Join a Dating Reality Show with the Aloof, Fishing-Style Richest Man - Chapter 31.1

The birthday party was still two days away, and for now, Lu Zhao’s priority remained filming. The director was quite professional; under his guidance, Lu Zhao gained new insights into acting, and her progress was remarkably rapid.

During a break, Fan Yaxuan walked over to Lu Zhao and asked in a low voice, “Did you speak to President Ji? Sister Li came to find me.”

Fan Yaxuan still felt a bit uncertain. After all, Lu Zhao had been quite firm in refusing to help her earlier.

“Oh, I didn’t speak to President Ji,” Lu Zhao replied casually. “I only gave Sister Li a tip that you were planning to leave your current company. I didn’t mention your interest in Ji Group, so if she reached out to you, it’s because she thinks you’re worth it.”

After saying this, she took a large gulp of water. Her filming schedule was heavy starting today, and her throat was dry from all the lines.

Hearing this, and seeing Lu Zhao looking a bit disheveled from work, Fan Yaxuan said sincerely, “Thank you.”

She hadn’t expected Lu Zhao to actually help her, especially since they had only known each other for a few days.

Lu Zhao gave her a wide, toothy grin. “I just passed on some information; I didn’t really do much. Besides, I should thank you. With my scenes being filmed so compactly, it’s just as tiring for you as my scene partner.”

Fan Yaxuan smiled slightly. She didn’t deny being tired, but she didn’t say it was expected either. She simply said, “From now on, I hope we can be friends.”

Lu Zhao’s eyes crinkled into crescents. “Aren’t we already?”

Seeing her brilliant smile, Fan Yaxuan’s expression relaxed, and she nodded.

Two days later, it was the birthday party of the popular idol Chu Lan. Lu Zhao had received an invitation thanks to Sister Zhang. After finishing her scenes early that day, she returned to the hotel to shower and change into formal attire. Before leaving, she sent a message to Ji Zhaoxi.

Lu Zhao: “I was invited to a party tonight and might be back quite late. Why don’t you sleep at your own place tonight?”

Ji Zhaoxi: “I’ll wait for you.”

Immediately after, she asked: “What party?”

Lu Zhao stared at the words “I’ll wait for you” and fell silent for two seconds. For the past few days, Ji Zhaoxi had been showing up punctually every day holding Tangyuan (the cat); everyone on the film crew knew of her presence by now.

Lu Zhao: “Chu Lan’s birthday party. A lot of people from the industry are invited, so I figured I’d go check it out.”

She didn’t disclose her actual purpose.

On the other end of the phone, Ji Zhaoxi frowned when she saw the message, but she didn’t interfere too much. She simply told Lu Zhao to message her when the party was over, and she would send someone to pick her up.

Lu Zhao agreed.

Once changed, Lu Zhao headed out. Sister Li drove her to a private villa where the party was being held. When she arrived, the host was already outside greeting guests. Seeing Lu Zhao, his eyes lit up, and he laughed. “I didn’t think you’d actually come! I’ll introduce you to a few people today; you’ll all be in the same circle eventually.”

Lu Zhao nodded politely, thanked him, wished him a happy birthday, and presented her gift. Chu Lan took her inside and introduced her to a few people, all of whom were quite friendly.

However, as she looked around, Lu Zhao realized a terrible problem: She had no idea what “Second Master Xu” (Xu Er) looked like!

She felt like an idiot for not asking Sister Zhang for a photo beforehand.

Seeing that Chu Lan was busy, she decided to find a seat. Perhaps Xu Er hadn’t arrived yet? She could ask for an introduction later.

She found a corner seat that was relatively quiet and away from the crowd. Unable to resist the temptation of the nearby desserts, she picked up a small piece of cake.

Sitting in that same corner was a man. He was quite handsome, wearing a navy blue pinstriped suit with his hair slicked back. He didn’t look like a celebrity, but rather a successful businessman.

He had a very imposing aura!

Seeing him look over, Lu Zhao smiled at him but didn’t intend to start a conversation.

The man, however, did. Looking at the dessert in her hand, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “Don’t you actresses pay a lot of attention to weight management? I thought you didn’t eat sweets?”

Lu Zhao: “…”

As expected, not a celebrity.

“It’s not that strict. We still eat a little.”

The man nodded, his gaze turning meaningful. “If I’m not mistaken, you’re the Lu Zhao who has been chasing President Ji?”

Lu Zhao nodded candidly. “That’s right, you’re not mistaken. And how should I address you?”

