What must be faced, will be faced sooner or later. After much thought, Susu still flew to Beijing for the weekend. At the bustling arrival hall, she was exceptionally striking in a pale yellow dress, and Xin Che's gaze fell upon her almost immediately. The moment their eyes met, even though Susu had looked at him countless times before, her heart couldn't help but race when she suddenly saw his face. The two of them walked out side by side, not saying much along the way, each suppressing their unease in their hearts.
Susu could only stay in Beijing for one night, and Xin Che arranged for her to meet Ji Xiaoran that Afternoon. He hadn't discussed with Susu how to handle Ji Xiaoran, and even after all those years together, he wasn't sure what Ji Xiaoran would say.
Susu didn't want to discuss this with Xin Che either. She knew that Xin Che had a girlfriend back then, but she still followed the desires of her heart and had truly hurt Ji Xiaoran. At this moment, she just wanted to face her honestly.
On the way to meet Ji Xiaoran, Susu asked him, "Have you made up your mind?"
Xin Che replied, "Are you asking if I've decided to be with you?"
Susu responded with a "Mm."
"I had already made up my mind before I came to Shenzhen to find you; I wouldn't have traveled so far just to sleep with you one more time." Xin Che paused, then continued, "But have you made up your mind? If you don't want to face her, you don't have to force yourself."
Susu still went to meet Ji Xiaoran. She felt guilty, and since Ji Xiaoran wanted to see her, she had no reason to refuse.
The first time Susu saw Ji Xiaoran, she was stunned by her beauty—her small face possessed a cool, bone-defined beauty: her features were clean and sharp, her forehead and jawline tapering finely, like lines carved with a single stroke. Her eyebrows were not thick but had a natural arch, making her eyes appear more alluring; her long, slender almond-shaped eyes, with a slight upward tilt at the corners, looked distant yet captivating when she wasn't smiling; her nose was straight, her nose tip delicate, and her profile even more striking when turned.
Her entire face was so beautiful that one couldn't look away, almost making people overlook how exquisitely she was dressed: her off-white short trench coat was cut neatly, her suit pants were ironed perfectly straight, a subtle gleam by her ear, and her medium-length hair had a curve and layers as if just styled by a professional. Beside her sat a rare leather Hermès Kelly bag, its surface gleaming.
Susu felt detached from reality, unable to distinguish where she was or what she was doing. Feelings of inferiority even overshadowed her guilt. She wanted to stand up and leave but found herself unable to move. She could hear Ji Xiaoran speaking, but she remained enveloped in a fog, her eyes vacant, her expression blank.
Ji Xiaoran, however, appeared composed, her tone gentle, "You are Cheng Susu?"
Susu nodded.
Ji Xiaoran looked at her and got straight to the point: "Do you know how many times he cheated during the ten years he was with me? In college, he never refused anyone; otherwise, why would I have been pursued by him for four years before agreeing to be with him? He has always been reckless, like a child who never grows up, only considering his own feelings. I once thought I could change him, but what was the result? If he can treat me like this, won't you end up in the same situation?"
Seeing Susu keep her head down and remain silent, Ji Xiaoran continued, "He just fancies you because you're young and easy to control. But can you really be as tolerant of him as I was? He told me your name a few days ago, and I did some investigating—your ex-boyfriend works in quantitative trading at CICC? Did you two break up because you cheated? We're all in the same industry; haven't you and Xin Che gone too far?"
After confirming Ji Xiaoran had finished speaking, Susu stood up and said, "I am very sorry, and thank you for telling me all this." Then she left.
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