When the Male Lead Finds Out I’m the Transmigrator Trying to Win Him Over - Chapter 36

Logically speaking, Yun Ruo should be very good at pursuing someone.

But whenever she faced Han Qi, she always felt a little uneasy.

On Friday afternoon, Assistant Liu and the others finished their work and flew back to Bincheng. Yun Ruo, however, got in a car with Han Qi and headed for the resort, arriving just before dinner.

Han Qi’s friend looked about the same age as him. His name was Sun Bo, a long-time fitness enthusiast with a tall, burly build. He was cheerful, loved to laugh, and seemed like a straightforward man.

After the long trip, Sun Bo suggested they rest tonight and tour the resort tomorrow.

After dinner, Yun Ruo sat in the backyard looking up strategies online. The pool shimmered under the moonlight. She was inside Sun Bo’s holiday villa, which was perched halfway up the mountain. The villa was vast and luxuriously decorated, with every form of entertainment available, though tonight no one was using them.

Han Qi was in the front yard chatting with Sun Bo. The backyard was serene and quiet.

Question she typed out: “How do you pursue a mature, steady man who’s never dated before?”

Replies from netizens:

• “A guy like that? Sounds like something out of a novel.”
• “Are you sure he’s never dated? Men are good at pretending.”
• “Cater to what he likes. If you can’t, then just stick close to him. Being clingy might work.”
• “Why think so hard? Men think with their lower half. Just go straight in.”

Yun Ruo closed her phone.

Going straight in was clearly not an option. Even if she could bring herself to do it, Han Qi would probably lock her out immediately. He seemed like the pure-love type, someone who preferred things to progress slowly.

Cater to what he likes? He had no dating experience, no references to go by. How could she know what kind of girl he liked?

Of course, Han Qi already liked her—he just thought she didn’t know. That was the problem: she had to pursue someone who already liked her.

What she needed was to make him like her even more.

“I’ll think about it.” Yun Ruo pressed two fingers to her forehead, as if trying to summon inspiration like in some fantasy novel.

Divorcing Meng Tingmo had raised his favorability. Siding with him over Meng Tingmo had raised it. Celebrating his birthday for him had raised it too…

He seemed to like—no, value—acts that proved he was the one she cared about.

“Are you cultivating?” A drink was set down on the round table beside her. Han Qi sat in the other chair.

Yun Ruo dropped her hands. Though a bit embarrassed, she admitted, “I was thinking about how to pursue you.”

Han Qi stretched his legs out and relaxed back in his chair. “And? Have you figured it out?”

“No. I asked the internet for advice.”

“What did they say?”

“They told me to just go straight for it… kiss you. If you don’t push me away, it means you’re interested. If you do, it means you’ve got a problem with me.”

Han Qi’s brow twitched. He clearly hadn’t expected such an answer from her. Yun Ruo was reserved—something so bold didn’t seem like her at all.

“Do you want to try it?” he asked, turning to look at her.

Staring at the pool ahead, she replied, “Do you want me to?”

Han Qi: “Could you really do it?”

Yun Ruo: “We won’t know until I try.”

She slipped down from her lounge chair, slipped into her sandals, and crossed the two short steps to him—hardly enough time for either of them to mentally prepare.

Han Qi was lying back, the backyard lights set to just the right brightness: neither so dim his features were hidden, nor so bright that nothing was left concealed. Yun Ruo could clearly see his eyes locked firmly on her.

Leaning down, his Adam’s apple bobbing, she grabbed the collar of his shirt.

“You…” Was she actually serious?

Without answering, she bent lower, until his lips were mere millimeters away. Their breaths mingled, and just as they were about to touch, she stopped, lifting her gaze to meet his deep, dark eyes.

Han Qi only looked back at her—neither stopping her nor making a move himself.

As if he didn’t care what she was doing. As if he had no desire for her.

But Yun Ruo could hear his breathing—deeper and rougher than usual.

Straightening up, she said, “Forget it. I’ll try tomorrow.”

Han Qi froze. Yun Ruo walked away without hesitation.

She had sparked the fire only to douse it, leaving Han Qi stunned in place until finally, he chuckled.

It seemed Yun Ruo had played him.

Thinking of those lips he’d been a mere hair’s breadth away from, Han Qi stood up from his chair.

He didn’t believe her “tomorrow.”

Back in her room, Yun Ruo locked the door. The system nagged in her head until she wanted to faint right there.

【Why didn’t you kiss him?】

“I have my own pace.”

【You were shy?】

“According to romance-novel logic, I should be insecure instead.”

A divorced woman with a child, setting her sights on a rich, handsome bachelor—shouldn’t she spend every day wallowing in self-pity, asking, ‘How could I ever deserve him?’

【Right, so why aren’t you insecure?】

“…Because after all I’ve been through, I’ve built a tough core inside.”

Yun Ruo truly had her own pace!

The next morning, she woke early for breakfast. When she came downstairs and met Han Qi’s gaze, she greeted him casually, as if nothing had happened last night. She even sat next to him and chatted with Sun Bo, carrying on as normal.

Sun Bo was lively and humorous. His jokes kept coming, and Yun Ruo laughed so often she didn’t even have to fake it.

Encouraged by her response, Sun Bo became even more animated.

Han Qi, on the other hand, ended up feeling like the outsider.

After breakfast, the three stepped outside. While the sun was still gentle, Sun Bo wanted to show them around the resort. He called over his secretary, a graceful and elegant woman.

“This is Lin Qingxue, my secretary. She knows this place well. She’ll be our tour guide today,” he said.

In truth, it was to make Yun Ruo more comfortable—so she wouldn’t feel out of place as the only woman.

