When the Male Lead Finds Out I’m the Transmigrator Trying to Win Him Over - Chapter 57

Yun ruo only realized Han Qi was present when the system notified her of a change in favorability—but she didn’t expect Meng Tingmo to be there as well.

She wasn’t deliberately trying to undermine him by saying Han Qi was better than Meng Tingmo. It was purely coincidental that the words came out that way. Once spoken, she wouldn’t take them back.

Was she supposed to feel sorry to Meng Tingmo? “Sorry for hurting your pride”?

“How are you here?” During dinner, everyone sat on either side of the long table joking and teasing each other. Yun ruo and Han Qi were not sitting at the front. She leaned close and whispered to him.

Han Qi also lowered his voice: “I just finished dealing with something and came downstairs to wait for you. I didn’t expect them to say those things.”

Everyone else scattered around the room playing games. Only Zeng Xuan and four others with similar personalities remained in the lounge. They shared many common topics, but Han Qi was certainly at the top. As they chatted, they grew bolder. Mentioning their past failures stirred up tempers, and their words became increasingly reckless.

Originally, they only wanted to vent, not realizing Yun ruo had caught wind of it.

“Good thing I came down,” Han Qi said with a low chuckle, picking up some food for Yun ruo and handing her a tissue. “Otherwise, how would I hear you defending me?”

Yun ruo shook her head. “I’m not defending you.”

“I only said a few words. They said you were ruthless and perverse, and I didn’t refute them.”

In TV dramas, she would have picked apart their words, refuted each claim, and delivered a passionate speech: something like, “Even if Han Qi isn’t perfect, he’s better than all of you who gossip behind people’s backs. Would you dare say this to him face-to-face?” Just imagining it made her smile, and she suppressed a laugh.

“I don’t need that,” Han Qi said, holding her hand. He was in his thirties, psychologically strong and mature, not self-conscious over others’ words. What mattered to him wasn’t what Zeng Xuan said.

What truly mattered was Yun ruo’s choice.

“I only care about your thoughts and attitude toward me,” Han Qi said earnestly. “When you tell me I’m the best in your heart, I believe you.”

“Best” included Meng Tingmo.

Call it jealousy; Han Qi couldn’t help but be affected by Yunruo’s past with Meng Tingmo. He had been jealous before, jealous that Meng Tingmo had once had her.

But today, Yun ruo had chosen him.

Yun ruo squeezed Han Qi’s fingers and didn’t pull away. “You can trust me.”

“That’s true,” he said.

It didn’t matter that she might have ulterior motives or that her thoughts were complex. The only person who unconditionally cared for her and treated her well was Han Qi.

“But that doesn’t mean others are bad,” Yun ruo added. Though she had been hurt by He Xiqi and Yun Jia’s previous attitudes, both had also given her warmth. The past was natural human reaction; it wasn’t surprising. But a Han Qi appearing midway through her life? She didn’t care about any intentions behind approaching him.

“I know,” Han Qi said, a permanent smile on his face. He used to be anxious and insecure, but now he was at ease. Yun ruo was on his side, and their relationship had been publicly confirmed.

“You said you were pursuing me.”

“Isn’t that true?” Yun ruo replied with a smile.

“Hey, what are you two doing?” Someone knocked on the table. “Everyone else is talking, and you two are whispering. Tell me what you’re saying.”

Yun ruo glanced at that person and then back at Han Qi, implying he should answer.

“What can we say? Just… couple stuff,” Han Qi began, but before he could finish, someone at the table, noticing Meng Tingmo, blurted it out, almost choking on their drink. He sent a pleading look to Wen Shao, who had been beside him.

But it was too late. Someone else, slightly drunk, continued: “Ha! You’re not young anymore, yet still so sweet. Whispering, tsk tsk.”

The table went silent for a second.

Zeng Xuan, Jiang Yueying, and the others at the end of the table lowered their heads. Earlier, when they badmouthed Han Qi in the lounge, he hadn’t reacted. Now, they were surely planning to make a move later to reclaim face.

Today, Han Qi held back because Yun ruo was present. He could already predict the aftermath: they would try to gather allies to target him, but alone, they wouldn’t be enough.

No one else responded. How frustrating—cowards all!

Hoping to stir conflict, Zeng Xuan exchanged a glance with a few others, wishing Meng Tingmo would get angry and confront Han Qi. If he did, it wouldn’t bring Han Qi down entirely, but it would be a lesson.

Yet Meng Tingmo didn’t respond, quietly drinking instead.

Zeng Xuan couldn’t help muttering: “Shameless, really a pity for old Meng.”

…Alright, now just wait a few seconds.

Everyone’s eyes darted around—at Yun ruo and Han Qi in the front, at Meng Tingmo in the middle, and at Zeng Xuan at the end. Couldn’t someone just possess two pairs of eyes?

Bang! A light thud as a glass hit the table.

Han Qi calmly picked up a napkin and wiped his hands, casually glancing toward the end of the table: “Who’s shameless? What’s not worthy? Tell me.”

Jiang Yueying and the others bowed their heads further, while Zeng Xuan flushed red.

