As for the previous unpleasantness between the two… what unpleasantness was there before?

None!

Now, Little Cucumber was quite impressionable; a scoundrel's dirty joke could make her happy in minutes.

After reading Pan Ge's message, Han Lie's mind turned, and he deliberately let a playful smirk show on his face.

When Xi Luting saw the "domineering CEO-like evil smile" on her idol's face, her heart skipped a beat. She feigned nonchalance and casually asked, "What's up?"

All three of them were acting.

Life is like a play; it's all about acting skill.

Clearly, Han Lie, with his near-professional standard, had the upper hand.

"Nothing," he said.

The future Film Emperor shook his head, a look of confusion on his face. "Pan Ge suddenly sent me a message, and she was pretty rude. Did you speak ill of me to her?"

"I did not!"

Xi Luting felt a bit guilty, but her words were bolder than anyone else's.

"What did she say? Let me see!" she demanded, moving closer to take a look at Han Lie's phone.

Brother Lie naturally wouldn't indulge this seemingly accidental display of a strong desire to control.

His brow furrowed, his voice turning cold.

"If you really have the ability to completely support me, then you can see whatever you want."

At his rebuke, she immediately behaved herself.

"If you're not going to show me, then don't. Why are you being so fierce…"

Wow, she only responds to the hard approach, a true masochist at heart.

Of course, not just anyone can be tough with her and make it work. For now, it can only be Han Lie, and only when she knows she's in the wrong.

Han Lie, having scolded her, quickly offered a carrot.

"She cursed me, calling me a scoundrel, and at the same time congratulated me on getting first place. She seems a bit off mentally," he explained.

Hearing Han Lie's interpretation, Xi Luting's eyes suddenly twinkled.

She knew this routine well! Isn't it just that classic 'harsh words, soft heart' routine?

Wow, Little Bottom Pan, are you for real? Are you really trying to cut off my prospects?!

Xi Luting could only interpret it this way. Outwardly she stayed calm, but inside she was grinding her teeth.

You're really pushing me to get serious, aren't you?!

Just you wait!

Han Lie casually threw Pan Ge under the bus again, then stifled his laughter as he typed back, "Thanks."

Pan Ge waited a full three minutes before getting a response. Upon opening it, she couldn't help but frown slightly.

That's it?

How am I supposed to continue from here?

It wasn't that she felt Han Lie should be fawning over her. The main point was, the resistance embedded in those two words made it impossible for her to smoothly extend an invitation.

Why could she sense resistance?

Lack of enthusiasm in conversation equates to distance and resistance!

Pan Ge's method of judgment might sound unreliable at first, but in practice, it generally hit the mark without fail.

Han Lie had indeed deliberately cooled the conversation to see what other tricks she might play.

Pan Ge's tricks were quite interesting.

"You should thank me. That spoon works well, doesn't it? If it's good, then it's worth it. It was especially expensive."

Han Lie tsk-tsked in amazement.

Wow, true to her reputation as the Black-hearted White Lotus, so crafty!

If this were a normal man reading her words, wouldn't he feel ashamed to the point of death?

Anyone with even slightly thinner skin would find it unbearable, regardless of age.

Then again, those with thin skins wouldn't do something like this in the first place…

Brother Lie demonstrated a high-level "face-armoring" technique and replied seriously, "Indeed, it's quite useful, but it's missing a pair of matching chopsticks. Using it alone feels a bit awkward."

Pan Ge's eyes widened as she seethed.

Shameless! Utterly shameless!

But she didn't let her anger seep into her words.

On the contrary, she showed Han Lie her high level of emotional control.

"That's easy to fix. Come find me tomorrow, and I'll give you the matching chopsticks, fork, and carving knife."

"See, isn't the cutlery box pretty?"

(Photo), (Photo).

A feeling of mutual respect, a kinship between worthy adversaries, arose in Brother Lie's heart.

Truly worthy of a boss-level goddess in her larval stage; she's definitely a tough one...

If it had been me at 25, I wouldn't have even been qualified to cross swords with you!

After thinking it over, Han Lie casually snapped a photo—the pink-gold spoon held a piece of tender Tofu, looking extremely pretty.

But the spoon wasn't the focus.

The focus was Xi Luting, whom Han Lie had deliberately included in the shot.

Little Cucumber didn't show her face, only revealing half a leg, yet it was still unmistakably her.

He sent the photo.

The moment Pan Ge saw it, she felt her ears grow hot.

