Join a Dating Reality Show with the Aloof, Fishing-Style Richest Man - Chapter 34.1

All of Lu Zhao’s drowsiness vanished in an instant. Her eyes snapped open, and she could still feel the soft, warm body behind her and the gentle breath brushing against her ear.

What did Ji Zhaoxi just say?

She said she’d give her triple the pay and a big villa to live in?

Lu Zhao’s gaze shifted blankly. Why would she suddenly say that? Triple…

Did she hear her conversation with Qiao Wei?!

She sat up and turned back to look at Ji Zhaoxi, only to find Ji Zhaoxi lying there, silently watching her.

A belated wave of embarrassment crept up Lu Zhao’s spine. This was exactly like being at work, using the company’s network and computer to browse a recruitment website, and—most importantly—getting caught red-handed!

Lu Zhao was so embarrassed she couldn’t find her words.

Ji Zhaoxi got up to turn on the light and then met Lu Zhao’s gaze.

Lu Zhao: “…”

Say something, for goodness’ sake!

Lu Zhao forced an awkward yet polite smile at Ji Zhaoxi.

Ji Zhaoxi looked at her silently for a moment, then reached for her phone. She scrolled through her photos and found a picture of a house.

“It’s this villa. If you like it, I can transfer the title to you later,” Ji Zhaoxi said, showing her the screen.

Lu Zhao looked at the photo of the grand villa, complete with front and back courtyards and a massive swimming pool, then checked the location.

Lu Zhao: “…”

If she remembered correctly, a villa in this area cost at least a hundred million, right?

And Ji Zhaoxi was saying she’d just give it to her if she liked it?!

Lu Zhao reached out and gently pushed the phone away. “Babe, don’t do this. My heart is about to be corrupted by you.”

Her willpower wasn’t nearly as strong as she thought! She couldn’t afford that villa even if she worked like a dog for ten years!

“Corrupted?” Ji Zhaoxi murmured. Then she said, “This is nothing in my eyes.”

So, Lu Zhao could go ahead and be after her money all she wanted.

Lu Zhao: “…”

“You… you heard?” Lu Zhao asked awkwardly, deciding it was best to be upfront.

Ji Zhaoxi didn’t speak again, but her expression cooled.

Since the lights were on and people were talking, Tangyuan was no longer sleepy. The cat lay nearby watching them, its fluffy tail flicking occasionally.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t agree to her. I still have some professional ethics!” Lu Zhao quickly declared. Comparing the two, the money at Ji Zhaoxi’s place was much easier to earn! With Qiao Wei, she’d be living in constant fear.

Ji Zhaoxi still didn’t look happy. She simply said, “You just need to remember: I don’t need a half-hearted pursuer.”

“When others offer you double, you need to know that I can give you triple.”

“And my minimum requirement is that you cannot betray me.”

Normally, when Ji Zhaoxi spoke like this, it meant the matter was quite serious in her eyes.

Lu Zhao quickly raised her hand to swear: “Rest assured! You can even make me sign a non-compete clause! I won’t work in a related industry for two years after leaving your employment!”

However, as soon as Lu Zhao finished speaking, she noticed Ji Zhaoxi’s face grow even darker. Confusion swirled in her mind.

Did I say something wrong?

Ji Zhaoxi gritted her teeth slightly. Looking at Lu Zhao’s bewildered expression, she felt as if a heavy stone was blocking her chest—suffocating and oppressive.

“Fine. Very well,” Ji Zhaoxi said, nodding through clenched teeth.

Lu Zhao: “…”

Why does it feel like she’s even angrier now?

Ji Zhaoxi pulled Tangyuan into her arms to use as a bolster, turned off the light, and lay down with her back to Lu Zhao.

“Meow?”

Tangyuan let out a confused cry. Usually, didn’t it sleep in the middle?

Ji Zhaoxi rubbed its head to quiet it.

Looking at this behavior, Lu Zhao was certain of one thing.

Ji Zhaoxi was mad!

But… but why? She had already promised her; what was there to be angry about?

Lu Zhao didn’t understand, but seeing that Ji Zhaoxi didn’t seem in the mood to communicate, she eventually swallowed her questions and lay back down.

Ji Zhaoxi lay with her back to Lu Zhao, while Lu Zhao faced Ji Zhaoxi’s back. Finally, Lu Zhao let out a faint sigh; she’d better just sleep for now.

It was quiet. Ji Zhaoxi’s ears twitched slightly. After hearing no more movement from Lu Zhao, she slowly turned back around and silently traced Lu Zhao’s features in the darkness.

