Chapter 28: Even the Strongest Feel Down at Times

Mu Ruo said, “Zhou Jian, you should focus on your career for now. Think about marriage after you’ve established yourself.”

Du Haili nodded in agreement. “I think Ruo Ruo is right.”

Zhou Jian sighed. “But I really like her… I’ve never met such a gentle girl.”

To move Zhou Jian’s heart, it must be more than just her appearance. After all, Mu Ruo, a beauty herself, had been around him for years, and he never showed any improper interest in her, treating her only as a good friend and elder sister. This showed he wasn’t a man driven solely by looks.

Mu Ruo recalled the girl’s character in the original story—gentle and strong, capable of blooming even in adversity. Even if she married someone she didn’t love, she found ways to secure a high-paying, easy job for her lover, bought a big house in the city for her parents, and used her wits to send the unwanted husband to jail. She ended up with both money and love.

Reading the story from the female protagonist’s perspective, no one found anything wrong with it. Instead, they saw Zhou Jian’s wife as both pitiful and inspirational. But seeing Zhou Jian in person now, Mu Ruo realized he wasn’t the tyrant he was made out to be. Zhou Jian was merely a huge target for exploitation, with the girl and her family and lover draining him dry.

Mu Ruo sipped her coffee and asked, “How many times have you met her?”

“Seven times,” Zhou Jian replied, remembering clearly.

“And what have you given her?” Mu Ruo continued.

“Not much, just three bags, a necklace, and a bracelet, only a bit over a million yuan,” Zhou Jian answered.

“What’s her annual salary?” Mu Ruo asked.

“She said she earns six thousand yuan a month,” Zhou Jian replied.

“How far have you two gone?” Mu Ruo pressed.

Zhou Jian looked a bit embarrassed. “I tried to hold her hand that day, but she’s too pure; she wouldn’t let me.”

Mu Ruo mentally noted that the girl’s annual salary was less than a hundred thousand yuan, and Zhou Jian had given her over ten years’ worth of her salary in gifts after just seven meetings, yet hadn’t even held her hand. If she wasn’t gentle with this foolishly generous man, she might lose him and have to find another big fish.

“She’s a good girl, but you’re using the wrong approach,” Mu Ruo asserted confidently. “For a girl like her, showering her with money will only make her uncomfortable.”

Zhou Jian was deeply in love with the girl. Even his mother might not be able to douse the flames of his affection. Mu Ruo knew that if she said something too harsh, it would only trigger his rebelliousness.

Zhou Jian was puzzled. “But my mom said, if you like a woman, you have to spend money on her.”

“You haven’t won her over yet. Doing this will only make her feel there’s too much of a gap between you. Normal girls would be scared,” Mu Ruo explained, turning to Du Haili. “Haili, do you think what I’m saying makes sense?”

Du Haili naturally believed that whatever her friend said was right and nodded vigorously.

Mu Ruo said, “Zhou Jian, you need to use the right approach when pursuing a girl.”

Zhou Jian really had no experience in pursuing girls. His father was particularly unfaithful, making his mother’s situation very pitiful. From a young age, Zhou Jian resolved that when he grew up, he wouldn’t let his wife suffer like his mother did and would give his children a happy family.

So, unless he really liked someone, he wouldn’t randomly flirt with girls.

Listening to Mu Ruo’s advice now, Zhou Jian was full of admiration: “Sister Ruo, you’re the best! You’re absolutely right! Tell me, how should I pursue her?”

Mu Ruo replied, “First, don’t give her gifts worth more than her daily salary. Too many gifts will make her feel burdened. Don’t drive your luxury car to her store and buy things like crazy. Her colleagues and superiors will distance themselves from her. Also, don’t send her thousands of yuan in WeChat red packets! She’ll think you’re just a nouveau riche! Too tacky!”

Zhou Jian took out his phone and opened a notepad app, carefully noting down each piece of advice Mu Ruo gave him.

Du Haili, feeling curious, asked, “Ruo Ruo, Sun Hong has been asking me to get resources from my aunt for him… My aunt refuses, and now he’s giving me the cold shoulder. How should I make him happy?”

Mu Ruo was speechless.

Now she understood why readers of the original novel disliked the villainous trio so much.

Not only were they vicious, but they were also hopelessly obsessed with love.

Normal readers wouldn’t like such love-obsessed characters!

Mu Ruo put her arm around Haili’s shoulder. “Sweetie, we’re not like Zhou Jian. We’ll meet more normal people. Once you’ve met normal men, you won’t want such lousy guys anymore.”

Haili didn’t quite understand what Mu Ruo meant and was a bit confused.

Mu Ruo patted Haili’s shoulder. “In short, you’re the one paying, so you need to act like the boss. Don’t let this little celebrity, who’s living off you, walk all over you. If he wants to give you the cold shoulder, delete his contact and ignore him for a few months.”

Mu Ruo couldn’t believe that with Haili’s looks and money, she could be played around by men.

Lu Beichen’s birthday party turned into a dating advice session for the villainous trio.

After dinner, Mu Ruo got into her Lamborghini, Haili took her bag and got into her Ferrari, and Zhou Jian opened the door of his Maybach, and the three went their separate ways.

On the way, Mu Ruo saw a cake shop.

It was so late, but the cake shop was still open.

For some reason, thinking of Lu Beichen’s lively birthday party tonight, her thoughts suddenly turned to Fu Jianzhi.

Mu Ruo suddenly felt that Fu Jianzhi was actually very lonely.

Standing alone at the top, he was strong and immensely wealthy, seemingly invincible.

But even the strongest people can feel down sometimes.

She parked her car by the roadside, went into the cake shop, and picked out a small pink cake.

The little cake was adorned with strawberries, cranberries, and chocolate, looking very cute.

After all, he was the one who gave her 20 million yuan every month.

It wouldn’t be right not to show any gesture on his birthday.

Mu Ruo stared at the mouth-watering cake for a long time.

Well, if Fu Jianzhi didn’t appreciate it, it could always be her breakfast tomorrow.

That was settled.