Join a Dating Reality Show with the Aloof, Fishing-Style Richest Man - Chapter 32.1

Lu Zhao stared blankly at Ji Zhaoxi. This was the first time she had heard her praise someone like this; it was clear how high her evaluation was.

“She is very good, and you are very good too. Perhaps the reason she doesn’t like you is that she feels you are too distant?” Lu Zhao spoke tentatively.

After all, with Ji Zhaoxi’s conditions, few people could compare to her, and even fewer could stand beside her without feeling inferior.

“I’m too distant?” Ji Zhaoxi frowned, looking down at the physical distance between her and Lu Zhao. Although she knew Lu Zhao didn’t mean it literally, she couldn’t help but notice how close they were sitting at that moment.

If people felt she was too distant, she was already trying her best to get closer—so why couldn’t she get just a little more special treatment?

“Besides, didn’t you say she’s pursuing someone else? Maybe you’re just not her type?” Lu Zhao added innocently, “Everyone has different preferences, after all.”

Ji Zhaoxi’s face darkened. She sucked on her candy, remaining sullenly silent.

“What type is the person she’s pursuing?” Seeing her like this, Lu Zhao spoke carefully, fearing she might poke a sore spot.

“My type,” Ji Zhaoxi muttered.

Lu Zhao: “…?”

She was a bit confused. If the other person was the same “type” as Ji Zhaoxi, was there anyone who could actually outshine her?

Seeing Lu Zhao go silent, Ji Zhaoxi looked up at her. “Why did you stop asking?”

Lu Zhao: “…”

How am I supposed to keep asking? You’re both the same type, yet she still doesn’t like you. I’ve never seen the other person; I truly don’t get it!

“Then… did she have someone she liked before? Was it the same type?”

Ji Zhaoxi’s expression remained indifferent. “She hasn’t liked anyone. I don’t know what her type is.”

Lu Zhao: “…”

Darling, you are making zero sense!

Lu Zhao felt her “Radio Host” services were failing. She said, “Host Xiao Lu has seen too little of the world; I can’t analyze this relationship for you.”

Ji Zhaoxi sat quietly with the candy in her mouth, watching Lu Zhao.

“But…” Lu Zhao smiled brightly at her. “But you can look forward. A person can’t stay trapped in a relationship with no result forever. Look around more; maybe you’ll meet someone even better than her?”

“No. No one is better than her,” Ji Zhaoxi said decisively.

Lu Zhao’s brow furrowed slightly. Was that person really that good? Good enough for Ji Zhaoxi to say such a thing so certainly?

Lu Zhao pulled Tangyuan (the cat) into her arms. “I think you might be what they call a ‘love-brain’ (obsessive lover).”

Ji Zhaoxi looked grumpy, clearly unconvinced.

“Meow~”

Tangyuan stretched in Lu Zhao’s arms.

“Aha! Even Tangyuan agrees with me!” Lu Zhao said delightedly. She rubbed Tangyuan’s head and told Ji Zhaoxi, “As modern women, being a ‘love-brain’ is the last thing we should be. But of course, if you really want to be one, you have to be prepared.”

As she spoke, Lu Zhao tapped her phone a few times. Suddenly, Ji Zhaoxi’s phone rang.

Ji Zhaoxi gave her a suspicious look, and Lu Zhao signaled for her to check it.

Ji Zhaoxi picked it up. It was a shared link from Lu Zhao:

《The Encyclopedia of Chinese Wild Vegetables》. (Note: A Chinese internet meme suggesting that if you are a “love-brain,” you’ll end up poor and forced to dig for wild vegetables to eat).

Ji Zhaoxi: “…”

Ji Zhaoxi put her phone down and said gloomily, “I have money and capability. I will never reach the point of needing to dig for wild vegetables!”

This person never trusts me; she always thinks I’m incompetent!

Lu Zhao grinned. “Just in case!”

Ji Zhaoxi glared at her and snatched Tangyuan away, refusing to let her hold the cat anymore.

Lu Zhao’s eyes widened. When she reached out to touch Tangyuan, Ji Zhaoxi even swatted her hand away.

How is this person so childish! Lu Zhao screamed inwardly. She starts using other tactics when she loses an argument!

However, she had to admit that this version of Ji Zhaoxi was much more vivid and approachable than before.

After finishing her candy, Ji Zhaoxi tossed the stick into the trash and went to wash up. Seeing Lu Zhao’s longing gaze fixed on Tangyuan, she snorted, refused to hand the cat over, and carried Tangyuan into the bathroom with her.

Lu Zhao: “???”

So petty!

She looked toward the bathroom with a mournful expression, then crawled onto the bed to wait. So what if she won’t let me hold him now? She’ll have to bring him to bed eventually.

