Running into Chu Yunxiu

Liu Hao had a quick bite to eat outside. Before heading back to the villa, he stopped by Ziyun Café to grab a cup of coffee and a milk tea for Chen Guo.

Ziyun Café had a minimalist design, with high-quality tables, chairs, carpets, and lighting that exuded a strong modern vibe. The place was filled with the rich aroma of coffee and the sweet scent of milk tea.

After placing his order, Liu Hao noticed a girl sitting in the corner, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. She looked like a heartbroken girl wandering the streets at night.

The girl wore an adorable cat mask, a T-shirt with a vest, a khaki short skirt, and thick-soled canvas boots. Her slender fingers were beautiful, and she had a perfect figure—an absolute beauty. Why would such a girl be heartbroken? Wait a minute, she looked familiar. Wasn't she Chu Yunxiu? Why was Chu Yunxiu in H City?

Chu Yunxiu was the captain of the Misty Rain team, one of the top two beauties in Glory, with looks comparable to Su Mucheng's but far superior in skills. She was the top Elementalist in Glory.

Seeing a familiar face, Liu Hao decided to say hello. Noticing Chu Yunxiu wiping her tears with tissues, he said, "Heartbroken, Chu Yunxiu? Crying so sadly?"

Chu Yunxiu looked up and immediately recognised Liu Hao. After all, he hadn't been off the trending list for three weeks, with the internet whole of his handsome photos. His drastic change shocked her. Since Misty Rain's next opponent was Excellent Era, Chu Yunxiu had been studying their members, mainly focusing on the most changed one—Liu Hao.

"Liu Hao? What are you doing here?" Chu Yunxiu was surprised, not wanting Liu Hao to see her in such a sorry state. She quickly wiped away her tears and composed herself. "Don't get me wrong. I'm just watching a melodrama."

Chu Yunxiu showed the phone in her arms, which was playing a Korean drama. The male lead was handsome, and the female lead was beautiful, with Chinese subtitles below. Liu Hao never cared about such trivial soap operas, so he had no interest in them.

"Ah, I misunderstood." Liu Hao took a seat opposite Chu Yunxiu.

Chu Yunxiu rolled her eyes, thinking, "Did I allow you to sit here? There are so many empty seats; why not sit somewhere else?" Su Mucheng had spoken ill of Liu Hao often, and as her best friend, Chu Yunxiu naturally disliked Liu Hao too.

Just then, the waiter brought a coffee and a fruity milk tea and placed them in front of Liu Hao. The waiter glanced at the pretty girl opposite and, without asking, slid the fruity milk tea over to Chu Yunxiu.

The fruity aroma made Chu Yunxiu's mouth water, but she frowned and said, "Liu Hao, I don't need you to buy me milk tea."

Liu Hao was stunned and pulled the milk tea back, saying, "Don't get me wrong. This milk tea is for my girlfriend, not you. Besides, we're not close enough for me to buy you milk tea."

Chu Yunxiu was taken aback. Wait, the milk tea wasn't for her? Liu Hao had a girlfriend? Was she presumptuous in thinking Liu Hao was buying her milk tea?

Feeling embarrassed, Chu Yunxiu blushed and apologised, "Sorry, I misunderstood..."

Chu Yunxiu felt socially mortified, avoiding eye contact with Liu Hao and fidgeting nervously.

Liu Hao chuckled and waved it off, saying, "No problem, just be careful next time."

Chu Yunxiu was irked by his tone. Next time? His tone was so irritating. Indeed, Su Mucheng was right—Liu Hao was awful to the core. Chu Yunxiu felt that Liu Hao was deliberately targeting her and even collaborating with the waiter!

"Jerk!" Chu Yunxiu muttered, glaring at Liu Hao and the waiter.

The waiter realised his mistake and quickly apologised, "Sorry, miss. As an apology, we'll make you a large fruity milk tea for free."

"No need! I can buy it myself!" Chu Yunxiu snapped, feeling insulted.

Liu Hao found Chu Yunxiu amusing. From the moment she saw him, her eyes were full of hostility, undoubtedly because Su Mucheng had said many bad things about him.

"Liu Hao? What are you doing here?"

A voice called from behind. Liu Hao turned to see Su Mucheng, her bright orange hair making her identity unmistakable despite the mask.

It seemed Chu Yunxiu was with Su Mucheng. Liu Hao nodded, "Hello, Chief Su. Your good friend here told me you've been badmouthing me a lot."

