I have a persona specifically for acting.

Vodka, Cointreau, lemon juice, cranberry juice…

Ice cubes clinked crisply as they tumbled into the shaker, followed by colorful liquids swirling through the air, tracing vibrant patterns.

Han Zhi’s cocktail-making was effortless and relaxed, exuding a calm and skilled aura. He didn’t seem like a bartender but more like someone showcasing a personal hobby after work, displaying it only to close friends. His posture and gaze were relaxed.

Generally, when spending time alone together, one person’s nervousness can affect the other.

But with Han Zhi, that wasn’t the case.

He remained completely relaxed.

He was also patient, willing to wait slowly for his partner to drop her guard, exuding an effortless composure—If you’re nervous, go at your own pace. If you have no ideas, no experience, or no rhythm, that’s fine too. We’ll take it slow, as long as you’re happy.

Given the distance across the bar, Chang Xiaonian thought she could resist the allure of a handsome man.

It was definitely better than being alone in a private screening room.

Whenever she thought about how her slightly flattened nose affected her profile, or how her skin started to oil up after just half an hour indoors, she felt a strong urge to flee. She understood why Zhong Muxi said after watching a movie with Han Zhi—

[“He’s a really great man, but the better he is, the more I feel inadequate.”]

At the time, Chang Xiaonian had been fed a lot of the usual “girls are angels” and “you’re a perfect match” motivational talk.

But when faced with Han Zhi…

Under different influences, girls are often unable to learn the kind of “beautiful people thinking that any glance from them means interest” confidence.

Chang Xiaonian gathered her courage and took a furtive glance at him.

Unexpectedly, Han Zhi was also looking at her.

His originally indifferent and focused expression softened into a smile as their eyes met, his previously aloof and melancholic face seemed to light up with a smile because of her.

…

Chang Xiaonian was stunned, and her heart nearly skipped a beat.

Help, where did this enchanting man come from?

The production team expertly captured this moment with a close-up shot.

Fans who had been waiting for their favorite scenes from the older brother’s segment covered their hearts and cried out:

[Although I don’t like Chang Xiaonian, I totally understand her reaction…]

[Brother Zhi’s solo performance, oh my god, it’s so sour I’m in tears.]

[Ah, I should have signed up for this variety show too! I’m willing to embarrass myself on the show!]

[Fans, give up. Your subconscious is automatically drawn to variety shows; without needing Han Zhi to charm you, you’ve already given in.]

…

“Cosmopolitan, a timeless classic.”

Han Zhi pushed the prepared cocktail towards Chang Xiaonian.

The lights in the bar were somewhat hazy, casting a dreamy hue over the deep red cocktail in the martini glass. It wasn’t overly bright, which would have made it look cheap; instead, it had a subtle elegance. A freshly cut lime wedge perched on the rim of the glass. This cocktail was as common as Chanel No. 5, but being commonplace meant it was very palatable, withstanding the impact of new trends, and it was also suitable for women who were not very familiar with cocktails.

Besides…

Most girls cannot resist beautifully colored drinks.

“Ah, thank you.”

Chang Xiaonian thanked him softly and took the glass—

Before mixing the drinks, Han Zhi had soaked the martini glass in ice water and then wiped it dry, ensuring that the cocktail would present the best flavor when served to her. The glass was pleasantly cold to the touch, and the drink was cool and smooth, with rich, silky liquor and a sweet and tangy fruit aroma.

While she sipped the cocktail, Han Zhi prepared himself a glass of gin and tonic.

A gin and tonic is quick to make, with ingredients varying from simple to complex, making it hard to mess up. It can be both very good and very bad, with a high lower limit and a high upper limit, fresh and slightly bitter. After taking a few sips, Han Zhi noticed Chang Xiaonian looking at him and pushed his glass forward with a smile. “Would you like to try this one?”

This was the glass he had used.

The ice and liquor in the glass were crystal clear, and through the bar counter, the man’s handsome face appeared to shimmer dreamily.

Under the mood of the moment, Chang Xiaonian, without much hesitation, took the glass and took a big sip.

