The Female Leads Truly Loves You - Chapter 146

Chapter 146: Where did things go wrong?
The next day, Sam left early.

This morning, Zoe had already informed Sam in advance, intending to leave together, only to find that Sam seemed not to have returned home yet. After Sam briefly explained the situation, they agreed to meet near the astronomical observation site.

According to Zoe, the cemetery she wanted to visit was also close by.

The weather was nice today, seemingly anticipated from the star-gazing session the night before. The sun was not overly harsh, and the breeze felt much gentler, making for a pleasant day.

Sam settled down early in a nearby 24-hour coffee shop, ordering an iced Americano for himself.

Sitting by the floor-to-ceiling windows, Sam quietly looked at his phone, occasionally glancing at the passing crowd outside, nothing out of the ordinary.

Only the cleaning lady who came in the morning seemed to not rest for a bit, mopping around Sam’s area almost ten times! The floor was nearly losing its color!

Such unfortunate charm.

What Sam didn’t know was that, thanks to his presence, the usually modest coffee shop had reached its daily sales goal for the day.

The influx of female customers, upon entering the shop, behaved as if they were models on a runway, trying to subtly, not ostentatiously, show off their figure and demeanor. Their steps were almost dance-like…

Finally, around ten o’clock, Sam was met by Zoe’s arrival.

Since today was a special day, Zoe didn’t wear anything particularly sexy—a black short-sleeved top with a white, mid-length skirt below.

She didn’t apply a sophisticated makeup look, seemingly just the base makeup.

Yet, even so, her natural beauty shone through, still making her appear gorgeous.

Coupled with her inherently gentle and soft demeanor, this woman easily evoked a protective desire in others!

The moment Zoe saw Sam, her face lit up with a natural and heartfelt smile.

It was as if this woman’s soul had come to life, making her beauty, already surreal, feel tangible.

“Sam, I hope you haven’t been waiting too long? The place I’m staying is indeed a bit far from here. I didn’t expect you to be around for the Summer Camp Experience.” Zoe said with an ease that was calculated yet considerate, making it hard for Sam to entertain any thoughts of non-cooperation.

Silently sighing to himself, Sam then smiled.

“It’s fine, I’ve already talked to the teacher. Missing a day of class won’t affect anything.”

This wasn’t bragging. Although Sam’s system seemed to lack presence, by conquest over female leads, his attributes, including Intelligence, had improved.

With this boost in Intelligence, the most direct effect was that Sam could master in an hour what took others a week to digest. He understood what he heard and rarely forgot what he saw.

Zoe smiled shyly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

It was as natural as if she had practiced it countless times, allowing Sam to feel her gentle charm without it seeming forced.

“Really, it’s not just your sexual performance, but you seem to excel in every aspect.”

Sam nearly spat out his coffee.

“Ha… Well, when do we set off? Your family should be arriving soon, right?”

Zoe smiled at Sam.

“There’s still some time. No rush, let’s align our stories first. After all, I expect my parents will ask some questions, and if our stories differ too much, it might raise suspicions. Even though it’s an act, we should do it thoroughly.”

“That’s true… You always think things through.”

Then, they began to ‘rehearse’ their lines.

In reality, there wasn’t anything particularly special that needed to be discussed—just details about Sam’s age, job, where he was originally from, his social circle, everyday hobbies, and the things he and Zoe typically did together.

While it sounded like a lot, it was actually manageable, especially given Sam’s current capacity for memory.

The age mentioned was naturally not Sam’s real age, and he definitely couldn’t reveal that he was a student, or else even Zoe’s parents might start seeing their daughter in a new light.

After quickly aligning their stories, Zoe picked up her belongings and reached out her hand to Sam, her cheeks flushed with a faint blush.

“Alright, let’s go, Sam~”

Sam mused internally that this was probably one of the moments she had been looking forward to the most. The act of meeting and pretending might not have been as significant to her anymore.

But what could he do? Sam had long realized this might be a romantic trap, yet one cannot simply avoid jumping into a trap they see. Many are the plots that leave people helpless and frustrated, and who’s to say this wasn’t an opportunity for Sam right now?

He took Zoe’s soft hand.

The two left the coffee shop like an intimate couple.

The cemetery wasn’t far, but along the way, Sam had to endure ‘temptation’.

Initially, they were just holding hands, but Zoe insisted that at this stage in their relationship, holding hands seemed unnatural, as if they were new to dating, so she took the initiative to hook her arm through Sam’s.

Throughout the journey, Sam could feel Zoe’s ample breasts brushing against his arm, a scenario often depicted in novels and movies as one of the most common precursors to intimate moments between a man and a woman.

Only through personal experience could one understand how palpable such sensations were at the age of 18, especially with a woman whose mere face and demeanor could arouse sexual desire.

Visibly, though Zoe said nothing and appeared normal, the blush on her cheeks became increasingly pronounced.

Finally, they arrived at their destination, the entrance to a cemetery that appeared serene and desolate.

Sam and Zoe met a couple there. Though not old enough to be called elderly, the wrinkles at the corners of their eyes and their slightly fuller figures betrayed their age, yet they looked very spirited.

