Only I Understand His Gentle Heart - Chapter 98.1

What’s the best thing about WeChat? Being able to snatch red envelopes and receive red envelopes, of course! Tang Xin’s favorite activity was tapping open red envelopes. And now, 99 red envelopes each tagged with “I like you”? It wasn’t just her eyes that were spinning; her heart was doing flips too.

Tang Yu was just too sneaky!

Not only sneaky but ruthless.

After hesitating for one second, Tang Xin flopped onto her bed and began tapping the red envelopes. Ninety-nine declarations of “I like you” meant tapping until her hand got tired.

Tang Yu must be feeling smug right now, convinced that this brilliant maneuver would win her over. She couldn’t figure out how he’d even thought of it. It saved time, spared him the effort of verbal explanations, and—she had to admit—completely hit the mark with her.

But…

As she hummed “Love isn’t something you can buy just because you want to” to herself, she counted each envelope in her head.

When she reached the 88th, she stopped.

After all, one shouldn’t be greedy.

Greed always leads to losses!

Tang Xin sent Tang Yu a row of cutesy “little girl bowing” gifs with a caption, “Thank you, Boss!”

After sending the message, she exited WeChat, opened her food delivery app, and ordered something delicious. While waiting, she freshened up and put on an American drama, all the while glancing at her phone to see if Tang Yu had replied. Forty minutes later, her food arrived. Still no response from him.

Did I make him angry?

Tang Xin split apart her disposable chopsticks, feeling slightly peeved as she stuffed a chicken wing into her mouth.

At Elite Vision Entertainment, Tang Yu had just wrapped up a meeting. As he stepped out of the conference room, Assistant Gao respectfully handed him his phone. “Mr. Tang, your phone kept vibrating earlier—probably over a hundred times.”

A hundred times?

Tang Yu’s WeChat notifications were usually limited since he muted all nonessential group chats and unimportant contacts.

The corners of his lips curved slightly. Rich Girl must’ve been collecting her red envelopes.

He opened WeChat and, sure enough, saw the 99+ message notification from Tang Xin. Clicking into their chat, he immediately spotted her “little girl bowing” gif with its sparkly caption, “Thank you, Boss!”

He couldn’t help but smile. She always sent that sticker whenever she accepted his red envelopes. Despite the animated gif being a cartoon girl, Tang Xin’s big round eyes and blinking lashes made her oddly similar to the character.

Scrolling up briefly, he skimmed through the sea of messages. Since there were so many, he assumed she’d collected all the envelopes.

A soft chuckle escaped him, leaving Assistant Gao with the impression that his boss was positively glowing with joy.

Tang Yu checked the time: 12:40 p.m.

Walking toward his office, he called Tang Xin.

The phone rang as Tang Xin gnawed on her third chicken wing. Quickly wiping her greasy hands, she picked up the call, trying to sound nonchalant. “Mr. Tang, are you off work?”

Tang Yu entered his office, his tone warm as he chuckled. “Have you eaten?”

Tang Xin glanced at her half-eaten takeout. “Mm… I’m halfway through some takeout. Are you planning to treat me to a meal?”

Tang Yu had an evening social engagement, but he figured he could adjust his schedule and spare a couple of hours to see her. After all, with 99 declarations of “I like you,” their relationship should now be official. It wouldn’t feel right not to meet.

“Come over,” he said, his voice carrying an unmistakable smile.

His obvious good mood puzzled Tang Xin. “Mr. Tang, why are you so happy?”

Reclining lazily on the office sofa, Tang Yu stretched out his long legs, laughing again. “You accepted my 99 red envelopes saying ‘I like you.’ We’re officially a couple now. Shouldn’t I be happy?”

“…”

Wait. Tang Xin lowered her phone. She distinctly remembered only accepting 88 of them!

Had Tang Yu not checked properly?

In a burst of generosity, Tang Xin decided to clarify. “Mr. Tang, did you even look at the messages? Go count—I only accepted 88 envelopes. There are still 11 left. Eleven! Two lonely singles. That means we’re still single—two lonely singles!”

“…”

Tang Yu’s grin froze, and he suddenly sat upright, all traces of his previously relaxed demeanor vanishing. His tone dropped, now tinged with irritation. “What?”

Tang Xin smiled sweetly. “Sending 99 red envelopes with ‘I like you’ is such a flashy move! You probably thought I’d accept them all and fall for you in a day. But I’m not that easy, hehe. I only accepted 88! That leaves 11. Two lonely singles! Tomorrow afternoon, those 11 envelopes will bounce back to you.”

“…”

To hell with two lonely singles!

Tang Yu had never been so tempted to crack open someone’s skull to examine their thought processes.

Tang Xin, entirely unbothered, hummed smugly. “You shouldn’t be mad. If anything, you should be grateful I’m clever enough not to be blinded by money.”

Tang Yu let out a cold laugh. “Oh, I’m thrilled.”

Tang Xin, “…”

That tone didn’t sound thrilled at all.

She asked cautiously, “So… are you still going to treat me to lunch?”

