"Then what happened?" Ye Zhi asked curiously, "How did you handle the relationship between you two?"
"How else could I handle it?" Zhan Ruoqing said speechlessly, "I treated him to a kids' meal at McDonald's, bought him twenty sets of holiday homework, and then sent him home!"
"...Twenty sets," Ye Zhi's lips twitched, "You're going to make him question his life, aren't you?"
"He deserves it!" Zhan Ruoqing retorted, "Who told him to deceive this beautiful maiden's feelings? He was just bored because he didn't have enough homework! He'd better cry his way through those twenty sets of holiday homework!"
Ye Zhi found it amusing, "Weren't you soft-hearted at all?"
"Of course I was soft-hearted," Zhan Ruoqing sighed. "When he, with red eyes, tried hard not to cry and asked me if I didn't want him either, I really couldn't say anything harsh. So..."
"So?" Ye Zhi pressed.
"So, I gave him some advice and told him to find his maternal grandfather," Zhan Ruoqing explained. "He had mentioned before that among his relatives, only his maternal grandfather treated him the best. He said his grandfather was a famous master, and I figured that even if his grandfather was also someone greedy for his parents' inheritance, he would at least raise him safely for the sake of his reputation."
"A very wise choice," Ye Zhi nodded slightly, looking at Zhan Ruoqing in surprise, "Is that all?"
"And then..." Zhan Ruoqing looked a bit embarrassed, "I told him a lie. I lied and told him that I actually... was a celestial fairy from heaven."
Ye Zhi: ...
This was indeed something the eighteen-year-old Zhan Ruoqing would do.
"He's just young, not foolish. How could he believe such a preposterous thing?" Ye Zhi said, amused.
"Yes, he looked at me with a 'do you think I believe you?' kind of expression. I was eager to get rid of him then, so I didn't care whether he believed me or not," Zhan Ruoqing sighed. "For that, I even deliberately smashed a jade bracelet I brought with me.
I told him that I could only stay in the human world because of this precious jade bracelet. Now that it's broken, I have to return to heaven. However, I left the jade bracelet for him and told him that he must wait for ten years, and only when he repaired this jade bracelet with his own hands, no matter the method, could I return to the human world and meet him."
Ye Zhi nodded slightly, "That's quite a good way to handle it."
"Yes, I think so too," Zhan Ruoqing said helplessly. "Think about it, children's affections come and go quickly! He might like other girls in his class in a few months. I set the time for ten years later, and added the difficult condition of repairing the jade bracelet. Most people would have given up long ago and forgotten all about it in less than two months, right?
Just like me, I was really hit hard back then, questioning my life. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I saw through the vanity of the world. To keep myself busy and forget this embarrassing past, I studied diligently for the remaining half year. I didn't even go online, let alone play games! After going to university, I quickly had several relationships, which helped dissipate the psychological shadow this incident left on me. Fortunately, I somehow forgot about it at some point. But..."
Seeing Zhan Ruoqing hesitate, Ye Zhi mused and finished for her, "But he still remembers, doesn't he? He actually repaired the bracelet as you agreed and then came to find you? He's that Si Luo you met on the blind date, right?"
"Is, is it that easy to guess?" Zhan Ruoqing's expression was somewhat unnatural.
"You practically told me the answer," Ye Zhi said with a smile, shaking the gold-inlaid jade bracelet in her hand. "Besides, 'Shui Ge' combined is the character 'Luo'. But I'm really surprised, when you saw him, you really didn't remember him at all?"
"Would you remember what someone looked like after meeting them only once ten years ago?" Zhan Ruoqing asked.
"Uh..." Ye Zhi thought for a moment, "I might not necessarily remember."
"Exactly," Zhan Ruoqing grumbled, "Besides, he was just a child ten years ago. Who knew he'd grow up to be so handsome!"
Ye Zhi keenly caught the key point and said with a smile, "Oh, it seems you have a pretty good impression of him!"
Zhan Ruoqing wanted to deny it, but after stammering for a long time, she couldn't find a good excuse.
Finally, she could only give a wry smile and say truthfully, "I do have a good feeling about him, but I considered that experience to be a dark history I'd rather not recall. Even if he had a good impression of me back then, it wouldn't last for ten years, would it?"
"It might not necessarily be because of a good impression," Ye Zhi said slyly.
"Then what?" Zhan Ruoqing asked, confused.
"And you gave him twenty sets of holiday homework!" Ye Zhi's teasing expression deepened. "If it were me, I'd remember you forever!"
Zhan Ruoqing pondered, "It's not impossible, so he's held a grudge for ten years and specifically came to get revenge on me?"
Ye Zhi: ...
She really didn't intend to mislead Zhan Ruoqing like this.
"I was joking, why are you taking it seriously?" Ye Zhi said helplessly, covering her forehead.
"Actually, I'm somewhat scared," Zhan Ruoqing sighed. "We don't know each other at all over these ten years. Even if he likes me, he likes an imagined Bing Meng Shang Lei, not the real me. Also... if he's this persistent, it's actually quite terrifying..."
Ye Zhi nodded in agreement and advised, "If you really want to know what he's thinking, why not meet him and talk it through in person."
"I, what is there for me to talk about with him?" Zhan Ruoqing's expression was somewhat awkward.
"Oh dear, is our President Zhan afraid?" Ye Zhi asked with a smile.
"Who said I'm afraid! What's there to be afraid of!" Zhan Ruoqing said with a defiant look.
"That's more like it! Our President Zhan can handle something as big as Zhiwei, so why would she be afraid of a man?" Ye Zhi clenched her fists and made a cheering gesture. "So go ahead with confidence! The worst outcome is he's still holding a grudge over twenty sets of holiday homework, but so what? Can he post about you online?"
Zhan Ruoqing realized Ye Zhi was right! Even if he was here for revenge, she wouldn't be afraid! If he wanted to pester her, he'd have to see if he had the ability!
Indeed, love makes people lose their minds... no! She wasn't in love yet!
"Okay! Let's do it!" Zhan Ruoqing agreed fiercely.
After Ye Zhi left, Zhan Ruoqing felt much calmer.
It was good to have a career-minded person by her side to strategize. She was much clearer now and wouldn't be brooding alone over relationship issues.
If there's a problem, face it and solve it.
Zhan Ruoqing took out Si Luo's interview materials and dialed his number.