Xing Bi glanced at Ai, her expression blank. "What is he talking about?"
Ai cleared her throat. "Well, Nian does like you very much. He is very sincere about you. So, if you could give him a chance as your boyfriend…"
Nian sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.
"Like me?" She was flabbergasted. "How? When? Why? Wait, what?"
A confession was thrown at her out of nowhere and more so from a man whom she resented the most. She couldn't process the sudden feelings he attacked her with.
"Yes, I really love you, Xing Bi! You are so strong, cool and charming. You have such a beautiful but sassy heart. I love all of it! I-I only tricked you because I wanted to spend some time with you…"
Her mouth twitched. "Seeing me in debt trouble is your definition of spending time with me?"
He coughed hard. "T-that wasn't how it was supposed to happen. Uncle Jing really ruined it actually by appearing at the wrong time!"
"Shut up! Don't make excuses!" She glowered at him. "Is this another way of you making fun at my expense? Confessing to me? Find someone else who is fine with it!" She stomped her foot, carrying the weight of her rage.
"No, no! I am really serious about you!" He sobbed.
Jun smirked watching his miserable condition. He pulled Ai beside him. "This is what life should be like. My woman at my side and my brother getting his ass kicked. What more will anybody want?"
Ai tried to resist her smile from coming to her lips. "Don't be so harsh. He is trying his best."
He sneered. "Don't waste your pity on him."
Nian kept begging her. "Please believe me!"
"Well, you haven't left a very good reputation for making me do that," Xing Bi spat in anger. "Not even in a million years will I agree to become your girlfriend! I don't like you!"
Nian beamed. "No problem! Leave that to me. I will definitely make you love me back!"
Xing Bi raised her brow. "Don't be too confident. You are younger than me. Younger men are not my type."
Nian's irises twinkled. "Types are not set in stone. Once I sweep you off your feet, age won't matter to you at all~ You will be mine even before you realize it."
Ai beamed and clapped at that.
Jun and Xing Bi grimaced at her. Latest content published on nοvelfire.net
She coughed. "I like his confidence."
Xing Bi studied Nian with great scrutiny. "I see."
Nian found hope in the change of her tone. "So, so! Will you give me a chance and go on a date with me? Will you forgive me?"
Yes, yes just a little more…
Xing Bi smiled. "Of course."
Nian cast off a golden light-
The golden brilliance of happiness vanished instantly.
She glared at him. "You still ask me that!? How dare you use my cute Ai as a weapon to make me forgive you! You thought of buttering me up through Ai? Unforgivable!"
"You confessed to Ai first so that she will be ready to convince me. Instead of facing your mistakes head on, you planned of winning me over through Ai because you thought I won't be able to say no to her," she sneered. "Minus points!"
Nian felt himself falling deeper into the pit.
Debt trouble, scolding Ai and then using her as a buttering machine - everything Nian did only led to a deduct in his favorability points instead of enhancing them.
Jun raised a toast. "That's how you do it."
"Shut up, Jun! If you are not helping me, then atleast stay quiet!" Nian threw daggers at him.
Jun simply shrugged. "Anyway. Cry your tears later. Let's have dinner."
Xing Bi harrumphed. "Gladly. I am hungry now after using my brain cells on him!"
It was a wholesome dinner with Jun's cooking filled with a lively atmosphere except for a certain Liu Nian looking dead. But Jun and Xing Bi didn't bother. Ai was the only one who was putting food on his plate.
"There, there. Don't lose hope. Xing Bi is fierce but if you are sincere, you will definitely melt her heart one day."
Her words brought a dead Nian back to life and hope. He burst into tears. "Ai…Ai…you are the best!"
But Xing Bi's heart was melting because of another reason. "Oh my gosh…this food is so yummy! Jun, you are amazing!"
"Ai, you are so lucky! A handsome boyfriend, a super lavish condo to live in and an awesome chef too!"
Jun smiled. "It's not Ai. I am lucky to have Ai."
Xing Bi proudly said, "That's true too. Nobody is cuter than my Ai."
Nian chimed in. "I am also handsome. I live in a super lavish villa, and I am an awesome chef and pâtissier too!"
"All that gets negated because of your troublemaking personality, so don't even try," Xing Bi ruthlessly burst his balloon of hopes.
Ai patted his shoulder, who was crouching like a curled ball in a corner all alone with an imaginary leaf rolling past him.
Jun put his chopsticks down and faced Xing Bi. "Ai told me about your debt."
Nian's ears perked up at that.
"Oh? It's nothing much," She waved her hand in dismissal, "I am managing it."
Then she quickly said as she realized something, "Did you bring this up because you want to help me? It's not necessary. I will handle it."
Ai lowered her gaze, thinking of the past life.
Jun said, "I can, but I won't if you are against it. But I brought it up because…I want you to be careful."
"Loansharks are dangerous men though…" he smiled, "they are nothing in front of us. I just want you to be careful at all times even if Bro Nian might not be hovering around you like a damn fly."
"My point is, just be alert."
She smiled. "I will."
I don't want you to face the same fate as in the past life. You are precious to Ai. I don't want to see her crying over your death yet again.