Chapter 113: Bonus – First Encounter in the Rain
For a long time, Tao Zi had no idea about Zuo Yuan’s true identity. She had chosen to be with him mainly because he was handsome.
There were many good-looking and kind people in this world, but as a visual person, Tao Zi was very satisfied with Zuo Yuan.
They first met in autumn, on a rainy day.
Tao Zi was sitting in a milk tea shop, sipping her drink and playing on her phone. It was pouring outside.
Large raindrops pounded the ground, creating a misty curtain. There were few pedestrians, and even cars were scarce.
The milk tea shop was almost empty. The warm air from the air conditioner made her feel drowsy.
Her eyelids felt heavy. She yawned and, upon opening her eyes, saw a drenched figure standing outside the glass wall.
The man had a good physique and was wearing a well-tailored suit. His expression was stormy. Anyone caught in such heavy rain would be in a bad mood.
Tao Zi rested her chin on her hand, watching him. The man turned slightly, revealing most of his face.
The moment she saw his handsome features, her heart skipped a beat. Honestly, this man was more handsome than most male celebrities!
She was wide awake now. She tapped on the glass wall, catching the man’s attention.
Tao Zi smiled and gestured to him, mouthing the words, “Milk tea?”
Whether he accepted or not, she had already made the first move.
The man looked at her for a moment, not responding. Just as Tao Zi thought she had failed, he finally moved.
Tao Zi watched him with excitement. The man entered the shop and finally sat down at her table.
She didn’t expect anything to develop from this encounter. Just being able to sit at the same table and chat with such a handsome man was a win for her.
However, the handsome man seemed to be in a bad mood and didn’t speak. Tao Zi didn’t mind. She said, “Maybe something sweet will cheer you up. Can I get you a latte?”
The man thanked her, then rested his head on his hand, gazing out the window.
The rain was still pouring, shrouding the world in a misty haze.
The man’s hair was wet, water droplets dripping from it. His suit was wrinkled and soaked. But even in this state, Tao Zi could still sense an air of nobility about him.
She sipped her warm milk tea, her eyes curving into crescents as she admired his profile. She was feeling incredibly lucky to have encountered such a handsome man in distress.
Soon, a steaming hot latte was served. Tao Zi pushed the cup towards Zuo Yuan.
“Have something warm. Life is full of unexpected challenges, but you just have to persevere. Nothing is insurmountable.” She smiled at him.
She was just trying to make conversation. He wasn’t talkative, so she had to take the initiative to liven up the atmosphere. As for what she said, she just randomly threw out some motivational quotes. She could talk for hours about such things.
The man reached for the cup, the warmth radiating through the ceramic.
“Mm.”
His single syllable confirmed Tao Zi’s suspicion that he was facing some kind of problem in his life.
It seemed like not all good-looking people had easy lives. A handsome man from a humble background might be ostracized by his colleagues, especially if he was also quiet and reserved.
Tao Zi’s imagination ran wild, creating a backstory for him.
He was so handsome, he must have many female admirers. But he wasn’t the smooth-talking type, which would make his male colleagues jealous.
Perhaps there was also a female boss trying to take advantage of him. Of course, same-sex marriage was legal now, and being gay wasn’t considered shameful. More people were expressing their true selves, so it could also be a male boss…
The man couldn’t refuse his boss’s advances and was being harassed and bullied, which was why he ended up drenched and miserable.
The more Tao Zi thought about it, the more she sympathized with the man. Her gaze softened with pity.
The man noticed her look and frowned slightly. He finally spoke, uttering the longest sentence since they had met.
“Hello, my name is Zuo Yuan. Thank you for the latte.”
His voice was incredibly pleasant, and Tao Zi’s eyes lit up. Even his voice was perfect, she thought. Another blow to her heart.
Not only was she a visual person, she was also an audiophile. To be more precise, she loved anything beautiful.
After a moment of admiration, she smiled. “You’re welcome, it’s just a latte. I’m Tao Zi, Tao from pottery, Zi from purple. Not the peach you eat.”
“Mm.” Zuo Yuan hummed in response and fell silent again.
“It’s raining so heavily outside, you can’t leave for a while. Keep me company and chat with me. It’s okay if you don’t like to talk, I can do all the talking. Ah, I just realized I’m talking a lot. Are you annoyed?” Tao Zi suddenly felt a bit embarrassed. She had gotten carried away and talked too much.
Zuo Yuan finally took a sip of his latte, his lips curving into a faint smile. “It’s okay, you can talk.”