The next morning, they were woken up by the program crew’s staff.

Lu Zhao lay in bed with a scrunched-up face, unwilling to get up. She was already exhausted from filming for half a month, and just when she finally had a chance to relax and get a good night’s sleep, she had to wake up early!

Because of the recent fatigue, even her internal biological clock wasn’t working today.

Ji Zhaoxi was already awake. She sat on the bed, staring blankly ahead.

The most energetic one in the room was Tangyuan, who had begun patrolling its territory the moment it woke up.

Lu Zhao rolled over to look at Ji Zhaoxi and yawned. “Babe, are we still going for a morning run?”

Ji Zhaoxi shook her head blankly.

Lu Zhao felt relieved. After spacing out in bed for a few more minutes, she finally got up to wash.

After a night’s rest, it seemed the two had reached a tacit agreement to ignore what happened the night before.

When Lu Zhao finished washing up, she took the opportunity while Ji Zhaoxi was in the bathroom to prepare cat food for Tangyuan. In the middle of it, she received a message from Xu Miaomiao.

Xu Miaomiao: Did you ask for that link I told you to get last night?

Lu Zhao: “…”

She hadn’t had the heart to ask Fan Yaxuan…

After all, that gift was way too “dramatic”!

And because of her clumsiness, Fan Yaxuan was being teased to death by netizens; some extremists were even calling her shameless.

Though, those calling her shameless were mostly being flamed back by the majority. After all, having desires is perfectly normal. She wasn’t out there fooling around, so there was no need for “self-pleasure shame.”

She hadn’t contacted Fan Yaxuan, and she figured Fan Yaxuan was probably in a state of self-isolation and wouldn’t contact her either.

Lu Zhao tentatively sent a “shaking with fear” emoji to Fan Yaxuan.

Fan Yaxuan replied almost instantly.

Fan Yaxuan: ** Fan Yaxuan: I handed it to you so mysteriously that day, and you actually didn’t get my meaning! Fan Yaxuan: Have you and President Ji never used any tools?!

Lu Zhao: How was I supposed to know! It looks so much like a beauty blender!

Lu Zhao felt quite wronged; she had never seen a “product” that looked like that!

Fan Yaxuan: How melancholy. But whatever, that “elegant goddess” persona really didn’t suit me. Now that it’s shattered, I can finally take a route that actually fits me.

Because Fan Yaxuan had a “goddess” face, her company had packaged her as an elegant goddess from the start of her career. In reality, her personality wasn’t elegant at all, and she had spent years pretending, which was exhausting.

This incident turned out to be a blessing in disguise, and she actually gained a wave of fans because of her real personality.

Lu Zhao: That’s good then. I was scared to death at the time! Why on earth did you give me something like that!

Fan Yaxuan’s expression as she looked at her phone was complicated.

Fan Yaxuan: Wasn’t I doing it for you? It pained me to see you looking so haggard from President Ji’s “exhaustion”! I thought I’d buy you some tools so you could counter-attack!

Lu Zhao: “…”

Just because of that? It’s her own mind that’s dirty!

She and Ji Zhaoxi were perfectly innocent!

With a faint sigh, she sent another message to Fan Yaxuan: Someone thinks your product looks good and asked me to get a link for them.

Fan Yaxuan: At least she has good taste!

With that, she sent Lu Zhao a link.

Lu Zhao forwarded the link to Xu Miaomiao and then received another message from Fan Yaxuan.

Fan Yaxuan: I’ve sacrificed so much for you, you MUST step up your game!

Lu Zhao: “…”

She put down her phone just as Ji Zhaoxi finished washing up and came out. Ji Zhaoxi had changed into a color-blocked black-and-white checkered shirt paired with black suit trousers. She looked both casual and fashionable, which softened her usual cold aura.

Lu Zhao was stunned. She had never seen Ji Zhaoxi in this style of clothing; it was a far cry from her usual “forbidden and rigid” look!

Seeing Lu Zhao’s dazed expression, the corners of Ji Zhaoxi’s lips curled up unconsciously as she asked on purpose, “What is it? Does it look bad?”

Lu Zhao shook her head quickly and praised, “You look great like this! You should try this style more often!”

Ji Zhaoxi had narrow shoulders and a thin waist; she looked incredibly sharp in a shirt!

A hint of pleasure touched Ji Zhaoxi’s eyes. It seemed the time she had spent lately researching fashion and styling hadn’t been in vain.

Lu Zhao also changed into casual wear before turning on the cameras in the room. As soon as the cameras went live, a huge crowd flooded the stream, everyone howling in excitement.