After sleeping together for a few days, Lu Zhao was getting used to Ji Zhaoxi being beside her. Ji Zhaoxi was a very disciplined sleeper, so it hadn’t been uncomfortable.

When Ji Zhaoxi came out of the bathroom, she saw Lu Zhao lying sideways on the bed. Seeing her come out, Lu Zhao winked and waved a hand.

“Come here~ let’s have some fun~”

She looked like a seductive little fox spirit, enough to steal anyone’s soul.

Ji Zhaoxi: “…”

She held Tangyuan, and the cat looked at Lu Zhao just as she did, even letting out two meows.

Ji Zhaoxi’s face tightened. Her throat moved slightly, and her feet felt glued to the floor. Her eyes darted around—she looked at Lu Zhao, quickly looked away, then couldn’t help but peek again before averting her gaze.

She felt a surge of regret. If she had known, she wouldn’t have used the “pursuer” excuse; now Lu Zhao was getting bolder and more unrestrained!

This isn’t a ‘simp,’ this is a little fox!

Trying to hide her reaction, she avoided Lu Zhao’s gaze and climbed onto the bed with a wooden expression.

She remembered clearly when she first returned to the country and witnessed someone confessing to Lu Zhao. Before the person could even finish saying “I like you,” Lu Zhao had rejected them coldly and decisively.

Lu Zhao was beautiful; many people liked her. But to anyone who showed romantic interest, she offered only cold distance.

Because she had seen this, Ji Zhaoxi knew she couldn’t reveal her feelings. Lu Zhao’s guard was too high; she wouldn’t give anyone another chance to get close.

Once on the bed, Lu Zhao immediately rolled over to face Ji Zhaoxi and smiled. “Darling, why aren’t you looking at me?”

Ji Zhaoxi remained expressionless. “I haven’t agreed to your pursuit yet. Who are you calling ‘darling’? Frivolous!”

“But I’ve never hidden my frivolity,” Lu Zhao said innocently. I call everyone ‘Bao’ (Baby/Darling) every day, isn’t it sweet?

Ji Zhaoxi: “…”

She’s actually proud of it.

Once they were in bed, Ji Zhaoxi stopped holding Tangyuan tight. The cat immediately scurried over to Lu Zhao, who showered it with kisses.

Ji Zhaoxi: (Expressionless).

After playing with Tangyuan for a bit, they turned off the lights.

In the silence, Lu Zhao lay facing Ji Zhaoxi, peeking at her in the dark. She could only see a blurry silhouette, but she could tell Ji Zhaoxi was sleeping in a very rigid, disciplined posture.

Lu Zhao couldn’t understand why she seemed so tense even while sleeping. She closed her eyes, thinking about what Ji Zhaoxi had said tonight, and sighed inwardly.

Relationships are so troublesome… and a luxury. Better not to touch them.

The two fell asleep with their own thoughts, while Tangyuan acted as the bridge between them.

“Lu Zhao, didn’t you sleep well last night?”

During a break in filming, Fan Yaxuan walked over to Lu Zhao and asked gossipingly, noticing her tired appearance.

“Yeah,” Lu Zhao yawned, stretching her aching body.

Last night, Tangyuan must have overeaten because he was hyper, jumping around the bed in the middle of the night. Occasionally landing on her felt like being hit by Thor’s hammer.

Hearing this, Fan Yaxuan gave her an ambiguous look. “It seems your CEO Ji is quite energetic. Look at your face, so exhausted.”

Fan Yaxuan had seen Ji Zhaoxi leaving with the cat this morning, so she had naturally jumped to a “different” conclusion.

Lu Zhao: “???”

Does this sister have something unhealthy in her brain?

“Don’t overthink it. We didn’t do anything! It was Tangyuan being noisy!” Lu Zhao said helplessly. Now that the whole crew knew Ji Zhaoxi was sleeping over, they thought they were deeply in love, but the reality was… she was just a bedmate for the cat!

“Oh, Tangyuan, I see,” Fan Yaxuan said, though it was obvious she didn’t believe a word of it.

Lu Zhao was too tired to explain. Believe whatever you want.

While she was receiving teasing looks on set, Ji Zhaoxi arrived at the office only to encounter an uninvited guest.

Xu Er.

She frowned at the man leaning lazily against the front desk. “If you flirt with our staff again, don’t blame me for having you thrown out!”

The moment he heard her voice, Xu Er straightened up instantly.

Ji Zhaoxi ignored him and walked toward the elevator. Xu Er hurried to follow, looking miserable. “Wait! Why so fast? With our family backgrounds, there’s no need to rush to your grave.”

Ji Zhaoxi paused, then walked even faster.

