Pan Wei frowned, still unsure. "But how do I show her that? I'm not exactly the most… impressive guy."
Lin Yun smirked. "Well, for starters, you could work on yourself a bit. Not because you're not good enough as you are, but because self-improvement is never a bad thing. You've been telling me for years that you're going to lose weight. Why not actually do it? You don't need to become some shredded gym rat, but getting stronger, feeling healthier—it'll boost your confidence. And confidence is attractive."
Pan Wei groaned again, this time more dramatically. "Ugh, I knew you were going to bring that up. But you're right. I've been saying it forever. I just… never stick to it."
Lin Yun leaned forward, his expression serious. "Then stick to it this time. Not for her, but for yourself. When you feel good about yourself, it shows. And trust me, that's the kind of energy that draws people in."
Pan Wei nodded slowly, absorbing Lin Yun's words. "Okay, okay. I'll give it a shot. But what else? I mean, how do I even approach her? I don't want to come off as some creep."
Lin Yun chuckled. "Just be yourself, Fatty. You're already friends with her, right? That's a great start. Spend time with her, get to know her better. Show her that you care about her as a person, not just as some unattainable ideal. Be there for her when she needs someone to talk to or when she just wants to have fun. And don't overthink it. Relationships aren't about grand gestures—they're about the little things."
Pan Wei sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Easier said than done, Brother Yun. But… I'll try. I really like her, you know? She's different from anyone I've ever met."
Lin Yun smiled, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "I get it, Fatty. I've been there. Just remember, it's not about changing who you are to fit someone else's expectations. It's about becoming the best version of yourself—for you. And if she sees that, and if it's meant to be, then things will fall into place."
Pan Wei nodded, a determined look crossing his face. "Alright. I'll do it. I'll start working on myself, and I'll try to be more… present with her. But you've got to promise me one thing, Brother Yun."
"What's that?" Lin Yun asked, raising an eyebrow.
"If I make a complete fool of myself, you're not allowed to laugh. At least not to my face," Pan Wei said, half-joking but with a hint of genuine worry.
Lin Yun laughed, clapping Pan Wei on the shoulder. "Deal. But I have a feeling you'll do just fine, Fatty. Just be patient, and don't rush it. These things take time."
Their food arrived shortly after, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Pan Wei seemed more at ease, his usual humor returning as they joked and reminisced about their school days. But Lin Yun could tell that his friend was already thinking about the steps he needed to take—not just to pursue Chu Ling'er, but to better himself.
As they finished their meal and stepped back out into the cool night air, Pan Wei turned to Lin Yun with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Brother Yun. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Lin Yun shrugged, his hands tucked into his pockets. "That's what friends are for, Fatty. Just remember, it's not about impressing her—it's about being someone she can rely on and enjoy being around. And if it doesn't work out, that's okay too. There's plenty of fish in the sea."
Pan Wei nodded, his determination unwavering. "I'll keep that in mind. And hey, maybe one day I'll be giving you advice about girls."
Lin Yun laughed, shaking his head. "I'll hold you to that, Fatty."
They parted ways at the campus gate, Pan Wei heading back to his hotel while Lin Yun returned to Lin Xue's apartment.
As Lin Yun walked through the quiet streets, he couldn't help but smile to himself. It was strange, he thought, how life had a way of coming full circle. In his past life, he'd been the one fumbling through his first crush, unsure of how to navigate the complexities of relationships. Now, here he was, giving advice to Pan Wei—advice that, in many ways, he wished he'd had back then.
In this life, Lin Yun had no idea which direction he would navigate through in the future regarding relationships. The only thing he was certain of was that he would find Reba, his favorite superstar in his past life, two years later. As for whether he could successfully obtain her love, that was a matter for the future.
During this period, Lin Yun would browse some entertainment news in his free time. He discovered that most of the stars he knew in his past life did exist. For example, Jay Chou was called Jack Chou here and was also a King of C-pop.
There was also another of his favorite actresses, Yang Mi. She was called Yang Mimi here and was still a rising star at this stage. Lin Yun even had the urge to establish an entertainment company and hoard these young stars to himself.
Lin Yun chuckled to himself when he thought of this. Perhaps he was influenced by the harem entertainment novels he often read in his past life, leading him to have such an idea. Although he had the ability to open a harem in the future, Lin Yun still preferred to have one lover. After all, he had no time to manage many women.
Soon, Lin Yun arrived at the relatively luxurious apartment that Lin Xue had rented. At first, Lin Xue had wanted to live in an ordinary apartment, but Lin Yun persuaded her otherwise. After all, she was the CEO of a multi-million dollar company; it wasn't aligned with her status to live in an ordinary house.
"You're back," Lin Xue greeted him as Lin Yun entered the house.
Lin Yun glanced at the pile of documents on the table and said, "You should take a good rest, Sister."
Lin Xue rolled her eyes at him and said, "I'm not a hands-off shopkeeper like you."
Lin Yun smiled awkwardly and changed the topic. "Sister, I want to open an entertainment company. What do you think?"