When the Male Lead Finds Out I’m the Transmigrator Trying to Win Him Over - Chapter 45

Yun ruo had never thought about this question. She had no other choice, so how could it be “willingness”? It was better not to think about it.

But when the speaker suddenly asked, she paused and realized that her state of mind had changed completely from the beginning.

At first, she had thought, “How could it be Han Qi? I would have preferred a stranger.” Now, she thought, “Fortunately, it’s Han Qi and not a stranger.”

This change of thought wasn’t just because her mission was progressing quickly; Han Qi himself gave her a lot… comfort? warmth?

In short, this mission went so smoothly it didn’t feel like a mission at all.

“I’m willing,” Yun ruo answered the speaker, half with genuine feeling and half with pretense. “I even feel that I shouldn’t have waited until now to pursue him.”

If only Han Qi had been the target from the very first mission.

Everyone else didn’t understand the deeper meaning behind her words; they just thought it was another confession and cheered over the “couple’s moments.” The speaker looked frustrated: “I shouldn’t have asked. Now nobody’s happy.”

Then he turned to Han Qi: “Except you.”

Han Qi made a “sorry” gesture, and as he lowered his hand, he naturally took Yunruo’s hand in his.

Yun ruo: Huh?

Han Qi feigned formality: “Miss Yun, your pursuit has reached a new level.”

Yun ruo’s hand was slightly smaller than Han Qi’s; she shrank a little in his palm as he gently squeezed it tighter.

He had received a judgment of happiness.

What was said next, neither of them paid much attention to. Both were lost in thought. Afterward, Han Qi took Yun ruo backstage to see the speaker. Only then did a still-dazed Yun ruo realize: “So you two already knew each other?”

“College classmates,” Han Qi replied. “Same dorm.”

In their dorm, he was the only one going into business; the others pursued different careers. By now, the only one still in contact was the speaker.

Yun ruo realized: “So he intentionally asked us that question?”

No—he was intentionally teasing her.

“It was intentionally teasing me,” Han Qi reassured Yun ruo. “He was gnashing his teeth knowing that you were pursuing me.”

His friend was still single to this day.

Yun ruo laughed and asked another question: “Do you know what he was going to ask?”

Han Qi shook his head. There’s no predetermined script for interviews; everything is spontaneous. “But the question was pretty good.”

At least now, he was happy.

Yun ruo buried her head. Could she not be happy? The moment she finished answering, the system notified her: [Current Target Affection Level: 85%]

That evening, they had dinner with the speaker. Afterward, Yun ruo returned to work as usual. After a few idle moments, she resumed her busy schedule, though not to the extent of daily overtime.

Yun ruo had read interviews of several business tycoons, most of whom worked late into the night. Compared with Han Qi, she suddenly felt that being with him was quite good—at least he knew how to relax.

The incident with the talk show had already been pushed out of her mind. She didn’t know that the organizer had edited that day’s footage and posted it online. It was merely to promote the show, and the shots were mostly of the backs of people’s heads and the speaker’s face.

The public couldn’t recognize the protagonists—except those familiar with Yun ruo and Han Qi’s voices.

Coincidentally, Meng Tingmo was familiar with both.

The secretary, caught slacking in the break room, had her video noticed by Meng Tingmo. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have scrolled through short videos at all.

Opening the comment section, the top comments were all sour: “Good evening, except for you two.” Everyone assumed the “woman pursuing the man” in the video was actually mutual.

“Maybe it’s a mutual crush, ah, so cute!”

Meng Tingmo tossed his phone aside.

So what did that make him?

A stumbling block on their way to a happy ending?

He hadn’t sought out Yun ruo not because he gave up, but to give her time to process things. Once he figured out a better way, he would immediately go see her.

The problem was, he couldn’t think of a solution. All methods to plead for Yun ruo’s forgiveness failed.

A low curse echoed in his luxurious office, filled with frustration.

Han Qi was invited to a business banquet, and Yun ruo attended as his companion.

For this, Han Qi even gave Yunruo half a day off to try on dresses. He was unusually insistent that she appear beautiful.

In the fitting room, Yun ruo emerged in a dress: “How about this one?”

It was a pale purple gown, elegant and understated, perfectly matching Yun ruo’s temperament.

But Han Qi felt it wasn’t quite right. His eyes scanned the row of dresses and pointed to a deep blue, one-shoulder gown: “Try this one.”

Yun ruo, tired: “Shouldn’t I match your suit? Have you chosen yours?”

Han Qi replied he hadn’t yet: “First, pick yours.”

He would coordinate with her naturally.

Yun ruo stood still: “Give me a reason.”

Han Qi tilted his head, thinking: “Hmm… let’s say I’m just feeling competitive.”

Yun ruo: ?

Han Qi smiled without speaking. Previously, Yun ruo had always attended as Meng Tingmo’s companion. He could only watch from the corner, with no identity or right to approach her.

Now, she belonged to him.

He wanted to show Yun ruo that what Meng Tingmo could give, he could give even more.

Of course, if others thought she looked better with him than with Meng Tingmo, all the better.

Yun ruo raised a finger: “Last time.”

She would not change again!