Tao Zi relaxed and let her talkative nature take over. She talked about everything and anything, jumping from one topic to another. But her voice was pleasant, and her expressions were lively, making her chatter enjoyable and even calming.
Zuo Yuan had been feeling irritated. The youngest daughter of the Yao family had been clinging to him, making him restless. He had finally managed to get away from her, only to be caught in the heavy rain, drenched and miserable. He couldn’t go back to the company either, he would definitely be caught.
He hadn’t done anything wrong, but he was hiding like a guilty man, as if he had betrayed someone.
But now, after calming down, he realized there was no need to be so upset over such a trivial matter. It was a waste of time and energy. And his rejection had been too “gentle,” he hadn’t been firm enough, leaving the Yao family’s daughter with false hope.
After spending the entire afternoon in the milk tea shop, the heavy rain finally stopped as dusk approached.
Zuo Yuan glanced at his watch and smiled at Tao Zi. “Thank you for talking to me. I feel much better now.”
In reality, Tao Zi’s words hadn’t helped him at all. He was just being polite.
Tao Zi, however, was delighted. She genuinely believed that her motivational quotes had worked. It would be a pity to let such a handsome man leave without getting his contact information. She asked for his number, hoping for the best.
“Let’s exchange numbers. If you ever need someone to talk to, you can call me. Bottling things up isn’t good for you.”
Zuo Yuan instinctively wanted to refuse. He didn’t like interacting with strangers. But before he could say no, he remembered the troublesome youngest daughter of the Yao family.
“Okay,” he agreed.
“Great!” Tao Zi happily exchanged numbers with him.
This encounter was just a trivial matter to Zuo Yuan, he soon forgot about it. If it weren’t for Tao Zi’s text message, he wouldn’t even remember what had happened that day.
After some thought, he accepted her invitation.
They sat in a newly opened restaurant. Tao Zi felt like she was dreaming.
She hadn’t expected Zuo Yuan to agree. In her mind, he was the type who stayed at home after work, with no social life.
But it was good that he had agreed. She could admire his handsome face for a while longer.
Usually, men as handsome as Zuo Yuan were either celebrities or arrogant and unattainable.
After that, Tao Zi often invited Zuo Yuan out for meals. The youngest daughter of the Yao family, after seeing photos of them together, had confronted Zuo Yuan several times, but it was futile.
She had asked if Tao Zi was his girlfriend. Zuo Yuan didn’t answer verbally, but his expression confirmed her suspicions.
Being outdone by an ordinary girl like Tao Zi, with no special qualities, infuriated the Yao family’s daughter. But she had her pride. Since Zuo Yuan already had a girlfriend, it would be embarrassing for her to continue pursuing him, so she gave up.
But Tao Zi wasn’t as bad as the Yao family’s daughter made her out to be. Her looks were definitely above average, she was considered a beauty, and her smile was infectious.
Now that the troublesome situation was resolved, there was no need for Zuo Yuan to continue accepting Tao Zi’s invitations.
However, he couldn’t just use her without offering anything in return. Zuo Yuan didn’t like owing people favors, so he anonymously sent her a gift.
It was an autographed photo of her idol and a VIP ticket to his concert, something Tao Zi had been longing for. Then he declined her latest invitation, adding that they shouldn’t meet again.
Zuo Yuan was always rational and maintained clear boundaries with those who weren’t close friends or family.
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Tao Zi was overjoyed when she received the gift. An autographed photo of her idol! And a VIP ticket, which was being sold at exorbitant prices! It was expensive, but she could afford it if she gritted her teeth. The problem was, it was sold out!
The VIP tickets had been snatched up on the first day of sales. Tao Zi hadn’t even had a chance to try.
After her initial excitement, she wondered who was so kind to give her exactly what she wanted. This wasn’t something that could be achieved with just a bit of money.
She examined the package multiple times but couldn’t find any clues. It seemed strange. She wanted to ask the delivery person, but they had already left, and she didn’t remember what they looked like.
As she was scrutinizing the ticket, she received Zuo Yuan’s reply.
The smile on her face slowly faded. She lowered her head and mumbled, “What? He suddenly doesn’t want to see me anymore. He must have a girlfriend or boyfriend now. Sigh, it’s a pity I can’t see that handsome face every day anymore.”
However, her disappointment didn’t last long. She was about to meet her idol up close! She might even be able to interact with him. It was something most fans could only dream of.
As for Zuo Yuan…
It seemed like they wouldn’t be seeing each other again. Tao Zi thought, she had never blocked anyone before, maybe she should try it now.
She was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to resist contacting Zuo Yuan again. Although she had initially invited him out for meals just to admire his handsome face, after so many meals together, she had developed feelings for him. She was reluctant to let go.