From the start, Lin Qingxue stuck by Yun Ruo, making her feel cared for. The two of them quickly hit it off, leaving Sun Bo and Han Qi trailing behind.

Sun Bo complained dramatically, “Some people, huh? Only care about beautiful things. Others chase money, but she chases beauty. Doesn’t even respect her own boss.”

Clearly close with him, Lin Qingxue shot back without hesitation: “I saw an article yesterday about a company president so handsome and considerate that his employees showed up on time every day, working with full enthusiasm.

“If my boss could reflect on his flaws after reading that and improve, I’d worship him like a god too.”

Sun Bo groaned, “So you’re saying I’m ugly and stingy?”

Yun Ruo tried not to laugh, her shoulders trembling.

“You and Sun Bo…?” she asked.

“High school and university classmates,” Lin Qingxue replied. Sun Bo had no airs about him. The two of them bickered like this every day for years.

“If only Han Qi were my boss.” She tapped her chin. “Why do I have to be stuck with such an idiot?”

Why indeed.

“Is it easy being Assistant to President Han?”

“Easy.” Yun Ruo nodded sincerely. “As you can see, President Han has a handsome face and treats his subordinates kindly. I’m motivated every single day.”

Her voice wasn’t lowered—both Han Qi and Sun Bo heard her.

“Well, well,” Sun Bo teased, shooting Han Qi a look. “Seems pretty close, huh? Since when did Han Qi’s subordinates get so bold?”

Han Qi didn’t deny it.

“Tsk tsk.” Sun Bo clicked his tongue in mock regret. “I was hoping to add Miss Yun as a friend. I find her quite interesting.”

Han Qi quickened his pace, closing the gap between himself and the two women, tossing back only three words at Sun Bo: “In your dreams.”

The resort was large, the scenery beautiful, but the midday sun soon became too harsh. By ten, the four returned to the villa, where they played some indoor games instead.

The indoor court was well air-conditioned. Sun Bo suggested doubles tennis—he loved such sports. Han Qi asked Yun Ruo’s opinion.

Naturally, she agreed.

But when it came time to choose teams, Sun Bo jokingly said he wanted to pair up with her: “You’re always with Han Qi. Aren’t you tired of that face?”

Han Qi: “Heh.”

Yun Ruo: “Alright.”

All three were stunned.

Lin Qingxue instantly put on her “eating popcorn” expression. She knew Sun Bo’s playboy ways. Precisely because of that, she was certain he and Yun Ruo wouldn’t cross any lines. So now, she was eager to watch the drama unfold.

Unlike the baffled Han Qi, Sun Bo was delighted, waving her over eagerly: “Come on, come on, let’s crush Han Qi together!”

Yun Ruo actually went. “Okay, let’s crush Han Qi.”

Han Qi, previously nonchalant, suddenly grew serious at those words. His eyes skimmed the two of them lightly. “Wanna bet?”

Sun Bo: “Bet!”

The match began.

Yun Ruo knew tennis—just a little. She knew a bit of every sport involving a ball, but only a bit.

She’d learned them all chasing after Meng Tingmo. Back in college, he had lots of friends and lots of gatherings—tennis, badminton on weekends, bowling, billiards during the week. She’d tagged along everywhere. At first she embarrassed herself often, until Meng Tingmo couldn’t stand it anymore and taught her just enough to get by.

Only the basics—rules and serving.

She couldn’t return Han Qi’s balls.

After missing again, she apologized to Sun Bo: “I’m too useless, dragging you down.”

Sweat dampened her hair against her face, her nose reddened. Sun Bo quickly waved it off: “Not your fault. That bastard Han Qi’s always been like this.”

“Watch me.” He pounded his chest.

Yun Ruo smiled encouragingly.

On the other side, Han Qi said nothing, face expressionless, neither urging nor commenting. Lin Qingxue instinctively took a step back.

The air around him felt prickly.

The game continued. Fired up by Yun Ruo’s support, Sun Bo grew reckless, hitting harder. Lin Qingxue nearly got hit by a ball. She scolded him for watching too much Detective Conan and trying to murder her. Sun Bo bragged that he was just too skilled.

Han Qi chuckled coldly: “Don’t worry. I’ll avenge you.”

From then on, the match spiraled into a personal duel between Han Qi and Sun Bo. Yun Ruo stepped aside, watching as the sound of whizzing balls filled the air—clear evidence of the force behind each shot.

【Promising】 the system commented.

Yun Ruo tucked a strand of hair back. All those romance novels she’d read weren’t in vain. In doubles, you should never team up with your crush. Stand against them, and that way—they get jealous.

Would Han Qi get jealous?

【Judging from this, yes—he’s jealous.】

Hitting that hard—surely not just competitiveness.

Still, Yun Ruo thought the jealousy wasn’t quite enough.

In the afternoon, the sun grew even fiercer, keeping them indoors. Continuing his antics, Sun Bo suggested another match: “Losing in tennis doesn’t mean I’ll lose in swimming. Let’s go again.”

As always, Han Qi looked at Yun Ruo.

She seemed oblivious, only cheering for Sun Bo: “This morning I dragged you down. This time I’ll cheer for you.”

Sun Bo grinned. “Deal.”

“Fine.” Han Qi rose to change into swim trunks. “Let’s do it.”

With Lin Qingxue as referee, the whistle blew, and both men dove into the water.

Yun Ruo truly only cheered for Sun Bo: “President Sun is incredible! That speed could rival a professional!”

Lin Qingxue twitched her lips as she watched Sun Bo lag a body length behind Han Qi.

【…Are you sure about this? Isn’t this too much?】

“I’m sure. I think Han Qi needs a little stimulation.”

So did she.

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