Qiu Yingying is reborn and bound to a learning system.

Night falls. The hustle and bustle of Shanghai is gently awakened. On the third floor of the "Golden Glow" bar in the city center, in a highly private private room, the warm yellow light diffuses the coolness from outside the window, and the air is filled with the rich aroma of whiskey. The faint fragrance in the air makes it even more tranquil.

Meng Yanchen sat in the center of the sofa, wearing a well-tailored dark gray suit with the cuffs neatly rolled up to his forearms, revealing a low-key yet luxurious watch on his wrist.

His fingertips rested lightly on the crystal glass, his gaze fixed on the amber liquid inside. Ice cubes clinked softly against each other. Unlike his usual decisive and composed demeanor at the company, a rare gentleness lingered between his brows, as if some unspoken worry was slowly brewing within him.

When Xiao Yixiao pushed the door open, he was carrying a freshly opened bottle of champagne. Seeing Meng Yanchen's thoughtful expression, he couldn't help but tease him, "Mr. Meng, you invited me over for a drink, but you're the one spacing out first? That's not like you at all."

As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze was drawn to a white velvet box beside Meng Yanchen. The box was small, but exquisitely crafted, like a jewelry box. Xiao Yixiao curiously leaned closer, opened it, and found a small, delicate strawberry cake inside—pale pink cream adorned with fresh strawberry pieces and sprinkled with a fine layer of icing sugar. It looked sweet, soft, and adorable, completely out of place in a bar filled with alcohol and hormones.

"What the hell?" Xiao Yixiao raised an eyebrow in surprise, taking an exaggerated half-step back. "Meng Yanchen? Are you kidding me? Strawberry cake in a bar private room? Have you changed your personality or been bewitched?"

He had known Meng Yanchen for so many years, and the man had always been strict and self-disciplined, with a light and restrained diet. He rarely ate sweets, let alone sweets in bars, and even on ordinary days. More importantly, Meng Yanchen never smoked, and his lifestyle was almost strictly disciplined. Xiao Yixiao simply couldn't imagine that he would bring a strawberry cake to drink.

A slight, unnatural blush rose on Meng Yanchen's cheeks. He reached out and gently closed the cake box, his tone tinged with barely perceptible embarrassment: "I just grabbed it, it's nothing."

"Just a casual gesture?" Xiao Yixiao clearly didn't believe him. He sat down next to him, poured himself a glass of champagne, and said, "Your 'casual gesture' is quite something, Mr. Meng. Tell me, who does this cake have to do with? Is there something going on?"

Stunned by Xiao Yixiao's words, Meng Yanchen didn't evade the question. His eyes flickered for a moment, then gradually cleared. He picked up the whiskey in front of him and took a sip. The spicy liquid slid down his throat, but it couldn't suppress the warmth in his heart. He was silent for a moment, then his tone became more resolute: "I recently met a girl, and I'm sure of it. I'm attracted to her, and I want to take responsibility for her."

Excuses, excuses, excuses? You always say you'll take responsibility, lol.

Xiao Yixiao's eyes lit up, and he immediately became interested, leaning forward slightly: "Oh? What kind of girl could make our Iceberg Meng so certain that he's fallen for her?"

"She's special." Qiu Yingying's image involuntarily surfaced in Meng Yanchen's mind, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly, his eyes almost overflowing with tenderness. "She has a vibrant life force about her, a kind of energy that is very touching. Every smile and gesture of hers is so vivid, not a deliberately feigned sweetness, but something that comes from within, like the brightest light in spring, capable of illuminating everything around her at once."

He paused, as if savoring the moments he shared with Qiu Yingying, his tone softening: "She's very beautiful, the kind of sweet beauty that makes you feel comfortable just looking at her, not an overbearing, stunning beauty. The more you look at her, the more pleasing she becomes, and the more you spend time with her, the more charming she becomes. What's even more remarkable is that she's very independent and brave. She never complains about life's difficulties; instead, she has steadily built her own foundation step by step. She's organized and clear-headed when facing work, and calm and collected when encountering problems. That humble yet confident attitude towards life, and her hard work, is truly captivating."

