Chapter 17

A Completely Useless Battle Plan

Zhao Xiaoru sent over the “Battle Schedule” document, and Hu Xiu didn’t reply until noon.

The meeting went until 10:30, and then she had to organize the leadership’s report. By the time she was ready for lunch, it was already past 12:30.

Since entering the hospital, not checking her phone during work hours had almost become a professional courtesy—checking her phone during working hours felt like indulging in entertainment. In the hospital, where doctors were busy with consultations, she couldn’t afford to seem idle.

She arrived at work every morning at 8:30, dressed formally, like she was framed within the boundaries of a rule.

Today, she wore a white shirt, black skirt, and a pair of leather shoes with a 3 cm heel. The fabric was stiff, and she felt very appropriately dressed. But when she opened the document Zhao Xiaoru had sent during lunch, the first line made her pause: “Don’t wear a white shirt and black skirt, especially without any design points. You’ll look like a counselor.

Qin Xiao Yi may like all kinds of types, but he definitely won’t like a boring female teacher—unless it’s in an adult film.”

There was more: “Wear clothes that show your figure. Go to Taobao and search for ‘pure desire,’ then buy the top five in terms of sales and popularity. Don’t mix and match yourself; copy the images of models.

Don’t go too far; a bodycon dress might be too much, don’t show cleavage, it’ll detract points. It’s best to show a bit of leg, knee-length would be ideal. The back view, with slender legs and shoulders, will make guys want to protect you.”

“Be strategic, express your feelings at the right moment, but stop just short of saying too much. Tease him enough to get him interested, and then let him come to you. Don’t offer yourself unconditionally, or you’ll just be the ‘great mother.’”

“Play Murder Mystery and no matter which side you’re on, don’t show too much desire to win. Focus on him, make sure to play weak when doing tasks, you can skip the ones that aren’t necessary. Don’t forget you paid five hundred for this experience.”

“Be proactive. If you encounter a lot of people, a popular guy like Qin Xiao Yi, make sure you get to him before anyone else. Show him your enthusiasm; even an iceberg fears the climate warming up.”

“If you get close to him, get close enough to feel his body heat, and then pull away within ten seconds.

At this moment, if you wear a unique perfume, he’ll remember you, because you’re ambiguous and have a subtle fragrance.”

Hu Xiu stared at the dense text in the document. She could recognize every word, but when they were put together, she failed to understand.

“Pure desire?” Hu Xiu pushed up her glasses and actually searched for it. She quickly closed the screen, feeling like she had no connection to those words.

Zhao Xiaoru, with nothing to do at home, eagerly waited for Hu Xiu’s reply to discuss their next romantic strategies.

Hu Xiu looked at the packed schedule Zhao Xiaoru had sent. In the coming week, there were three major meetings at the hospital, and they had to confirm all the venues and schedules. There were also many translation tasks—such as translating documents for a sister hospital agreement with a Singaporean hospital, with terms like “friendship between the nations” and “peaceful cooperation,” which were common in Chinese diplomatic language. Hu Xiu had handled similar work during her graduate studies and could do it effortlessly.

All in all, she was much more experienced with this than “pure desire.”

During the days of negotiating with Wang Guangming, the divorce was finalized quicker than expected. Wang Guangming quickly apologized online and disappeared from the public eye. Meanwhile, Zhao Xiaoru, who had been hounded by netizens, became the subject of sympathy overnight. Public relations campaigns made her a sensation, and the topic of “pitying Zhao Xiaoru” trended.

However, Zhao Xiaoru neither responded nor posted on Weibo, not in a hurry to take advantage of the situation. She was determined to play the role of a heartbroken person, not wanting the public to see her tears. After all, she needed this month to—

Remove the ribs from her scalp and pad her nose, get a chin liposuction, and recover at home with a swollen face.

Her new persona was coming soon. She planned to raise her nose, slim down her baby fat, and transform into a cool, independent woman.

