Chapter 40: What Are They Competing For…

Pei Duo Xing carried the food container back to the lounge, but Jin He was being stubborn and didn’t want to eat.

“You still have nearly two hours this afternoon,” Cui Zhe persuaded from the side. “How can you last without eating?”

The mere thought of Sun Yongmin made Jin He too angry to have any appetite.

He curled up on the sofa, too lazy to even speak.

Cui Zhe sighed and gave Pei Duo Xing a meaningful look.

Pei Duo Xing arranged the food from the container piece by piece on the coffee table, saying with some frustration: “If you ask me, this competition is just too unfair. Since A He is playing, Zhao Taihe and Xia Mi La should also compete. What’s the point of just sending substitutes? Even if White Tiger Hall or Vermilion Bird Hall ultimately wins, Zhao Taihe and Xia Mi La still can’t compare to A He.”

This argument was somewhat sophistic. Actually, if Jin He had more capable players available, he would definitely send others to compete too.

But Pei Duo Xing’s words still made him feel much better.

While he couldn’t match that monstrous player Sun Yongmin, he was still far superior to Zhao Taihe and Xia Mi La – those two who didn’t dare to compete themselves.

His resistance immediately lessened, and he leaned forward to pick up chopsticks and start eating.

Seeing this, Cui Zhe smiled and gave Pei Duo Xing a thumbs-up.

However, while Pei Duo Xing’s comfort could restore Jin He’s appetite, it couldn’t influence the outcome of the match.

In the second half, Sun Yongming grew increasingly dominant, scoring two holes-in-one and securing first place by a wide margin.

Ding Yuan steadily maintained his position to take second place. Jin He came in third, just a few points behind.

He actually had opportunities to beat Ding Yuan but failed to capitalize on them, making mistakes.

In the end, he lost.

When this outcome actually materialized, his chaebol upbringing showed through.

Casually tossing aside his golf club, he accepted expressionlessly: “I honor my bets.”

He didn’t avoid or run away during the subsequent free activity time, instead staying with everyone.

Actually, everyone had originally come here to have fun – the competition was just a spontaneous idea.

When he had accompanied Pei Duo Xing to buy this golf outfit, both of them had been quite happy and excited. He’d even said he would teach Pei Duo Xing to play. But now he had no interest left, and little energy remaining – he’d already been playing for several hours.

So the task of teaching Pei Duo Xing golf fell to Cui Zhe, while Jin He sat on the sofa behind them watching.

Besides them at the tee, there was also Jin Can, another beginner.

But Jin Can’s side was much more lively, with not just the coach and caddie but also Xia Mi La and Sun Yongmin keeping him company.

Their chatting and laughter occasionally drifted over, and somehow during the conversation, they managed to coax Xia Mi La onto the tee.

Jin Can yielded his position as Xia Mi La stepped up, everyone scattering to give her space.

Xia Mi La gripped her club, assumed the proper stance, then cleanly struck the ball.

The sharp “crack” made everyone turn to look at her.

Xia Mi La was no mere pretty face – her shot showed perfect accuracy, explosive power, and her entire motion was fluid yet full of strength, remarkably dashing and impressive.

“Wow…”

Everyone who saw that shot applauded and cheered for her.

The people around her stepped forward again, laughing and offering compliments.

Xia Mila seemed a bit embarrassed. Holding the golf club, she said something that made everyone around her laugh.

Even Jin Can’s face showed a rare hint of a smile.

Cui Zhe felt that the atmosphere around Xia Mila was very pleasant.

Not just at this moment, but recently, whenever people were around her, they seemed happy and at ease.

In contrast, Jin He had been frequently unhappy lately, which put pressure on those around him.

How could this be? It didn’t make sense… After all, Jin He was the one actively choosing the life he wanted, while Mila had always been passive.

Passively breaking off the engagement, passively leaving the Azure Dragon Hall, passively joining the Vermilion Bird Hall.

Yet now, she seemed more carefree and joyful.

“Hey,” Pei Duoxing’s voice sounded beside him, “how long are you planning to stare?”

Only when she reminded him did Cui Zhe realize he had been staring at Xia Mila the whole time.

“Ah, well…” He averted his gaze and refocused on the golf club in Pei Duoxing’s hand. “Your hand…”

Instead, Pei Duoxing set the club down.

She stared into his eyes. “You’ve been looking at her many times.”

Not just now ever since they stood here, ever since Xia Mila and the others arrived, he couldn’t help but glance over at her. He probably hadn’t even noticed it himself.

Cui Zhe truly hadn’t noticed. He just felt unusually unfocused today.

Hearing Pei Duoxing’s words, he lifted his head and looked at her.

They had shared an innocent childhood and still retained some understanding of each other. Sometimes, just by looking into each other’s eyes, they could guess what the other was thinking.

Now, as their eyes met, Pei Duoxing continued, “You said Xia Mila saw through your intentions. You said you wouldn’t get close to her again. So why do you keep watching her?”

