“Yeah, it’s been almost half an hour, and the repair team hasn’t shown up or called. I wonder if they’ve given up.”

“It’s alright, if they don’t come, I’ll drive you home, and the car can be fixed tomorrow.”

Upon entering the restaurant, Qin Yun’s aura seemed to soften.

Her vibrant presence turned lazier, as if she had returned to her own domain.

Fang Zhou didn’t understand why she had changed.

As long as Qin Yun didn’t act up, that was the best outcome.

He didn’t intend to rely on her to take him home anyway.

That sounded riskier than getting stranded on the road.

“No worries, if this company doesn’t come through, I’ll just find another one. As long as you pay well, nothing is a problem.”

Fang Zhou confidently and politely declined Qin Yun’s offer to take him home.

Qin Yun didn’t insist but instead smiled softly, focusing her gaze on the roses in front of her.

She reached out and gently touched the petals, feeling the tender life passing through her fingers.

“I’m quite curious; how did you get such a strong-willed woman to agree?”

Fang Zhou was puzzled, not understanding what she meant.

“What are you talking about?”

Qin Yun’s fingers lightly traced the table surface.

Fang Zhou could barely make out that she seemed to write a character, the outline resembling the character 楚 (Chu).

“I mean, how did you get her mother to agree to you being with Chu Xinran?”

Fang Zhou was stunned, recalling the day he met Qin Yun on the university campus.

She must have seen some intimate moment between him and Chu Xinran, mistakenly believing they had reconciled and were still together, and that their appearance on the show was just a performance.

Fang Zhou began to ponder her intentions.

Was she trying to probe if Chu’s mother knew about them?

Or was she planning to spill the beans to Chu Xinran’s mother to break them up?

Women’s hearts are indeed like needles at the bottom of the sea.

Fang Zhou couldn’t figure it out and didn’t want to.

He only knew he couldn’t let Qin Yun think he was with Chu Xinran.

Otherwise, this woman might go crazy and do something drastic.

She only wanted to trap Fang Zhou in her world, away from anyone else.

Fang Zhou had realized this long ago.

Putting Chu Xinran in the mix wasn’t effective against Qin Yun’s hostility, but now that the Chu family had ramped up her protection, it was becoming harder for Qin Yun to make a move.

However, thinking about the car accident outside the campus, Fang Zhou couldn’t let his guard down and decided to deny it.

“No, we’re not together, you misunderstood.”

Qin Yun expected his denial and wasn’t particularly surprised. She kept her smile but spoke in a lower, almost murmuring tone.

“Not together but can still cuddle and act lovey-dovey?”

Fang Zhou, you’re quite casual, aren’t you?

If you’re so casual, why don’t I believe you?

The more sarcastic her inner laugh, the calmer her exterior remained.

She couldn’t afford to act rashly and provoke Fang Zhou now, or she might not even get the chance for a dinner together next time.

She had to stay calm and proceed slowly.

At the current pace, Qin Yun seemed to be falling behind the others, which was unbearable for her.

But she couldn’t use force on Fang Zhou.

The harder she pushed, the more he would resent it, reducing her chances further.

Stuck in a vicious cycle.

She had to learn to appear weak, like a wolf disguised as a rabbit, nibbling away piece by piece.

Unfortunately, Qin Yun seemed to forget that a wolf pretending to be a rabbit should hide its tail, or it would be easily recognized.

Fang Zhou saw her expression and knew what she was thinking, explaining with a bit of helplessness.

“You know Chu Xinran has tendencies of self-harm, right? Didn’t you help bandage her wounds before? You’ve seen it.

“Recently, she slit her wrists and almost didn’t wake up.”

Fang Zhou didn’t say more, trusting Qin Yun’s intelligence to connect the dots.

“So you mean you’re helping her to relieve psychological pressure?”

Qin Yun’s eyes sparkled, the spotlight casting a shadow over her perfect face.

Even under such harsh lighting, she still looked stunningly beautiful.

Fang Zhou had to admit, she was indeed a true beauty.

“In theory, yes.”

These past few days, Fang Zhou had talked with Chu Xinran’s psychologist.

He learned that she had been doing well, completing the questionnaires and cooperating with medication and therapy, showing positive psychological tendencies.

This reassured him greatly. With the right attitude, any illness could be treated.

As a family member of a patient, Fang Zhou knew that a positive mental state was the best medicine for all diseases.

Despair is worse than death. If one approaches treatment with indifference and negativity, how can the illness be cured?

Especially with Chu Xinran’s psychological issues.

Qin Yun nodded half-believingly, indicating she understood.

She felt somewhat relieved, less anxious than before.

If that’s the case, it’s not entirely unacceptable, better than them actually being together.

It meant they were still on the same starting line, and she hadn’t fallen too far behind.

But then a face floated before her mind’s eye, making it hard to smile again.

The real competitor might just be Qiao Sisi.