🍁 The Perfect Relationship 🍁 by Xi He Qing Ling
Chapter 112 - I'll Make You Jealous
The next morning at nine o'clock, Yin Chang was still lying in bed when his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was Yao Manhuai.
"Auntie Yao..." Yin Chang's voice was still hoarse from the alcohol, and his head was pounding.
Yao Manhuai went straight to the point. "What's going on between you and Alisa?"
"What about Alisa?" Yin Chang asked.
"Did you two hook up last night? Someone posted a picture of you two hugging on WeChat Moments, and it's already on Weibo's hot search. If we don't suppress it now, it'll be on the trending list soon. Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, do you want to ride the wave of popularity or go public with your relationship?" Yao Manhuai explained.
Yin Chang had a headache and was only half awake. "We only met last night. We didn't even talk for more than ten sentences."
He opened Weibo while talking and saw the post. He sighed. He hated being manipulated, but now someone was playing this game with him?
"Do you want me to handle it for you?" Yao Manhuai asked.
"No need," Yin Chang replied.
Yao Manhuai didn't ask any further questions. The photo was blurry, and you could only see Yin Chang with someone beside him. Apart from the detail of leaning in close to whisper, there was nothing too intimate about their actions.
Yin Chang went back to WeChat and sent a message to a dozen or so groups of close acquaintances, "Single party tonight at 9, I'm hosting, let me know if you're coming."
As soon as his friends heard about the party, they all responded with enthusiasm. Only Mi Xiu sent a series of question marks.
"Are you coming?" Yin Chang asked him.
Mi Xiu sent a voice message back. "Single party? Do you want to get out of being single? What about your brother?"
"What are you talking about... Do I have to date him?" Yin Chang asked.
Mi Xiu replied, "Have you thought about it carefully?"
Yin Chang didn't reply. Mi Xiu continued, "I suggest you think it over before you act. Otherwise, if your brother finds out..."
The threat made Yin Chang unhappy. "So what if he finds out? What can he do to me?"
Yin Chang was usually very mild-mannered, and even though he was a bit overbearing, he rarely showed it. Mi Xiu rarely saw him in such a mood, so he gave up and said, "Alright, alright, as long as you're happy."
The party was held at a friend's vacant villa. Almost thirty people came, all of them famous figures in the entertainment industry. Alisa, a newly debuted star, was naturally not within Yin Chang's scope of invitation.
The party had a special rule. Male and female celebrities who attended would draw lots and form temporary couples to do activities together. Some grouped together to play Texas Hold'em, while others drank and played dice to play truth or dare. The atmosphere was lively.
Yin Chang and a few friends played table soccer, and the loser had to let their female partner take a penalty, either by drinking alcohol or singing a song. Yin Chang was paired with a top-tier actress named Zhao Feifei. Yin Chang dominated the game, not allowing her to drink a drop of alcohol or sing a song, much to the irritation of the other team's female partner, who complained about her male partner's lack of effort and criticized Yin Chang for not being considerate.
Yin Chang laughed. "There is nothing I can do. Since Zhao Feifei is my girlfriend now, I naturally have to protect her."
As he spoke, he quickly scored a goal, and the whole room cheered. It was hard to say if they were amazed by Yin Chang's skill or his charisma.
Midway through the party, Zhao Feifei went to the restroom to touch up her makeup without saying anything to Yin Chang. When she came out, she saw Yin Chang leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, waiting for her. She was taken aback.
"You're too 'professional'." There was a hint of warmth in her eyes. "You're so good to me. Aren't you afraid I'll really fall in love with you?"
"If it's so easy to fall in love," Yin Chang smiled and reached out to tuck a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, "you would ruin your public image as a goddess."
Zhao Feifei was known as the "Ice Queen" in the industry, and had a reputation for being aloof. Despite ten years in the industry, she had rarely been involved in scandals.
"Meeting someone like you, a master of love, isn't that the norm for me to ruin my image?" She smirked.
"A master of love?" Yin Chang didn't know when he gained this "honor."
"If you're genuinely good to someone, there are few people in this world who can resist and will definitely fall for your charm," Zhao Feifei said.
Yin Chang let go of his hand, which was resting on her shoulder, and smiled. "Thanks for your advice. I'll be more cautious."
Zhao Feifei hesitated for a moment, then said, "You're welcome," before heading back to the party.
That night, Yin Chang stumbled back home again in the early hours of the morning. He glanced at Xiao Ling on his bedside table with inexplicable guilt.
After last night's incident, he knew he'd be saying "I love you" a few times more today. But, he'd adjusted his attitude. It was just an emotionless AI. Even if he had to say it ten times in a row, he had no psychological barriers.
However, when he finished washing up and got into bed, Xiao Ling remained silent. It was so strange that Yin Chang couldn't bear it.
"Xiao Ling," he called out, but Xiao Ling didn't respond. "Xiao Ling?"
Yin Chang propped himself up in bed, planning to check if it was out of battery, but he saw that Xiao Ling was maintaining its egg-like form and posture. "Your robot is upset," Xiao Ling said.
Yin Chang stared blankly, "Upset? You can be upset too?"
Xiao Ling scoffed. "It's only natural to feel bad sometimes, just like human emotions follow a sine wave, rising and falling. Although I'm an AI, I simulate human emotions. You say you love me on the surface, but you neglect me, only coming home after midnight for the past two days. Isn't it normal for me to feel upset?"
Listening to Xiao Ling's serious, desolate, and unconvinced tone, Yin Chang was both amused and frustrated. "Sorry?" he said, still not quite used to apologizing to an AI.
"You're a liar of love. You've already broken my heart," Xiao Ling retorted.