The liquor was refreshing and slightly sweet on the palate. The unique aroma of the gin first washed over her, and as she swallowed quickly, only a hint of tonic water’s bitterness remained on her tongue. Strangely, Han Zhi had somehow managed to create a gin and tonic that achieved a level of bitterness without any harshness. Han Zhi, who had prepared the drink, was watching her with a gentle and bright expression…

The two drinks he made, besides the sweet one for her, were particularly refreshing.

It seemed like he was just there to enjoy the drinks with her, rather than showing off any elaborate cocktail skills or knowledge.

Han Zhi knew exactly how she perceived him.

A handsome, aggressive playboy, a walking heart trap.

[Action is always the most compelling evidence.]

[When a woman doubts you, don’t explain. Let her interpret you herself; she will only believe what she has discovered on her own.]

Unlike Tong Zhao’s proud sarcasm, Han Zhi’s feelings about women conveyed an almost compassionate gentleness.

Chang Xiaonian propped her chin on her hands and asked, “How many girls have you made drinks for?”

She regretted asking as soon as the words were out.

“I haven’t kept count. Guests are guests. Friends often bring their friends to my place for drinks. Some might ask for cocktails they’ve seen on TikTok, like whisky with water. The technique isn’t difficult, but it’s not special—it’s just a lot of work.”

Watering down whisky is a method invented by the Japanese for tasting whisky.

In summary, it involves adding ice to whisky and stirring it until the ice melts and forms a thin, even layer of frost on the surface, giving it a particularly hazy and beautiful appearance. Achieving this effect requires the bartender to stir constantly for ten to twenty minutes, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. It’s annoying enough in a bar, let alone when visiting someone’s home.

“Have you made any of those?” Chang Xiaonian asked curiously.

“Mojito, Martini, and Gin and Tonic—pick one,” Han Zhi replied with a hint of coolness, which amused her. “I thought you were the type to cater to every request.”

“Not at all. I’m no saint.”

Han Zhi lifted his glass.

As he tilted it back and drank, his Adam’s apple moved slightly.

Seeing this, Chang Xiaonian found herself swallowing as well.

Chang Xiaonian thought, [So this is how attractive a man looks while drinking?]

The comments quickly disagreed:

[No, sister, it’s only him.]

[Our brother Zhi is a walking X medicine!]

[For close-up gifs of Zhi drinking, please click on my profile~]

……

The bar counter is a clever design.

Sitting next to each other, they can’t see each other’s facial expressions all the time, allowing for more space for imagination. When speaking softly, their shoulders might lightly touch as they whisper, a small gesture that is warm and flirtatious, like striking a match in the middle of the night.

Without needing to see Han Zhi’s face directly, Chang Xiaonian felt much more at ease. She joked, “The whisky that takes fifteen minutes to make must be really something.”

“They say whisky made with the water dilution method has the best taste, but I think it’s just a gimmick.”

Han Zhi continued to chat with her in a relaxed manner.

They chatted about everything under the sun.

Even without seeing his face, just hearing his deep and captivating voice coming from the left made Chang Xiaonian feel her left cheek tingle and flush. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him. This segment of the conversation was fast-forwarded by the AI during playback, causing a huge backlash from fans. It wasn’t until the special effects commentary explained that a personal cut version would be released that the outrage subsided.

Alright then.

Maybe the atmosphere was too good; Chang Xiaonian found herself completely relaxed around him, without the previous discomfort.

She even understood why Zhong Muxi, who claimed not to like men anymore, had such a high opinion of Han Zhi.

“Among the three of us, you seem most interested in Wei Zekai,” Han Zhi suddenly said.

“Mm,” Chang Xiaonian surprisingly admitted, “He matches my fantasy of love… I’ve been in relationships, but they never felt right, didn’t meet my expectations, and were different from what’s written in novels. I guess I might not have found the right person.”

The comments were mixed.

[She never said this much to her girlfriends!]

[It’s a waste of talent that Brother Zhi doesn’t do MLM; he easily gets people to speak their true feelings.]

[True high-level heartthrob…]

The production team was anxious as well.

The director was worried Chang Xiaonian might end up like He Shun and be an easy win.

