Chapter 4: The Child’s Father  

Lu Yi’s roommate chose a hot pot restaurant for the party. He had taken Lu Yi’s cold and reserved personality into consideration.

This way, even if his girlfriend and her roommates went all out trying to set Lu Yi up with Song Nuan, the lively atmosphere would help prevent any awkward silences.  

Lu Yi’s roommate had the courage to organize and host this dinner party not only because he couldn’t resist his girlfriend’s pleading but also because he knew Lu Yi wasn’t as cold and indifferent as he seemed. Beneath his aloof exterior, Lu Yi was someone who valued relationships deeply.  

By the time Lin Zhizhi arrived at the hot pot restaurant, Song Nuan and her roommates had already gathered at the entrance.

On the bustling and lively food street, filled with the aroma of various cuisines and the chatter of passersby, three young women with distinct styles surrounded a petite girl, speaking to her excitedly.  

“You’ve got this, Nuan Nuan! You can do it!” said Liu Ji, Lu Yi’s roommate’s girlfriend, her short hair giving her a spunky and energetic appearance. Her tone was passionate and filled with encouragement.  

“Exactly, Nuan Nuan. We already practiced this. Let’s go inside.” chimed in Zhang Yening, the long-haired, glasses-wearing dorm leader of Song Nuan’s dormitory.  

A quieter and more reserved girl also softly added her encouragement.  

Under the warm support of her roommates, Song Nuan took a deep breath to calm her nerves before heading into the hot pot restaurant.  

If Lin Zhizhi had witnessed this scene, she would have undoubtedly sighed with amusement — what a classic campus heroine trope.

The protagonist was, as expected, surrounded by three roommates with perfectly distinct personalities: an outgoing type responsible for social interactions, a studious type who helped her keep up with the Male Lead academically, and a shy, gentle type who served as a source of quiet encouragement.

Whenever the heroine felt insecure, the timid roommate would share her own successes despite her shyness, motivating the heroine to persevere.  

Upon parking her car, Lin Zhizhi walked into the hot pot restaurant and was immediately enveloped by its lively atmosphere.

Almost every seat was occupied. The air was filled with the rich aroma of spices, and hot steam curled up from the bubbling pots at each table.

The sight of the simmering broth, the rising steam, and the delicious scents tickled her senses, making her stomach rumble.  

Spicy beef, silky enoki mushrooms, chewy QQ noodles, tender rice cakes, and crispy lotus roots — all paired with a few bottles of cola. Just the thought of it made her mouth water.  

Despite her growing hunger, Lin Zhizhi maintained her composed exterior. She moved with calm elegance, as if she were a graceful goddess untouched by earthly desires. Her heart, however, was practically screaming for food.  

As she discreetly scanned the restaurant in search of Lu Yi, she couldn’t help but mentally grumble to her unborn son: This is all your dad’s fault. Why does he have to be so good-looking? No wonder he keeps attracting so many admirers.  

The restaurant was primarily decorated with wood, with carved wooden panels dividing the space into semi-private booths. When Lin Zhizhi glanced to her left, she spotted Lu Yi sitting in one of the booths along the far edge.

Lu Yi’s high-bridged nose, thin lips, and impeccably flawless facial structure, paired with his fair skin, made for an undeniably striking appearance.

Even though he was just sitting there, his tall and lean build was evident. His long legs were so lengthy that they made the space under the table look cramped.  

Sitting across from Lu Yi was Song Nuan. Under the relentless signals from her roommates, she was doing her best to start a conversation with him.

Although Lu Yi maintained his usual cool demeanor, he was polite enough to respond courteously.  

Song Nuan was overjoyed that she could finally talk to Lu Yi, but just as she was struggling to find more topics to keep the conversation going, she noticed that Lu Yi was no longer paying attention to her. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the restaurant’s entrance. Following his line of sight out of curiosity, she turned to look as well.  

Lin Zhizhi had to admit — Lu Yi truly lived up to his role as the Male lead. His stunning appearance was simply… irresistible.

In fact, he was exactly her type, and for a brief moment, she found herself captivated by his looks. Yet, before she could snap out of it, Lu Yi unexpectedly turned his gaze toward her.

It was clear that his hand holding the glass of water paused mid-air, and a flicker of something complicated flashed through his eyes.  

Realizing that both Lu Yi and Song Nuan were now looking at her, Lin Zhizhi thought to herself: Perfect. Saves me the trouble of figuring out how to approach him.  

With a smile that struck the perfect balance between warmth and elegance, Lin Zhizhi began walking toward Lu Yi.  

The slight commotion didn’t go unnoticed by the others at the table. Curious about what had caught Lu Yi’s attention, they too turned to see who was approaching.  

What they saw was a girl in a pure white off-shoulder dress that revealed delicate, graceful collarbones. Her long, slightly wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders like soft seaweed.

She had a swan-like neck, elegant and slender, and her refined eyebrows framed a pair of luminous eyes that seemed to sparkle with life.

Her lips, a soft shade of rose, appeared tender and alluring, while her skin was as fair and pure as freshly fallen snow.  

With every step she took toward them, it was as if time slowed down, and the bustling noise of the hot pot restaurant faded into the background.

She was like a scene straight out of a dream — ethereal, graceful, and impossible to ignore.

Lin Zhizhi soon reached Lu Yi’s side and came to a graceful stop. She gently called his name, her voice soft yet clear.  

Lu Yi’s gaze lingered on Lin Zhizhi for a moment longer, his dark eyes carrying an unreadable depth. He responded with a low “Mm.” acknowledging her presence before glancing at his roommate, Li Haoming, who was sitting beside him.  

“Make some room.” Lu Yi said casually.

Li Haoming quickly shifted further inside the booth, and Lu Yi followed suit, creating an empty seat for Lin Zhizhi.  

Without a hint of hesitation or pretense, Lin Zhizhi sat down with natural ease, as if this were the most ordinary thing in the world.

She even nonchalantly placed her handbag on Lu Yi’s lap, her movements fluid and confident.  

This casual display of familiarity left everyone at the table utterly stunned.  

Li Haoming blinked in surprise, the straw of his drink still dangling from his lips.

Liu Ji, who had been mid-conversation with one of her roommates, froze with her mouth slightly open.

Even Song Nuan, who had been nervously clutching her chopsticks, sat there dumbfounded, as if she had just witnessed something completely unexpected.  

The atmosphere grew awkwardly quiet for a brief moment.  

Lin Zhizhi, however, seemed completely unaffected. She calmly picked up the menu and flipped through it, as though she hadn’t noticed the wide-eyed stares around her.

The casual gesture of how she placed her bag on Lu Yi, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, spoke volumes.  

Lu Yi glanced down at the bag resting on his lap, then back up at Lin Zhizhi. His lips pressed together slightly, but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he simply adjusted his posture to make himself more comfortable — as if this kind of thing happened all the time.  

Li Haoming finally broke the silence, his voice hesitant. “Uh… Lin Zhizhi, you… and Lu Yi…?”  

Lin Zhizhi raised her gaze from the menu, her eyes curving slightly with a gentle smile. “Hmm? What about us?”  

The question was asked so innocently, yet so naturally, that it left everyone even more bewildered.  

At that moment, the room was filled with the rich aroma of boiling hot pot, the crackling sound of oil, and the muted chatter of other diners — yet all anyone could focus on was the enigmatic girl sitting beside Lu Yi.