Chapter 11

Lu Xiao’s pursuit was anything but subtle. It was grand and public.

It felt like some kind of seal had been broken.

One day, we were watching the city lights from a yacht on the river or admiring fireworks from a villa terrace. The next, we were eating street-side malatang¹ or grabbing four-yuan lemonades from a roadside stall.

He was incredibly adaptable.

I tried to refuse him, both directly and indirectly, but it was no use. He just accused me of playing games and trying to reel him in.

If my lips were dry and I licked them, he’d say I was trying to seduce him into a kiss.

When I tried to act like a gold digger to scare him off, he thought I was being cute.

When I tried to avoid him, he called it playing hard to get.

He even said I was like a kitten.

Always meowing at him affectionately before scampering away to hide.

…

The accusations piled up. It got to the point where if I so much as breathed in his direction, he’d praise my “masterful techniques.”

Naturally, when he transformed into this lovesick puppy and started chasing me, everyone was stunned. They were all dying to know how I had managed to reel in the crown prince.

I was, at best, cute in a girl-next-door way. I came from a normal family, had an average job, and a quiet, introverted personality. On paper, we were a complete mismatch.

Many people assumed I had to be some kind of top-tier succubus who knew how to manipulate men’s hearts.

Only I knew how unfair that was.

I really wasn’t trying to reel him in!

I swear on my life!

Footnote:

1. 1. 1. 1. Malatang(麻辣烫):A popular and customizable Chinese street food where you pick your own ingredients (meats, vegetables, noodles) which are then boiled in a spicy, flavorful broth. It’s a very casual and common meal.