It's just The Sims, how did it become my ideal love story?

Chapter 37 Why is it her?

I got into the ride-hailing car that Cai Yan had called.

While in the car, Gu Huai thought of the man driving the BMW. Cai Yan said he was her brother, but Gu Huai didn't know if it was true or not. However, he figured the other party probably had no reason to lie to him about such a thing.

After all, he didn't have anything worth deceiving her about.

but
Don't you drive yourself?

Gu Huai wasn't particularly curious, but Cai Yan's posture next to him was quite noticeable, so he had to find some topics to divert his attention.

The aloof woman leaned back in her chair, her legs crossed, covered in slightly sheer black stockings that revealed glimpses of flesh due to the compression. This position caused her high heels to separate slightly from her heels.

Especially the color revealed at the base of the stockings, which inexplicably makes one feel the temperature rising, as if a strange person is eagerly preparing to ignite a fire in one's heart.

While looking at her phone in the car, Cai Yan didn't look up and answered casually, seemingly oblivious to what she was looking at.

"I haven't taken my driving test yet, so my brother drives me when I'm in a rush."

"Oh."

Have you gotten your driver's license yet?

Cai Yan suddenly turned her head and asked.

Gu Huai nodded subconsciously, "Yes, I took the exam during the summer vacation of my senior year of high school."

"How could someone with a brain like yours pass the exam?"

She frowned slightly, as if she had suddenly thought of something unpleasant.

Gu Huai retorted, "What do you mean 'my brain'? I finished all the tests in one summer vacation, and passed them all on the first try. I didn't even have to pay for retakes. What, Team Leader Cai, did you not learn to drive or did you fail the test?"

"It's none of your business."

Cai Yan glared at Gu Huai.

Then I saw this man, who had been in much better spirits lately, trying to suppress a twitch of laughter at the corner of his mouth.

It's absolutely abominable.

"You're such a good driver, can you drive for me?"

She suddenly glanced over and asked.

Gu Huai was taken aback. "Then how much are you going to pay me to hire you?"

"Old classmates talking about money?"

"Or shall we talk about feelings?"

It almost slipped out of his mouth, just as many scientific studies on cat behavior are done without conscious thought, Gu Huai's words were spoken without any thought at all. He immediately regretted it the moment it left his lips.

Feelings? What feelings could there be between them? Don't mistake a drunken flirtation for a genuine expression of affection; it's just an illusion, perhaps simply driven by loneliness.

Therefore, it is even worse to be delusional or to deceive one's own feelings.

Gu Huai did not want to make such a mistake.

"Uh, I mean..."

Gu Huai wanted to explain that he wasn't flirting with the other person, nor was he doing something as lame as joking about his true feelings.

But when he looked up, he saw Cai Yan staring at him with her eyes narrowed, her cheeks covered with a layer of cherry blossom pink.

The gaze of a young woman with delicate skin and a healthy glow seems to possess a spell, instantly rendering one speechless and forgetting what they were about to say.

Until she looked at him, and with those alluring lips that made it a pity he didn't have the urge to kiss her, she spoke, "What kind of relationship do you want to talk to me about? A classmate relationship or..."

He didn't utter a single word.

It's not that I'm too embarrassed to talk about it, but rather that if I don't say it now, everyone will understand what I mean.

They're not naive teenagers anymore; who would pretend to be stupid at a time like this?
"I was just kidding."

"Your joke isn't funny. Generally speaking, such jokes are just people testing the waters but not daring to say what's really on their minds."

Gu Huai was already backing down, but the other party's aura seemed rather aggressive at this moment.

"I really didn't mean that. If it's not funny, I won't say it again."

"Hmph, exactly the same as before."

She turned her face away and looked at the lush scenery outside the window.

Relieved, Gu Huai looked at her delicate profile and wanted to say something.

Perhaps the person she remembers from the past is not the same person as the Gu Huai she remembers from the past.

The simulation system synchronized the data, but it didn't seem to synchronize the feeling from my memory.

That's probably why I still feel like the simulation is a dream.

The two didn't say much more, glancing at their phones and then at the scenery outside their windows.

Then the car stopped at its destination.