Xu Er used his long legs to catch up and dutifully pressed the elevator button for her.

The staff of the Ji Group: “…” Is this… another ‘simp’?

Once the elevator doors closed, it was just the two of them.

“Speak. Why are you here?” Ji Zhaoxi asked coldly.

Xu Er peeked at her. Still icy. He couldn’t fathom what Lu Zhao saw in her. “That… Miss Lu, the one who was chasing after you yesterday, she found me.”

Ji Zhaoxi turned her head sharply, her aura turning even colder. “Why did she look for you?”

Xu Er felt like he might die in this elevator if he said the wrong thing. “Yesterday was Chu Lan’s birthday. You were invited but didn’t go. Miss Lu went, and we met at the banquet.”

Ji Zhaoxi’s expression softened slightly. Just slightly.

“She asked me about our… marriage situation.” Xu Er spoke carefully. He had seen the news about Ji Zhaoxi visiting Lu Zhao’s set every night and leaving only in the morning. The relationship was clearly not simple.

If he didn’t tell her the truth now, he’d suffer later. Ji Zhaoxi was ruthless; even her own father couldn’t handle her. When her father tried to arrange a marriage between them, Ji Zhaoxi had immediately pressured the Xu family, making Xu Er a “special target” of her warnings.

Ji Zhaoxi listened in silence. When the elevator reached her floor, she stepped out.

“Wait? You have no reaction?” Xu Er followed her into her office. “Didn’t you tell her about us?”

Ji Zhaoxi glanced at him. “Is there an ‘us’?”

Xu Er: “…No. No.”

Again, Lu Zhao, what do you see in her!!!

Actually, Xu Er had thought Lu Zhao was interesting and had come to ask if Ji Zhaoxi was serious about her. If not, he wanted to pursue her himself. Clearly, that plan was dead on arrival.

Ji Zhaoxi sat at her desk, her mind entirely on Lu Zhao.

Lu Zhao had sought out Xu Er to ask about the marriage arrangement. Why?

She tried not to overthink, but she couldn’t help it. A tiny smile even tugged at the corner of her lips.

Is Lu Zhao jealous?

Recalling Lu Zhao’s previous questions—asking if she had someone she liked—was it all a test?

Xu Er was terrified. He had known Ji Zhaoxi for years, and this was the first time he had ever seen her smile.

Ji Zhaoxi’s heart couldn’t help but speed up as well. Did Lu Zhao go to ask Xu Er for information because she was afraid of losing her?

At this moment, Ji Zhaoxi only believed this one thought; she only wanted to believe that Lu Zhao’s reaction was definitely because she was jealous!

So, it’s not actually impossible between her and Lu Zhao, right?

Ji Zhaoxi was immersed in her own thoughts, and the smile on her lips grew deeper and deeper.

However, the happier she smiled, the more terrified Xu Er became. Finally, he didn’t dare to look anymore and sat down with his back to her.

Looking at her like this, Xu Er didn’t even need to ask what her feelings for Lu Zhao were; it was already blindingly obvious.

After an unknown amount of time, Ji Zhaoxi snapped out of it and saw Xu Er huddled on the sofa with his back to her like a quail.

“…”

He was an eyesore.

She stood up, sat down opposite him, and looked at him coldly. “Is there anything else?”

Xu Er looked at her restored icy demeanor and felt his teeth ache. “You seem quite concerned about Miss Lu. Why did you let her become a ‘simp’?”

Xu Er was curious; in his view, weren’t these two a case of mutual attraction?

Ji Zhaoxi’s face darkened, and she felt a bit stifled.

Did she make Lu Zhao a simp? Wasn’t it Lu Zhao herself who learned the wrong lessons?

She learned it wrong and still wouldn’t admit it! Insisting on going down the wrong path to the very end!

“Did you come here just to ask that?” Ji Zhaoxi’s tone was ice-cold.

Xu Er: “…”

He grumbled inwardly but had to straighten his expression, taking a folder out of his briefcase.

“Take a look. This is what your father brought over during my dad’s birthday last time.”

Hearing this, Ji Zhaoxi’s eyes darkened. She took the materials and began to flip through them, her expression becoming more mocking as she read.

“It seems that after all these years, he still kept an ace up his sleeve.”

Ji Zhaoxi put the documents down. This old man wanted to cooperate with the Xu family; even if he couldn’t regain control of the Ji Group, he could develop his own company. As long as they cooperated, he wouldn’t lose.

“Actually, I’m quite curious—why did he choose your family?” Ji Zhaoxi looked up at Xu Er. He had even revealed industries he had hidden so deeply to Old Master Xu.

Xu Er shed his playful attitude, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his eyes.

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