Tang Yu, on the verge of being driven mad by Rich Girl’ antics, leaned back against the sofa, staring at the ceiling. Loosening two buttons on his shirt, he exhaled deeply and grumbled, “Eat my ass. Only girlfriends get treated.”

Tang Xin huffed, picking up the last chicken wing. “Fine! I’ll just eat my takeout.”

After a pause, Tang Yu asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to eat?”

“Nope!”

This time, Rich Girl stood her ground firmly.

Tang Xin had liked Tang Yu first, but if she let him win so easily now, she’d probably be at his mercy forever.

Meanwhile, Tang Yu, who had gotten himself a glass of water, could only think about pinching Rich Girl’ round face—pinching it hard and thoroughly, just to get back at her. As he imagined her teary-eyed reaction, he downed the entire glass, set it down, and said flatly, “Come over. Even if you’re not my girlfriend, I’ll take you out to eat. Whatever you want.”

Thinking she’d likely get scolded if she went, Tang Xin opted to play it safe. “I already started eating; I don’t want to waste food. Maybe next time. I’ll nap this afternoon.”

Tang Yu chuckled knowingly. “Still not rested?”

Tang Xin yawned, “Nope, still super tired…”

Fine.

Tang Yu, already worn down by her antics, sighed internally. This was just Tang Xin being Tang Xin. After all, Feisty Queens never liked taking a loss.

“Alright then,” he said casually. “Eat and go to sleep, Feisty Queen.”

“…Okay.”

After hanging up, Tang Yu returned to his desk. He asked Assistant Gao to bring him lunch, leaning back with one hand massaging his temple. Sliding open their WeChat chat, he saw the glaringly untouched 11 red envelopes.

He smirked.

Fine. I’ll deal with her later.

Tang Xin, meanwhile, resumed eating her takeout. While she ate, she responded to the many friends messaging her. After announcing her return on WeChat, plenty of people wanted to hang out, grab dinner, or go shopping.

She declined them all, pushing plans to another day. She had already made plans to meet You Huan for dinner that evening.

After finishing her meal, she cleaned up the boxes when her phone rang again.

It was her mother.

“Xin Xin, are you busy these next few days? If not, come home for a visit.”

“Hmm… Let me think,” Tang Xin hesitated. She hadn’t been home in a while, and since she didn’t have immediate plans or a new script to write, she figured she should make the trip. But what about Tang Yu? If she left now, he’d probably think she was chickening out.

And truthfully, she didn’t really want to leave him either.

Her mother, undeterred, added, “Didn’t you post on your WeChat saying everyone could hang out with you? Come spend time with us too!”

Tang Xin. “…”

She had forgotten how much her parents loved stalking her posts. Now she had no excuse to refuse. If she did, they might stop sending her red envelopes in the future. Reluctantly, she caved. “Alright, I’ll check flights…”

“No need! Your dad already had his secretary book you a ticket. You should’ve gotten a text. Tomorrow morning—check your phone for the flight details,” her mother said cheerily.

Tang Xin, resigned, smiled weakly. “Okay, thanks, Mom. Love you! Mwah, mwah!”

Now, how would she explain this to Tang Yu?

Tang Xin stared at her phone, frowning.

That night.

By the time Tang Yu returned home, it was past midnight. He had drunk quite a bit at his evening engagement and felt slightly tipsy. After a shower, he sobered up a little and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. Standing by the table, he sipped while scrolling through WeChat.

Rich Girl had posted two updates.

The first was a rare selfie during dinner. Many people had commented on how she looked like she’d gained weight, to which she huffily replied, “Starting my diet tomorrow!”

The second post, at 11 p.m., read, “Going to sleep, dreaming of becoming filthy rich!”

Attached was a familiar sticker, that cute little girl bowing and saying, “Thank you, Boss!”

Tang Yu chuckled, set down his glass, and returned to his room. Leaning against the headboard with one leg propped up, he lazily sent Rich Girl another set of 99 red envelopes, each labeled “I like you.”

Let’s see if she’d accept them this time.

The next morning, Tang Xin rushed to the airport. Seeing Tang Yu’s 99 red envelopes, she tapped open… one. Then she hurriedly boarded her flight.

Before takeoff, she posted two pictures on WeChat, one of the tarmac and another of her suitcase, captioned: “Heading home for a few days ☀️.”

Tang Yu saw the post at noon.

He frowned and called her. When the call didn’t connect, he figured she was still on the plane.

Fine. She only took one red envelope and now she’s run home.

Taking a deep breath, he gave her post a like.

When Tang Xin’s plane landed, her parents were already waiting for her. The moment her mother saw her, she beamed. “Oh, Darling Xin! You’ve put on a little weight, haven’t you?”

Tang Xin. “…”

The last thing she wanted to hear right now was weight!

Her father chuckled warmly. “A little weight is good. You were too skinny before. Remember how cute you were as a chubby little girl?”

Determined, Tang Xin swore she’d shed those extra pounds. Huffing, she replied, “Dad, that was when I was a kid. Now being chubby means no one will want to date me!”

If Tang Yu heard that, he’d probably explode.

No one would want to date her? As if he didn’t exist?