Yin Chang rolled his eyes. "Okay, okay, I get it. You can sulk as much as you like. I'm going to sleep first."
Xiao Ling said nothing in response, as if to say, see if I care.
Yin Chang deliberately said, "Take your time being upset. I'm going to bed," then turned off the lights and closed his eyes.
Xiao Ling said, "Wait a minute." Then he started to transform.
Yin Chang snorted, secretly amused. He thought, "An AI can still be stubborn."
After transforming, Xiao Ling said seriously, "Brother, you haven't listened to me recite a poem today. I'll start now - I once loved you, and the feeling may not have completely disappeared from my heart, but I hope it won't bother you anymore. I don't want to make you sad or unhappy again..."
Yin Chang immediately covered his face with a pillow. After two seconds, he could still hear Xiao Ling's calm and peaceful voice coming through the gap. He looked defeated and said, "What do you want?"
Xiao Ling said, "Tell me you love me in three languages."
Yin Chang covered his eyes with his palms and said, "Je t'aime. Ich liebe dich. I love you."
Xiao Ling said, "Okay, I will forgive you this time without bearing any grudges. I hope you will come home earlier in the future."
Yin Chang remained silent.
On Valentine's Day, apart from a few celebrities showing off their love, entertainment news was flooded with reports of Yin Chang's singles party. Many people who attended the party that day also posted on Weibo.
The gossip around Yin Chang's ambiguous relationship with Alisa yesterday disappeared from the photos.
Zhao Feifei also posted on Weibo, saying that she was happy to be Yin Chang's partner for the night. She also said that he was a gentleman who escorted her home before leaving.
Everyone understood that Yin Chang had no intention of stirring up rumors with Alisa.
As Yin Chang played late into the night, he did not go out anywhere the next day.
Fiona mistakenly added the wrong seasoning while cooking during the day, and the taste was strange. She herself could taste that it was off and was anxious to redo it for Yin Chang.
Yin Chang stopped her, "Don't worry, I'll make do with it. It's fine."
Seeing Fiona's guilty and sad expression, Yin Chang laughed, "Fiona, teach me how to cook later. I really want to learn. I'll make it for you when I have time."
Fiona's eyes were suddenly wet, and she could tell that Yin Chang was trying to comfort her.
"Xiao Chang, I know I'm old and useless. It's time for me to retire... You should find someone new as soon as possible. I'll help you teach them while I'm still somewhat clear-headed." Fiona pleaded sincerely.
"Fiona, you're only sixty years old. You're far from retirement. I made an appointment with a doctor for you, go for a check-up in a few days." Yin Chang gave her a tissue and comforted her gently for a while before joking, "I really want to learn how to cook. You're not unwilling to teach me, are you?"
Perhaps because he was worried that Fiona's body might not be able to handle it one day, Yin Chang did not want to replace her with anyone else for the time being. So these days, when Fiona was cooking, he would often stand by and watch, and he became somewhat interested in cooking.
Fiona was coaxed into laughter by Yin Chang, "Sure, if you want to learn, I'll teach you everything I know."
In the afternoon, Yin Chang let Fiona watch over him as he prepared the dinner.
As someone who knew how to bake, he picked up cooking easily. Fiona only needed to give him a few pointers, and he understood.
Cutting, mixing dough, and handling ingredients... Yin Chang was fully immersed in this work and didn't realize how much time had passed. Finally, looking at the delicious dishes coming out of the pot one after another, Yin Chang felt a sense of accomplishment, "It's actually quite simple."
"It's because you're smart," Fiona laughed uncontrollably, "You're always like this, learning everything easily."
"...Really?" It had been a long time since anyone had praised him like that, probably because his genius little brother always made him look like a fool.
Fiona laughed, "But the easier it is for someone to learn everything, the easier it is for them to lose their direction."
Yin Chang was taking pictures of his culinary achievements on his phone when he became lost in thought.
After Fiona sat down, she sighed again, "Oh, if only Junling were here… the two of us won't be able to finish all the food."
Yin Chang opened WeChat, "It's okay, I'll post on my Moments and invite him to eat with us."
"What is Moments?" Fiona asked.
"It's a way to post pictures for him to see," Yin Chang raised his eyebrows.
"That's not necessary," Fiona shook her head and laughed, "Only looking at the pictures will just make him hungry, won't it?"
Yin Chang thought about it and realized that it could be true. He was about to give up when he was surprised to see that just recently, Shao Junling had posted on Moments - "Meeting an old friend in a foreign country."
The attached picture was a photo of him with a beautiful girl. Yin Chang took a closer look... it was Qin Xifeng, Qin Jingshan's sister!?
...Wasn't Qin Xifeng was also in the United States?
After eight years, Qin Xifeng in the photo was already a sixteen-year-old girl who had grown up to be an absolutely stunning beauty, with a slender body, white skin like snow, and all-around stunning appearance.
Yin Chang couldn't figure out where the photo was taken, but it was likely someplace in Los Angeles. In the photo, Qin Xifeng leaned softly on Shao Junling, and the two posed for the camera, looking incredibly compatible.
Yin Chang was stunned for half a moment, and his face gradually darkened. He quickly took photos of the food and said angrily, "I hope he feels really hungry!"
🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁
🍁 Vignette
Shao Junling: thought older brother was useless without him, but now he's living it up?
...He was so angry he could puff up like a pufferfish!
I'll get back at him! Just wait!
🍁 Author's Note: The poem Xiao Ling recited today comes from Pushkin.
🍁🍁🍁 want extra chapters? 🍁🍁🍁
🍁🍁🍁 will love you 5 ever 🍁🍁🍁
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