Reborn as the Harem King-Chapter 146 Taking the Rich Girl to the Cafeteria

After finally finishing the class, Kong Huaijin grabbed her bag and turned to Zhou Yi with a smile. "Well, Zhou, I've sat through your lecture. Now it's your turn to treat me to lunch."

During the class, she hadn't interrupted him once—just quietly played on her phone while sitting in the back. When the professor asked who she was, she casually mentioned that she was auditing the course, and no one pressed further.

Zhou Yi let out a wry chuckle. "Sis, you run such a massive company. Why waste your precious time on someone like me? You could've made a fortune during this period."

Kong Huaijin leaned forward from her desk, raising an eyebrow as she looked down at him. "So you're saying you'd rather not have lunch with me?"

Zhou Yi pulled out his phone and showed her the screen. "Take a look. People are already speculating about us online. If this keeps spreading, it won't reflect well on you either."

Kong Huaijin glanced at the comments but couldn't help laughing at the absurdity of some posts.

"People sure do have active imaginations," she remarked.

"If this continues, I'm afraid Uncle Kong might call me soon." Zhou Yi added half-jokingly.

"My father would be thrilled if I found someone sooner rather than later. I'm not worried about what others think, so why should you be? Are rumors about me really that embarrassing?"

Kong Huaijin radiated confidence. Public opinion had never mattered much to her anyway. What did she care how others perceived her?

Besides, everyone knew she'd been trying to get Zhou Yi to join her for a meal. If she failed now, wouldn't that just make her look ridiculous?

She wasn't afraid of gossip, but she hated being underestimated. Kong Huaijin was fiercely independent—a woman who refused to back down until she hit a wall. If anyone doubted her ability to achieve something, she'd prove them wrong, no matter what.

Zhou Yi understood this trait all too well: her stubborn determination. A woman like her couldn't tolerate failure, let alone rejection.

He shook his head slightly. "Alright then, how about we grab lunch at the cafeteria?"

Kong Huaijin shrugged nonchalantly. "Sure, why not? It's not like I haven't eaten cafeteria food before. Actually, I kind of miss it."

Seeing her persistence, Zhou Yi relented. However, he remained firm about meeting Elena on Wednesday.

Their arrival at the cafeteria naturally drew attention. As they walked side by side, Zhou Yi offered politely, "Let me carry your bag, Sis."

Without hesitation, she handed it over. "Thanks."

She scanned the bustling space, nostalgia flickering across her face. "These young, energetic faces... they remind me of my own college days."

"You don't look much older than them yourself," Zhou Yi teased lightly. "Why bring up age all of a sudden?"

"Looks can be maintained, but youth..." She paused, her voice softening. "Once it's gone, it never comes back."

Her demeanor around Zhou Yi was relaxed, markedly different from when he first met her. Back then, surrounded by business elders from the Kong family, she'd been reserved and calculating—analyzing every word spoken in the room. The tension had been palpable.

But today, here in the university setting, things were different. Her guard was down, and her mood lighter.

As they queued up for food, people instinctively kept their distance. Puzzled, Kong Huaijin asked, "Why is everyone staying so far away? Is there something wrong with me?"

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"It's your bag," Zhou Yi explained. "People are afraid of accidentally bumping into it. If it gets damaged, they wouldn't be able to afford replacing it."

Kong Huaijin laughed softly. "Ah, I see. Guess I didn't think about that."

She'd simply grabbed whatever bag was handy. Truthfully, she didn't own anything cheap enough to worry about.

Zhou Yi grinned. "When others invite you to dine, it's usually at fancy restaurants. Here I am taking you to a school cafeteria. Must seem pretty stingy, huh?"

Kong Huaijin tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smirking. "Others couldn't even get me to agree to dinner."

To anyone else, such a statement might sound arrogant. But coming from Kong Huaijin, it carried weight—she had earned the right to her pride.

"Do you have any classes this afternoon?" she asked.

"Nope."

"What are your plans, then?"

"Head to the office. There's still work waiting for me."

"So dedicated," she teased, though her affection level subtly increased. She admired ambition.

Noticing the change, Zhou Yi smiled knowingly. "Success doesn't come without effort. Resting isn't an option if I want to stay ahead."

Kong Huaijin nodded approvingly. "True. Most guys your age are probably out having fun. Don't you have a girlfriend?"

She wasn't sure why she suddenly felt curious about his love life.

Zhou Yi shook his head. "Haven't met the right person yet."

Unconsciously, her smile widened. With trays in hand, they found a table and sat down.

Leaning back thoughtfully, Kong Huaijin ventured, "How about I tag along to your office this afternoon? Everyone's been talking about Huanyu lately—it sounds fascinating."

She wanted to spend more time with him but needed an excuse. Zhou Yi pretended not to notice her underlying motive.

"Sure thing. I could actually use your advice on something. In fact, I've got a promising project. Would you consider collaborating?"

Zhou Yi knew women like Kong Huaijin wouldn't respect a man who relied on others. He needed to showcase his competence to earn her admiration.

Intrigued, Kong Huaijin's eyes lit up. "Alright, let's check out your company later."

Glancing at his watch, Zhou Yi said, "It's barely 1 PM. Employees are still on break. Let's wait a bit."

"By the time we arrive, it'll be close to 2 PM."

"Our company starts work at 3 PM."

Kong Huaijin raised an eyebrow, impressed. Normally, capitalists like herself wouldn't sacrifice working hours—but she appreciated the philosophy behind his decision.

"In your case, giving up time means giving up profit. Am I too greedy, or are you unusually generous as a boss?"

Zhou Yi gave a faint smile. "I want to succeed too, but squeezing extra hours out of employees isn't worth it. Focusing on meaningful projects matters more than clinging to an additional hour of productivity."

Kong Huaijin studied him, a mix of curiosity and admiration in her gaze. Human greed was hard to tame; most capitalists exploited workers because it was easier than finding better solutions. Yet here was Zhou Yi, choosing a different path.

"Do you think people will call you foolish? Or accuse you of putting on a show, like those bosses online?"

"Not foolish," she replied. "You're just disciplined enough to resist greed. Maybe I should learn from you—but it's risky. People might misunderstand."

"You'll see when you visit my company. My team is incredible."

Zhou Yi's expression brimmed with quiet confidence, his smile warm and genuine. For the first time, Kong Huaijin noticed a softer side to him—one that caught her off guard.

Her heart skipped a beat. Quickly changing the subject, she asked, "So... where are we heading next?"

Zhou Yi lowered his gaze, his lips curving into a knowing smile. "The amusement park."