Chapter 18: So Engaging, All Knowledge Points!

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The emotional lives of domestic students tend to be rather distorted. During middle and high school, teachers and parents guard against early romances like they’re some raging beast, utterly forbidden to touch. Although things ease up a bit in college, academics still take precedence. Then, just a year or two after graduation, the pressure to get married starts ramping up. By the time you reach your mid-thirties, the societal push for marriage hits its peak.

Most college students who have gone through this end up rebelling by diving into relationships with a vengeance. Many couples who dated in high school break up in a wave of long-distance splits once they enter their freshman year.

Song Jing wasn’t a freshman, but he was just as troubled by love. After a few drinks and with the group’s mood warming, he opened up: “Ah, what can I say? It’s just my one-sided feelings.”

“Uh-huh~” The group responded knowingly.

Lü Yao, curious, asked, “What do you mean?”

So Song Jing shared his emotional woes. He liked a girl who also rapped, and he was sincere about it. He prepared little gifts for holidays, even tailored presents to her wishes. But despite dropping hints about wanting to be together, she never agreed—saying she wasn’t ready for a relationship and worried it might ruin their friendship.

That was ridiculous!

Lü Yao teased, “So, you’re basically a simp.”

“A simp?” The others looked puzzled.

Lü Yao laughed, “Someone who bends over backwards for the girl they like, putting on a warm face only to get the cold shoulder.”

Song Jing’s face instantly flushed red—how insulting! Veins popping on his forehead, he argued, “I really like her... love her! How is that being a simp?”

Lü Yao raised his glass and said softly, “Some people’s hearts are made of stone—the more you try, the harder they get. Maybe the better you treat her, the more she puts on airs?”

Song Jing froze.

Lü Yao chuckled, clearly hitting a nerve.

Everyone except Zuozuo caught the double meaning in Lü Yao’s words, their expressions shifting to “Ah, I get it now!”

After a moment, Song Jing snapped back angrily, “So what? As long as I persist, won’t even the hardest heart soften eventually?”

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Wow! This guy was ruthless! Not only was he willing to be a simp, he aimed to keep it up long-term... wouldn’t he end up covered in filth?

Lü Yao shook his head, “That won’t work.”

Xu Ziqiao, listening intently, asked, “Lü, you have a solution?”

Lü Yao smiled, “Pour me a drink, I’ll teach you!”

Song Jing raised an eyebrow but didn’t hesitate to clink glasses, “Lü, this one’s on me!”

He was already ready to be a simp; what was a toast more or less?

Lü Yao dropped the act and immediately laid out his advice: “Listen carefully, these are key points.”

Song Jing focused completely. Even Nali, Zhou Beila, and Xu Ziqiao leaned in, curious about Lü Yao’s secret moves.

Lü Yao asked slowly, “Does the girl you like have a close girlfriend or bestie?”

Song Jing blinked, instinctively nodded, “Yes.”

Lü Yao said, “From today on, don’t focus your attention on the girl you like. Invite her and her bestie out, but be nicer to the bestie.”

“Buy her the milk tea, little gifts, stir up some subtle flirtation.”

Song Jing was stunned, “Is that really okay?”

Zuozuo frowned.

Zhou Beila, fresh from a failed relationship, looked disgusted, “Isn’t that just playing dirty?”

Lü Yao laughed, “Ah Jing’s girl isn’t exactly an angel either. If she were good, would she keep dangling Ah Jing like that? If you don’t like her, don’t accept her gifts.”

Whoa.

The girls suddenly had a realization—it made sense.

Song Jing urged, “Go on, Lü.”

Lü Yao held up a finger, “There’s a theory behind this. People are greedy—they never feel grateful no matter how much they get. But people also hate losing things! Even if it’s a favor, once it becomes routine, if you stop, they get upset.”

Nali raised an eyebrow—this guy had some insight. The principle of “favor repaid with resentment” could be cleverly exploited.

Lü Yao raised a second finger, “People are also petty; regret usually starts with loss.”

He took a sip, “When you can easily stir someone’s emotions, winning her over isn’t far off.”

“Damn!” Xu Ziqiao slammed the table, “Lü, when did you get so ruthless? That’s downright vicious!”

Song Jing felt enlightened, countered, “No way! Lü’s strategy is masterful—he’s a true tactician!”

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Zhou Beila gasped, “Whoa—this guy is terrifying.”

Even usually taciturn Zuozuo chimed in, “Yeah, better keep your distance.”

But when a girl says that, it usually means she’s interested.

Song Jing pulled out his phone, “Lü, I’m adding you on QQ. I’ll report back anytime.”

Zhou Beila eagerly said, “Add me, too! Let’s make a group chat!”

She wanted to stay up-to-date on the drama—and see what other tricks Lü Yao had up his sleeve.

Though Lü Yao was seemingly helping Song Jing, he was actually controlling the flow of the conversation, and he smiled at his success. He’d caught Zhou Beila’s interest; once they had the group chat, pulling Zuozuo in wouldn’t be hard.

That meant he now had contact with two beautiful girls.

This was the chat technique Lü Yao had mastered before his rebirth. Many collaborations were sealed through subtle conversation, requiring skillful use of tactics and planting hooks.

In just this exchange, Lü Yao used strategies like “stirring the grass to scare the snake,” “feinting east while attacking west,” and “secretly crossing the river without the enemy’s knowledge,” successfully engaging the two girls and learning Zhou Beila’s style.

At this point, it was almost done.

Flirting was like cooking delicate fish—the timing and intensity must be just right, flowing smoothly and unnoticed.

For example, now, although Lü Yao was helping Song Jing, it was Zhou Beila who eagerly pushed to add Lü’s contact, clearly finding him intriguing.

This left Xu Ziqiao and Song Jing stunned.

Xu Ziqiao was a seasoned veteran; he quickly grasped the situation.

If they weren’t at the dinner table, he’d be on his knees hugging Lü Yao, shouting “Godfather!”

He just hoped Lü Yao would teach him all his secrets.

Master these skills, and conquering a hundred girls would be a breeze.