“…”

Cui Zhe couldn’t answer that question.

Zhao Taihe was in the lounge on the second floor.

The curved design of the room allowed him to stand by the floor-to-ceiling window and clearly observe the scene below where Xia Mila and the others were.

The pink-haired girl he had brought along kept taking photos with her phone snapping pictures of the scenery, the surroundings, and herself only stopping when she was satisfied. Then she stood up and clung to Zhao Taihe.

“Ah Tai…” She wrapped her arms around his and pressed close to him. “Didn’t you say you’d play golf with me?”

Zhao Taihe chuckled.

He knew exactly what her skill level was. Nowadays, many people didn’t really know how to play golf they just came to the course to take photos and fabricate a glamorous image, pretending to be socialites or heirs of wealthy families.

He didn’t expose her, but simply brushed her off lightly. “Step back a bit. Your hair is distracting.”

“What’s wrong with my hair?” The pink-haired girl was a little offended, feeling that her taste was being challenged. “This is a very trendy color right now. Shen Xueyi has the same hair color.”

Shen Xueyi was the most popular female idol at the moment.

Zhao Taihe laughed again. “That’s Shen Xueyi. Do you really think you can compare to her?”

“Why do you have to say that?” The girl was genuinely upset now. She thought she was quite attractive otherwise, how would she have won Zhao Taihe over? With that thought, she snuggled even closer to him.

Unfortunately, Zhao Taihe didn’t even glance at that pretty face, instead frowning slightly with impatience.

“You should go back first,” he directly issued the dismissal.

“Huh?” The pink-haired girl couldn’t quite grasp his meaning.

“I’ll have them arrange a car to take you back,” Zhao Taihe said while looking out the window below. “They’ll deliver that necklace you liked to you in a few days. From now on, don’t appear before me again.”

This clearly meant a breakup.

The pink-haired girl didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad. Happy because the necklace she’d need to save for a year to buy was being gifted after just a few days with Zhao Taihe. Sad because she was quite reluctant to break up with him.

Zhao Taihe was too handsome – just having his face as a boyfriend was already impressive.

If only they could keep dating… This was a thought many girls had, but none had managed it. Every girl who came to Zhao Taihe initially hoped to be the special one, but ultimately just became one of his many ordinary girlfriends.

The only thing everyone could do was not cling when Zhao Taihe wanted to break up, leaving with as much dignity as possible.

Staring at Zhao Taihe’s handsome face, the pink-haired girl hesitated before finally letting go, obediently responding: “I understand.”

Then, accompanied by Bian Junye, she walked out step by step, looking back repeatedly.

Throughout it all, Zhao Taihe never once looked at her.

After she left, he let out a long sigh of relief.

“What’s wrong?” Ding Yuan approached, standing by his side. “Why did you suddenly send her away when everything was fine? Didn’t you think she was cute before?”

“She’s somewhat cute on her own,” Zhao Taihe exhaled, “but with comparison, not so cute anymore.”

Ding Yuan followed his gaze downward and immediately spotted Xia Mi La below.

Jin Can was now only accompanied by his coach and caddy. Sun Yongmin had gone to rest in the back, while Xia Mi La had moved to another pit to practice her swings alone.

With one swing, her hair and skirt fluttered.

Indeed cute – slender arms and legs, a delicate silhouette, like a girl straight out of a manga.

He laughed: “You think Xia Mi La is cuter?”

Zhao Taihe didn’t hide it, nodding with an “mm” sound.

Ding Yuan laughed again: “I’m saying, you can think it, but don’t go saying it to her face. Casually comparing her to others will definitely make her scold you, and it’ll make you seem low-class too.”

“What did you say,” Zhao Taihe spoke lightly. “Say it again.”

“I said, no girl likes being casually compared, especially Xia Mi La – she definitely won’t like it,” Ding Yuan scratched his head, not daring to repeat the last part, only weakly adding, “She’ll definitely scold you.”

But Zhao Taihe smiled: “Really?”

He revealed his white teeth, smiling eagerly with a punchable expression: “She’s never scolded Jin He. If she scolds me, wouldn’t that be interesting?”

Ding Yuan: “…”

What kind of competition is this, may I ask?

After standing there watching for a while longer, Zhao Taihe went downstairs.

Hands in pockets, he leisurely made his way toward Xia Mi La.

Standing to the side, he watched her take two swings.

Xia Mi La noticed him too, and seeing him standing there without leaving, she glanced at him curiously: “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you playing? Where are the people with you?”

Zhao Taihe had been waiting for her to ask this very question. Upon hearing it, he took two more steps forward until he stood behind her.

“I let her go,” he said, staring into her eyes before letting his gaze drift to her tender pink lips. “Seeing you suddenly made her seem uninteresting.” He paused, then chuckled softly. “You’re much more adorable.”

———————–

Author’s Note: Does he deserve a punch? [Ooooh]