Chapter 23

Shen Siyuan stood by the roadside and said to Jiang Tingyu, who was waiting for a ride: “I won’t see you off then—take care on your way.”

“Alright, next time you want hotpot, just call me—hotpot partner,” Jiang Tingyu said with a smile.

Shen Siyuan was momentarily stunned. Though they’d talked happily all evening, he knew she wasn’t ready for romance—so what did this mean now?

Seeing him pause, Jiang Tingyu said: “You’re a good person, and chatting with you is fun. Doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, just because we’re not dating?”

“Another ‘good person’ card?” Shen Siyuan said.

Jiang Tingyu burst out laughing.

Shen Siyuan couldn’t tell if she was stringing him along or genuinely wanted to be friends—but her open, cheerful demeanor didn’t seem like someone playing games.

At that moment, the car Jiang Tingyu had called arrived.

She opened the door, glanced back at Shen Siyuan, and waved.

“See you next time.”

“See you next time,” Shen Siyuan waved back.

Jiang Tingyu turned and got in the car.

Shen Siyuan watched the car pull away, then prepared to hail his own ride.

Just then, his phone buzzed with a WeChat message—Jiang Tingyu had sent him a transfer.

It was 133 yuan—the exact half of tonight’s hotpot bill.

Since he’d ordered the meal on his phone, he’d paid the full amount—over two hundred yuan. As Lin Manzhi’s friend, he hadn’t insisted on splitting it, assuming he was treating her, and she hadn’t objected. He hadn’t expected her to send the money back now.

Seeing he hadn’t accepted, Jiang Tingyu immediately sent another message.

“Take it. Hotpot partner. Otherwise, I won’t dare show up again next time (laughing).”

Seeing her say that, Shen Siyuan stopped being stubborn and accepted the payment.

He put his phone away and didn’t reply further.

Actually, Shen Siyuan liked Jiang Tingyu a lot—she was beautiful, with a great figure. When they’d been seated, he’d guessed she was at least 1.7 meters tall; when she stood up, he confirmed it—she was 1.75 meters even in flat shoes.

Today she wore denim shorts, revealing long, smooth, fair legs—undeniably stunning to both men and women.

Her personality was just as appealing: open, unpretentious, nothing like other girls who acted shy and awkward on first meetings.

She also laughed a lot—wide-mouthed, showing her teeth, genuinely cheerful, and contagious; being near her made others feel lighter.

Shen Siyuan had been on many blind dates. Jiang Tingyu was by far the one he liked best. Too bad she wasn’t ready for romance—if she were, he’d definitely give it a shot.

Of course, maybe she just wasn’t interested in him—he had no house, no car, no savings. Why would a beauty like her even look his way?

But he quickly dropped the thought, hailed a cab, and refused to dwell on it.

A few minutes after getting in the car, his phone vibrated repeatedly in his pocket.

He pulled it out—it wasn’t just Jiang Tingyu’s message. Lin Manzhi had also sent one.

Jiang Tingyu: “Come see my performance at the aquarium when you’re free.”

Jiang Tingyu: “Use my employee benefit card—free entry.”

She followed it with a screenshot of an electronic membership card.

Shen Siyuan was confused. This didn’t sound like someone who didn’t want to date. Was she really just treating him as a friend?

“Thanks. I’ll come when I have time,” Shen Siyuan replied.

Then he opened Lin Manzhi’s WeChat.

“Xiao Yu has a very good impression of you. Don’t let this slip—she’s a great girl.”

Clearly, Jiang Tingyu had already contacted Lin Manzhi.

But now, Shen Siyuan didn’t know how to respond.

Had he misunderstood?

After thinking, he replied: “Alright, I understand. But I doubt she’d be interested in me.”

“Take it slow—it’s not about rushing to get married. Feelings need time to grow. At least you both like each other so far,” Lin Manzhi said.

“Mmm~”

Shen Siyuan could understand why Lin Manzhi knew Jiang Tingyu liked him.

But how did she know he liked Jiang Tingyu too?

So he asked directly.

“Because you said ‘I doubt she’d be interested in me,’ it means you’re very satisfied with her—but you’re also insecure, thinking you’re not good enough to attract her. Sister, let me tell you—you’re amazing.”

“Wow, sis, you’re making me emotional,” Shen Siyuan said, exaggerating.

Still, her words warmed him.

“Jiang Tingyu is my best friend. I know her well—otherwise she wouldn’t have told me so much.” (Screenshot.jpg)

Lin Manzhi sent a screenshot of their conversation.

“Manzhi, he looks so young—way younger than me.” (laughing)

“He eats so well—watching him eat makes me hungry.” (drooling)

“His voice is so distinctive. I asked if he sings well—he said he’s tone-deaf. Is he lying?”

“Talking with him is easy. Feels like chatting with a younger brother—no pressure.”

“If he’s this good, don’t miss him. Grab him tight,” Lin Manzhi said.

“Nah, forget it, sis—you know me…”

“It’s been years. You need to let go,” Lin Manzhi said.

…

Shen Siyuan read through the entire chat, then replied to Lin Manzhi.

“It seems she’s not ready to date right now.”

“If she weren’t interested, she wouldn’t have told me all this. I know her—she doesn’t even know what she wants. Just move fast—you’ll have no trouble,” Lin Manzhi declared confidently.

“Can I ask why she doesn’t want to date?” Shen Siyuan asked, curious.

At twenty-six, her resistance to romance likely stemmed from a past heartbreak—probably a bad boyfriend.

“In college, she dated a boyfriend. They were deeply in love.”

“I know—you told me before.”

“Then her boyfriend died in a car accident.”

Shen Siyuan was stunned. If true, he immediately gave up any hope of pursuing Jiang Tingyu. The living can’t compete with the dead. No matter how good he was, she’d always carry a space for her ex—there’d be no point.

Some might say, “He’s gone—why care?” But Shen Siyuan couldn’t cross that mental barrier.

“On the day of the accident, her boyfriend didn’t want to go out—but she insisted. She’s blamed herself ever since. She never got over it…”

“I’ve introduced her to other guys before. After one meeting, they vanished. You’re the only exception—she’s told me more about you than anyone else. So move fast. Win her over…”

“Sis, I trusted you so much—and you’re using me as emotional bandage…”

“Haha~ But you don’t lose anything—Tingyu’s a gorgeous woman…”

Now Shen Siyuan finally understood why Lin Manzhi was so eager to set him up—he had no car, no house, no savings.

But then he remembered her smile—and wondered: maybe that smile was just a shield, a mask she wore to protect herself.