"Ah?" Su Mucheng looked embarrassed. Liu Hao was evil, but speaking ill behind someone's back wasn't right either. She sat next to Chu Yunxiu and complained, "Xiu Xiu, why did you tell Liu Hao everything?"

Chu Yunxiu sighed, "Mu Mu, I didn't tell him anything. But you just admitted it yourself."

"Ah?" Su Mucheng glanced at Liu Hao, who had a mischievous smile, feeling even more embarrassed.

"Chief Su, don't you have something to say to me? Like, 'I'm sorry'?" Liu Hao asked with a smile.

Su Mucheng shook her head, "No way. You're bad, and though it's wrong to speak ill of you, I didn't lie. Right, Xiu Xiu?"

Chu Yunxiu, just pranked by Liu Hao, naturally sided with Su Mucheng, "Exactly!"

Liu Hao shrugged helplessly. Handling one girl was already challenging, let alone two.

Su Mucheng quickly changed the topic, "Liu Hao, why are you here? Are you stalking us? Ew, so creepy..."

The two girls huddled together, looking at Liu Hao with disgust and wariness.

Liu Hao was speechless. If they were separated, he could handle them one by one, but together, they were unbeatable.

"Please, spare me, ladies. I just had a late-night snack and came here to get milk tea. I happened to see Chu Yunxiu crying and thought she was heartbroken, so I came over to check."

Su Mucheng suspiciously looked at Chu Yunxiu, "Were you crying just now?"

Chu Yunxiu nodded slightly, "When you went to the restroom, I was watching a Korean drama and got emotional... You know how sensitive I am."

"Really? Weren't we supposed to wait and watch together? You watched ahead!" Su Mucheng pouted in mock anger.

The two girls started playfully arguing in front of Liu Hao, creating a lively scene. Though both were wearing masks, Liu Hao imagined a beautiful fight.

"Ahem... Well, if there's nothing else, I'll leave now. Otherwise, the milk tea will get cold."

Liu Hao felt redundant and was about to leave when Su Mucheng called him back, "Wait, Liu Hao, I need your help with something!"

Liu Hao was puzzled. Why ask him for help? Shouldn't she ask Ye Qiu? Was it something only he could handle?

Liu Hao sat back, leaning on the chair like a boss, "Tell me."

Su Mucheng looked at Chu Yunxiu and whispered, "It's your issue. Can he help? I think only he can handle it."

Chu Yunxiu, still annoyed at Liu Hao, didn't want to lower herself to ask for his help: "Is he reliable? He's just a member of Excellent Era. How could he solve my problem? And I find him annoying. I don't want his help..."

The two girls spoke quietly, but a professional player's hearing shouldn't be underestimated. Liu Hao heard everything, feeling displeased, "Hey, isn't it enough to badmouth me behind my back? Now you're doing it to my face? And what's with finding me annoying? You were the one who misunderstood earlier..."

"Stop!" Chu Yunxiu quickly interrupted, glancing at Su Mucheng, not wanting her to know what had happened earlier, to avoid further embarrassment.

"Alright, I shouldn't have badmouthed you to your face. I can ask for your help, okay?" Chu Yunxiu said.

Su Mucheng was puzzled. What misunderstanding? What happened between Liu Hao and Xiu Xiu before she arrived?

Liu Hao frowned, "Chu Yunxiu, is that how you ask for help? And about that misunderstanding earlier..."

"Sorry!" Chu Yunxiu stood up and bowed deeply, "Please, Liu Hao, I really need your help. I'd be very grateful!"

Liu Hao chuckled, thinking he'd keep this secret forever.

"Okay, tell me. What do you need my help with?" Liu Hao took a sip of coffee.

At that moment, the waiter brought Chu Yunxiu's large fruity milk tea. Su Mucheng, seeing Chu Yunxiu's milk tea, glanced at Liu Hao's and was about to order one for herself when Liu Hao handed his to her.

Su Mucheng hesitated but thanked him.

Chu Yunxiu felt a pang of jealousy. Didn't you complain about Liu Hao over the phone for over an hour? Now you're accepting his milk tea? And Liu Hao, didn't you say the milk tea was for your girlfriend? Is Su Mucheng your girlfriend?

Liu Hao noticed Chu Yunxiu's jealous look and explained, "Don't get me wrong. Su Mucheng isn't my girlfriend. I just thought the milk tea wouldn't taste good cold, so I gave it to her. I'll order another one to take back later."

Upon hearing this, Su Mucheng found the milk tea less appealing.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 136 is up on my Patreon.

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