The location was a restaurant and bar in the city center, at the busiest time of day in the city, with countless men and women walking side by side, either on dates or looking for their 'soulmate' for the night.

Compared to the city center, Gu Huai was still a little unfamiliar with it. After all, the price of living in such a bustling area is also high. The places he saw on video apps that were great for shopping and dating in the city looked good from every angle, but his heart rate dropped as soon as he saw the prices.

The restaurant has a rather strange name: Ark.

What does this mean? Can eating and drinking alleviate suffering and save all sentient beings? Wine is like the Buddha, and compassionate salvation is a form of salvation.

"They all seem to have arrived. Let's go in."

After glancing at her phone, Cai Yan urged the man beside her.

Gu Huai was slightly hesitant when he entered. Would it seem strange for him to appear with Cai Yan? After all, Lao Lin had noticed that he and Cai Yan had drunk together before.

If we were to connect it to other relationships, it would be even worse. Of course, it doesn't matter that he's a man, but if these rumors were to spread, it would be detrimental to Cai Yan. After all, many normal things are destroyed by rumors.

However, Cai Yan seemed to have no such concerns and pushed open the door to go inside.

As music played, drinks, alcohol, and fruit were already served in the booths on the second floor where people gathered.

"Team Leader Cai has finally arrived!"

"Please sit down, please sit down!"

"We've reserved a spot for you."

"You make it sound like you're fighting for seats. Old Lin, you really know how to flatter."

"Ha ha ha ha."

Once he arrived, Gu Huai realized he had been overthinking things. It wasn't that no one noticed his presence, but rather that he was such a minor character that he had no value in being associated with Cai Yan, so it seemed that no one had any urge to imagine or misunderstand anything.

Aside from the time he chose a seat next to Lao Lin and sat down, Lao Lin gave him a knowing look.

It seemed to have a deeper meaning.

Gu Huai didn't bother to respond. His job in the crowd was to become completely invisible, even if this gathering seemed to have only happened because of his "firefighting" efforts.

Some Western-style snacks were served, enough for everyone to eat, drink, and chat. Gu Huai ordered a gin and tonic; some strong cocktails aren't suitable for drinking while eating, as they would lose their original flavor. Although he's not particular about anything in life and always goes with the flow, Gu Huai still has his own little insistence when it comes to drinking.

The dinner table was lively. Although Cai Yan wasn't the type to joke around or create a cheerful atmosphere, she wasn't pretentious. She had a somewhat aloof appearance and a natural sense of boundaries. However, today she managed to answer everyone's questions politely, giving everyone face, which made the colleagues in Group Two feel much more relaxed.

Even Zhong Xinyang, who seemed quite dejected today, showed a rare smile, as if he had put yesterday's events behind him and let them pass by like a fleeting cloud.

I really admire the mental fortitude of people like this—strict with others but lenient with themselves.

Gu Huai didn't pay much attention to what they were chatting and laughing about. He drank his wine and enjoyed the slight tipsiness that came with the revelry.

Suddenly, Gu Huai heard the music stop.

Then two coughs came from the surrounding speakers, as if they were testing the microphone.

"Hello, customers of Ark."

Because of the sound, the colleagues who were chatting and laughing at the dinner table stopped talking at the same time, looked up, and saw the small, separate stage on the first floor from the second-floor railing.

A man who appeared to be a manager or boss was standing there, holding a microphone and speaking.

"Welcome everyone! Tonight, we've invited a very talented local band to perform. We hope you all have a wonderful evening, and let's give them a round of applause!"

"And there's a band too?"

Someone looked curiously at the first floor and said.

"This restaurant hires a band to perform every Friday night."

Cai Yan, who had decided to book this restaurant, explained it casually.

"Is that so, Team Leader Cai? Do you come here often? I see that the prices here are quite high, the menu prices are outrageous."

A girl looked at Cai Yan with some envy, as if in her eyes Cai Yan was a role model of a successful woman.

Cai Yan smiled and said, "No, I've just been here a few times occasionally. I just like the drinks and the atmosphere here."

Although he was being very modest, it's clear that no one really thought that way.

