Boyfriend's passive-aggressive behavior, she turns the tables and makes him her backup option.

After hanging up the phone with Si Nian, Xie Jingyao, who was in the driver's seat, couldn't help but wonder if he had listened to a bad idea.

"Doubao, does playing hard to get really work when dating? Why is she becoming more distant from me these past few days since I haven't contacted her? She doesn't even want to go out to eat with my friends."

Doubao: "I'll tell you the most honest, straightforward, and simple answer directly: when dating a girl, you need to be gentle and attentive, spend more time with her, and never resort to emotional abuse."

Xie Jingyao: "? Didn't you say last time that we should play hard to get, and know when to advance and retreat?"

Doubao: "I'm sorry, I misunderstood. I'll get straight to the point and tell you that you need to spend more time with her."

Xie Jingyao angrily threw his phone aside. He must have been bewitched; he had even saved the several tips on getting along with women that Doubao had compiled for him before.

A moment later, his phone buzzed. Xie Jingyao rubbed his temples, took a moment to catch his breath, and then turned on his phone. He saw a message from Si Nian inviting him to dinner.

"Shall I come pick you up now?" Xie Jingyao replied.

Si Nian replied with an "Mmm" emoji, which was a little bunny sitting obediently on the ground nodding.

Qin Qing's victory celebration banquet was held at Night's Delight, and they booked the largest private room.

When Xie Jingyao brought Si Nian over, there were already quite a few people in the private room.

Si Nian glanced at the photos and realized that most of them were people who appeared in Xie Jingyao's WeChat Moments group photos.

They should all be from his team, except for Lin Wenshuang, who is not a team member.

"Ah Yao, why are you so late? We've all been waiting for you." Lin Wenshuang's words had just begun when they landed on the woman following behind Xie Jingyao.

The moment she saw Si Nian, she paused in her steps, then her smile faded, and she asked Si Nian, "What brings you here?"

Si Nian did not rush to reply.

Xie Jingyao took the initiative to ask, "I brought it. What's wrong with it?"

Lin Wenshuang asked in surprise, "You brought this? When did you two meet in private?"

She recalled that at her last birthday party, Xie Jingyao and Si Nian met but didn't even greet each other, acting as if they weren't familiar with each other.

Xie Jingyao even made things difficult for Si Nian at the dinner table, making her drink in place of Lin Tinghan.

When did they reach a point where they could bring each other to private parties?

However, Xie Jingyao did not seem to intend to answer Lin Wenshuang's question.

At this moment, everyone else in the private room also turned their attention to Si Nian.

Qin Qing stepped forward and sized up Si Nian. She then punched Xie Jingyao on the shoulder with her fist. "I told you to bring your sister-in-law, and you actually brought a woman to intimidate us. Aren't you afraid Wen Shuang will be jealous? Wen Shuang has been spending the whole day among these grown men for your sake. These men don't have anything to talk about with her. It's pitiful."

"Isn't there another woman here? Why don't you two chat if you're bored?" Xie Jingyao closed the door and pulled Si Nian, who was behind him, to his side.

Qin Qing laughed and said, "You know that too. My personality is not much different from a man's. I'm not interested in girls' stuff."

"Yes, you're a man."

"You're making fun of me again!" Qin Qing glared at Xie Jingyao, then extended her hand to Si Nian, "Hello, beautiful lady, my name is Qin Qing."

Si Nian raised her hand and shook it back. "Hello, my surname is Si, Si Nian."

Qin Qing took Si Nian's hand and led her to a seat.

Some people couldn't help but wonder, "Brother Yao, aren't you going to introduce this person to us?"

Xie Jingyao looked at Si Nian, but before he could speak, Qin Qing interjected, "This beautiful lady is called Si Nian, she was brought here by A-Yao..."

"Friends," Si Nian added.

Xie Jingyao frowned slightly, a fleeting, cold smile playing on his lips.

Qin Qing took Si Nian's arm and arranged for her to sit next to her, saying, "You can sit here with me. I like to be close to beautiful women."

Si Nian didn't have any particular preference about where she sat.

Her gaze fell thoughtfully on Lin Wenshuang.

After Qin Qing noticed this, she touched her arm and whispered to her, "That girl likes A Yao and has been pursuing him for a while, but unfortunately A Yao just doesn't get it and doesn't know how to take the initiative. I'm really worried about his marriage."

"You and Miss Lin have a good relationship?"

"She's alright. After all, she's one of A Yao's suitors. As his good friend, I definitely have to help him choose her. I think she's a nice person, and her family background is good too."

As Si Nian listened to Qin Qing's words, she felt a little uncomfortable for some reason, but she couldn't quite pinpoint the source of the discomfort.

Just then, Lin Wenshuang, who had been staying by Xie Jingyao's side, suddenly stood up, picked up her wine glass, and walked towards Si Nian.

"Sister-in-law, there have been a lot of things going on at home lately. I'm so grateful for your understanding and willingness to continue following my brother. This toast is for you. You finally managed to find some time to have some fun today, and I won't go to my brother to complain."