In the end, Ji Rou went to dinner alone.
Looking at her wallet and the mere 400 yuan in her hand, she felt a wave of despair.
Shen Xingbai had already been reborn. Given how much he used to dislike her, there was no way he would keep working tirelessly to send her money like before. And with her thin-skinned personality, she couldn’t possibly accept his money anymore. It seemed she’d have to find a part-time job soon.
“Ji Rou, you’re back.”
The one speaking to her was a chubby, fair-skinned girl named Xu Qingmei. Although her name included the word “mei” (beauty), her looks were more delicate than striking, with clear, bright eyes. Aside from Shen Xingbai, she was the one who had treated the original Ji Rou the best in this world.
Unfortunately, she had been driven apart from Ji Rou by Wu Xiaomei’s manipulation. The two grew more distant, and in the end, Xu Qingmei was deeply hurt and left for another place.
Ji Rou thought to herself that with such a good friend, she had to cherish her this time.
“Qingmei, I’m sorry. These past few days, I listened to bad advice and kept going against you. Can you forgive me?”
After speaking, she hugged Xu Qingmei, her voice choked with emotion, as if she truly realized her mistake.
The grievances Xu Qingmei had endured over the past few days finally broke through when she heard Ji Rou’s apology. She truly regarded Ji Rou as her best friend.
She gently patted Ji Rou’s back, comforting her like an older sister. “Rou Rou, I’ve never blamed you. You don’t need to apologize. I just hope you won’t lose yourself to the outside world.”
When Xu Qingmei first met Ji Rou, she was standing at the school gate, sunlight softly falling on her like an angel descending to earth. That single smile had captured her heart.
From that moment, Xu Qingmei decided she wanted to be her friend. Fortune favored her—they even ended up sharing the same dorm.
Back then, she had been so happy she couldn’t sleep the entire night.
But relationships rarely withstand the test of time. Ji Rou had changed—so much that she was no longer the girl from their first meeting. Xu Qingmei had tried to persuade her not to lose herself for money, but every time she brought it up, Ji Rou would avoid the topic or even argue with her.
She had her dignity too. Being hurt again and again by a close friend was exhausting. But today, Ji Rou had apologized. Though shocked, Xu Qingmei chose to forgive her out of trust—hoping this time she truly meant it.
“Qingmei, I’ve seen Wu Xiaomei for who she really is. She’s been using me all along. And that Bai Shao—while he was pursuing me, he was also involved with Wu Xiaomei. I treated her like a friend, and she even introduced that scumbag to me!”
“You, honestly,” Xu Qingmei said, tapping Ji Rou lightly on the forehead in a familiar, affectionate gesture. “I told you before, Bai Shao is no good. He’s a total playboy. Someone as naive as you would definitely get fooled.”
Ji Rou stuck out her tongue playfully, thinking how the original Ji Rou had such a caring friend yet failed to cherish her, choosing instead someone as venomous as Wu Xiaomei.
Thinking of Wu Xiaomei, she figured the reporters had probably already arrived.
Imagining the scandal between Bai Shao and Wu Xiaomei spreading everywhere tomorrow made her feel delighted.
But the moment she thought of Shen Xingbai’s dark expression, her mood immediately plummeted.
Now that Shen Xingbai had gained the Golden Eye ability, he was probably off treasure-hunting in antique markets.
If she had such a cheat ability, why would she ever worry about money?
At the thought of money, and her empty pockets, she quickly turned to her friend. “Qingmei, do you know where I can find a part-time job?”
“What’s wrong? Are you out of money? I can lend you some.”
“No, no. It’s just… I’ve been relying on Shen Xingbai to support me, and I feel a bit embarrassed about it now,” Ji Rou said, waving her hands quickly. There was no way she could ask Xu Qingmei for money—her friend wasn’t well-off either and relied on part-time jobs for her expenses.
“Isn’t Shen Xingbai your brother? He should be supporting you,” Xu Qingmei said. She had always known Ji Rou had a very caring “brother,” though Ji Rou seemed to treat him poorly. Every time he came to see her, Ji Rou avoided him around her friends. Xu Qingmei had advised her many times—they didn’t mind that her “brother” worked construction.
Ji Rou felt a bit ashamed. To attract rich suitors, she had always claimed that Shen Xingbai was her brother. Otherwise, those wealthy second-generation men wouldn’t have pursued her so eagerly.
“Well… Qingmei, actually, Shen Xingbai isn’t my brother. He’s my boyfriend,” Ji Rou admitted, closing her eyes as she finally told the truth.
Xu Qingmei’s eyes widened in shock. “You… you already have a boyfriend, and you still flirt with other men? Aren’t you betraying Shen Xingbai like that?!”
She felt like cracking open her friend’s head—how could she juggle two relationships at once?
And Shen Xingbai had truly devoted himself to Ji Rou. Xu Qingmei had even envied her before, wishing she had such a caring brother.
“I’m sorry! I must have had mush for brains before to do something so wrong to Shen Xingbai. I swear it won’t happen again,” Ji Rou said, raising her hands in a vow.
“You mean there’ll be a next time?!” Xu Qingmei’s voice shot up in anger.
“No—no more!” Ji Rou shrank back quickly.
There was no way she’d dare do it again. Shen Xingbai had already been reborn—if she wronged him again, she wouldn’t even need Xu Qingmei to deal with her. Shen Xingbai himself would tear her apart.