The man curled his lips into a smirk. “I think you must have heard of me. My name is Xu Yizhou. I’m the second child in the family, so people call me Xu Er.”

Lu Zhao: “…?”

This is Xu Er?!

What kind of luck was this? She had wandered into a corner and bumped right into the person she was looking for—and while she was stuffing her face with cake and lacking any sense of “presence.”

“Miss Lu, you seem quite shocked,” Xu Er said playfully.

Lu Zhao: “…”

How could she not be? She had never felt her luck was this good.

“I have heard of you,” Lu Zhao said seriously.

“And where did you hear it from?” Xu Er leaned back casually, his tone nonchalant.

“People outside say you are going to enter an arranged marriage with President Ji,” Lu Zhao told him truthfully.

Xu Er nodded, not denying it.

Seeing his lack of denial, Lu Zhao grew even more alert. She said, “She doesn’t like your type. She likes people who ‘simp’ (lick) for her. Do you know how to do that?”

Xu Er: “…?”

“Do I know how to ‘lick’?”

He repeated the phrase, then shook his head seriously. “Never done it. Don’t know how.”

Lu Zhao immediately became animated. She sat a bit closer to Xu Er to analyze it for him: “Simping is a natural behavior; it’s a skill you should have without being taught. Since you don’t know how, it means you’re not suited for it!”

A look of confusion crossed Xu Er’s handsome face. He asked hesitantly, “Is that really how it works? I feel like something is off.”

“Off? What’s off!” Lu Zhao immediately used herself as an example. “Look at me—I’m a professional in this field! Shouldn’t you listen to advice from such a pro?”

“If you don’t listen to the experts, you’ll suffer later!”

At this moment, Lu Zhao completely ignored the fact that she had learned everything from the internet. Her only goal was to talk Xu Er out of the marriage!

Recalling Lu Zhao’s behavior as seen online, Xu Er nodded in recognition of her “professional status.”

“But President Ji is beautiful and capable,” Xu Er said seriously. “If she really likes simps, I suppose I could try to learn.”

Lu Zhao: “…?”

This guy wasn’t playing by the rules!

“You don’t have the skill. If you try, it will be forced, and being a forced simp is just annoying!”

“Why don’t you find someone to simp for you instead?” Lu Zhao suggested.

“Someone to simp for me…”

Xu Er frowned, looking hesitant. “But I haven’t met anyone like that…” Suddenly, his gaze landed on Lu Zhao.

“Since you’re a pro in this field, you must have resources. How about you introduce someone to me?”

Lu Zhao: “???”

She was just here to defend her job; she didn’t sign up to be a matchmaker!

Seeing Lu Zhao’s speechless expression, Xu Er acted aggrieved.

“You won’t let me chase President Ji, and you won’t introduce anyone to me. You just want me to be a bachelor forever!”

Lu Zhao: “…?”

How could this man act so well? One moment he was a haughty elite, the next he was acting like a wounded puppy.

Lu Zhao ignored him. She was busy recalling Ji Zhaoxi’s attitude. Ji Zhaoxi had clearly stated she wouldn’t marry someone she didn’t love, which meant she could refuse the arrangement?

But then again, Ji Zhaoxi had a father who was the chairman. Could she really refuse?

After all, in dramas, arranged marriages were usually unavoidable.

“Miss Lu, what are you thinking about?” Xu Er suddenly spoke.

“I…” Lu Zhao was startled by his voice. She turned to him, frowning. “Isn’t it basic etiquette not to disturb someone when they are thinking?”

Xu Er acted aggrieved again. “I thought Miss Lu knew that not spacing out during a conversation is also basic etiquette.”

Lu Zhao: “…”

That made her look like the one in the wrong.

Seeing her silence, Xu Er smiled. “So, you came to persuade me because you’re afraid I’ll steal President Ji from you?”

“Do you really like her that much?”

Lu Zhao glanced at him, snorted, and lifted her chin with an arrogant air. “I love her to death!”

Xu Er nodded in agreement. “No wonder you simp for her so much.” His tone shifted. “But she’s so cold. What’s so good about her?”

“Why don’t you look at me instead? I’m gentler, have a better personality, and though my conditions are slightly behind hers for now, I have great potential!”

“?!”

Lu Zhao looked at Xu Er in shock.

“You just said she was beautiful and capable!”

Why was this man so inconsistent?

“Well, I’m trying to ‘poach’ you right now. I have to belittle her a bit to elevate myself. And I’m not wrong—her personality is cold!”

Lu Zhao gave him a death stare. “No, you will never be better than her!”

Xu Er: “…?”