Gu Huai wasn't particularly curious. The only thing he might think about was that the people and things this woman had experienced since leaving high school were definitely more exciting than he imagined. This was the fundamental reason why he always needed to stay rational and recognize that they were from different worlds.

In the adult world, relationships always require careful consideration; you can't just look at the immediate appearance and enjoy the moment. Of course, if all you care about is a night of passion, then nothing else matters, but Gu Huai isn't that kind of person.

Just as he was thinking about this woman, her gaze fell upon him.

Her eyes revealed nothing, and Gu Huai didn't know how to respond to her gaze in a familiar crowd, so he picked up his wine glass and pretended to take a sip.

The familiar intro could be heard from downstairs.

It's those flowers.

It has a strong vintage feel, but it's also a timeless classic. Every time I hear it, it always makes me inexplicably recall things from the past.

Gu Huai wasn't really interested in bands or anything like that. Firstly, he didn't have much artistic talent, and secondly, it was fine if you sang well in a bar, but if you sang badly or didn't like the songs you listened to, it would be quite upsetting.

Therefore, he especially dislikes those drinkers who, after drinking too much, want to borrow a microphone to "make a fool of themselves"—that's truly making a fool of themselves.

But then the singing began.

"That laughter reminded me of my flowers."

"Quietly blooming for me in every corner of my life."

"I thought I would always be by her side."

"Today we have departed into the vast sea of ​​people."

Gu Huai forgot the taste of the wine in his mouth; he even forgot to put down the glass.

He saw his colleagues in front of him, their eyes slightly narrowed, and even Cai Yan frowned slightly before reaching out to smooth a strand of hair at her temple. Clearly, it was a small gesture to compose herself.

This proves that regardless of whether you understand something or not, or whether you are a practitioner in the field, you can feel the same way.

That's truly pleasant to the ear.

It was a voice so captivating that Gu Huai forgot to put down his wine glass, a voice so perfect that even his own harsh and critical nature had to admit he couldn't find a single flaw. Crucially, Gu Huai also noticed something else: that slightly magnetic yet clear and bright tone... it sounded familiar, as if he'd heard it somewhere before.

Still hesitating.

Suddenly, I saw Zhong Xinyang on the other side stand up.

"You sing so well, really? Do you recognize me?"

Good grief, you think having connections at the company is enough? You think the whole provincial capital is yours? You think you know everyone there?
Then I saw Zhong Xinyang walk to the second-floor railing and look down. His eyes widened and he couldn't help but sigh.

"Such a beautiful lead singer! Oh my god!"

Upon hearing Zhong Xinyang's emotional remarks, the others couldn't sit still any longer.

"It's beautiful? Let me see, let me see!"

"Wait a minute, I want to see just how good it is!"

Anyone who didn't know better would think some big star had suddenly arrived; the bar's team-building activity had turned into a celebrity meet-and-greet.

The only ones who didn't get up were Gu Huai and Cai Yan, who was standing not far away.

They were still sighing over there.

"Wow, she's so beautiful and has such a great presence."

"Is she really not a celebrity? The key is that she doesn't have a plastic surgery face at all, and she doesn't have the look of an internet celebrity. That's so rare!"

Cai Yan looked over and looked at Gu Huai with amusement.

"Aren't you going to take a look?"

Gu Huai shook his head. "There are too many people. I'm afraid I'll get pushed off."

Cai Yan couldn't help but chuckle softly, "I thought you were deliberately trying to make yourself seem special in front of me."

"I've discovered that Team Leader Cai has far too much prejudice against me."

Why do I have to act so childishly?

Do I look like the kind of childish guy who would normally talk in the hallway during his school days, but would suddenly raise his voice or do some inexplicable things like shooting hoops in the air when a pretty girl walks by?
"If you won't look, I'll go and see."

"Hey, you!"

Now, even if you don't fit in, you can't appear eccentric anymore.

Gu Huai seemed to be inexplicably pulled up, and he and Cai Yan also stood up and looked down.

This glance.

Cai Yan's eyes widened slightly, and Gu Huai almost gasped.

It wasn't that the other person was so beautiful that it was breathtaking and astounding.

It's this person. Isn't it Lin Jiang?
……

(End of this chapter)