Chapter 45: The Strategist's Duel

"Look at the question."

Shen Huai pointed at this text message from Chu Tiantian and said in a deep voice, "On the surface, she is simply asking you for the time, but in reality, she is testing whether you have a clear plan for this date."

"Secondly, she said she is bringing a friend, which actually means her best friend."

"When a best friend goes on the offensive, not a blade of grass grows," Shen Huai said with a serious expression. "When you're out and about, the status of a best friend is no less than that of a mother-in-law."

"So their assessment of you has already begun from this very moment."

"If you answer with a time directly, no matter what hour you say, they won't be satisfied."

"Why?" Fu Hai asked, confused.

Shen Huai curled his lips into a smile: "Because they already have their own plans and arrangements in mind; asking you is just a simple test to see if your ideas align with hers."

"Ah? Is it that complicated? Then how should I reply?" Fu Hai held his phone like an ant on a hot pan.

Shen Huai rolled his eyes and said, "Ask her back. Say that I have absolutely no problem and will fully accommodate the time for you and your friend, letting her take the initiative to state her own thoughts."

"Brilliant!" Wan Dequan couldn't help but give a thumbs up. "Turning the tables—badass."

Fu Hai only half-understood, but he still replied according to Shen Huai's method.

Very quickly.

Chu Tiantian replied.

【Really? My friend said she wants to eat at this super spicy hot pot place, but I remember you don't seem to eat spicy food. Should we look at another hot pot place instead?】

Seeing this.

Shen Huai was even more certain.

This girl is a PUA expert who uses retreat as a means of advancement.

This sentence is a clear double bind, a classic tactic in manipulation.

Usually, the person speaking provides two options, which look like choices on the surface.

But in reality, no matter which one Fu Hai chooses, it works to Chu Tiantian's advantage.

In the final analysis, a careless answer will lead to being led by the nose by Chu Tiantian.

Shen Huai lowered his head and saw that the big fool Fu Hai was already typing a reply.

【It's okay, at worst I can just drink a bit more water, as long as you guys are happy...】

Looking at this "simp" quote, Shen Huai was practically sweating buckets.

"What you're writing won't work, delete it!" Shen Huai said decisively.

"Why? I really don't mind eating a bit spicy." Fu Hai still looked clueless.

Seeing this, Shen Huai rubbed his aching temples and explained, "We want to win this battle, but we can't win it on our knees."

"If you are this submissive now and let someone else take the initiative, you're finished!"

Shen Huai sighed at his lack of progress: "Give me the phone, I'll reply for you."

"Oh."

Fu Hai hurriedly handed the phone over to Shen Huai.

Shen Huai composed himself and replied quickly: 【This hot pot place is quite famous and indeed very spicy, but the taste is truly excellent. However, it's hard to get a table, so we have to go early.】

【Since your friend wants to eat there, let's settle on this one. I'll go ahead and get a number in line now, and I'll notify you to come over once I have it.】

【That way you won't have to wait here for an hour; after all, it's quite hot out today.】

【Once I arrive, I'll send you the QR code for ordering. My personal suggestion is to choose the mild spicy broth, as that makes the ingredients taste the best.】

【Right next to this hot pot restaurant is the most famous milk tea shop in Jianghai City. You can tell me what you want to drink, and I'll queue up and buy it all at once. Milk tea and hot pot are the standard summer pairing.】

【What do you think of this arrangement?】

A series of combo moves.

Left everyone watching dumbfounded.

"Holy crap, Shen Huai, your mind is terrifyingly meticulous."

Qi Mingfei was so impressed by Shen Huai's operation that his scalp went numb.

Fu Hai looked at the words Shen Huai sent from his own phone, his heart receiving a billion points of shock.

Between the lines, it was not only caring but also confident and firm in tone.

Just reading this text gave one a sense of complete security.

Just these few sentences.

He, Fu Hai, wouldn't be able to learn this in a lifetime. This time, after the message was sent.

The other side fell into a long silence.

And Shen Huai stared at the phone intentionally or otherwise, his expression gradually becoming playful.

At this moment.

Chu Tiantian was holding her phone, looking nervously at the girl beside her.

Su Meng looked at the series of messages Fu Hai sent, her expression becoming very serious.

"Tian Tian, is this person really as simple as you said?"

Hearing this, Chu Tiantian immediately raised her voice and affirmed, "It's true, Mengmeng, believe me, Fu Hai is really a very simple person."

"I don't believe it."

Su Meng frowned and shook her head, answering firmly: "Look at what he replied—every word and sentence is full of schemes. He's clearly an expert."

"Before, I told you to leave him hanging; did you do it? You didn't contact him secretly, did you?"

"No, no!" Chu Tiantian hurriedly denied it, "I did everything you said. The selfies I posted were only visible to Fu Hai."

She paused.

Chu Tiantian opened TikTok and said excitedly: "Look at this video, I only gave permission to Fu Hai."

"A whole night has passed, and there are over 200 views."

Chu Tiantian blushed and said shyly, "I didn't expect... he actually looked at it over two hundred times in one night. I think he really likes me, Mengmeng."

"To be honest, when I intentionally ignored him, I felt a bit guilty inside, like I was really letting him down."

Chu Tiantian spoke with genuine sincerity, and she seemed to be truly feeling some guilt.

"Showing mercy to a man this early on, the one you'll be letting down in the future is yourself."

Su Meng spoke seriously, "Look at these replies; in just a few words, he's taken back the initiative. The subtle chauvinism is quite severe."

"Really? How come I didn't notice?"

Chu Tiantian flipped back and forth through the chat history: "I think he arranged it very well. It makes me feel very at ease, don't you think?"

Hearing this.

Su Meng sighed deeply and helplessly tapped Chu Tiantian's forehead: "If being love-struck were a crime, you'd probably be executed repeatedly."

After a pause, Su Meng sat down dominantly and beckoned to Chu Tiantian: "Give me your phone, let me deal with him."

Chu Tiantian hesitated for a moment, but ultimately handed the phone to Su Meng.

Su Meng pondered for a moment, her fingers dancing nimbly across the keyboard.

【That would be too much trouble for you. I didn't expect a guy to be so thoughtful; that's very rare.】

【However, my friend and I are both on a diet lately, so we won't be drinking milk tea.】

【Mildly spicy just doesn't feel satisfying enough. If you can't handle spice, you can tell us, and we can order a medium-spicy mandarin duck hotpot~】

【Why don't we just wait with you? It just so happens that my friend said she wants to get to know you too.】

【My friend has a rather extroverted personality; you don't mind, do you?】

When experts clash, every move is fatal.

Shen Huai looked at these back-and-forth replies and chuckled softly.

"It seems the person on the other side, just like you, has an expert guiding them. Not simple."

Fu Hai saw the reply and was completely at a loss: "Shen Huai, what should I do? I'm an invincibly introverted person; I'll definitely be interrogated to death by her best friend."

"What do I do, what do I do, what do I do?"

"Shen Huai, can you come with me? I'm really terrified of best friends..."

Looking at Fu Hai's pleading expression.

Shen Huai tilted his head.

A touch of curiosity welled up in his heart.

It was rare to meet a worthy opponent.

Honestly, Shen Huai really wanted to see what kind of person the other side's Military Advisor was.

"Fine, then I'll go with you to meet them."

(End of chapter)