It seemed that Han Zhi and Tong Zhao were of a similar type—using subtle hints and face-to-face interactions to win people over. This could make the show less interesting. The screenwriter, seeing the director’s anxiety, couldn’t help but comment, “This is a common issue with reality TV romance shows featuring celebrities and ordinary people. In real life, how could a stunning beauty like Tong Zhao fail to get a confession? A single flirtatious glance and a man would obediently walk over.”

The director shot him a sharp look: “This is your script.”

The screenwriter pretended to be deaf and focused on the distant view: “Look at the messy beauty of the tangled wires in the server room.”

“……”

Back to the variety show.

“The right person is very important. I believe that love, like any other skill in the world, requires practice,” Han Zhi said as he stirred the drink with a long spoon. The sound of ice-clinking became the background music for his words.

He was skilled at listening, but his speaking was also charming. Even if he recited *Capital* by Marx, it would likely have the romantic poetry of sonnets and *The Flight of the Bird*: “Loving someone and accepting their affection requires repeated learning. A single instance is a rare miracle, but such miracles are often continuously depicted in literary works.”

Chang Xiaonian responded with a bitter smile: “I do long for that kind of love, you know, not a rationally chosen fit, but something that makes my heart race and feel like it might burst at any moment. But when I see the other person, it feels like it’s worth even dying for…”

At this moment, she almost regarded Han Zhi as a good friend to vent to.

This was the moment when Han Zhi, the handsome man, was the most indistinct in her mind as a “love interest,” with the least amount of suspicion.

[If we keep this conversational pace, she might really have no feelings for me the next day.]

Han Zhi analyzed calmly.

Before Chang Xiaonian could finish speaking, she felt a weight on her shoulder.

Han Zhi leaned in, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and gently pulling her toward him, maintaining a slight distance without real physical contact. Chang Xiaonian looked up, her gaze fixed on the man’s handsome, alluring face, the sharp lines of his jaw, and the half-smiling curve of his lips, which were imprinted deeply on her retina.

Chang Xiaonian was momentarily stunned and didn’t push him away.

She swallowed hard.

“Do you feel this way about me?”

Han Zhi’s demeanor shifted from his previous gentleness to a cold and distant gaze, yet his slightly shallow eyes were filled with an unspoken, lingering affection.

How could this kind of emotion be acted out?

Under the close-up shot, the director couldn’t understand at all.

This scumbag’s acting was just too damn good.

But it wasn’t acted out.

Han Zhi’s character was shaped by the experience of Chang Xiaonian’s initial transformation into a man. Seeing women from a male perspective, he understood how much harder it was for them, which fostered a kind of affectionate empathy towards women. Thus, he could easily fall in love with someone; this feeling wasn’t fake or acted.

He hoped every girl could find happiness.

“Uh…”

Chang Xiaonian was stunned.

Her immunity to handsome men vanished in an instant.

Her senses were numbed, only able to hear the sound of her racing heart and Han Zhi’s previous words playing back in her mind with Dolby surround sound, making her almost forget to breathe.

“Don’t lie.”

Han Zhi lowered his gaze, his tone slightly stern.

Was the earlier gentleness all just an act? Under the close-up of his handsome face, Chang Xiaonian lost her ability to think normally, responding instinctively, “Yes…”

“Heart racing fast?” Han Zhi’s thin lips curled into a faint smile.

After a moment, Chang Xiaonian regained a bit of her composure, turning her face away awkwardly and taking deep breaths, “Help, this is too much. Don’t scare me like this, I can hardly breathe…”

“Have a sip of something cold to calm down.”

Han Zhi released her and pushed a glass of whiskey towards her.

“Okay.”

After catching her breath, Chang Xiaonian straightened up, blushing as she stared at the glass.

She focused on the drink, as if it were engraved with a thousand words, enough to make her escape reality for half an hour.

Panicked, extremely panicked.

She hadn’t felt this way even when alone with Wei Zekai!

The last time they cooked together, she had been so annoyed by Wei Zekai’s two flirtatious moves that she wanted to scold him. Rich second-generation types were so clueless and pretentious, how arrogant!

Chang Xiaonian stared at the glass for a while, suddenly noticing something different about the whiskey.