Of course, she wouldn’t let Li Ai know about this. Zhao Xiaoru hid at home for two weeks, and Li Ai, nervous, asked Hu Xiu at REGARD: “Is Zhao Xiaoru okay?”

“She…” Hu Xiu seriously made up a reason: “She’s at home writing a love guidebook, probably enough to fill a book.”

“She may act tough around me, but she’s actually very fragile. Even though she initiated the divorce, it’s still a family separation. It’s not easy for her.”

“She’s fine, don’t worry.” Zhao Xiaoru, still happily shopping online with a swollen face, had piles of packages stacked all the way to the ceiling in her elevator hall.

On Friday night, Hu Xiu was invited by Zhao Xiaoru to her place for the weekend. She stayed at REGARD purely to soothe the worried Li Ai.

“I’ve gotten a lot of new coffee beans lately, they should be to your taste. Since she’s not here, we’ll just have to secretly try them without her.”

Hu Xiu watched Li Ai’s back as he ground the coffee beans in the coffee-scented room. He placed the ground beans in the filter, then poured in hot water up to the right level, covering the brew to prevent over-extraction and maintain consistent temperature.

Li Ai had mentioned before that the “Matsuya-style” brewing method preserved the flavor for a longer time, allowing the coffee to remain fresh for up to an hour.

The new coffee in the pot had a slightly acidic fruit aroma, along with a rich chocolate scent.

Sipping it slowly with a small cup of tiramisu until nine o’clock, Li Ai took out a tote bag. “This pot of coffee and cake, please take it to Zhao Xiaoru for me later. She likes lattes and iced cappuccinos. This coffee is still hot.”

Li Ai always had an illogical kind of attentiveness toward Zhao Xiaorou. He was extremely picky about coffee, especially detesting takeaway black coffee that didn’t preserve the flavor, as it ruined the taste. Occasionally, when customers insisted on takeaway like this, he would politely and somewhat forcefully make them drink it before leaving. The only reason he could break such boundaries was because Zhao Xiaorou, lazy as she was, would finish the coffee he made for her, even if it was in the middle of the night and she couldn’t sleep, feeling anxious.

Hu Xiu always felt that Li Ai’s attitude towards Zhao Xiaorou was different from his attitude toward her. Although he referred to both of them as “sisters,” Hu Xiu felt more like a daughter to him, while Zhao Xiaorou... it was hard to say.

When Hu Xiu saw Zhao Xiaorou drinking the coffee without caring about the heat and quickly devouring the cake, she was certain of her thoughts.

Could Zhao Xiaorou be getting a divorce for Li Ai? That didn’t seem likely, especially since Li Ai had fought a legal battle for his deceased wife, and Hu Xiu had even seen him working with a lawyer in a coffee shop to prepare documents.

That look of wanting to seek justice for an unjust calamity clearly conveyed the tangible feeling of love.

Li Ai, a man full of flesh and blood who valued his dignity, was often praised by Zhao Xiaorou, so she wouldn’t cross moral boundaries to disrupt that relationship.

But Hu Xiu understood in her heart that these three people, including herself, were not the type to fall in love with lingering feelings. Without the ability to fully commit, they wouldn’t take impulsive actions. Intense romanticism wasn’t suitable for people who needed to manage their social lives in the city.

As these thoughts crossed her mind, Zhao Xiaorou had already finished her coffee. Her face had swollen less, with only a few yellowish bruises left. She moved the pile of packages from the elevator and began to unpack them, revealing a series of dresses. “So, for your next meeting with Qin Xiaoyi, I’ve already bought the clothes for you. Haven’t you worn enough of the ones in the wardrobe? There are only a few buttons left.”

When Hu Xiu opened one of the dresses, she almost fainted. The top revealed a collarbone, and the hemline exposed her lower legs—the dress was way too short!

“Didn’t you say Qin Xiaoyi likes girls with bigger breasts? I have a secret weapon.”

