[Ding! Congratulations on completing Side Mission 1: Beginner Go. Endurance +1.]
Back in school, Chen Yi had taken a Go class and, after a few online matches, completing the beginner level wasn’t difficult.
By now, such small rewards barely meant anything to him.
Finally, the weekend arrived, and Chen Yi headed to the swimming pool early in the morning.
“Chen Yi?”
He paused upon hearing someone call his name and turned around to see Zhou Meng and her friend Su Yao.
Su Yao walked up, gave him a once-over, then glanced silently at Zhou Meng before hesitantly turning her gaze back to Chen Yi. She bit her lip lightly and asked, “You’re really Chen Yi?”
Chen Yi nodded. Seeing Su Yao’s look of disbelief, he couldn’t help but feel secretly pleased.
Clearly, his weight loss had shown results.
“Did you take weight loss pills? What kind of pills work this well?” Su Yao couldn’t help but ask.
Zhou Meng let out a mocking snort and tugged on Su Yao’s arm. “Su Yao, you think he’d spend money on weight loss pills? Besides, what pill works better than the effects of a breakup?”
Chen Yi found her words ridiculous, but Su Yao nodded in full belief.
“Chen Yi, I know you still can’t forget me,” Zhou Meng said arrogantly after a pause. Her tone became condescending. “As long as you show some sincerity and apologize, maybe I’ll forgive you.”
Looking at Zhou Meng acting all high and mighty, Chen Yi sighed inwardly. How could he have been so blind in the past to fall for someone this brainless?
He didn’t bother responding and turned to leave, but Su Yao stepped forward to block him.
“Chen Yi, our Mengmeng is giving you a chance,” Su Yao said with a frown. “You once swore you’d put her first for life, that you’d rather eat instant noodles at home just to buy her luxury goods. You groveled for years—don’t tell me you’ve just forgotten all that? If you kneel and apologize now, maybe our Mengmeng will consider letting you go back to groveling again.”
Her voice drew quite a few curious looks from the crowd. This story is hosted at novelping.com.
Zhou Meng wore a pink one-piece swimsuit. Her skin was fair, her chest full and faintly visible, her waist slim, and her legs long. With an alluring figure and an air of innocence, she was stunning.
Chen Yi happened to notice a hickey behind Zhou Meng’s ear and let out a cold laugh. He said casually, “Why would I kneel and apologize? We were supposed to get married this year, but she ditched her boyfriend during the New Year to be with another man.”
Zhou Meng sighed dramatically. “Chen Yi, stop slandering me. You’re filthy inside, so you see everything as dirty. I just had something come up and helped a friend. You blew it out of proportion. You’re insecure and sensitive. Honestly, being with you for three years, I was the one who suffered the most.”
“Chen Yi always doubted everything. He knew deep down he didn’t deserve our Mengmeng and still tried to blame her. We felt sorry for you today and wanted to give you a chance, but you really are scum.”
“I’m scum?” Chen Yi glanced at Zhou Meng, a hint of mockery in his eyes. “I gave you all the money I earned for three years. Even the swimsuit you’re wearing was paid for by me. What, Zhao Mingda didn’t buy you one?”
Zhou Meng hadn’t expected Chen Yi to humiliate her so publicly. She instantly flew into a rage. “Chen Yi, you’re nothing but a loser! You barely make anything a month, and you dare bring that up?”
“I make 50,000 yuan a month. That’s just a small amount? Then why did you try to get back with me and beg me to help pay your credit card after the breakup? Or have you conveniently forgotten that?” Chen Yi shot back without holding back.
Some people, when given too much face, only become more shameless.
Meanwhile, Zhou Meng had no idea that someone in the crowd had already recorded the entire argument and uploaded it online.
After speaking, Chen Yi turned and headed toward the pool.
Coincidentally, he spotted a familiar face not far away. He suddenly remembered that this woman was an executive at Gu Corporation.
“Chen Yi, what a coincidence. Didn’t expect to run into you here,” Shen You walked over and greeted him.
“Manager Shen, you’re here to swim too?”
“I brought my daughter here for swimming lessons,” Shen You replied warmly.
Not far away, Su Yao tugged on Zhou Meng’s hand and said with confusion, “Mengmeng, how does Chen Yi know an executive from Gu Corporation?”
Zhou Meng stared blankly as Chen Yi chatted with the elegantly dressed middle-aged woman in designer swimwear. Their interaction didn’t seem like they had just met.
Zhou Meng narrowed her eyes slightly and glanced at Su Yao. Her tone grew uncertain. “Su Yao, are you sure you’re not mistaken? That woman’s just some middle-aged lady. How could she be a Gu Corporation executive?”
Su Yao’s voice was firm. “I’m absolutely sure. She’s the HR Manager at Gu Corporation and very influential. I saw her last week when I went there for an interview. There’s no way I’m wrong.”
“But I don’t recall Chen Yi knowing someone that powerful,” Zhou Meng said, equally puzzled. If Chen Yi really did know someone like Gu Corporation’s HR Manager, how could he still be just a lowly programmer?
“Mengmeng, don’t you think it’s strange? That loser Chen Yi seems to have a pretty close relationship with Shen You.”
Su Yao’s words interrupted Zhou Meng’s train of thought.
Before Zhou Meng could speak, Su Yao suddenly released her hand and cautiously added, “Mengmeng, our company recently said that New Start Tech hired a top-tier expert.”
Zhou Meng looked up at Su Yao. “So what?”
Su Yao bit her lip lightly. “That expert’s name is also Chen Yi.”
Zhou Meng scoffed. “Su Yao, don’t tell me you actually think that loser is the expert everyone’s talking about?”
“I thought it was just a coincidence at first,” Su Yao frowned, eyes fixed on Chen Yi in the distance. “But now I really think that expert might be him.”
“No… impossible.” Zhou Meng didn’t believe it. She’d rather believe that Chen Yi was just a useless loser.
“Mengmeng, what if Chen Yi really is that expert? Otherwise, how could he possibly know someone from Gu Corporation?”
As she finished, Su Yao sent a message to her colleague.
Within five minutes, she received a photo.
With just one glance, Zhou Meng immediately recognized the man in the image—it was Chen Yi. He really was the so-called top-tier expert.