Especially Zoe’s father, whose temples were just beginning to gray, but his eyes were sharp, like those of a mature man who had seen the world and could see through anything.

Upon reaching her parents, Zoe appropriately let go of Sam’s hand.

“Mom and Dad, have you been waiting long? We got held up a bit on the way.”

The man remained silent, while the amiable-looking woman beside him smiled and said, “Not long, we just got here ourselves… Uh, isn’t this the first meeting? Zoe, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

With a hint of shyness, Zoe grabbed Sam’s hand, pulling the slightly bashful Sam a bit closer.

“Um… this is Sam, the one I’ve been telling you about. Sam, these are my parents.”

Sam, being only 18, naturally couldn’t pretend to be a mature, successful man without it being obviously false, so he appropriately displayed a bit of shyness.

“Oh… hello, nice to meet you. I’m Sam, Zoe’s boyfriend…”

Upon seeing Sam, Zoe’s father scrutinized him openly, while Zoe’s mother smiled gently and said, “Ah, Sam is quite handsome, no wonder our daughter, who has such high standards, keeps telling us how good and special you are… You’re very spirited, young man.”

“Thank you for the compliment…”

However, at this moment, Zoe’s father spoke in a neutral tone, “A man’s appearance is the least important thing; what matters is if he is reliable.”

This comment made the atmosphere momentarily awkward.

Zoe’s mother, clearly annoyed, slapped her husband’s arm.

“What are you rambling about? Since when has looking good become unimportant in this era? And how can you judge someone’s reliability just from meeting them once? Stop being so cynical. Don’t you care about your daughter?”

The man retorted, “How am I not considering her? Why else would I worry so much?”

The woman then took her husband’s arm, “Alright, alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s go inside, don’t keep Echo waiting.”

In a harmonious family, how could there not be a wise and good mother?

The couple led the way, and Zoe came back to gently take Sam’s arm, lowering her voice, “Sorry for that little scene. My father can be quite dull… often saying annoying things.”

Sam shook his head with a smile.

“It’s okay. It shows your dad cares about you, afraid that you might be deceived.”

Zoe looked up at Sam, her lips curling into a slight smile.

“Then, Sam, would you deceive me?”

Sam was not the kind of man oblivious to women’s feelings.

No, he was the “bad boy.”

Being a “bad boy,” deceiving isn’t out of the norm, is it?

Sam looked at her with a smile, meeting her expectant gaze.

“How could I bear to deceive Zoe? If there were any lies, they’d be white lies.”

Yes, Sam left some room for himself in his statement.

Though Zoe might not be entirely pleased, it was certainly better than outright denial.

She smiled, tightening her grip on Sam’s hand, as if pulling his arm closer to her bosom.

“Mm~ I believe in Sam.”

Is this the “bad boy’s” reward? Indeed, those who are ‘honest’ rarely get the sweet treats.

Sam and Zoe quickened their pace, weaving through the cemetery’s numerous tombstones.

Seeing these tombstones didn’t scare Sam.

While life and death are considered taboo and not to be constantly brought up, and tales of ghosts and spirits are regarded with reverence, Sam believed that birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural parts of life, nothing to be taboo about or feared. Worrying about them only adds to one’s troubles.

They finally arrived at the spot.

It was a simple tombstone with a somewhat youthful photo on it, now showing signs of age.

The boy in the picture appeared to be around Sam’s age, making it hard to imagine how such a young life could be lost to a mere accident…

Zoe’s parents simultaneously sighed, visibly, Zoe’s expression also dipped slightly.

Clearly, the brother’s departure from this world left a wound and regret that persisted to this day.

Zoe handed out a bunch of white flowers to everyone, including Sam.

Zoe’s father looked at the flowers and then sighed.

“How many years has it been? Your dad can’t quite remember, but don’t worry, everyone at home is doing alright. It’s just that your mom sometimes sees your photo and cries by herself. It’s okay, life goes by so quickly, I hope you’re doing well in heaven.”

His words were simple, devoid of much emotional fluctuation. It wasn’t numbness but a clarity Sam understood—being the head of a family often means keeping emotions in check.

Sam could even imagine how this man must have reacted upon hearing the news of the young boy’s death.

Zoe’s father was indeed a strong man, as many men often are.

Zoe’s mother was more visibly affected, her eyes reddening as she spoke, wiping away tears until her husband patted her shoulder. She then embraced her husband, sobbing and releasing the emotions pent up inside her.

Zoe seemed to handle her emotions better, quietly looking at the tombstone.

After a while, she offered up the white flowers and softly said, “Echo, your sister is doing well. I’ve found someone who is worth taking care of and who will take care of me. You can rest easy… Sister isn’t sad anymore, just… missing you.”

After saying this, Zoe stepped back.

It seemed only Sam was left. Although he had just met this couple, doing nothing in such an atmosphere felt odd.

Sam adjusted his emotions, stepping forward with kindness towards the deceased, bending down to offer the flowers. He didn’t say much, just, “May the Lord bless you.”

In his heart, though, he was thinking, I’m really not a ‘fraud.’ Doing this… comes with its own difficulties, hoping for your understanding, that’s all I can ask for.