Zhao Xiaorou rummaged through the pile of packages, then pulled out a medium-sized box. Hu Xiu thought she had bought some extraordinary breast enhancement product. “You’re over twenty now. You don’t need this stuff; you’ve already developed.”

When the box opened, Hu Xiu was left stunned. “Silicone... silicone breast pads?”

“Do you think the models in Victoria’s Secret wear natural breasts? Even A-cups need pads. We’re aiming for a visual effect, cleavage—do you get it? You don’t have to show it all the time, just a little peek in front of him so he remembers. That way, he’ll associate you with having a bigger chest and cleavage. Got it?”

Hu Xiu shook her head vehemently. “Zhao Xiaorou, you’re like a sister to me, but I feel like you’re setting me up. He’ll only think I’m being fake, trying to create a false illusion with props.”

“You say no, but in your mind, you’re already imagining the moment you strip off to show the real deal.”

Zhao Xiaorou rolled her eyes, and Hu Xiu blushed deeply, feeling embarrassed as Zhao Xiaorou saw right through her.

Zhao Xiaorou, however, was calm and unhurried. “It’s okay, I’m not forcing you. There are other ways. After all, he’s already noticed you. Now, we just need to figure out how to get him out of the drama. As an actor, he has a character setting, and you can’t see the real him. Conversely, he has no idea what you’re really like. I imagine, with his understanding, you probably come off as a silly, unremarkable fangirl.”

A pang of pain hit Hu Xiu’s heart as she remembered seeing Qin Xiaoyi in the street at midnight—the hesitant steps and his figure lingering around Lin Qiumei—just like her own hesitant self, unable to approach Qin Xiaoyi in Chengdu.

If she had seen the aloof and prideful financial officer, Qin Xiaoyi, in the Snowpiercer, the real-life version of him didn’t like the outcome for Qin Xiaoyi. He had someone he liked but couldn’t have. He didn’t like to talk after work, but he showed genuine gentlemanly courtesy and politeness to those who liked him.

“Come on, try on the clothes I bought for you. I’ve been so bored lately. No need to transfer the money to me; did you see I gained a million followers? I didn’t expect this divorce to bring me so much attention online. I guess my advertisement fees will increase now, and those MCNs chasing after me are no longer important.”

Hu Xiu had seen the retro green dress she had bought online. The hemline had a gold trim, and the sleeveless cuffs fluttered with long tassels, making it look like the wind danced around her when she turned or ran.

What Hu Xiu couldn’t accept was the slit design on the chest, which looked like a cheongsam collar but had a 20 cm long diagonal opening. When bent forward, it revealed a glimpse of spring.

Zhao Xiaorou seemed quite satisfied with the outfit. “This is more like it. The clothes in Snowpiercer were worn out and outdated. It’s hard for Qin Xiaoyi to remember you in those. These clothes will make you seem tasteful. Have you seen my battle plan?”

“You mean getting Qin Xiaoyi’s real name within a week, confessing successfully within a month, and entering his life in three months?”

Hu Xiu recited Zhao Xiaorou’s timetable. “Why not just send me straight to the crematorium?”

“At least show some efficiency. Love is spontaneous. If you don’t make an effort, someone else will take him. Did you read the little tips?”

“Pure desire style and being strategic, right?” Hu Xiu put on the dress, bent over to look in the mirror, then stood up straight immediately. “Spare me. Even if I could do it, it wouldn’t be me. These tricks are good, but they should be left for someone who really needs them.”

“I’m about to be single. If you don’t confess in a month, Qin Xiaoyi will be mine.”

Hu Xiu, unable to suppress her curiosity, finally asked, “Why did Wang Guangming agree to the divorce so easily? I mean, he could have exposed some of your dirty laundry and gotten back at you, or something. Sorry, I’m too cynical.”

“I told you, I have a secret weapon. But I’m only telling you this at home—don’t spread it.”

