Manipulative Harem God

Zhang Wei, his charm undeniably potent, continued to coax Zhou Jiajia gently. "Little Jia, there's no need for crying," he murmured, his voice carrying a strange mixture of comfort and mischief. His hand, still resting on her back, traced soothing patterns.

Zhou Jiajia, caught in the whirlwind of conflicting emotions, gazed up at him. "I just... I thought you left me," she admitted, vulnerability seeping through her words.

Zhang Wei, with a tender smile, lifted her chin. "Never. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere, not until I have enough of you," he assured her, chuckled softly, his eyes locking onto hers, before he kissed her on lips again.

This time, Zhou Jiajia weakly, yet slowly responding.

Xiong Mei, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but shake her head. 'It's like he's weaving a spell,' she thought, recognizing the subtle artistry in his words and gestures.

Zhou Jiajia, momentarily captivated, leaned into his reassuring touch. "But what about everything that happened?" she asked hesitantly.

Zhang Wei chuckled softly, his laughter weaving a subtle spell. "Water under the bridge. Let's focus on what's ahead, shall we? So, care to tell me where you're going?" His words, like a gentle breeze, wrapped around Zhou Jiajia, momentarily easing the storm in her mind.

Opening up, Zhou Jiajia shared, "There's a concert in Dongjiang tonight. It's already scheduled, so I had to attend it..."

Zhang Wei nodded thoughtfully, his hand delicately cupping her face. "You had to attend it... But do you want to attend it?"

Ah, the illusion of freedom, like sweet wine for a young soul, danced in front of her. Zhou Jiajia hesitated, caught between obligation and desire, and then shook her head.

The system, surprisingly insightful, whispered to Zhang Wei, [Host, tomorrow is her birthday]

His eyes sparked with intrigue, and Zhang Wei inquired, "Isn't your birthday tomorrow?" There was a hint of skepticism in his tone, as if testing the authenticity of her desires.

Human hypocrisy reached its zenith. Previously, Zhou Jiajia's casual status was enough for Zhang Wei, but now her celebrity standing added a layer of pride to the conquest.

"How do you kno—" Zhou Jiajia began, amazement in her voice, before realizing she had already disclosed this information during her earlier ramblings. The memory made her slightly embarrassed, but she admitted it with a small nod.

"Tommorow is her birthday?" Xiong Mei's ears perked up, intrigued by this revelation.

However, the internet, a chaotic labyrinth of information, provided no direct confirmation. It was a mess of conflicting dates.

"So what's the plan for tomorrow?" Zhang Wei inquired, his curiosity evident.

Zhou Jiajia bit her lip, admitting, "None... There's my cousin's engagement; I have to attend that..."

"You don't celebrate?" Zhang Wei asked, genuinely curious.

Zhou Jiajia shook her head. "Dad didn't have enough time after my mother's death," she admitted, her eyes turning slightly hazy.

"..."

At this point, Zhang Wei found himself struggling with her tears, realizing the weight of her daddy issues.

'Daddy problems for real?' he mused inwardly. He believed he could fix them; after all, daddy issues were within his realm of expertise.

But as for mommy problems—well, even Zhang Wei had no solution for that.

In a moment of contemplation, he decided to consult the system. 'Is there a solution for such problems?' he inquired.

The system responded matter-of-factly, [Dead people are dead, host. By the way, what about your own mother? If you had her, what would you do?]

Taken aback by the unexpected question, Zhang Wei hesitated. 'What would I do?' he pondered, finding it challenging to entertain the idea seriously.

Perhaps an extra—precisely two extra pillows for added comfort?

The notion of sexualizing his mother didn't pose a problem since he didn't have one and couldn't recall her face.

Zhang Wei, momentarily lost in thought, shook off the system's question. Returning to the present, he focused on Zhou Jiajia, who still carried the weight of her past.

"Well, no worries about tomorrow. We can make it special," he suggested, attempting to lift the heavy atmosphere.

Zhou Jiajia glanced at him, her eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and uncertainty. "Make it special?" she echoed, as if the idea were foreign to her.

Zhang Wei grinned, a subtle glint in his eyes. "Of course! Birthdays should be memorable. How about we celebrate after your cousin's engagement? A little surprise, just for you."

Zhou Jiajia's lips twitched into a hesitant smile, touched by the unexpected offer. "You'd do that for me?"

"Absolutely," Zhang Wei affirmed, his tone sincere. "Everyone deserves a special birthday, especially someone as unique as you."

Xiong Mei, eavesdropping on their conversation, couldn't help but marvel at Zhang Wei's ability to navigate emotions. 'He's turning the narrative effortlessly,' she noted to herself, realizing how he was subtly reshaping Zhou Jiajia's perspective on her upcoming birthday.

Xiong Mei's role seemed to be evolving, from a mere observer to Zhang Wei's helper. Little did she realize the consequences that showcasing her observational abilities would lead to—an eventual future she couldn't foresee.

Meanwhile, Hu Ning, recovering from the shock, was being escorted back to her seat. Her eyes widened as she spotted Zhou Jiajia and Zhang Wei sitting together in her spot. She froze, memories of the horror from a few moments ago flooding back.

Zhou Jiajia flinched upon meeting Hu Ning's gaze, realizing she was going against the agency's suggestions. Confused, she looked at Zhang Wei with a questioning expression.

Without missing a beat, Zhang Wei suddenly stood up, guiding Zhou Jiajia back to her seat, and then nonchalantly moved to his own. He deliberately flashed a charming smile towards Hu Ning, who stood there frozen, unable to move. Zhang Wei assumed his seat leisurely behind Xiong Mei.

"Sigh..." Hu Ning breathed a sigh of relief, finally returning to her seat and avoiding any glances back.

Zhou Jiajia, feeling slightly awkward, remained silent as Hu Ning took out a magazine, surprising her by not inquiring about Zhang Wei.

Exhaling her own sigh of relief, Zhou Jiajia reached for her phone, only to find a new notification.

_____

"Zhang Wei," Xiong Mei called out.

Confused, Zhang Wei glanced over before Xiong Mei pushed a diary toward him, flashing a smile of her own.

Her intentions were as clear as the sky—get some signatures of Zhou Jiajia for her own business venture.