"What about you? You're quite successful in your career, and you're so pretty—why don't you have a boyfriend?"
"I asked you first."
"I suppose I just haven't met the right person. Marriage is for life, and I don't want to just settle. There, I answered. Your turn."
"More or less the same. I haven't met anyone suitable."
"With how often you go on blind dates, not a single one caught your eye?"
"Are you ever going to let this go?"
"Alright, I'll stop. Let's change the subject. How about we talk about our exes? I asked first this time, so you have to go first."
Hearing He Wenjie's words, Yang Tao was momentarily stunned. "There's nothing to talk about. It's all in the past. You can figure out the rest yourself, I'm heading home."
"Don't do that. I ordered delivery, it'll be here soon. You've been busy all day, you have to eat something at least."
Just then, He Wenjie's phone rang. Although it was takeout, with He Wenjie's financial backing, it was practically a private chef service. Seeing the messy state of He Wenjie's place, the dinner location was ultimately moved to Yang Tao's apartment.
Since everything came pre-prepared, the chef quickly finished cooking a few dishes, set them on the table, and left. He Wenjie also brought out the red wine he had bought a couple of days ago. "Taozi, where are your wine glasses?"
Yang Tao took the red wine from He Wenjie. As a five-star hotel lobby manager, her ability to identify red wine was far superior to his. "This wine isn't cheap. It costs about as much as my monthly salary, and I don't even have a professional decanter at home. It's kind of a waste."
"Even the most expensive wine is meant to be drunk. If we don't have a decanter, any glass pitcher will do. The effect is the same."
The two of them chatted as they drank. Under the influence of the alcohol, Yang Tao opened up and began talking about her past. He Wenjie already knew about Yang Tao's ex-boyfriend; the reason he wanted her to talk about it was to lay the groundwork for his upcoming plan. Only by getting Yang Tao to open up about her past first would He Wenjie have a reason to exact revenge on her behalf.
After eating their fill, the two of them left the dining table carrying the half-finished bottle of wine and leaned against the sofa to keep drinking. Listening to Yang Tao open up about her views on love and recount the grievances she had suffered in her relationships, He Wenjie proved to be a perfect listener. Soon, the bottle was empty.
By this time, the alcohol had gone to Yang Tao's head, but she wasn't ready to stop yet. She pouted coquettishly at He Wenjie, "The wine's gone. I want more."
"I'll go open that other bottle."
He Wenjie came back with the red wine, and the two resumed their conversation. "He Wenjie, I told you all about my past. Now I want to hear about your ex."
"An ex?" He Wenjie couldn't help thinking of his ex-girlfriend from another spacetime. "Back then I didn't have much money, and I lacked drive. I probably didn't give her any hope for the future being with me. After a while, we naturally broke up."
"You're this rich now, and you call yourself undriven?"
"Back then, what I saved in a whole year couldn't even buy this bottle of wine."
"So she was a gold digger?"
"You can't put it that way. The me back then really wasn't good enough for her. It was my fault. She's a wonderful person, and she suffered a lot of grievances during the time she was with me. I owe her."
"Not many people can still speak well of their ex after a breakup. If she contacted you now, would you get back together with her?"
"Of course not. The past is the past. We haven't been in touch since we broke up."
"Do you still love her?"
"It's not love anymore. What I miss is the youth when she was there."
"I didn't take you for the literary type."
"You're making me blush. Come on, let's drink."
Soon, the second bottle of red wine was also empty. The two sat on the sofa holding their empty glasses in a daze, neither mentioning calling it a night. He Wenjie was already secretly regretting that he hadn't bought more wine.
"Taozi, what do you think of me?"
"You're pretty great."
"Am I husband material?"
"Ah, why are you suddenly saying things like that? Are you teasing me just because I go on so many blind dates?"
"No, I'm serious. Taozi, I like you. Would you be my girlfriend?"
"Are you serious?"
"Of course."
"When did you start liking me?"
"The moment you stood by the window watching the wedding outside, I suddenly felt the impulse to pursue you."
"What do you like about me? It can't be my looks, surely? I'm already over thirty, in another ten years I won't have any competitive edge against those young girls. You're so rich, finding a pretty young girl must be easy."
"Looks were definitely what drew me in at first, but what keeps me hooked is your personality and character."
"You renting the apartment across from me was—"
"I did it on purpose. I just wanted to get close to you."
"What a coincidence that the tenants across the hall happened to be moving out?"
"I paid to find them a better place."
"So you're just like all the others, scheming to get close to me?"
"The process doesn't matter. What matters is that I like you, and my intentions are good."
"I don't have time to play romance games with you rich guys. If you've got the guts, let's go get married right now."
"Alright. Tomorrow, grab your ID and household registration book and we'll go register."
"You're joking."
"Or I could go back and grab my household registration book for you right now."
"No need, I believe you."
Hearing Yang Tao's hint, He Wenjie put down his wine glass, leaned in, and kissed her.
After a brief moment of adaptation, Yang Tao also put down her glass and responded passionately to He Wenjie's affection.
Stimulated by the alcohol, their clothes began to come off piece by piece. Just as they were about to cross the final threshold, Yang Tao used her last shred of reason to stop him, saying, "Not here. Let's go to the bedroom."
"Alright, bedroom it is for today. Next time we get the chance—"
Looking at Yang Tao's flushed and bashful face in his arms, He Wenjie didn't tease her any further. Now wasn't the time for talking; the key now was to make her fall completely in love with him through actions.
Back in the bed, Yang Tao became even more nervous than before. He Wenjie sensed the change in her. "What's wrong?"
"Be gentle, I'm a little nervous."
"Nervous? You're not—?"
Due to this unexpected development, He Wenjie didn't rush to take things further. Instead, he patiently helped ease Yang Tao's tension. After a sharp pang of pain, Yang Tao fell completely in love with the man before her.
When He Wenjie woke up the next day, he saw Yang Tao sleeping soundly in his arms like a little kitten, her arms tightly wrapped around his waist.
He Wenjie's movement in getting up woke the sleeping Yang Tao. "You're awake. What time is it?" With that, Yang Tao glanced at the clock. "Oh, I'm going to be late! I have to work today." She tried to get up, but the physical discomfort made her frown.
"Take a day off, Taozi. Stay home and get some rest."
"I can't, I've already been resting at home for two days."