But if his girlfriend found out that she was still in contact with him, she would be labeled as a homewrecker, and that would be embarrassing.
It was better to cut things off cleanly.
Tao Zi couldn’t imagine any other reason for a man to cut off contact with a woman besides being in a relationship. So she decisively blocked him.
The concert was in a week, and Tao Zi was excitedly preparing her light board and discussing fan support plans with other fans in their group chat.
Being a fangirl was pure bliss, so much so that Tao Zi forgot about Zuo Yuan’s existence.
She was an optimist. Nothing could dampen her spirits for long. She always found ways to enjoy life.
Her friends had once said that she had the potential to be a “heartbreaker,” falling in and out of love easily, her heart spacious enough for countless crushes. If her idol made a mistake that violated her principles, she would unfollow them immediately, unfazed by her previous devotion, as if she had never been a true fan.
Tao Zi didn’t take this evaluation to heart. Wasn’t it a good thing? She shouldn’t be a fan of someone unworthy of her admiration, it would only lower her IQ and get her criticized.
Besides, if one handsome man or beautiful woman was gone, there were countless others waiting for her!
“There are plenty of fish in the sea,” Tao Zi believed this wholeheartedly.
When Tao Zi stopped inviting Zuo Yuan out for meals and even ignored his message, Zuo Yuan initially thought the matter was settled. But he couldn’t help but wonder how she had reacted to his message.
Someone as optimistic as Tao Zi probably wouldn’t be sad for long. But then again, she had invited him out so often, she must have had feelings for him. Maybe she was hurt by his cold and heartless message.
Although he hadn’t actively tried to understand Tao Zi, he could tell that she was a principled person, even a bit proud. She loved being a fangirl, but she never lowered herself.
If her idol looked down on their fans or used them for publicity, she would immediately unfollow them, her love vanishing instantly.
Zuo Yuan rubbed his temples, feeling like he was going crazy. Why was he worrying about someone irrelevant?
But every evening, he would instinctively check his phone, hoping for a message from Tao Zi.
However, there was nothing. His life had returned to normal.
Zuo Yuan told himself that time heals all wounds. Tao Zi wasn’t that special, he would forget about her eventually, and his life would be back on track.
One rainy day, he found himself near the milk tea shop where they had met. He couldn’t explain why he was there.
But he didn’t expect to see Tao Zi. Coincidences like that were rare. Besides, he and Tao Zi were from different worlds. She had told him that although she loved being a fangirl, she wanted to marry an ordinary person.
He didn’t need to be rich or charming. Someone too outstanding would make her feel insecure. She wanted a stable and peaceful life. Of course, it would be a bonus if her future husband was handsome.
She had said those words while looking at him, her eyes sparkling.
In her eyes, he was the perfect candidate. But at that time, Zuo Yuan didn’t want anything to develop between them, so he had just smiled and pretended not to understand her hints.
The real him was far from the image Tao Zi admired. He was wealthy, smooth-talking, even hypocritical when dealing with those who weren’t close friends or family. He had used Tao Zi and then ruthlessly discarded her.
Being with him would also mean a chaotic life, as there were too many people vying for the position of his wife.
They weren’t compatible in any way.
Lost in his thoughts, Zuo Yuan’s gaze suddenly fixed on a certain spot, his eyes darkening.
Tao Zi was sitting at the same table where they had first met, but the person sitting across from her wasn’t him. It was a stranger.
The man looked ordinary, his lips moving as he talked to Tao Zi. Tao Zi was smiling, and they seemed to be having a pleasant conversation.
However, if Zuo Yuan had looked closely, he would have noticed that Tao Zi’s smile was strained, more like a polite courtesy smile, and her eyes held a hint of impatience.
“You’re quite pretty, but a woman’s looks can’t put food on the table. What matters most is being a good homemaker. My parents and I aren’t picky eaters, as long as you can cook at the level of an average restaurant, it’s fine.” The man took a sip of his coffee, his cup empty. He immediately beckoned the waiter for a refill.
Tao Zi was struggling to maintain her smile. She was only twenty-three, just a year out of college, and she was already being forced to go on blind dates.
In their hometown, they counted age in lunar years, which meant she was already “twenty-five” this year. Twenty-five was considered an “old maid,” and if she didn’t get married soon, she would be “devalued.” Tao Zi rolled her eyes inwardly. What era were they living in? The notion that unmarried women were undesirable was outdated.
When and if she wanted to get married was her own decision. And this man they had set her up with was simply unbearable.
He was talking as if they were already married. She did want to marry an ordinary person. But marriage was about building a life together, not becoming someone’s maid.
