suddenly lit up.

"However..." Meng Zhixue held up one finger and said, "I only promised you that I wouldn't date for a year, but that doesn't mean I'll stay single forever. You need to understand that difference."

"If you don't get into a good university a year from now, you can't bother me."

Gu Huai nodded, a forced smile playing on his lips: "Trust me, I will!"

He added, "Sister, I knew you would agree."

"..." Meng Zhixue asked curiously, "Who gave you that confidence?"

She remembered that she seemed to have been rejecting him all along, didn't she?

The agreement regarding the college entrance examination is, in fact, just a delaying tactic.

"You gave it to me," Gu Huai said matter-of-factly. "You told me to study hard and get into a good university, which means you're giving me a chance, and you also have feelings for me."

Meng Zhixue opened her mouth, only to find that she couldn't refute it.

The logic is flawed, but it doesn't sound wrong.

...That works too.

She resigned herself to her fate, shut her mouth, and walked forward with her backpack on.

Gu Huai quickly followed, then slowed his pace to match her walking rhythm, like a top-of-the-line race car driving at the speed of an old man's car.

After walking for a few minutes, he said again, "Sister, it's settled then. I'll come to see you once a week from now on and treat you to a meal."

Meng Zhixue: "Okay."

Coming once a week is better than coming every day.

Gu Huai then said, "I'm already here today, shall we go eat together?"

Meng Zhixue: "...Okay."

Gu Huai immediately perked up: "I'll take you out for something delicious!"

After driving for more than 20 minutes, Gu Huai led Meng Zhixue through the streets and alleys until they finally found a Chongqing hot pot restaurant hidden in an alley.

The hot pot restaurant was small and simply decorated, but there was a long queue at the door, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of butter and chili.

Meng Zhixue stood at the door, took a deep breath, and her eyes lit up.

"Is this food really that good? How did you find this place?" she asked Gu Huai.

Gu Huai had been waiting for her to ask, and couldn't help but chuckle as he said, "Don't you like Sichuan food? I specifically asked around and asked several classmates, and they all said this place is delicious, so I thought I'd bring you here to eat."

Meng Zhixue glanced at him, her eyes showing approval.

But Gu Huai felt something was off.

That glance she gave didn't seem like she was looking at a man; it looked more like she was looking at her son.

He shook his head, trying to shake this inexplicable and strange fantasy out of his mind... Impossible, impossible, absolutely impossible.

The two are only a year apart in age, and he's still so big!

A table became available, and the two followed the waiter into the restaurant.

Meng Zhixue rinsed the bowls and chopsticks with hot water and patiently sat at the table to wait.

The hot pot was served, and at first glance, it was a divided pot (one side open, one side closed).

The rich, bubbling broth, thick with chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, looked incredibly stimulating. The light broth, made with peppered pork tripe and chicken, had a few goji berries and red dates floating on top, appearing both delicate and nourishing.

Meng Zhixue loves spicy food and is determined to eat red soup.

She picked up the tripe, dipped it in the spicy broth for eight seconds, then ate it with minced garlic and sesame oil. The spiciness made her sweat, but it was incredibly satisfying.

Gu Huai sat opposite her, eating only the plain soup the entire time.

Meng Zhixue knew he couldn't handle spicy food, so she had no intention of persuading him to try it.

Gu Huai, on the other hand, after a mental struggle, reluctantly picked up a piece of beef from the hot pot and put it in his mouth.

Almost as soon as he put the food in his mouth, his face turned red from his neck to his forehead, and his eyes quickly welled up with tears.

A tough guy with tears in his eyes, so pitiful and adorable.

Meng Zhixue laughed.

Ignoring everything else, Gu Huai grabbed the ice water next to him and gulped down more than half of it in one go, finally suppressing the pungent taste.

Meng Zhixue shook her head: "Is this what they call 'trying it and dying'?"

"..." Gu Huai suppressed a cough, raised his reddened eyes to look at her, and said in a hoarse voice, "Sister, I will learn to eat chili peppers."

Meng Zhixue raised her hand to stop her: "No, no, no, that's not necessary."

She doesn't need anyone to accompany her.

He doesn't need to use this method to prove or express his love.

She enjoys eating and drinking, and respects other people's habits and hobbies. Even if they get together in the future, they can each eat what they like, and there's no need to force each other.

It's not like we're so poor that we can only afford one meal.

She was even happier that no one was taking her food.