The way that scoundrel took photos was exactly the same as how she had slyly stirred up trouble last week.

The angle, the details, everything was so similar.

This was undoubtedly a very subtle mockery, a deliberate reminder: Don't think I don't know what you did. Look, I can do it too.

She wanted to play dumb, but Han Lie sent another text message.

"Xi Luting asked me where the spoon came from. I told her it was a gift from you. She got very angry but refused to believe it. Wait until you send me the complete set of tableware tomorrow, and then let's see how she can still argue!"

PFFT!

It was as if Pan Ge had coughed up a mouthful of blood; she completely lost her composure.

When did I give you a spoon?

Are you worried Bao Lieting won't hit me hard enough, huh?!

How can a grown man like you be such a scoundrel and so devious?!

She leaped up and threw a punch at the teddy bear on the headboard, then cried out in pain, "AH!"

"OW! OW! OW! I pulled something!"

Enduring the pain, she retracted her previous message.

"I've thought about it carefully. Such nice tableware shouldn't be used by a dog!"

She's rattled! She's totally rattled!

Brother Lie chuckled softly and leisurely asked, "You rarely visit without a reason… You need something from me, right? Don't say it. I don't want to harm our friendship~~~"

SIGH...

Pan Ge fell back, collapsing onto the large bed, her eyes vacant, plunging into a sort of inexplicable state.

The rise and fall of her chest was the only proof she was still alive.

That scene... tsk tsk.

If Han Lie saw it, his sense of accomplishment would surely max out instantly.

After playing dead for a while, Pan Ge, suppressing her explosive emotions, typed—

"Come to my house tomorrow. My dad wants to ask you about some stock market issues. There will be plenty of good food and drinks. When you leave, take the cutlery box with you!"

Han Lie was taken aback, then a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes.

Goodness, when my Brother Pan makes a move, it's a major one...

So, should he go or not?

From the perspective of romantic relationships, Han Lie felt the timing wasn't right; the conditions weren't ripe.

But Pan Ge's excuse offered him another possibility.

So...

Go!

Fortune favors the bold!

What's there to fear if the timing isn't ripe? Just find a way to ripen it, right?!

Han Lie turned his head and glanced at Xi Luting, who was all ears and restlessly anxious, and smiled like a Husky plotting to wreck the house.

"Pan Ge invited me to her place for dinner tomorrow night. Do you want to go?"

Xi Luting's eyes lit up, her expression eager.

"Can I?"

Han Lie shrugged nonchalantly. "Why are you asking me? If you want to go, ask her yourself."

「Ten seconds later」

Pan Ge received a message from Xi Luting.

"Little Bottom Pan, you're being naughty, aren't you? Secretly inviting Doggie to your place for a feast behind my back? I don't care! If you don't bring me along, I'll get a room with Doggie myself just to wreck your dinner! You figure it out!"

Pan Ge stared at the phone screen, her eyes gradually widening, her lips starting to tremble, her fingers slowly clenching into a fist...

Suddenly, she let out a high-pitched scream.

"Han Lie!!!"

"AAAAAAH!!!"

With one kick, she sent the teddy bear by her bed flying, then burst open her room door with a furious expression and charged downstairs.

"Mom, Han Lie didn't..."

Her parents looked up at her in unison, their gazes filled with unspoken meaning.

A shiver went down her spine, and calmness returned to her mind.

"...Han Lie is fine. You can start preparing."

After speaking, she turned calmly and walked back to her room, step by step.

Her silhouette was both resolute and desolate.

Pan Shengwu and Zhao Anni exchanged glances, not understanding what madness had possessed their daughter.

"Is she angry? Upset that we're meddling in her love life?"

"Then... shall we reconsider?"

It was their first time meddling like this, and they felt somewhat guilty.

They sighed in unison, their fighting spirit all but gone.

Then, they suddenly heard their daughter add from afar, "By the way, Xi Luting is coming too."

CRACK!

Pan Shengwu's face turned ashen; he'd chipped his favorite teacup.

Zhao Anni took a deep breath, her still-charming face filled with murderous intent. "Tomorrow, we'll take a good look at that young man. If he's decent, let's just settle her marriage!"

Pan Shengwu felt it wasn't that serious, yet at the same time, he felt it was very serious. He was torn and felt an immense, awkward frustration, feeling utterly wretched.

「After a long while」

He clenched his teeth fiercely.

"Alright!"

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