Cooking, cleaning, taking care of his parents, having children, and not getting paid, maybe even being forced to quit her job.
As expected, the man’s next words were: “If we get married, it’s best if you quit your job. Too many girls these days are trying to be strong and independent, thinking they can compete with men. They’re too career-driven, neglecting their families. Who will take care of the children? I think women should stay at home and take care of the children after marriage. A child needs their mother. I’m busy with work and often have social engagements, but you need to understand, men have unavoidable dinners and drinking parties.”
Tao Zi was tuning him out. She knew this was how it would be. She wanted to check her phone, look at pictures of her idol to cleanse her eyes, and listen to his latest album to cleanse her ears.
The man noticed her inattentiveness and frowned. He was about to say something when he suddenly stopped.
Tao Zi rolled her eyes, not caring about what the man was thinking. After this blind date, they probably wouldn’t see each other again.
But the silence dragged on for too long, and Tao Zi felt something was wrong. She looked up and saw the man’s unpleasant expression.
“Tao Zi, is this your colleague? I’ve never heard you mention him before.” A hand landed on her shoulder. Tao Zi instinctively turned and saw Zuo Yuan’s profile.
“He’s a distant relative from my aunt’s side, we’re not close. What are you doing here? Didn’t we agree to have dinner tonight?” Tao Zi didn’t want to stay with this man any longer. Zuo Yuan was here, and they had been friends for a while, he wouldn’t mind being her temporary shield, right?
As for whether Zuo Yuan would cooperate, Tao Zi thought he probably would. He wasn’t very talkative, but he was observant and could read the atmosphere.
Zuo Yuan casually put his arm around Tao Zi’s shoulder and smiled politely at the man. “Hello.”
Although he didn’t explicitly state their relationship, his words and intimate gesture spoke volumes.
The man slammed his hand on the table, his face red with anger. “Tao Zi, you have a boyfriend, and you’re still going on blind dates?! What do you take me for?!”
Tao Zi was stunned. She didn’t understand why he was so angry. They had just met for the first time today, and she had been so cold and distant, clearly showing her disinterest.
“Blind date?” Zuo Yuan narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on the man with hostility.
“I should be the one asking, what do you mean by going on a blind date with my girlfriend?”
The man could tell from Zuo Yuan’s expensive suit and watch, as well as his appearance and demeanor, that he wasn’t from an ordinary family.
But his pride wouldn’t allow him to admit it. He even felt a twinge of sour grapes.
“Tao Zi, do you really think a man like him truly likes you and wants to marry you? He’s just playing with you. When you’re truly heartbroken, you’ll realize how good a man like me is.” The man’s expression was both smug and malicious, as if he could already see Tao Zi’s future heartbreak.
Tao Zi, who wasn’t actually dating Zuo Yuan, didn’t care about his words.
“Mr. Chen, we just met today, don’t you think you’re overstepping your boundaries?” Her impatience was evident.
The man scoffed, pitying Tao Zi’s naivety. “Don’t regret it later. Don’t come crying to me when you realize your mistake.”
“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” Tao Zi said coldly.
After the man left, Zuo Yuan sat down beside Tao Zi in silence.
Tao Zi took a sip of her milk tea, cursing the man in her mind.
After venting her anger, she turned to Zuo Yuan. “Were you taking a walk nearby? No, that’s not right, why would you be taking a walk in the rain? But thank you anyway. If you hadn’t shown up, I would have had to listen to that man’s nonsense for longer.”
Zuo Yuan stroked his knuckles, his gaze lowered. He didn’t answer.
Tao Zi wasn’t expecting an answer. She continued, “Although I’m grateful, you must have a girlfriend now, right? It’s not good for us to be seen alone together. I’ll be going now. Waiter—”
Zuo Yuan stopped her hand as she was about to call the waiter. Tao Zi quickly withdrew her hand and moved away from him.
“We should maintain some distance, we don’t want to cause any misunderstandings.”
Her evasive reaction irritated Zuo Yuan. “I don’t have a girlfriend,” he said.
“Ah?” Tao Zi was stunned. Then she thought, why would he send that message if he didn’t have a girlfriend? Or maybe he had a boyfriend?
“Oh, so you have a boyfriend. Even if you’re gay, it’s still not appropriate for us to be too close.” She didn’t want to be mistaken for a third party.
Zuo Yuan’s lips thinned into a line. “I don’t have a boyfriend either. I think we should give it a try. As boyfriend and girlfriend.”
“Ah?” Tao Zi was even more confused now. She couldn’t understand his logic.
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