Meng Yanchen's eyes became exceptionally serious, devoid of any confusion, only utter certainty remained: "I know that our worlds may be different, and I shouldn't disturb her life too much; she has her own rhythm and persistence. But I just can't control myself; I always want to talk to her, even if it's just a casual chat about everyday things, it makes me feel at ease."

When I'm tired from work, just thinking about her smile gives me renewed motivation. I even wish I could stay with her forever, even if it's just sitting quietly without saying a word—because being with her makes me truly happy.

He looked at Xiao Yixiao and said frankly, "This feeling is very unfamiliar; I've never had it before. But I'm sure it's not just a passing fancy; I'm truly smitten."

As Xiao Yixiao listened to his words, the teasing on his face gradually disappeared, replaced by a knowing smile. He was about to speak when he saw Meng Yanchen, as if suddenly remembering something, reach out and open the cake box next to him.

The moment the lid was lifted, a faint aroma of milk mixed with the sweetness of strawberries wafted out, clashing with the smell of whiskey in the bar, yet strangely, it completely relaxed his tense shoulders.

The pale pink cream was as delicate as a thin layer of snow, and several fresh strawberries were neatly arranged on top. The cross-sections of the strawberries were plump and juicy, and the edges were adorned with a few glistening frostings. The cake wasn't large, but it was as exquisite as a work of art, completely different from his usual minimalist and restrained aesthetic. He bought it himself after get off work today.

Xiao Yixiao, watching from the side, was speechless: "Meng Yanchen, you're really serious about this."

Meng Yanchen ignored him, simply picking up the small silver fork. His fingers were long and slender, with distinct knuckles, yet holding the delicate fork didn't seem out of place. He lowered his head, examining the cake intently, as if looking through the cake at the girl who had captured his heart.

Finally, his fork landed next to the strawberry, and he gently cut off a small piece—with a little cream, a little cake base, and a small piece of strawberry pulp.

The movements were very light and steady, without any unnecessary swaying, as if they were doing something extremely important.

When he put that small piece of cake into his mouth, his eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

The sweetness first melts on the tip of the tongue, not in an overly cloying way, but in a refreshing sweetness with a hint of strawberry tartness. The cream is light and airy, the cake base is soft and fluffy, and the texture is surprisingly delicate, much like the feeling Qiu Yingying gives off.

He chewed very slowly, as if carefully distinguishing each flavor, or as if using this sweetness to reminisce about the moments he spent with Qiu Yingying.

A few seconds later, he swallowed slowly, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

"How is it?" Xiao Yixiao couldn't help but ask, "Is it sweet?"

Meng Yanchen didn't answer immediately, but cut another small piece. This time, he deliberately brought a little more strawberries.

The strawberry juice burst in his mouth, sweet with a hint of tartness, balancing the sweetness of the cream, and like a gentle ripple spreading softly in a corner of his heart.

He then looked up at Xiao Yixiao, his tone calm but with a clear hint of relaxation: "Very sweet, just like the feeling she gives off."

"As expected!" Xiao Yixiao rolled his eyes. "I knew this cake had something to do with her."

Meng Yanchen didn't explain further, but simply cut another piece and ate it slowly.

The way he ate the cake, like everything else he did, carried a restrained elegance—he didn't wolf it down, nor did he act pretentiously; he simply ate it quietly, bite by bite, his eyes full of appreciation.

Cream smudged his lips without him noticing until Xiao Yixiao pointed it out: "Hey, your lips."

Meng Yanchen paused for a moment, then subconsciously raised his hand and gently wiped it with his fingertips.

A little bit of light pink cream clung to his fingertip. He glanced down at it, as if recalling Qiu Yingying's sweet smile, and his eyes softened slightly before he slowly wiped it clean with a tissue.

He ate that small piece of cake very seriously, as if he were performing some kind of ritual to commemorate this sudden yet incredibly certain feeling of being moved.

As he took his last bite, his movements noticeably slowed down.

The fork stopped in mid-air as he looked at the remaining strawberry, as if hesitating.