The thin layer of frost on the inside of the glass made the pure golden liquor appear to be wearing a dreamy veil, obscuring its structure. In a flash, she remembered that during their conversation, she had avoided looking directly at Han Zhi out of evasion toward handsome men. In the pauses between their words, she could also hear the sound of the long spoon stirring the drink.

This was the water-cut whiskey Han Zhi had prepared for the guest.

Chang Xiaonian held the cold glass with both hands, feeling the warmth of her palms and her heart.

She asked hesitantly, “Didn’t you say this was troublesome and you didn’t want to make it?”

“Were you not curious about how a drink that takes fifteen minutes to make would look?” Han Zhi reached out and touched her ear, as if the polite gentleman before was just a facade. With millions of viewers witnessing Chang Xiaonian’s rising affection for him, he sighed and said, “And the feeling of your heart racing with excitement… Since you want to know, I’ll satisfy your curiosity.”

Han Zhi’s voice was low and husky, and the spot where his large hand touched her tingled.

Fortunately, she was sitting; otherwise, Chang Xiaonian felt her legs might give out.

She took a sip of the whiskey.

Chang Xiaonian thought, [Damn, why does this whiskey taste sweet?]

Whiskey, of course, should not be sweet.

Even if it could show you images of the Virgin Mary and the Himalayas with a single sip in “The Drops of God,” whiskey is fundamentally spicy and bitter. Even though it becomes smoother after water-cutting, the only reason for a sweet taste would be if her taste buds were malfunctioning.

The brain controls all the nerves.

So, it must be a problem with the brain.

When you feel moved by someone else, your brain is already beginning to malfunction.

The comments:

[Woman, something’s wrong with you.]

[The drink stirred for 15 minutes by my brother, even if it were just plain water, would still taste sweet.]

[How much money do I need to spend to get a VIP experience and see things from this female guest’s perspective?????]

Female viewers vented their excitement through comments, while male viewers took notes on these techniques that would never be used in real life.

Han Zhi cast a lazy glance over.

“Do you want to try that heart-racing feeling again?”

He didn’t give the young lady strong liquor, but the other drinks he made were strong. With his slightly tipsy eyes now even more poetic, he poured tons of hormones onto Chang Xiaonian’s heart. The audience behind the screen could hardly handle it, and she, facing this human-like walking aphrodisiac, couldn’t hold out either.

[Should I refuse him?]

[This is ridiculous; he’s actually a jerk, isn’t he?]

[Maybe he’s extremely dangerous…]

These were Chang Xiaonian’s thoughts.

What she said out loud was:

“Yes.”

Without hesitation, Han Zhi pulled her into his embrace.

This time, there was no polite distance; she fell solidly into his arms. She could smell a faint hint of incense on him… There was no tobacco scent as described in novels; he might not smoke at all, but she couldn’t help but inhale deeply against his chest.

Chang Xiaonian wanted to listen to his heartbeat to see if it was speeding up for her.

Unfortunately, her own heartbeat was pounding so hard that she couldn’t hear anything else.

“Do you feel like a heroine in a romance novel now?” Han Zhi asked with a smile, more like teasing her.

If he had acted like this from the beginning, no matter how handsome he was, he would have received a slap.

The problem was that he was too good at setting the atmosphere, gradually breaking down her defenses.

Han Zhi had pinpointed the young woman’s vulnerabilities.

She wanted an unreal romantic adventure like in a novel, a domineering man who would lead her by the nose—an experience that Wei Zekai couldn’t provide. [That young master is barely capable of handling Tong Zhao, let alone this…] Han Zhi thought with indifference as the girl in his arms asked earnestly:

“Han Zhi, are you using a Casanova card?”

Caught out!

It turned out Chang Xiaonian wasn’t completely clueless!

The audience suddenly tensed, and the production team was delighted; finally, something was developing in the direction they had hoped for.

“Jerk, your day has come!” The assistant director rubbed his hands in anticipation.

The most interesting part of reality shows is when the seemingly unbeatable side falters.

The screenwriter coolly poured cold water on the situation: “Don’t get your hopes up too high. Hearing Han Zhi’s low voice, he could easily explain anything. Even if he said the sun rises in the west, some women might believe him.”