“Earlier, when we went to the suburbs, a large group of us went to a villa to kill time in winter. Someone started flying leaves around, and Wang Guangming, who moved so skillfully, clearly had experience. I went out to find a hotel because I didn’t want to get involved, but before closing the door, I snapped a photo and video.”

Wang Guangming wouldn’t be foolish enough to let me use such photos to destroy him. After all, even after the divorce, he can still make money by pretending to regret it.”

After thinking for a long while, I finally understood what she meant, and I kept my surprise to myself. “Alright, wear this outfit this weekend and get me Qin Xiaoyi’s real name, got it?

It’s impossible to find his Weibo or real name online. What kind of world are we living in, it’s like meeting a ghost.”

Her shoes were often worn out from running in the subway, with the soles beginning to break. When Hu Xiu passed by a mall, she picked out a pair of boots for herself. She was bold enough not to buy the usual black ones, instead picking out a pair of glossy brown ones.

In her father’s eyes, buying flashy-colored shoes was like imitating her frivolous mother. Standing at the platform, waiting for the train, she looked down at her shoes, feeling that she was quietly changing. The ambition to be noticed was subtly emerging, and it wasn’t impossible to let it show a little. After all, not all places offered a platform where she could hide.

Just as she finished thinking this, Qin Xiaoyi came out the door, and Hu Xiu started cursing in her heart—damn it, why did Qin Xiaoyi change into a new costume!

Qin Xiaoyi was now wearing an even more impeccably tailored suit, looking even more dashing. His black hair and pale skin, combined with his gold-rimmed glasses, made his features appear even more striking.

Hu Xiu turned sideways to look, accidentally stepping on a loose tile, and with a loud clink, she kicked the station sign. Qin Xiaoyi smiled, “What’s going on? Are you nervous to see me?”

That wasn’t the end. After finishing his scene, he needed to return to his room to wait for the players.

Hu Xiu was eagerly following him. It was rare that she drew a scene with the Qin group, and this time, she had enough time to watch him.

Before Room 301’s door even opened, Hu Xiu was already standing by the door. Qin Xiaoyi turned around, and with his head lowered, the distance between them was less than ten centimeters. “Following me so closely, do you want to see me that badly?”

The familiar minty scent of his breath sprayed on her face. He seemed to really enjoy teasing her.

As they became familiar with each other, Qin Xiaoyi subtly started looking out for her.

For instance, after sending the other group members away, he secretly gave Hu Xiu three thousand and asked her to deliver a gift to Lin Qiuyi for him.

After Hu Xiu left the room, she deliberately went to a department store and bought a necklace before returning to Room 301. She gathered all her courage and stood before him, “Put this on for me...”

Qin Xiaoyi was momentarily stunned. “Turn around...”

His fingers fumbled with the tiny clasp, as if he were nearsighted. He bent close, adjusting it for a while.

His fingers never touched her neck, but Hu Xiu’s skin prickled with sensitivity, even in places she shouldn’t be sensitive. When she held the necklace earlier, the uniquely designed collar opening revealed a glimpse of skin that was barely visible from Qin Xiaoyi’s perspective... she should have worn a chest pad!

The necklace hung heavily on her chest, and behind her, someone sighed, “You’ve learned to be naughty now.”

Hu Xiu wasn’t prepared with a response. She didn’t look back, quickly opening the door and running off.

Qin Xiaoyi, who had been watching her through the door gap, stepped out of Room 301, and the last thing Hu Xiu saw was his mischievous smile.

The tassels on her arm swayed back and forth, sending shivers down her spine. Qin Xiaoyi’s gold-rimmed glasses and mischievous gaze couldn’t be shaken from her mind.

He wasn’t the simple and boring handsome guy she had once thought; he was like amber, hiding secrets within his heart. His charm was easy to read, clearly displayed on his face.

He had a kind of charisma that only men could possess.