"Can I have your phone for a moment?" Zhang asked.
"What for?"
"Just give it—"
"Fine!" She dragged her words, unlocking her phone before handing it over to him.
"A Redmi user? What brand is this?" he asked, flipping it to check the back for details.
"13C. What about it?"
"Not bad. Why aren't you using an iPhone?"
Angel tilted her head, trying to get a better view of this human who had been sharing the same room with her.
"Well, for one thing, I hate that brand," she answered bluntly.
Her reply seemed to amuse Zhang.
"You hate iPhones?" he asked, as if it were hard to believe.
"Yep. I do."
"But why? You can't just wake up one morning and declare your hatred for a brand—"
"Who told you that?" She raised a brow. "Now tell me, what's the joy in having a phone you always have to worry about charging? I prefer a phone that doesn't require me to carry a power bank on almost every journey."
That made sense.
He would've been frustrated if that was the case. The only reason he hadn't experienced that before was because, when he was still in his body, there was 24/7 power supply. But here in this country, he'd already witnessed a whole week without electricity.
"Alright. You made some points there," he admitted.
"Thank you," she said, refocusing on her book.
Zhang stayed with her phone for quite some time before letting out a heavy sigh.
"You look like your girlfriend just dumped you," Angel said, glancing up from her paperwork.
"You know Lin Ming?"
"Again? Who is he this time?" she asked. This wasn't the first time she had heard him mention random Chinese names. He seemed to be a big fan of Chinese actors.
"Zhang Bing's girlfriend—"
"Wow! That pretty good-for-nothing?"
"Good-for-nothing? What makes you call her that?"
"You're a fan of his, and I'm just surprised you didn't notice."
"Notice what? They're in love with each other," he said—almost choking on his own words.
"Tat tat tat. You're really clueless, aren't you?"
"Talk in a way I can understand…"
"She's gone to interviews with Zhang Bing-ge's help, but during one of the interviews, she said something that made me doubt whether she truly loved him, or if the whole relationship was just a façade."
Zhang was clearly perturbed by what she said. He should have noticed it.
"What—what did she say?"
"You clearly don't know, based on your expression," she said, pausing to study him.
"During her interview, they asked her about her boyfriend's favourite food. She said seafood and cheese. But I clearly remember Zhang Bing saying he hates cheese and is allergic to seafood. So how could she be listing the exact opposite? Obviously, she was naming the favourite dish of someone else—someone who mattered to her. And it clearly wasn't him."
She said that? When? How come he wasn't aware?
It must've slipped past him. He'd been too busy. Too distracted. That must be it. Still… this wasn't something small.
"Do you have it? I want to see it."
"No. I actually saw it from a friend's phone. She's probably still with it. I'll ask her later. Remind me…"
Her phone rang—her ringtone was Girl on Fire.
"Here," she said, picking it up. "It's her."
She answered the call. "What's up?"
[Can you come over today?]
"No, you know exams are coming up. I can't make it. But I'll try."
[You always say that. Am I even your friend? This is friend abuse. You always abuse me.]
"Look, I'll see what I can do. I'll call you later. Don't sound so grumpy," Angel pouted.
Zhang, however, surprisingly found it… cute.
"You know Zhang Bing, right?" Angel asked over the call.
[How are you even asking that? I was the one who introduced his works to you, remember?]
"Yeah, I do. But I want to ask you something."
[Sure, go ahead.]
"His girlfriend—do you still have that video where she was being interviewed?"
[Not just that. I even have a picture from before Zhang Bing's accident. I saw it on TikTok. People are saying she's a cheat.]
"Send it to me. I think I'm about to win a bet."
[You and your bets… Fine, I'll send it. But this is your last chance to renew our friendship, or I'm officially banning you from being my friend.]
Angel nodded as the call ended.
Three minutes later, the Redmi 13C chimed with a notification.
"She's sent it."
Unlocking her phone again, she handed it back to Zhang.
As he watched the interview—how proud that bitch looked—even flirting in the video… his blood boiled.
That bitch!
He knew he would return. But first, he would make sure she regretted ever crossing him.
All the happy moments this body wanted to have before he died—he'd fulfill them. He'd reclaim every one.
Then he would return to his real body.
He'd teach that girl how to treat a man who gave her nothing but love and care.
It had to be a paid-back revenge. No matter the cost.
And that bastard—the one who had the guts to act all horny in front of him while he was unconscious—that bastard would pay too.
He knew what he needed to do.
But first, he had to find a way to convince his secretary, Mian-man, that he was alive and well.
And somehow…
Convince her to believe the unbelievble.