Chapter 10

Take ten bites.
“What are you talking about?” Lu Ziyue asked gently as he came over with his tray.
Miao-miao said, “Internships next year.”
“Internships?” Lu Ziyue paused, then remembered. “Right—you’ll be seniors next year. You should start thinking about it. So? Have you decided where you want to intern?”
Miao-miao sighed. “Not yet. It’s hard to find work in our major. But a senior from our club’s outreach department said she can help connect me to an internship at Tianyi.”
“Tianyi is one of the top game companies in the country,” Lu Ziyue said. “If you have a chance to try it, that’s not bad.”
Then he looked at Ying Tao again. “Tao-tao, what about you? Have you thought about where you want to intern?”
Ying Tao shook her head. “I haven’t.”
Ying Zhaohui had never demanded much from her. As long as she didn’t cause trouble, it felt like he didn’t care what she did.
Lu Ziyue hesitated, then tested the waters. “If that’s the case… Tao-tao, I actually have an opportunity that suits you very well.”
Ying Tao blinked. “What opportunity?”
Lu Ziyue explained, “I’m interning at Hengxing right now. I’m currently on a sports-competition variety show. It’s still in pre-production and the guest lineup isn’t finalized yet. If you’re willing, I can help sign you up.”
“Sports competition?” Miao-miao’s eyes lit up. “Wait—Tao-tao, weren’t you a gymnast before? This is perfect for you! You might even blow up overnight.”
Ying Tao paused. “I haven’t trained in a long time. I’m probably not suitable.”
Lu Ziyue shook his head. “Tao-tao, you don’t have to reject it so fast. This show is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. You have a foundation, and you already have a bit of popularity. You’re the most suitable candidate.”
Miao-miao urged too. “Tao-tao, I really think it’s a good chance. Why don’t you think it over?”
Ying Tao looked bored. “I’ll think about it.”
Lu Ziyue curved his lips, about to say more—
But then a text message came in.
In the next second, his expression changed drastically. He gripped his phone like it was burning hot and shot to his feet.
Miao-miao jumped. “Senior? What’s wrong?”
Lu Ziyue clenched the phone so tightly his knuckles went pale. His face was ghost-white. “It’s nothing. I just… suddenly remembered there’s something I haven’t finished handling.”
He swallowed, then looked at Ying Tao. “Tao-tao, can we talk next time?”
Ying Tao nodded. “Sure. Go do what you need to do.”
Lu Ziyue left in a hurry, his face drawn tight, like something urgent had happened.
Ying Tao frowned, suspicious. She’d known Lu Ziyue for a long time. She only knew him as a nice guy with no temper. This was the first time she’d ever seen him lose control like that.
She shook her head, then quickly put it out of mind.
When she left the cafeteria, she finally saw Zhou Lubai’s reply. He sent a location and said the tickets were settled—go over now to pick them up.
She had no choice but to head out first. She ordered a ride on her own. Luckily it wasn’t rush hour; the car came quickly.
After she got out, Ying Tao was about to call—
But she spotted Zhou Lubai waiting outside.
She jogged over. “Xiao Bai!”
Zhou Lubai was actually three years older than her. But he was the easiest to talk to. When they were kids, he’d dragged her into plenty of “mischief,” so Ying Tao had never had any boundaries with him. She’d never once called him “big brother” properly.
Zhou Lubai frowned. “No respect. Didn’t we agree you’re not allowed to call me that in public?”
Ying Tao nodded. “Got it, Xiao Bai.”
Zhou Lubai: “…”
Ying Tao smiled brightly and held out her hand. “Xiao Bai, where are my tickets?”
At that, Zhou Lubai made a fist and coughed heavily, eyes drifting away. “Tickets… the tickets are inside. You have to go in and get them.”
Ying Tao didn’t understand. “That complicated? I have to go in?”
Zhou Lubai looked helpless. “My lady, you know how hard it is to get Young Master’s tickets. And you wanted them urgently. I barely managed to get you two. So have some patience, lower yourself just this once, and go in. Okay?”
“…Fine.” Ying Tao was doubtful, but she still smiled obediently. “Thanks. I’ll treat you to a meal next time.”
Zhou Lubai’s guilt was practically leaking out of his pores. He could only laugh dryly. “It’s nothing. Your Brother Bai has that much ability. And I’m not short on money. Hurry up. If you’re late, they won’t hand the tickets over.”
Ying Tao went, completely unsuspecting.
Watching her leave, Zhou Lubai rubbed the tip of his nose.
Those two enemies had been cold-warring for years.
He was basically handing them a step to break the ice—one good deed, right?
…
Only after Ying Tao stepped into the shooting range did she remember:
She’d forgotten to ask Zhou Lubai what the person handing over the tickets looked like.
Bang. Bang.
The range was quiet, almost empty. Those two gunshots sounded especially abrupt.
As Ying Tao walked over, she only saw a figure with his back to her.
He was tall, spine straight. From a distance, he looked like a model—broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, a classic inverted triangle. Under the loose hoodie, the lines of muscle still looked taut.
He didn’t seem to notice anyone approaching. He held the gun in his left hand, steady as a rock, and almost every shot landed dead center.
Ying Tao stared, impressed.
