July in City A was stiflingly hot, and the cicadas’ droning only made the restless heat feel more oppressive.
Yet even in this weather, someone sat with a heart full of excitement and anticipation, waiting for tomorrow’s grand engagement banquet.
Lu Xingye, head of the Lu Family, and Ji Qingtang, eldest daughter of the Ji Corporation, were getting engaged tomorrow.
Despite being such explosive news, everyone felt it was only natural, entirely expected.
Everyone knew the eldest daughter of the Ji Family had openly pursued the CEO of Lu Corporation for five whole years before finally winning him over, and they had been dating for three years since.
In terms of family background, looks, and ability, the two of them were a perfect match.
Marriage seemed like something everyone had silently accepted.
Even though the story’s male lead had been surrounded by tabloid rumors for three straight years.
Netizens marveled at Ji Qingtang’s persistence while also feeling sorry for the girl. Thankfully, the prodigal son had finally come home.
However, the female lead of this engagement ceremony, Ji Qingtang, was at this moment sitting on the floor, staring motionlessly at the photos on her phone.
The photos were blurry—shots of two people entering and leaving a hotel, their movements intimate. Judging from the angle, the two of them appeared to be… kissing.
Her fingertips trembled slightly.
She looked up at the magnificent gown hanging in the center of the living room—a white, waist-cinching, strapless evening dress.
It hung in the most prominent spot, showing just how much its owner cherished and loved it.
Only a few days ago, when he had accompanied her to pick out her gown for the banquet, he had said white looked good on her.
So it wasn’t her he found beautiful—it was his beloved first love, his White Moonlight. And his White Moonlight’s favorite color was white.
On the eve of their engagement, the man she loved so deeply was holding another woman in his arms, kissing her in a hotel lobby.
A mocking smile slowly curled at the corner of her mouth.
Memories of the past eight years flashed through Ji Qingtang’s mind. Ever since school, she had clung to Lu Xingye’s side.
When he was sick, she felt worse than if she were sick herself, bringing him medicine and water; in summer, she braved the blazing sun to run to the sports field and deliver drinks to him.
She never let a single holiday pass without using it as an excuse to hover at his side.
She even gave him the winter four-piece gift sets that were so popular back then, but all he ever said was, “Childish.”
In the end, probably worn down by her pestering, he finally agreed to be with her.
The engagement, too, was probably just him being moved by her persistence.
After all, no other woman could ever love him to such an extent.
When Lu Xingye first took over the Lu Corporation, his position was unstable, with various factions eyeing his seat covetously—his father’s illegitimate son who had just returned from abroad, and the cousin from his second uncle’s family. None of them were easy to deal with.
It was she who tearfully begged her father to transfer her shares, making the Ji Family his backing—even though she despised her father’s condescending attitude more than anything.
And her grandfather too, dragging the Xie Family into it, supporting him without hesitation—that was the only way he could quickly establish his footing on the board.
She had yielded again and again, compromised again and again. She had loved him for eight years—eight whole years—only to end up betrayed on the eve of their engagement. How laughable.
All because of love. And love could be trampled upon.
Yet she was someone others could only dream of having. She had willingly given up everything, just to stay by his side.
Even the most passionate feelings grow weary after rejection after rejection, hurt after hurt.
The coldness between Ji Qingtang’s brows deepened. When she opened her eyes again, there was nothing but desolation in them.
She picked up her phone and sent Lu Xingye a text message.
“Let’s break up.”
Then she went into the bathroom. Hot water sprayed over her body, washing away the chill, but her face was full of exhaustion.
After her shower, Ji Qingtang checked her phone. Just as she’d expected—despite sending such a message, there was no response at all.
He must think she was throwing another tantrum. After all, she’d done this many times before. The only difference was that every time, she was the one who said “break up,” and she was also the one who came crawling back to make up.
Her heart ached dully.
He acted so recklessly precisely because she loved him—loved him enough to give up everything to be with him.
Her knuckles turned white around the phone.
Ji Qingtang let out a soft breath. This time, she would not soften.
She found a number in her contacts and dialed.
“Miss, I was just about to call you.”
Xie Yu’s exasperated voice came through the other end.
Ji Qingtang stared at the photos on her phone, her eyes turning cold. “Release the photos I sent you. Now. Immediately. Right away.”
Xie Yu was stunned. When he’d received the photos earlier, he’d assumed she wanted him to handle it the same way as before—go find the woman in the pictures and pay her off.
He never expected her to want them released.
He could hardly believe his ears and asked again, uncertain, “Are you sure? Release them?”
Ji Qingtang said only one thing: “She’s Lu Xingye’s first love.”
The women before could be bought off—paid to leave Lu Xingye. But this one was different. Li Shu was the White Moonlight Lu Xingye had always longed for, and she had the capital to fight Ji Qingtang: Lu Xingye’s favoritism.
Money was useless against Li Shu. She had come with full force, wanting Lu Xingye himself and the position of the Lu Corporation’s young madam.
Xie Yu instantly understood Ji Qingtang’s thinking.
“You’ve really let go this time?”
So many times before, no matter how he pleaded, Ji Qingtang wouldn’t give up—she’d nearly turned against him over Lu Xingye. Yet this time, a single photo was all it took.
Ji Qingtang looked up at the gorgeous chandelier overhead, its light almost blinding. “I’m so tired, Xie Yu.”
Xie Yu was silent for a moment, then returned to his usual devil-may-care tone. “Fine, I’ll handle this. Big brother’s got you.”
Ji Qingtang laughed, feeling a little lighter. “Get out of here.”
Xie Yu was her brother in name only—they shared no blood.
Ji Qingtang’s mother was her grandfather’s only daughter, while Xie Yu’s father was her grandfather’s adopted son. They were the same age, but Xie Yu was a few months older, and when they were little, he’d often tricked her into calling him “big brother.”
After hanging up, Ji Qingtang booked a flight to Germany, then rose and walked to the wine cabinet, pulling out a bottle of 1982 Lafite.
The red wine gleamed seductively in the glass. Ji Qingtang sat on the cold floor, feeling no chill at all, gazing at the pure, elegant white gown before her.
She splashed the wine over it.
Watching it soak through, the red wine dripping down the white hem, Ji Qingtang felt an irrepressible surge of satisfaction.
Xie Yu worked fast. Just a few minutes after the phone call, the story had shot to the number one spot on Weibo’s trending list, with every major media outlet frantically reposting it.
“#Shocking! Lu Corporation’s CEO Cheats the Night Before His Engagement!!#”
“#Cheating Before the Wedding—Will Tomorrow’s Engagement Banquet Still Go Ahead?!#”