Zoe’s mother still had a lot to say, and Zoe stayed by her side.

It left Sam and Zoe’s father alone, moving to a spot where smoking was permitted. The man offered Sam a cigarette, which he politely declined.

“Thank you, I don’t smoke.”

The man nodded, lighting a cigarette for himself.

He exhaled a puff of smoke, then said, “I heard you don’t smoke or drink?”

Sam nodded: “Yeah.”

The man seemed somewhat disapproving as he shook his head. “Not having any of these habits can make some things difficult to achieve. You should know society values not just ability but also social skills. It’s not bad for a man to have some vices.”

Sam, however, politely responded with a smile. “Well, smoking not only is irresponsible to one’s own health but also affects those around us. Drinking can lead to trouble. I think whether a man is capable isn’t determined by these things.

What persona you present or what you say isn’t important. What matters is being able to do what needs to be done when it’s crucial, when others need you. That’s what makes a man.”

The man looked at Sam with a hint of surprise, then suddenly smiled, perhaps the first time Sam saw him smile today.

“It seems I’m not keeping up with the times. The young people today do have some good ideas.”

“You don’t have to praise me too much. Everything is built upon the shoulders of those before us. I also should thank you for raising such a wonderful daughter.”

Hearing this, the man seemed about to say something.

But then, Zoe came over with her mother, suggesting, “It’s getting late; let’s go have lunch. Sam and I still have work later.”

Thus, their conversation was cut short as they prepared to leave the cemetery.

On the way, Zoe still had her arm around Sam’s, looking up at him.

“What were you and my dad talking about just now?”

Sam chuckled, shaking his head. “Just some simple father-in-law and son-in-law chitchat. What else could it be?”

“Now we’re talking father-in-law and son-in-law?”

“Well, if we’re acting, we’ve got to play our parts, right? Don’t worry, I won’t cause you any trouble.”

Zoe smiled, her beautiful face masking her complex emotions. Deep down, she might have wished for Sam to stir up some trouble… Wouldn’t that bind them together forever?

The four of them casually chose a nearby bar, where Zoe’s father even ordered drinks and directly served one to Sam.

Zoe, slightly annoyed, said, “Dad, what are you doing? Didn’t I say Sam has work this afternoon, and now you’re giving him alcohol?”

Her father, feeling it was completely natural, retorted, “What’s there to fear for young man with such good spirits? One or two drinks won’t hurt. Besides, drinking is also a sign of business acumen. You drink quite often yourself, how can you criticize me?”

Zoe seemed about to protest, but Sam stopped her with a smile. “It’s okay, one or two drinks are fine, especially since it’s my first time meeting your parents. It’s only right.”

The man nodded, very approvingly, “See, that’s the spirit Sam has. You’re older than him and still don’t understand these things.”

Zoe pouted, “Then why didn’t you give birth to me later?”

“Hey, this daughter of mine…”

Eventually, they drank and talked. Perhaps because of the alcohol, the conversation opened up a bit, but of course, Zoe’s parents didn’t miss the opportunity to inquire about Sam’s basic information.

Thanks to being well-prepared and with Zoe’s help by his side, Sam managed to respond smoothly without any slip-ups.

This included the sensitive topic of when the two would marry.

Naturally, Zoe didn’t let Sam answer for himself. She only mentioned that she wasn’t considering it for the time being, as both were busy with work and that being comfortable with each other was the best way to be.

Of course, she faced their parents’ gentle chiding.

It was the same old spiel.

The familiar spiel from Zoe’s parents was making Sam’s head spin, not so much from the alcohol as from the bombardment of traditional expectations.

He could only sit there, smiling politely, showing a willingness to listen.

As the meal was about to end, Sam was ready to part ways with a polite promise of visiting again, which would have neatly concluded this reasonably trouble-free meeting.

Unexpectedly, Zoe’s father asked to speak with Sam alone.

Zoe immediately became anxious. “What do you need to talk about… alone?”

Her father remained calm, assuringly looking at Sam. “Just some man-to-man talk. No need for you to worry. I’m not going to do anything to him. Besides, the young man is strong; what’s there to worry about?”

Zoe attempted to protest but was gently pulled aside by her mother. “Don’t you know your father’s temper? It’s fine; he just likes to do things this way. Let’s go outside and sit for a while. I’ve had some things I’ve wanted to talk to you about these days anyway.”

“Okay…”

Zoe had no choice but to give Sam a concerned look, to which Sam nodded, signaling her to be at ease.

After all this time, what difference would a few more minutes make? It’s not like he was going to eat him alive.

With a hint of worry, Zoe left the private room, leaving Sam alone with the man in front of him.

Instead of speaking right away, the man poured the last bit of wine for them both.

Sam, with a smile, said, “I really can’t drink much more…”

The man slowly lifted his head, lighting a cigarette, and through the swirling smoke, he looked straight into Sam’s eyes. “Alright, it’s just us now. No need to pretend.”

Sam’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean? I really can’t drink much…”

The man chuckled. “What I mean is, you’re not really my daughter’s boyfriend, are you?”

What? Where did things go wrong!