“Why not!” He was indignant.

“You talk too much,” Lu Zhao said flatly. “Our President Ji is measured in her words and actions; in business, people can’t guess her thoughts. You talk so much that people don’t even have to bait you before you tell them everything.”

“So, you definitely won’t match up to her!”

“And while she may seem cold, that’s just because you only deserve to see her cold side!”

By the end, Lu Zhao sounded a bit smug.

Xu Er was full of questions. He didn’t even mind her talking, but she was complaining about him talking too much?!

And she used that to prove he was inferior to Ji Zhaoxi!

Xu Er was almost laughed to tears by her.

“Does your President Ji know you came to see me today?”

Lu Zhao went quiet.

Xu Er snorted. Despite his professional attire, he acted more like a primary school graduate.

For some reason, Lu Zhao felt that this version of Xu Er was a bit like Qiao Yang?

Xu Er spoke up again: “If you came to see me today, does that mean your President Ji doesn’t give you enough security? If she did, why would you worry about her leaving you to marry me?”

Lu Zhao: “That’s not it. There are hidden reasons!”

Xu Er clearly didn’t believe her.

“Why am I even telling you all this? Just know that she doesn’t like you!”

“But a business marriage doesn’t require mutual liking!”

Lu Zhao: “…”

The two of them stared each other down, neither willing to back down, until someone arrived and broke the tension.

“Oh, you two are chatting! I was going to introduce you, but it seems I don’t need to.”

Chu Lan walked over with two drinks. Seeing them together, he looked pleasantly surprised. He handed one drink to Xu Er and poured water for Lu Zhao instead of alcohol.

Seeing his behavior, Lu Zhao figured that if Xu Er was friends with Chu Lan, he couldn’t be a bad person.

“We already know each other without an introduction,” Xu Er huffed.

Lu Zhao gave a polite smile.

Chu Lan finally noticed the unusual atmosphere. Recalling the relationship between Lu Zhao and Ji Zhaoxi, and the recent rumors about Xu Er and Ji Zhaoxi, he immediately understood.

He laughed loudly and comforted Lu Zhao. “Relax. I can guarantee you, there is absolutely nothing between Xu Er and President Ji!”

At this, he laughed even harder.

“You don’t know this, but when the marriage rumors first started, President Ji sent someone to warn Xu Er. He tried to be a smart-aleck and almost got beaten up.”

“Now, he wants nothing more than to stay away from her!”

“Chu Lan!” Xu Er’s face turned bright red. “Are we brothers or not!”

Why was he telling everyone everything!

Lu Zhao was shocked. Ji Zhaoxi had done all that, and she had no idea!

She squinted at Xu Er dangerously. “So, you were just messing with me earlier?”

He even tried to trick her into finding him a “simp”!

Xu Er’s gaze began to drift. He insisted stubbornly, “I wasn’t. I was seriously trying to poach you. Think about it! I think I’m pretty good!”

Lu Zhao: “…”

Chu Lan stared in disbelief. What on earth had these two been talking about? Poaching? Poaching from Ji Zhaoxi?

He looked at Xu Er in shock. “You actually want to poach from President Ji? Do you really want to get hit? I’m telling you, even if she hits you, no one will dare to stand up for you.”

Xu Er: “…”

That hurt, bro. No need to be so blunt in front of an outsider.

Lu Zhao finally understood. Ji Zhaoxi and this Xu Er were impossible, and the Xu family had even been warned by her.

Wow, Ji Zhaoxi’s image in her heart instantly became even more imposing. That kind of strong-willed control over her own life was incredibly cool!

The gloom that had hung over Lu Zhao for a while suddenly lifted. She felt much better. “Well, my President Ji truly gives me a full sense of security.”

The other two: “…”

We get it, we understand. You don’t have to brag.

Lu Zhao patted her skirt. With a shy smile, she said, “I suddenly want to see my President Ji. Mr. Chu, I’ll take my leave now. Let’s meet again some other time?”

Chu Lan looked at Lu Zhao, then at the dejected Xu Er, and finally nodded. They exchanged contact information, and Chu Lan saw her out.

Lu Zhao didn’t message Ji Zhaoxi. Since Sister Li was still around, she had her drive her back to the hotel.

Although it seemed like she hadn’t stayed long, it was already 9:00 PM. Normally at this time, Ji Zhaoxi would have already arrived at her room with Tangyuan.

On the way back, Lu Zhao leaned her chin on her hand, looking out at the night scenery with a smile. The traffic wasn’t too bad after rush hour, and her mood improved even more.

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