My American magical life
Chapter 221 - 221 87 Cheng Daqi’s First Flutter of the Heart_2

221: Chapter 87: Cheng Daqi’s First Flutter of the Heart_2 221: Chapter 87: Cheng Daqi’s First Flutter of the Heart_2 Wow, you dare to deny it to my face today!

Zhao Hongjin believed that her mother’s judgment couldn’t be wrong.

The turn of events was a bit beyond expectation, and Cheng Daqi hadn’t foreseen that a nineteen-year-old girl could be so earnest.

But he was actually quite happy to see Zhao Hongjin doing this—it meant that Little Zhao truly regarded him as a friend, daring to point out his shortcomings to his face.

“Wait a second, mainly because this tea canister isn’t labeled with a variety, let me ask Elder Li,” he said.

Cheng Daqi now looked just like an imperial secret police investigating a case, with a serious face and tone.

He skillfully dialed Li Haiping’s number.

Elder Li was a trustworthy good person; this was already his second time helping Cheng Daqi out of a bind.

Zhao Hongjin smiled as she watched Cheng Daqi put on an act in front of her.

She had already seen through Cheng Daqi’s act, but by keeping silent about it, they remained good friends.

However, Cheng Daqi’s obstinate denial, despite being caught out, was so amusing that Zhao Hongjin couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Elder Li, when you sent me the tea earlier, you said it was Da Hong Pao.

Was that true?”

As soon as Elder Li heard the second sentence, he figured out what was going on.

He had never sent Cheng Daqi any tea; what Cheng was drinking now was the Tieguanyin that he had left behind when he was doing renovations at the house.

Tieguanyin sold loosely for a few Dollars a pound.

Thinking of Cheng Daqi’s ‘generosity’ the previous night, Elder Li realized he had been exposed.

“CEO Cheng, you always count on me to take the fall for you; don’t forget about me when it’s time to split the money, huh~”

“CEO Cheng, of course, it’s Da Hong Pao.

I bought it for four hundred Dollars a pound; how could it be fake?” Elder Li feigned anger, countering Cheng Daqi’s words.

Zhao Hongjin hadn’t expected that Cheng Daqi really hadn’t been acting!

Cheng Daqi continued to inquire.

“But my friend says it’s not Da Hong Pao, what’s going on?”

This time, Elder Li aimed for a tough image, determined to take the blame for Cheng Daqi to the end!

“He knows nothing, I’m busy, I’ll hang up first, CEO Cheng,” he said.

Cheng Daqi raised his eyebrows.

Elder Li, you’re really bold.

“Daqi, but this is indeed Tieguanyin…” the girl with peach blossom eyes said in a plaintive whisper.

Zhao Hongjin began to doubt her life, feeling like she’d become an unnecessary, nitpicking Joker.

She reached for a tea leaf, wanting to call her mother right away to prove her ‘innocence’.

Seeing that his act was about to make Little Zhao cry, Cheng Daqi got a bit anxious.

He had just wanted to maintain a reliable image in front of Zhao Hongjin, but he hadn’t expected that the nineteen-year-old girl would take the matter so seriously.

“Ah Zhao, I’m sorry, I lied to you again,” he said.

Little Zhao was his friend, the most like-minded friend he had made since restarting his life.

Cheng Daqi had become worldly and slick due to the abrasion of society, but it seemed like he had never really changed.

He was no longer the boy he used to be, but he hoped that his friend would always remain a sincere youth.

In less than one-hundredth of a second, he firmly decided to reveal the truth.

How could he deceive such a rare friend with his worldly ways?

“Huh?”

Zhao Hongjin was bewildered, her beautiful eyes full of question marks.

“This stuff is just Tieguanyin.

I bluffed them that it was Da Hong Pao, but I didn’t want you to think I’m a lowlife who likes to lie, so, to make up for that lie, I told another one.

But I didn’t expect that this matter was important to you.

You like to be earnest, and my act with Elder Li was too in sync, turning you into the awkward one.

So, I owe you an apology, Ah Zhao,” he said.

With his eyes closed, Cheng Daqi leaned his arms on the table, his hands shielding his face.

It was as if he had put himself on the chopping block again.

But now, he felt a sense of relief.

Lies can distance a person from their true self, but Cheng Daqi had told too many lies along the way.

He never liked lying, especially to friends.

And today, by a fortuitous sequence of events, he and Zhao Hongjin had moved from a conversation about a cup of tea to this moment.

It was something he had never anticipated.

But he knew that he had just filled in the weakest piece of the puzzle in his heart.

The twisted and internal struggles weren’t frightening at all; they were his self-examination and correction.

In pursuit of his goals, Cheng Daqi had given up a lot and lost a lot.

But those real entanglements and twists in his heart constantly reminded him that he hadn’t forgotten.

He hadn’t forgotten what kind of person he was.

Even if he had made many shameful compromises with so many people for profit, he was still himself.

Because, to fight the bad guys, you have to be more cunning, more ferocious, and more ruthless than they are.

In the world, external forces often can’t easily attach themselves; Cheng Daqi must rely on himself!

He opened his eyes and looked at Zhao Hongjin.

The peach blossom-eyed girl quietly met his gaze, her eyes so beautiful.

‘What is she thinking?’ Cheng Daqi wondered inwardly.

‘What is he thinking?’ Zhao Hongjin pondered the same question as Cheng Daqi.

Cheng Daqi’s friends and opponents were all smart people.

Gru, Eris, Temir, and Zhao Hongjin were all extremely clever individuals.

Smart people prefer silence when chatting, as their skills are often more precise, which is predicated on a long buildup and aim.

Weighing interests requires thought, guessing friends’ thoughts requires empathy, and smart people can speak very quickly.

But at the most critical moments, smart people prefer silence.