The clay figurine has a temper too. Yun ruo left the fitting room, possibly still annoyed, walking with an imposing aura. The store clerk couldn’t help but exclaim softly.

Yun ruo glanced at the clerk, puzzled. Han Qi was already clapping in satisfaction.

“Good, keep that aura.”

When Yun ruo stood beside Meng Tingmo before, she seemed like a mere accessory. Every time dressed like a princess, people assumed Meng Tingmo had “pampered” her well.

But she wasn’t pampered—she was just Meng Tingmo’s appendage.

Han Qi didn’t want Yun ruo to be an appendage.

Yun ruo was Yun ruo. She had worked hard to reach where she was. She didn’t need anyone to nurture her—she could bloom beautifully on her own.

She was her own queen.

Han Qi chose his suit quickly, sticking with his usual black and gray, rarely white. Today was no different—black suit, but a blue tie.

Yun ruo sneaked a glance, then another… the system said this was couple’s attire.

“Miss Yun, you can look freely.”

Yun ruo turned her head. Han Qi was resting his eyes, yet somehow noticed her gaze.

“Xiaohan sent me a message, saying you’re free to go play with him.”

“Mm,” Han Qi replied. “But I might not get into Meng’s house.”

Who knew if Meng Tingmo had ordered him kept outside?

Last time Meng Tingmo was hospitalized, he hadn’t gone—only asked mutual friends about the situation. He didn’t dare go, fearing Meng Tingmo would say, “Stay away from Yun ruo.” He couldn’t risk angering him into getting sick.

With the location ready, Han Qi helped Yun ruo out of the car. Seeing the brightly lit hotel, she inhaled deeply. She knew attending the banquet with Han Qi would have consequences.

The public would quickly notice her relationship with Han Qi. Previously, it was just speculation; now it was in the open.

“You really don’t mind?” she asked again.

Han Qi said nothing, only led her forward. In his mind, he couldn’t wait.

“We’re already here, don’t back out now,” he reminded her. Both were “guarding” each other, afraid the other might escape at the last moment.

They entered the banquet hall arm in arm. The deep blue gown made Yun ruo appear noble and mysterious, a completely different aura from before.

People tried to place her: who was she? Finally, they realized: Yun ruo, Meng Tingmo’s ex-wife.

…So the man with her was Han Qi?

Eyes scanned Yu nruo and Han Qi repeatedly, finally discreetly settling on the center of the hall.

Meng Tingmo was there.

Yun ruo noticed the glances but didn’t care. If “being watched by crickets” could prolong life, she was willing to perform a little “madness” on stage for everyone.

“President Han,” someone came up to toast, casually bumping Yunruo’s glass. “Why is Mrs. Yun with President Han?”

“President Han is handsome,” Yun ruo replied, dodging, “It’s worth coming with him.”

“Ha ha, indeed worth it.” The person felt awkward, realizing Yun ruo wasn’t answering the real question. “Mrs. Yun—”

“What wife?” Yun ruo interrupted. “I’m no longer his wife.”

The title “Mrs. Yun” was based on her former status as Meng Tingmo’s wife.

She had long divorced him.

The person felt embarrassed, took a sip, and quietly left.

Others kept greeting them, subtly inquiring about their relationship. They weren’t showing affection yet, just smiling a “everything is understood without words.”

Meng Tingmo watched coldly, handed a glass of wine by Feng You.

“Drink. Being drunk will make you stop being sad,” Feng You said.

Meng Tingmo scoffed: “Do you think I’m a loser in your eyes?”

“You’ve been acting like one.” Feng You spoke bluntly. Didn’t he say earlier, standing in the rain begging for forgiveness and getting pneumonia? That wasn’t Meng Tingmo? “Why not just give up?”

He saw Yun ruo and Han Qi getting along well. What was the point of Meng Tingmo trying to intervene? “Without Han Qi, there’s always someone else. Yun ruo just doesn’t like you anymore.”

He regretted his stubbornness: if only he had known…

Feng You’s hand held a glass, which Meng Tingmo returned. The red liquid splashed—if not for his quick reflexes, it would have stained the gown.

“Meng Tingmo!” Feng You shouted angrily, but meeting Meng Tingmo’s eyes, the fire went out.

Like a trapped animal, full of unwillingness.

Feng You didn’t continue; he left with his wine.

Meanwhile, Yun ruo excused herself to the restroom. Han Qi stayed in the hall, slightly bored. After a round of drinking, he walked to the balcony.

He had just wanted some fresh air.

Upon entering, he found Meng Tingmo there. He hadn’t paid much attention to Meng Tingmo’s movements. Seeing him, the atmosphere felt awkward.

Han Qi nodded as a greeting but didn’t want conflict. He was about to leave when Meng Tingmo called him.

Meng Tingmo had endured a lot, ever since Yun ruo and Han Qi started traveling together. Midway through so many events, his patience had reached its limit.

It had always been him entangled with Yun ruo, never Han Qi.

“Talk?” Meng Tingmo said, looking at Han Qi across a meter of space.

“About what?” Han Qi replied. Inside, the hall was noisy; the balcony felt like a separate world.

Meng Tingmo tilted his head, took a sip, then put the glass down: “About why Yun ruo is pursuing you.”

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