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Chapter 8 Renovation

  Zhou Yi didn't reply to her message right away; instead, he deliberately left her hanging for a while.

  He wanted to see if Qiao Xi would send him another text.

  After all, he had already created a strong initial impression on her, so there was no need for him to appear overly eager.

  Being too proactive would only make him seem desperate. Better to maintain an air of mystery.

  Half an hour later, Qiao Xi sent another message: "Are you asleep? I forgot to mention our walk earlier."

  Only then did Zhou Yi pick up his phone and reply: "I was so exhausted that I accidentally dozed off. I'm glad you got home safe. Get some rest early, okay? Good night."

  Clearly, Qiao Xi was eager to keep chatting with him, but Zhou Yi didn't want her sense of intrigue to fade too quickly.

  He believed in maintaining a certain distance—just enough to create a lingering sense of ambiguity and tension.

  If they discussed everything at once, where would the fun be?

  The key was to keep her guessing, drawing her interest slowly until she became captivated by him.

  Though Qiao Xi felt a pang of disappointment, she reassured herself that Zhou Yi must have been truly worn out today, especially since his mood hadn't been great either. He probably needed time to rest.

  With a mix of concern and understanding, she replied: "I don't know what happened, but things will get better. Good night, Yi gege."

  Lying on her soft bed, Qiao Xi kept staring at her phone, waiting for a response. But as time dragged on, there was still no reply. "Is he asleep...?" she wondered.

  Assuming Zhou Yi had drifted off, she decided not to bother him further.

  Before bed, she scrolled through her social media feed out of habit and stumbled upon a new post from Zhou Yi that evening: "To meet you is serendipity itself." It was a simple sentence, yet Qiao Xi knew it referred to their encounter.

  Smiling, she rolled around under the covers and liked his post.

  When the system notified Zhou Yi of the increase in affection, he couldn't help but smile knowingly.

  He knew someone like Qiao Xi—a sensitive, somewhat artistic girl—would be moved by such subtle gestures.

  Before going to sleep, Zhou Yi checked the list of people who had liked his post. Among them was his ex, Chu Han.

  Raising an eyebrow, he thought, What's this about? Does she think now that I've moved on, she can reel me back in? He gave a derisive chuckle. If it were the original host, he'd have rushed to explain himself immediately.

  But not him—he simply ignored her.

  An hour passed without any explanation from Zhou Yi, and Chu Han soon reached out—but all she did was tap his profile on WeChat, a feature meant to subtly nudge someone without sending words.

  In Chu Han's mind, this act alone was lowering her pride enough for him to respond. Surely, Zhou Yi wouldn't dare ignore her entirely.

  Yet after waiting anxiously for a long while, there was still no reply.

  Chu Han grew increasingly uneasy.

  She didn't want to lose this devoted admirer.

  Though she had recently started dating Gao Wenhao, a wealthy second-generation heir, she feared that once he lost interest, she might struggle financially.

  A loyal fool like Zhou Yi wasn't easy to come by.

  College expenses were high, and without Zhou Yi funding her cosmetics and clothes, how could she afford her lifestyle?

  Though she had only known Gao Wenhao briefly, it wasn't appropriate to constantly ask him for money or gifts.

  Before, she had distanced herself from Zhou Yi to avoid misunderstandings with Gao Wenhao—but she never intended to cut ties completely.

  As long as Zhou Yi continued providing for her, she was content to string him along.

  Seeing no response from Zhou Yi, Chu Han thought, Could he have moved on so quickly? Impossible… She had no idea about Gao Wenhao's private warning to Zhou Yi.

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  Unable to wait any longer, she finally sent a message: "Already found someone new? You move on fast, don't you? Hmph. Were you seeing someone behind my back all along? I always knew you were trash!"

  Chu Han, well-versed in manipulation tactics, launched into accusations.

  In the past, Zhou Yi would have panicked and tried to explain himself immediately—but not this time.

  He now understood the concept of being falsely accused.

  With a cold smirk, he typed back: "What, you can chase after rich guys, but I can't pursue wealthy women? Since we're broken up, let's go our separate ways. Don't contact me unless necessary—I don't want Xiao Xi getting upset."

  Xiao Xi? Upon reading this, Chu Han's blood boiled. Yes, she was materialistic and preferred rich men, but the thought of Zhou Yi pursuing a wealthy woman cut deeper than anything else.

  How dare he! Anyone would feel uncomfortable seeing their ex with someone better, especially when his dismissive tone clearly indicated his interest in this new woman!

  Her competitive spirit ignited. Even if he was a devoted admirer, he should belong exclusively to her. "Who's Xiao Xi? Are you trying to provoke me? Stop joking around. Someone like you could never attract a wealthy woman. Have you even looked in the mirror?"

  But the moment she sent the message, a red exclamation mark appeared. What? Zhou Yi had blocked her! How dare he! Furious, Chu Han threw her phone onto the bed. After years of devotion, he had discarded her like trash the moment they broke up.

  Fuming, she didn't know where to direct her anger. In the past, Zhou Yi had always been her emotional punching bag, but now there was no one to comfort her. Suddenly, sadness washed over her. Why was Zhou Yi treating her like this…?

  [Chu Han Affection Level + 6.]

  Zhou Yi chuckled darkly.

  Some things only became clear through comparison.

  Sooner or later, Chu Han would realize what she had lost—and beg for him to return.

  To put it bluntly, she was spoiled.

  The more he'd given her, the less she appreciated it.

  Now, showing interest in another woman had shattered her composure entirely.

  Women were just as competitive as men—how could she, a supposed goddess, tolerate losing to anyone else?

  Zhou Yi was confident she couldn't ignore his earlier comment.

  After provoking Chu Han, Zhou Yi went to bed in high spirits.

  Tomorrow, he would focus on refining his image, aiming to leave a lasting impression at Huaihai University's opening ceremony.

  The next morning, Zhou Yi headed to the barber shop first thing.

  His job at the fast-food restaurant didn't require him to work mornings—he usually covered the evening shift when business picked up.

  Pushing open the door, he asked the barber to trim his slightly overgrown bangs.

  With a few snips, Zhou Yi's vision cleared. The fringe that had once obscured his eyes was gone, revealing his striking, deep-set gaze. Thanks to the system's enhancements, Zhou Yi now radiated charm and handsomeness.

  His features rivaled those of celebrity heartthrobs.

  No sooner had he finished his haircut than a girl in the shop approached him for his contact information.

  Zhou Yi politely declined with a smile.

  He wasn't interested in flirting with just anyone. He had high standards and preferred not to waste time on ordinary girls. Surprisingly, even after being rejected, the girl still boosted his affection level.

  An unexpected bonus, though small contributions added up over time.

  Leaving the barber shop, he headed straight to the mall to buy some new clothes.

  The previous Zhou Yi's wardrobe had been filled with wrinkled, shabby garments—every penny spent on those women, neglecting himself.

  Sighing, he stepped into a fitting room.

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