“I… I was just… expressing my feelings.” Now it was too late to back down, so he decided to be ruthless. “I didn’t say anything wrong. You and Yun ruo are shameless. I’m just pitying old Meng. I shouldn’t have involved you in this circle; people treat you as a brother, yet you’re messing with someone else’s wife.”

Finally, Han Qi gave Zeng Xuan his full attention. He had intended to let it slide today, but without Zeng Xuan, he wouldn’t have heard Yunruo’s “confession” of only choosing him.

Han Qi prepared to stand.

Yun ruo noticed and gently pressed his hand, a simple gesture that calmed him.

“What is it?” he asked with his eyes.

Yun ruo smiled and faced everyone: “I already said it before dinner. I didn’t want to use this to bother everyone, but some people still misunderstand Han Qi, so I’ll say it again.”

“Han Qi and I are together.”

This was the first time Yun ruo publicly acknowledged her relationship with Han Qi. Before, everyone knew they were close, but without confirmation, it was only speculation.

As soon as Yun ruo spoke, Zeng Xuan immediately looked to Meng Tingmo, expecting him to intervene.

But Meng Tingmo remained silent.

Han Qi’s eyes blazed at Yun ruo. Yun ruo continued: “It’s a normal romantic relationship. I pursued Han Qi only after divorcing Meng Tingmo. I’ve never done anything that would betray Meng Tingmo. Even if I had, it’s not Han Qi’s fault.”

“If you really want to pity Meng Tingmo, you should come to me. Blaming Han Qi doesn’t make sense.”

“Or were you just using my past relationship as an excuse to vent your career frustrations?”

Finally, she looked at Zeng Xuan, and others followed her gaze. It was clear to everyone present that Zeng Xuan wasn’t truly pitying Meng Tingmo—he was simply trying to harm others.

Moreover…

“Yun ruo pursued Han Qi? Oh my god, I always thought it was Han Qi…”

“I thought so too. I even guessed Han Qi forced his way. Yun ruo is such a gentle person.”

“Everyone forgot what happened with Yun ruo and Meng Tingmo. Meng Tingmo cheated first, and Yun ruo was pregnant. If anyone should feel sorry, it’s Meng Tingmo.”

“…I even asked Yun ruo with photos back then who was at fault. I know everything.”

All eyes turned to Zeng Xuan. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead. He didn’t expect Yun ruo to defend Han Qi in front of Meng Tingmo.

“Even if it were you… Han Qi still shouldn’t have agreed!” he argued.

Yun ruo casually said: “Ah, he didn’t agree at first. I relentlessly pursued him.”

Zeng Xuan’s eyes went wide.

Meng Tingmo clenched his glass, a hint of hurt in his eyes. Everyone else gasped.

Unexpectedly, it was Yun ruo…

“Then… then…” Zeng Xuan still tried to find an excuse, but Meng Tingmo remained silent. He tried to argue: “Old Meng, say something. Were they secretly together? How could they suddenly date? There must be something fishy.”

He wanted to smear Yun ruo and Han Qi.

Han Qi’s eyes sharpened. He reached for his glass to sober Zeng Xuan, but Meng Tingmo stood up at that moment.

Zeng Xuan thought Meng Tingmo had finally had enough and was pleased—only to hear him say:

“Yun ruo and I divorced five years ago. I wronged her.”

Everyone was shocked. Five years ago? That would have been during Yun ruo’s pregnancy…

Yunruo also looked slightly surprised at Meng Tingmo. They had officially divorced only last year. Was he helping her?

Meng Tingmo’s expression was calm: “We only got together after five years. There’s nothing to apologize for. You’re overthinking.”

“I know you’ve seen them dating. Look at how I and Han Qi interacted over these five years. I don’t care. Do you think a few words can provoke our relationship?”

He frowned with complete disdain: “Fool.”

Zeng Xuan turned pale. He had offended both Han Qi and Meng Tingmo, yet they hadn’t clashed.

He looked around for help but found everyone else grinning in satisfaction. No one would—or could—help him.

“Yueying?” He asked Jiang Yueying. She simply grabbed her bag and left: “I have something to do. See you next time.”

“Hengfeng?”

“I’m leaving too. Some urgent matter at home.”

“Zhonghua?”

“Goodbye.”

…In the end, only Zeng Xuan remained at the far end of the table.

Wen Shao, having finished his meal and remembered he was the host, hurriedly told everyone to continue eating. Half the meal was still left.

As for Zeng Xuan, everyone knew what awaited him—no one cared.

Meng Tingmo sat back down. Yun ruo looked at him with complex feelings, and Han Qi squeezed her fingers.

“You’re looking at him,” Han Qi said, a hint of jealousy.

“Past tense,” Yun ruo replied, turning back to Han Qi with a smile. “I already made it very clear.”

“You’re my choice,” Han Qi said.

Due to his upbringing, Han Qi had very few true confidants. His business partners could work with others, and his friends weren’t exclusive to him. He wasn’t anyone’s first choice, even now, despite his position.

What he had always lacked was someone who recognized his existence and firmly chose him.

Now, Yun ruo had filled that void.

[Current Favorability Target: 95%]

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