— THEY SLEPT TOGETHER LAST NIGHT! — I have a very bold thought… did they use “that thing” last night? — Upstairs, is this a topic for early in the morning? — Actually, I want to know too (shame.jpg) — Don’t be too wild, guys, they’re still filming a show! If they’re going to use it, they’ll do it at home!

The director’s face practically twisted with joy as he saw the skyrocketing engagement. He felt his decision to invite Lu Zhao was the best one ever! Just look at this heat—which other variety show could compete with them?

Lu Zhao and Ji Zhaoxi left the room and went downstairs, leaving Tangyuan to eat breakfast in the room. When they arrived, the dining table was already filled with a variety of breakfast options for them to choose from, and everyone else had arrived.

The moment they appeared, Lu Zhao felt a meaningful gaze land on her. Following her intuition, she looked over and saw Qiao Wei smiling beautifully at her.

Lu Zhao: “…”

The memories from last night are coming back to kill me!

As she and Ji Zhaoxi sat down, Xu Miaomiao leaned into her ear and whispered, “I’ve placed the order! Have you used it? How’s the effect?”

Lu Zhao’s face nearly cracked. Sister, we’re still filming! Aren’t you afraid of being overheard!

She gritted her teeth and whispered back, “How would I dare use it right now!”

Xu Miaomiao nodded, looking like she understood, and didn’t say much more.

Ji Zhaoxi sat next to Lu Zhao. Her gaze subtly swept toward Qiao Wei, while her hand under the table clenched into a tight fist.

While they were eating breakfast, a woman walked into the courtyard. She was wearing a professional business suit and carrying a briefcase, looking like she had just rushed over from work.

The moment she saw the newcomer, Xu Miaomiao’s eyes lit up. she immediately stood up, ready to pounce on Zhou Jiaoyan!

“Sister!” Xu Miaomiao cried out joyfully.

Seeing her like this, Zhou Jiaoyan didn’t care about anything else and hurried forward to support her, fearing she would be too excited and fall—making her not-yet-healed leg injury even worse.

Xu Miaomiao took the opportunity to wrap her arms around Zhou Jiaoyan’s neck and planted a loud kiss on her cheek, her expression as “infatuated” as it could be.

Zhou Jiaoyan’s face froze. There was a clear lipstick mark on her fair skin. She looked up at everyone, speechless.

And when Zhou Jiaoyan walked in, there was another person whose expression changed.

Qiao Wei’s eyes were fixed intently on Zhou Jiaoyan.

Everyone else was stunned by Xu Miaomiao’s wild actions. Even the viewers in the livestream froze for a second.

— !!! Is this the person Xu Miaomiao likes! — Wow, she’s not bad looking at all! — Sob sob sob, I still don’t get it. Why would she reject our Miaomiao? Our Miaomiao is so great! — Ahhhh who is this person?! Give me her full profile in three minutes! — Wait, why does Xu Miaomiao call her “Sister”?

While the internet was exploding with discussions about the two of them, Lu Zhao sat in reality, taking a bite of a wonton. So Xu Miaomiao was truly this bold and “aggressive” in front of Zhou Jiaoyan!

Zhou Jiaoyan supported Xu Miaomiao but pushed her away, her expression cooling and her tone becoming somewhat stern as she called out, “Miaomiao!”

Xu Miaomiao instinctively shrunk her neck, but then stubbornly tilted her head and said, “It’s been so long since I saw you!”

She then added aggrievedly, “You didn’t even reply to my messages.”

Hearing her words, Zhou Jiaoyan felt helpless. She helped her back to her seat, nodded to greet the others, and then went into the bathroom to deal with the lipstick mark on her face.

Lu Zhao turned to Xu Miaomiao and gave her a thumbs-up. “Sister, I can’t even call you a ‘simping dog’ anymore. You need another attribute added to your name.”

“Huh?” Xu Miaomiao’s eyes had been glued to the direction of the bathroom, but she turned to look at Lu Zhao upon hearing her.

Lu Zhao leaned in and said in a very low voice, “You need to add the ‘sexual harassment’ attribute, or maybe ‘forced conquest’.”

Xu Miaomiao blinked. “Weren’t these the methods you taught me?”

“Bullsh*t!” Lu Zhao was fuming. “When did I ever teach you such things?”

“I’m not brave enough to want the state to provide my food and housing (prison)!”

Xu Miaomiao looked innocent. “As long as this method works on her, right?”

Lu Zhao’s expression was hard to describe.

“Sister, you really have the potential to end up in a legal case.”

Xu Miaomiao: “…”

Support