Xiao Yixiao was puzzled: "Don't you dislike sweets? Why are you reluctant to eat them now?"

Meng Yanchen didn't say anything, but simply put the last small piece of strawberry into his mouth.

This time, he didn't rush to swallow it, but let the sweet taste linger in his mouth for a few more seconds, as if savoring the delightful sensation.

Then, he put down his fork and gently closed the cake box, his movements as delicate as if he were putting away something precious.

"Finished eating?" Xiao Yixiao asked.

Meng Yanchen hummed in response, his voice soft but carrying an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

He raised his hand, picked up the whiskey on the table, and took a sip. The spicy liquor and the lingering sweetness in his mouth intertwined, creating a strange contrast that was not incongruous, just like the sudden intrusion of a vibrant and sweet Qiu Yingying into his peaceful life.

He squinted slightly, as if savoring the pleasure that this feeling of attraction brought him.

Looking at him like this, Xiao Yixiao had never seen him so happy and content in all these years. She was completely certain in her heart that this strawberry cake, and all of Meng Yanchen's unusual behavior, were related to that girl. He had met his true love.

He patted Meng Yanchen on the shoulder and said confidently, "Brother, since you're so sure you're interested, what are you hesitating for? Go for it! That's what liking someone means, that you want to be in a relationship!"

Meng Yanchen did not refute, but simply nodded slightly, his determination becoming even clearer.

"Think about it, someone like you who's too lazy to even celebrate your own birthday would specially bring a strawberry cake, would become so different because of a girl, would want to be with her, would be happy just being with her—what else could this be but liking her?" Xiao Yixiao spoke eloquently, her eyes carrying a hint of exasperation. "Meng Yanchen, you're just too restrained, keeping everything bottled up inside. If you like her, just go for it! When did you start being so indecisive?"

Xiao Yixiao rubbed his hands excitedly as he spoke: "Tell me, what do you need me to do? Do you want me to find out her preferences, or help you create a chance encounter? Or maybe I can give you advice on how to confess your feelings? Just say the word, and I'll do my best!"

Meng Yanchen remained silent for a moment, his gaze gradually hardening. He shook his head, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable certainty: "No need, I know what I'm doing."

He had considered taking the initiative to get closer to her, but he knew that Qiu Yingying was an independent and courageous girl, and matters of the heart couldn't be rushed. He didn't want to put pressure on her, and even less did he want to ruin everything because of his impulsiveness. He had his own pace and methods; he wanted to get to know her slowly, and he also wanted her to get to know him slowly, approaching her in the most sincere way.

"I'll ask if I need to," Meng Yanchen added, a hint of confidence and a subtle tenderness flashing in his eyes.

Looking at his confident expression, Xiao Yixiao couldn't help but purse her lips, secretly thinking: With your taciturn nature, how do you think you know what you're doing? If you really had to do it yourself, you probably wouldn't be able to confess successfully even by next year.

He watched as Meng Yanchen picked up his wine glass again, took a sip, his expression calm, yet unable to conceal the faint tenderness and joy in his eyes. He felt even more unreliable—a person who had to go through so much trouble to express his feelings for someone, his path to winning a girl's heart was probably long and arduous.

Xiao Yixiao didn't say anything more, but simply raised his glass: "Alright, since you know what's going on, I won't interfere any further. Come on, let's drink! I wish you a speedy success in winning the heart of your beauty!"

Meng Yanchen looked up and clinked glasses with him, the crisp sound echoing in the private room. He looked at the playful smile on Xiao Yixiao's face, knowing what the other was thinking, but offered no explanation. Some things he needed to figure out on his own, some feelings he needed to nurture. This was his first relationship, and he might not have done it perfectly; he wouldn't know how, but he would learn slowly.

The night outside the window grew darker, and the faint music from the bar mingled with the whispers and clinking of glasses from the private room, creating an ambiguous and unspoken scene. Meng Yanchen's heart felt as if a piece of strawberry cake had sweetened it; Qiu Yingying's image became clearer and more profound, and that unwavering feeling of attraction took root in his heart.