Chapter 8: You Seem Quite Skilled

However, it wasn’t quite as Hu Tianhao imagined; in reality, Li Zhiyi and Qiao Xingzhou actually communicated pretty frequently in their daily lives.

That night, when he got home, Li Zhiyi scrolled through his chat history with Qiao Xingzhou on his phone.

With Hu Tianhao having grabbed his phone and changed the nickname, those originally ordinary conversations suddenly took on an inexplicable, ambiguous undertone.

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【Brother, the outfit you’re wearing in your Moments photo looks really nice.】

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【I just got back to the country, and the niche brands I’m familiar with aren’t available here. I don’t know what to wear, could I maybe get the same style in a different color?】

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【That one is a limited edition, not available domestically. I had someone bring it over from abroad.】

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【Ah, I see…】

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【Mm.】

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【What a pity. I’m a bit disappointed.】

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【No need to feel disappointed.】

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【I know a personal shopper familiar with this brand. I’ll have them search worldwide—there should still be one available.】

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【You wanted a different color, right? How about green?】

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【That’s great! Thanks in advance, Brother!】

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【No need to thank me.】

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【Is Brother always this helpful?】

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【No.】

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【I just don’t want to let you down.】

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【Besides, I think if you wear it, it’ll probably look even better than it does on me.】

So… the so-called “Qiao Xingzhou searching worldwide for the same style” was actually Li Zhiyi himself searching globally and then gifting it to Qiao Xingzhou.

—

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【Brother, is the movie you posted in your Moments any good?】

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【I wasn’t really interested in this genre, but after seeing your recommendation, and since I trust your taste, I kind of want to watch it now.】

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【It’s a great movie, one you could even watch twice.】

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【So, are you planning to watch it a second time, Brother?】

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【Work is busy, so probably not.】

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【Ah, that’s a shame. I was thinking that if you were going for a second watch, I could consider joining you.】

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【You could also explain the parts I don’t understand. After all, sci-fi is a bit challenging for me.】

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【Are you sure you can’t watch it a second time, Brother?】

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【I’m only free on Sunday nights each week.】

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【Which means tonight.】

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【Ah, that makes it a bit tricky.】

Now he should finally give up, right? Li Zhiyi thought to himself quietly.

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【Then how about a midnight showing?】

Li Zhiyi was stunned; he hadn’t expected the other person to be this persistent.

Did Qiao Xingzhou really want to watch a movie with him that much?

It seemed that he should make some gesture as well, considering it was hard to refuse such enthusiasm.

Disciplined Zhiyi: 【Alright.】

The Copycat Expert Little Green Tea Who’s Always Clinging to Me: 【Great, I’ll book the tickets, and I’ll wait for you to watch the movie with me!】

—So, how to put it? In reality, Li Zhiyi himself was also somewhat complicit in creating the situation Hu Tianhao saw.

—

Early Sunday morning at the cinema.

As he stepped into the theater and saw the sign at the entrance, Li Zhiyi was a bit surprised. “You booked the whole place?”

Qiao Xingzhou replied obediently, “Mm-hmm. Since I said we’d discuss the plot, I didn’t want to disturb anyone else, so I reserved the entire theater.”

Li Zhiyi understood almost instantly. “Did the theater owner suggest you book the entire cinema?”

“Mm.” Qiao Xingzhou nodded.

Li Zhiyi stepped further into the theater, advising Qiao Xingzhou as he walked, “Next time, just book one screening room. Renting out the whole cinema is a bit excessive.”

Not to mention, in the early hours of Sunday morning, even without booking the whole place, it was unlikely anyone else would come.

Save where you can, spend where it matters—this kid clearly had no concept of money.

Qiao Xingzhou immediately showed a regretful expression. “Ah… I think I messed things up again.”

“No, it’s just that you don’t have much life experience,” Li Zhiyi couldn’t help but smile slightly. “And you happen to have plenty of money. Sellers love customers like you, a little lamb ready for the taking.”

Qiao Xingzhou looked at him with wide, innocent eyes, his almond-shaped eyes perfectly round, making him really seem like a helpless little lamb.

Li Zhiyi’s gaze lingered on him, suddenly noticing something. “The shirt you’re wearing today—is it that same style?”

“Mm.” At the mention of this, Qiao Xingzhou’s mood visibly brightened as he tugged at his shirt. “Does it look good, Brother?”

Coincidentally, Li Zhiyi was also wearing the same shirt today.

Hu Tianhao said Qiao Xingzhou was imitating him?

…But no matter how you looked at it, it clearly resembled a couple’s outfit.

Li Zhiyi cleared his throat softly. “It looks good. Even better in person than in your Moments. I knew you’d look great in it.”

Three compliments in a row, Qiao Xingzhou was practically dizzy from all the praise.

“Brother, we… we should probably go in and watch the movie now.” Qiao Xingzhou shook his head slightly. “If you keep talking like this, I might just start wondering if I’m dreaming from all this happiness.”

But Li Zhiyi focused on the latter part of the sentence. As a CEO with a very logical mind, he lowered his gaze to the little lamb in front of him.

Then, he reached out and patted Qiao Xingzhou’s head.

“See?” After doing this, he slowly opened his hand in front of Qiao Xingzhou’s eyes. “It’s not a dream.”

It wasn’t a dream, but it was even more wonderful than one.

Qiao Xingzhou’s ability to form words had completely shut down at this moment.

But Li Zhiyi was clearly oblivious to what he had just done.

It was Qiao Xingzhou who couldn’t help but call out to him: “…Brother.”

Li Zhiyi turned back, responding, “Hm?”

“Do you usually do this kind of thing?” Qiao Xingzhou asked, a bit uneasy yet somewhat expectant. “You seem quite skilled at it.”

“What, patting heads?” Seeing Qiao Xingzhou nod with a soft “Mm,” Li Zhiyi thought for a moment. “Probably three or four times a day.”

“Three… or four times a day?” Qiao Xingzhou was stunned.

The person he liked… could he actually be a player?

Li Zhiyi seemed entirely unaware of the psychological blow he’d just dealt. “More or less. Sometimes five or six times.”

Qiao Xingzhou felt his composure slipping. “T-That doesn’t seem… quite right.”

Li Zhiyi didn’t understand and tilted his head, asking, “What’s ‘not right’? Don’t you like cats?”

“Huh? ‘Cats’?”

“Yeah, I have three cats at home,” Li Zhiyi replied, as if it were the most obvious thing. “Last time you visited, I don’t think you saw them. Next time, I’ll let them come out to meet you. I usually pat their heads, so if I’m ‘skilled’ at it, it’s probably from practicing on them. What’s wrong? You look a bit odd.”

“No, no, it’s nothing.”

Could Qiao Xingzhou admit that his thoughts had taken a wrong turn?

Of course not.

“It’s nothing. Let’s just go watch the movie.” Li Zhiyi, understanding as ever, didn’t press further.

Qiao Xingzhou looked up. “Wait, the screening room isn’t that way.”

“No rush. Let’s grab you some popcorn and cola first,” Li Zhiyi said patiently. “Last time I had dinner with a business partner, his son, who’s about your age, said that kids around your age like having popcorn while watching movies.”

“I… I’m not a kid,” Qiao Xingzhou protested softly. “I’m already twenty-three.”

Li Zhiyi asked, “So, do you like popcorn?”

“…Yes.”

Li Zhiyi chuckled softly. “Alright, then you can still be a kid.”