Ji Xixing turned her gaze toward Cheng Nishang. “Now you know why your brother wants to break off our engagement.”
“Because he’s the one who was unfaithful.”
Her calm eyes were full of mockery, making Cheng Nishang feel so humiliated that she wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
“How do I know that recording isn’t fake?” Cheng Nishang shouted hysterically, then burst into tears and ran out of the private room.
After the commotion ended, Jian Yao found an excuse to leave early with Ji Xixing.
Although the gathering had been arranged to celebrate Jian Yao’s return, many of the people there were strangers to her. Staying in that kind of environment only made her uncomfortable.
After they came out, Jian Yao ordered two drinks at the bar. Sitting on a high stool, she took a sip and glared at Ji Xixing several times.
Ji Xixing wisely surrendered. “I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you everything and hide nothing.”
“Then hurry up.”
“It’s exactly what you think. He fell in love with that mistress’s daughter at home and wants to break off our engagement so he can be with her.” Ji Xixing summarized the complicated situation in a few simple sentences.
Jian Yao frowned more and more deeply. “No way. You two used to have such a good relationship, and he just changed his heart like that?”
“He’s seriously not human.”
“It’s fine, men always like something new. Whatever.” Ji Xixing took another sip of her drink. It was spicy with a trace of sweetness.
As the alcohol went down her throat, a dull ache spread through her heart. A wave of bitterness surged up, unfamiliar yet clearly not belonging to her.
Ji Xixing guessed those emotions belonged to the original Ji Xixing in the novel. After all, it was only natural to feel heartbroken when the man she had loved since childhood suddenly changed his feelings and constantly belittled her.
Jian Yao draped an arm over her shoulder and patted her lightly. “As long as you’re not sad.”
But even if she herself wasn’t sad, how could the original Ji Xixing not be?
That man had occupied her entire life for over ten years. Since childhood, she had been told she would marry him, and everyone around her had always said they were a perfect match.
Those ideas had been deeply engraved into the original Ji Xixing’s mind like stereotypes, which was why they had affected her emotions just now.
“Yaoyao, what do you think is the best way to get revenge on a scumbag?” A bold idea suddenly popped into Ji Xixing’s mind.
Not only would she happily grant Cheng Songjin’s wish and end the engagement, she would also make sure to take her revenge on that scumbag.
“I don’t know about other men, but as far as Cheng Songjin is concerned, if you marry someone richer and more powerful than him and live happily, that would definitely torment him for the rest of his life,” Jian Yao declared confidently.
“Not interested.” Ji Xixing dismissed the suggestion immediately.
They chatted casually for a while longer. After finishing a glass of wine, Jian Yao’s phone rang.
She answered it and, whatever was said on the other end, her smile grew brighter and brighter.
After hanging up, she looked at Ji Xixing and, for the first and only time, felt guilty for a second. Her gaze made Ji Xixing’s scalp tingle.
“Which important man is asking you out this time?” Ji Xixing asked knowingly.
“What nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean ‘which one’? I only have one, okay?” Jian Yao smiled the moment she mentioned that man.
“Fine, go then.” Ji Xixing knew just how important that man was to her hopelessly lovestruck best friend and didn’t force her to stay.
“Bye, baby. Have fun.” Jian Yao picked up her bag, but before taking more than a few steps, she suddenly leaned close to Ji Xixing and whispered mysteriously, “Want me to call over a few handsome young guys to keep you company?”
“No.” Ji Xixing rejected the idea in horror. “I’m still young, don’t lead me astray.”
She had only spent one night away from home, and those people had practically wanted to skin her alive. If someone caught her drinking in a bar with a group of men, that would be a complete disaster.
Just imagining it made her head hurt.
That old fossil Ji Lifeng would definitely fix her with that dark expression again and say, “Shameless. You’ve completely disgraced me.”
“Fine. Your family’s strict, unlike me. I’m practically free range.” Jian Yao left disappointed.
Ji Xixing ordered another low-alcohol cocktail and sat alone at the bar, lost in thought.
Colorful lights shone down on her, while a rock song played on the electric guitar on the stage not far away, igniting the atmosphere of the entire bar like blazing flames.
Yet Ji Xixing sat there quietly, completely out of place with the lively surroundings. A low-proof cocktail rested in front of her, and she occasionally took a small sip.
The distinct line of her jaw shifted with the movements of her neck, while her tightly pressed lips carried an irresistible allure.
Having grown tired of the stifling atmosphere in the private room, Gu Wangxuan came out for some fresh air and happened to witness the scene before him.
His stern face revealed no emotion, but his dark eyes reflected the woman’s figure and a desire that should not have existed.
Someone came out of the private room to call him.
“Master Gu, are we still playing?”
“You guys carry on. Don’t mind me.” Gu Wangxuan withdrew his gaze. Simply standing there, he radiated overwhelming pressure.
The man hurriedly acknowledged him and, before he could return to the room, brushed past a woman walking out.
She wore a dusty pink V-neck gown, her wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. Her bright lipstick made her lips appear even fuller.
Her eyes remained fixed on Gu Wangxuan, and her soft, seductive voice sounded sweet and charming.
“Wangxuan, it’s so boring inside without you.”
“If you’re bored, then go back.” Gu Wangxuan frowned in disgust.
“Wangxuan, are you still angry with me?” The woman looked at him with watery eyes. Her naturally seductive features seemed capable of stealing anyone’s soul.
“I know it was wrong of me to leave the country without saying anything. Can we start over?” She stepped forward to grab his sleeve, but Gu Wangxuan effortlessly avoided her, looking at her as though she were something filthy.
Caught off guard, the woman stumbled into the railing.
“Ow…” She cried out in pain and looked up at him pitifully.
“Ye Qingyi, we never had a past, so what is there to start over?” Gu Wangxuan said mercilessly. “You think too highly of yourself. The only reason I tolerated you was because of my grandmother’s wishes.”
“Then what about the way you treated me? The way you granted my every request? Was that also your grandmother’s idea?” Ye Qingyi asked unwillingly.
“It was just convenient.” Gu Wangxuan replied. “If that counts as being good to you in your eyes, then all I can say is that you’re far too easy to satisfy.”
After saying that, Gu Wangxuan refused to continue entangling himself with her and walked away.
Ye Qingyi bit her lip hard and said unwillingly, “You can’t treat me like this. Sooner or later, we’re going to get married.”
“Wishful thinking.”
Only those two words carried by the wind were left behind for her.