I’m Dating My Big Brother’s Roommate Online and I’m Way Too Cute! - Chapter 8

Ji Yan reviewed his entire plan.

The first step was flirtatious interaction to build familiarity with the target. Judging by the fact that the scumbag had replied to every message over the past few days, this stage was already a success.

The second step was to move the target emotionally and become the scumbag’s girlfriend as quickly as possible. Once that was established, exposing and crushing him would be both legitimate and justified.

The three of them sat at a window-side table in the coffee shop.

In an effort to find a way to move the scumbag, Guo Jia had been racking his brain and had dragged Chen Zhansen along for the ride. The two had been sitting in the cafe all afternoon. Combined with Ji Yan finishing his part-time shift at three, the three of them had become the shop’s best customers.

Guo Jia sipped his fruit coffee, his eyebrows knitted in a deep frown.

Chen Zhansen’s gaze shifted between Ji Yan and Guo Jia before finally settling on Ji Yan. “Right now, you are just in the chatting phase. Even if you talk until flowers bloom, it is still just talk. You need some action.”

“Action?” Ji Yan snapped out of his thoughts. “For example?”

“I do not know,” Chen Zhansen shook his head. “I mean, I have never had an online relationship. How could I possibly know?”

Guo Jia looked at Chen Zhansen suspiciously. “Why do you look so guilty? What are you hiding?”

“Who is guilty?” Chen Zhansen raised his voice.

“Fine, fine, you are not guilty. Let us not get sidetracked,” Guo Jia said. “How about just asking him to meet in person?”

“No,” Ji Yan refused flatly. “I just established my persona as a shy girl. Meeting so soon would break character. If I am too eager, it will be harder to manipulate him later.”

“Right, right,” Guo Jia slapped his forehead. “Look at my brain.”

At that moment, two men entered the shop.

One wore a shirt and slacks. He was very tall. A quick glance confirmed he was definitely over one hundred and eighty centimeters. Beside him was a slimmer man wearing rimless glasses, looking very refined and holding a beautiful bouquet of red roses.

The two acted intimately. It was obvious to anyone that they were a couple.

Ji Yan’s focus, however, was on their conversation.

Today was the man in glasses’ birthday, which was why he had received roses from his boyfriend. They were stopping for coffee on their way to a vacation.

After they left, Ji Yan said, “I have an idea. How about I find out when Zhuo Yu’ang’s birthday is and send him a gift?”

If the date was soon, that would be perfect. If it was too far off, he would have to make other plans.

“That is a great idea!” Guo Jia agreed.

Since his older brother also attended Nanhuai University, Ji Yan had originally thought about asking him to check. However, considering he had already asked Ji Han to edit the photos, asking about the Campus Heartthrob’s birthday now would make it too easy for his brother to figure out what he was up to.

Therefore, he decided to use Guo Jia’s network instead.

Two days later, news arrived.

“Do you know how many hoops I had to jump through to find this out?”

Guo Jia was taking his driving test these few days and could not come over, so they spoke over the phone. “I had to ask my cousin’s classmate who studies at Nanhuai. He asked his roommate, who asked a classmate in the same department, who then found a member of the same club as Zhuo Yu’ang. That member finally asked Zhuo Yu’ang directly.”

Ji Yan tilted his head, hunching his shoulder to hold the phone in place while he wiped down some glassware. He paused when he heard this. “They asked him directly? Did he actually say?”

“He actually did,” Guo Jia said. “But my cousin’s roommate said that while people went to ask, they did not expect him to reveal anything. And yet,”

Ji Yan finished his sentence, “And yet, he just gave it up easily?”

“Yes! My cousin’s roommate said he could not believe it. He said Zhuo Yu’ang is popular but very distant. People have tried to find out his birthday before, and he never breathed a word.”

“Oh,” Ji Yan did not care how Zhuo Yu’ang treated others. He simply asked, “What is the date?”

“It is a coincidence. It is this month, July 15th.”

“The day after tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Got it.”

“So, what do you plan to send as a gift? I will pay for it.”

“No need. Guo Ying is my sister too.”

Ji Yan hung up the phone.

A small van pulled up outside the shop. He put down his things and helped the other staff members unload the cargo.

They were delivering musical equipment, such as electronic keyboards, electric guitars, stands, and more.

Ji Yanyan wanted to create more than just a place to drink coffee and relax. She wanted a coffee shop where people could play music. Making money was secondary. Enjoying life through her daily work was the main goal.

Ji Yan suddenly had another idea. “Sister, once these are assembled, can I use them for a bit?”

Ji Yanyan giggled when she heard this.

Ji Yan looked at her. “What is it?”

“Do you know where the inspiration for this small stage in the middle of the shop came from?” Ji Yanyan handed the empty cardboard boxes to Brother Shan to handle and blinked at Ji Yan.

Ji Yan asked, “Was it me?”

“Of course it was you,” Ji Yanyan said, recalling her time in the hospital. “I wanted to dance but could not. I wanted an internship but was rejected. I felt like a ticking time bomb walking through a crowd. I had the urge to just jump off a building and end this miserable life.”

“Sister,”

“Do not worry, I do not think like that anymore.”

Ji Yanyan smiled. “You often came to my ward to play the guitar for me. I gradually realized that music is a very charming art form. It can soothe the irritability in one’s heart. Once the bottled-up feelings are released, thoughts no longer become so extreme.”

“So, when I was in a good mood, I considered opening a shop. A place where exhausted people could come for a rest, and where I could drink coffee and listen to music myself. What a wonderful form of therapy.”

“But I cannot sing or play the guitar,” Ji Yanyan gestured toward the equipment. “These are for the customers who love music, and they are also for you. Use them as much as you like.”

Ji Yan’s eyes brightened slightly.

Ji Yanyan added, “Though, the guitars I bought for the shop are not as expensive as yours. Do not look down on them.”

“How could I? Sister, I will take you up on that then.” Ji Yan walked over and picked up an electric guitar.

Brother Shan, who usually did not talk much and seemed very reserved, brought over a tall guitar stool for him. Ji Yan thanked him, sat down, and began to tune the instrument.

As soon as the first strings were plucked, the staff and the few scattered customers in the shop all looked toward him.

The boy was tall and handsome. He looked even more striking while holding a guitar.

Once he finished tuning, a short prelude played. The air grew quiet for a beat, and a light, brisk melody began to flow from his fingertips.

He began to hum softly. Although his voice was almost drowned out by the sound of the strings, anyone who heard it would feel that the boy’s voice, combined with the electric guitar, was the most wonderful music at that moment.

“This is just too cool,” a staff member watching murmured unconsciously.

Not only did Ji Yan’s playing sound beautiful, but his lean, slender hands moving across the strings were even more stunning. The curve of his knuckles as he changed chords seemed to strike a chord in people’s hearts.

Attracted by the figure playing guitar, four or five more customers entered the shop.

Even those who only wanted takeout did not leave immediately after getting their coffee. Instead, they sat down to listen to Ji Yan finish the song, unable to take their eyes away or bring themselves to leave.

After a long while, Ji Yan remembered that his original intent for borrowing the guitar was to play a birthday song for the scumbag.

He had become so immersed that he almost forgot.

“Sister, do me a favor,” Ji Yan said, looking up. “I am going to play a birthday song. Can you record it for me?”

“No problem.”

Of course, the gift would be more than just a birthday song.

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