The stagehand raised her hand in support: “I would!”

Everyone agreed.

Given Han Zhi’s level, it was easy to charm a young girl.

…

“Yes.”

Han Zhi pinched her chin, lifting it to force her to meet his gaze. His lips curled slightly: “Are you going to expose me?”

[???]

[Self-destruct card? Why self-destruct?]

Rarely, the production team backstage was just as stunned as the audience.

He could have easily completed the task with a lie.

From the increasing affection, it was clear Chang Xiaonian was thoroughly smitten. If Han Zhi guided her a bit more intentionally, she might fall even more for him than she did for He Shun.

Chang Xiaonian’s cheeks and eyes reddened: “Were you deliberately flirting with me?”

She was both embarrassed and annoyed.

Indeed, if it weren’t for the Casanova card, how could a handsome guy like Han Zhi be so nice and gentle to her? It was just about the reward…

Before she could escape his embrace, Han Zhi caught her hand and placed it on his chest.

Han Zhi whispered, “After seeing you, I really enjoyed the mission it gave me.”

What she felt in his palm was a heartbeat much faster than usual.

It turned out Han Zhi was just like her…!

Chang Xiaonian quickly pulled her hand away, tears on the brink of falling, but her lips curved into a smile, clearly pacified.

So, did the Casanova really fall for her?

[Alcohol is truly a great thing.]

[Low-tier Casanova gets girls drunk, whereas I just need to get myself drunk.]

Han Zhi curled his lips.

A line of special effects text slowly appeared on the screen, accompanied by the sound of keyboard typing:

“Ethanol in alcohol stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which may increase the heart rate.”

[………]

[……Impressive, Casanova!]

[Please, go line up with Tong Zhao already; stop torturing the low-tier level!]

[Only I can seduce myself/dog head!]

Han Zhi still held her, his internal monologue coldly mocking the production team’s naivety: [People always misunderstand what lovers truly want. Her question about whether I’m using a Casanova card wasn’t about being deceived, but about feeling that I don’t actually love her and that I’m only flirting with her reluctantly to complete a mission. This realization has hurt her pride, making her feel embarrassed and angry…]

[Well, as long as she knows that I do have feelings for her, that’s enough.]

[Love has no right or wrong; the more emotional a person is, the simpler their desires.]

[If you don’t delve into your lover’s true needs, you’ll end up in a miserable state of endless arguments and conflicts.]

[The most important thing is, I don’t like to deceive women.]

[Here, there is no sadness, only love.]

The Casanova’s inner monologue shattered countless audience hearts.

The dating reality show had officially turned into an emotional drama.

Under the shocked gaze of millions of viewers, Chang Xiaonian became even more attached to Han Zhi upon learning his true identity.

Why is this happening?

Chang Xiaonian herself didn’t understand why she felt this way.

But Han Zhi understood—

[Once I know that I have clear points of attraction for her, she relaxes a lot, which is a good sign.]

What’s most frightening is that Casanova understands women better than women do.

Chang Xiaonian hesitated and filled in his name on the heart-throb app.

As a reward, Han Zhi lifted her face and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.

In short, he could fulfill every cliché of a romance drama.

“Alright, you win. You don’t need to pay any more attention to me from now on, okay?” Chang Xiaonian turned her face away and joked.

But the camera captured her eyes welling up with tears.

“You seem to misunderstand me,”

Han Zhi, both amused and exasperated, turned her face back to look at him and said, “I won’t let go until you learn to confidently accept someone’s affection.”

The audience was overwhelmed by how much this line sounded like a romance novel.

What kind of man can even say something like that?

“So how are you going to teach me?” Chang Xiaonian was quite taken by this approach.

“Let’s start by getting you used to looking directly at me.”

[… I just want to know what her reaction will be when she finds out that her idol and the girl she dislikes are the same person after leaving the holographic chamber.]

[Upvote 1]

[Also, Han Zhi, please start a class for us male fans!]

[Don’t teach anymore, it’s embarrassing.]

Meanwhile, in the corridor on the other side…

Tong Zhao, who was about to go downstairs to make a late-night snack, crossed paths with a dog wagging its little tail.