What terrifying marksmanship.
Even her brother couldn’t guarantee perfect hits one-handed.
Then the gunfire stopped.
With one hand, the man removed the magazine. He gave a lazy, contemptuous chuckle.
“Seen enough?”
Ying Tao’s eyes widened. “Y-You… why are you here?”
But she reacted quickly.
Zhou Lubai had played her.
“What?” He Mingye’s expression was hard to read. He wasn’t as reckless and wild as before—more distant, almost cold. “You really don’t want to see me that badly?”
“I haven’t even settled the score with you for what you did this morning,” Ying Tao said, righteous all of a sudden.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. “Why did you go telling my dad nonsense? When did I ever throw a tantrum at you because you broke your promise?”
He Mingye sneered. “So you don’t care that I stood you up. To you, it was nothing—just some insignificant little thing?”
“…”
Ying Tao felt wronged for no reason at all. She complained under her breath, “Why are you so fierce? I didn’t even do anything to you.”
He Mingye tugged his lips in self-mockery.
Didn’t do anything?
He wished she would.
From childhood to now, He Mingye had never behaved. He bullied her for fun. Now he snapped at her after just two sentences—and even scolded her.
He’d never said a single nice thing to her.
So what if he’d been dumped?
He felt bad, so he used her as a punching bag.
Ying Tao pressed her lips together, looking stubborn to the bone. A hazy mist welled in her round eyes, the corners reddening, like she’d been wronged beyond measure.
She swallowed the sourness rising for no reason at all, nose thick as she spoke.
“You get mad at me whenever you feel like it. Am I your punching bag?”
“You’re the one who broke your promise. I waited for you all day—you didn’t come back. I didn’t even get mad at you. I was already being generous.”
“So why—why do you get to take it out on me?”
He Mingye gave her a cool glance. Only after a long while did he curl his lip indifferently.
“What are you crying for?”
Ying Tao didn’t want to cry either.
But she was the kind of person who cried easily. Normally it was fine, but in front of He Mingye, for some reason, her emotions always got stirred up. Her tear ducts felt like they had a mind of their own.
He Mingye’s voice was lazy. “Come here.”
Ying Tao didn’t really want to.
He Mingye gave a soft scoff. “Don’t want the tickets anymore?”
Ying Tao gritted her teeth, walked over, and slapped her palm out, fierce as a kitten.
“Tickets.”
He Mingye looked at her with an unreadable gaze. “Little runt, if you want to pull strings through your brother… have you thought about what you’re going to pay?”
Ying Tao snapped her head up. The moment she met those deep, dark eyes, her mind went blank for an instant.
“What?” he said, mocking. “You think I do business at a loss?”
Ying Tao sniffed. “I never said I wouldn’t.”
He curled a lip in faint ridicule. His brows were clean and sharp. His gaze dropped to her hand.
Her hand was small, fingers thin. Her fingertips had a light layer of calluses—traces left by years of training.
He tugged his lips. “Can you play or not?”
He casually placed the grip into her palm.
The metal was cold against the slightly rough callus.
Where the gun pressed, a strange itch rose. Ying Tao forced herself to ignore it, voice still thick with a little sob.
“So what if I can?”
“See that?” He Mingye lifted his chin slightly, his lazy gaze falling on the distant target.
“If you can hit within the five-ring, I’ll give you the tickets.”
“Fine. Deal.”
Afraid he’d go back on his word again, Ying Tao immediately stuck out her pinky. “Pinky promise. If you trick me again, you’re a puppy.”
He Mingye scoffed.
His little finger hooked hers.
When he withdrew, his fingertip brushed her finger seam by accident.
Ying Tao shivered.
She turned away like she was calm, and looked down at the gun in her hand.
She hadn’t touched one before, but she’d watched Ying Baiqing practice at the range. She’d come along to watch—just never held it herself.
She raised the gun, copying what she remembered.
Her body stiffened. Her eyes locked on the bullseye.
But when she tried to squeeze the trigger—
It wouldn’t move.
Ying Tao froze.
He Mingye leaned there, watching the show.
Seeing her blank look, he laughed, teasing. “Thought you said you could play?”
Ying Tao’s cheeks burned. She tried a few more times and still couldn’t press it. Finally, she turned her head, frustrated, and looked at him.
“I’ve only watched. I’ve never done it. You… teach me.”
He Mingye looked down at her for a long time. Then he gave a muffled response, dragging the word out.
“Sure—”
“But, my lady, what are you going to trade me this time?”
“Having me teach you… is expensive.”
He lowered his eyes lazily. Black hair fell loosely over his forehead. The tail of his long eyes carried a cool, detached air that was somehow infuriatingly seductive.
His features were sharply three-dimensional, the lines hard and cold. Especially his brow bone—high and clean; his eye sockets—deep; his nose bridge—straight.
Every angle felt carved.
Ying Tao’s heartbeat sped up for no reason. Her cheeks grew hot too. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the grip—only for a moment.
She scrunched her nose, annoyed.
But she was the one asking for help, so she no longer had the nerve she’d come with.
Her voice turned soft without her meaning to, with no bite at all—more like she was acting cute.
“Then… what do you want?”
He Mingye’s eyes went dark, meaning unreadable.
“What do you think?”