Chapter 1176 - 1176: The 36 Stratagems: Feign Retreat to Capture

"Bro Ba, I'm really sorry, I just..."

Realizing what he has done, Pei Dengke explains awkwardly.

Xiao Feng waves his hand, interrupting, "It's okay, sit down first, I'll explain it to you slowly."

"Alright!" Pei Dengke agrees, sits down again, occupying only a third of the chair, his back distant from the seat back, looking like he's eager to learn.

Xiao Feng smiles with satisfaction, at least there's no fault in the attitude.

He slightly organizes his thoughts, connecting to the previous topic, "Your best reaction right now is to use the sixteenth strategy from the Thirty-six Stratagems—'Catch by letting go.'

"Catch by letting go?" Pei Dengke looks troubled, "Bro Ba, I've heard the idiom, but what's the exact approach?"

Xiao Feng chuckles, "Don't worry, I'll explain slowly.

This strategy, the original text speaks of forcing leads to resistance, retreat leads to weakness, follow but don't press, exhaust energy, diminish morale, disperse then capture, victory without bloodshed."

Forcing leads to resistance means if you push the enemy into a corner, it triggers a desperate counterattack.

Think carefully, in your interactions with Wang Tingwei, haven't you always been the one taking initiative?"

"Well..." Pei Dengke reflects for a moment and nods, "It's true, before, where to go, what to eat or drink, it was all my arrangements, Weiwei never complained."

Xiao Feng reveals a smile as expected, "Exactly, though taking initiative as a man is not bad, being too proactive can bring pressure to your partner.

This is probably the main reason why Wang Tingwei left you, catching you with another girl was just the spark lighting the fuse."

"I see!" Pei Dengke realizes.

Xiao Feng continues to lect—eh! continues to explain, "Forcing leads to resistance is the crux of the emotional issue between you and Wang Tingwei, and the rest are solutions.

Explaining one by one is tedious, so I'll keep it short.

Now that Wang Tingwei is contacting you again, that's a good start because, as the saying goes, distance creates beauty, being apart for some time, she'll naturally recall the good times with you.

What you must do is don't be like before, a little initiative from her, and you cling on like a plaster, which backfires."

"Bro Ba means I should... ignore her?" Pei Dengke asks.

Xiao Feng shakes his head, "Not ignore her, but let her wait a bit.

If she calls again, don't act very enthusiastically, just say you're in a bad mood, talk another day.

Then, without hesitation, immediately hang up!"

Pei Dengke becomes conflicted, "Bro Ba, you might not know, Weiwei is sensitive, for her to initiate a call, she's definitely had a lot of internal struggles.

If I hang up, and she never calls again, that would be really bad."

Xiao Feng takes a deep breath, restraining the urge to punch, patiently says, "Don't worry, once you hang up, she'll definitely call again!"

"But what if she doesn't?"

"Are you the reincarnation of a nitpicker?" Xiao Feng responds irritably, "If you want success, listen to me, if not, do what you like."

"No, no, Bro Ba don't be mad, I'm worried, that's all." Pei Dengke stands and quickly appeases, "I'll follow your advice, whatever you say, I'll do."

"There's one more thing to remember!" Xiao Feng says sternly.

Pei Dengke adopts a serious expression, "Bro Ba, go ahead!"

"If Wang Tingwei asks about me, just say I am a friend you met in Jiuyou Town, don't connect me with Brother Xiao."

"Why?" Pei Dengke asks puzzled, "You and Brother Xiao, you've worked hard for me and Weiwei, we should be grateful."

"That gratitude comes after you marry, if you let Wang Tingwei know I'm sent by Brother Xiao to help you, won't all these plans be blown?

Then Wang Tingwei will know you're playing tricks on her.

She might be so disappointed in you she leaves to marry elsewhere, next meeting, she's with a seven or eight-year-old calling you uncle..."

"Stop!" Pei Dengke interrupts, "I absolutely won't allow that to happen!"

Xiao Feng earnestly advises, "That's why you mustn't link me with Brother Xiao, insist you know me from Jiuyou Town."

"Got it!"

Pei Dengke agrees, but soon seems to realize something, hesitated and asks, "Bro Ba, I'm confused, why would Weiwei ask about you?"

Xiao Feng is slightly surprised, this guy realizes the issue so quickly?

However, he prepared an answer for this question long ago.

Just as he was about to speak, a familiar ringtone rings...

"Year after year enduring hardships through winters and summers, thousands of miles through frost and snow there's home everywhere, bringing the true scripture..."

Pei Dengke stands up instantly like he's shocked, excitedly saying, "Weiwei, Weiwei is calling!

Weiwei is calling!"

Xiao Feng feels a wave of exasperation, thinking over such a trivial matter, is it necessary to be so excited?

Yet, despite the ridicule, given Pei Dengke's reaction, another reminder is necessary.

"Don't forget, catch by letting go..."

Pei Dengke slaps his forehead, "Oh right, almost forgot."

"..." Xiao Feng.

The call is connected, Wang Tingwei's clear melodious voice comes through, "What are you doing?"

Immediately, Pei Dengke nearly responds instinctively, but recalling Bro Ba's reminder, he quickly takes a deep breath, calms his emotions, then speaks:

"Weiwei, sorry, I'm in a bad mood now, let's... talk another day!"

After speaking, Pei Dengke clenches his teeth, hardens his heart, promptly hangs up.

"Bro Ba, how did I do?" Pei Dengke asks.

Xiao Feng gives a thumbs up, "There's hope for you!"

Meanwhile;

Wang Tingwei looks at the phone screen, her expression slightly serious.

In her memory, it's the first time Pei Dengke has hung up on her...

What's going on?

Wang Tingwei taps her chin thoughtfully, she doesn't immediately call back.

It's not about pride, but whether calling back now is appropriate.

Yet, through the floor-to-ceiling window, seeing the beach lounger surrounded by a blonde-blue-eyed, curvy beauty in a bikini, she instantly decides!

No delay!

The longer the delay, the easier for things to go awry.

Even if that Pei Family young master might escape her control, he won't be free completely.

Wang Tingwei is confident, relying on her excellent skills in 'tea art', she can toy Pei Dengke right back into her grasp again.

Thinking this, she hesitates no longer, immediately calls back.