Jiang Xin's expression soured. "Song Yujia, what business is it of yours? I'm asking Xin Zhiyao."
"What I mean is what she means. Whoever wants to attend your anniversary, making it so grand, aren't you afraid of being embarrassed if you break up later? Young people should leave themselves an out."
Xin Zhiyao was not good with words, and Song Yujia had always been her mouthpiece. Sometimes, she envied Song Yujia's eloquence; she could talk someone to death.
As she wished, she saw Jiang Xin's face turn from pale to red.
Unable to out-argue Song Yujia, Jiang Xin pulled Yu Que to back her up, tugging his sleeve and angrily saying, "Say something! Song Yujia is cursing us into breaking up."
Yu Que's expression was indeed not good. "Song Yujia, why are you speaking so harshly?"
"There's even harsher to come," Song Yujia shouted. "Yu Que, I'm almost embarrassed to say this, but how did you manage to hook up with my sister before? You were flirting with my sister while also being unclear with another woman. I didn't bother saying anything before out of respect for Yaoyao, but now I have nothing to worry about. You scumbag."
Song Yujia's barrage left Yu Que's face ashen.
"Song Yujia, say that again."
"I'll say it again: Yu Que, you scumbag. And you," she turned to Jiang Xin, "what's so great about having a scumbag boyfriend? We all find it embarrassing. You still come here to show off. Just wait, you'll end up wearing a few cuckold hats sooner or later."
"You—" Jiang Xin's face turned red with anger, then she sneered, "This is just jealousy. What's the point of saying so much? Yu Que is mine now."
Song Yujia sneered back, "We don't fancy him. Our Yaoyao has found a man who is so much better than Yu Que. Someone like him wouldn't even catch our eye."
Hearing Song Yujia's words, Yu Que subconsciously looked at Xin Zhiyao. "Is she telling the truth?"
"Of course, it's true. Compared to him, you're nothing," Song Yujia said triumphantly.
Enraged by her attitude, Yu Que said to Xin Zhiyao, "Xin Zhiyao, can't you control Song Yujia? Listen to what she's saying."
In the past, Song Yujia also liked to argue with Yu Que, and Xin Zhiyao would kindly try to mediate.
To his surprise, Xin Zhiyao opened her mouth and said, "What Jia Jia means is what I mean."
Yu Que met her indifferent gaze and was stunned. He remembered what Song Yujia had just said. "Do you really have a boyfriend?"
"Not just a boyfriend, but..."
"Jia Jia," Xin Zhiyao tugged at Song Yujia.
Song Yujia snapped back to reality, realizing she had almost let slip. She snorted at Yu Que, "In short, he's much better than you, you scumbag."
"You—" Yu Que's temples throbbed with anger.
Just a few days ago, his friends were teasing him about how long Xin Zhiyao would remain single for him. Now Song Yujia was saying she already had a boyfriend. He didn't believe it.
He was about to press further when the class bell suddenly rang.
"Jia Jia, it's time for class. Let's go," Xin Zhiyao said, pulling Song Yujia along.
Song Yujia, having won the round, made a funny face at the two of them before being pulled away by Xin Zhiyao.
"Jia Jia, thank you for speaking up for me," Xin Zhiyao said as they walked. "I wouldn't be able to argue with them."
Xin Zhiyao's personality was like this; she didn't like direct confrontation. At most, when she was furious, she would replay the conversation later, regretting what she didn't say.
"It's okay. You're pregnant and shouldn't get upset. Leave the dirty work to me."
Song Yujia laughed heartily, warming Xin Zhiyao's heart.
Her family didn't treat her well, but heaven had sent her Song Yujia, which felt like compensation.
On the other side, Jiang Xin angrily hit Yu Que. "What do you mean? Why are you so concerned about whether she has a boyfriend?"
Yu Que frowned. "When did I?"
"You didn't? Weren't you relentlessly asking just now?" Jiang Xin's eyes turned red. "Yu Que, if you like her, why are you dating me? Just go to her."
Yu Que's temples throbbed.
During their relationship, Jiang Xin had cried in front of him countless times over the slightest thing. At first, he felt sympathetic and tried to comfort her, but now, a wave of irritation washed over him.
He suppressed it and patiently coaxed her, "Xin Xin, I don't. If I liked her, why would I be dating you? You know how I've treated you during this time. I only like you."
He held her hand. "Shall we go to class first? We'll be late if we don't."
Yu Que coaxed and persuaded her in a gentle tone, and only then did Jiang Xin reluctantly follow him.
He suddenly remembered that when he was with Xin Zhiyao before, she didn't throw tantrums so easily.
After her class, Xin Zhiyao went to the library. After her afternoon classes, she went to the milk tea shop.
The shop owner, Li Heng, was there, and a man was standing beside him.
"Little Xin, this is my brother-in-law. He hasn't found a job since graduating from university. My wife asked him to come to my shop to get some experience."
The young man was thin, with ordinary facial features, the kind who wouldn't stand out in a crowd.
Xin Zhiyao quickly nodded to him. "Hello, my name is Xin Zhiyao."
The young man also nodded at her, looking a bit flustered. "My name is Zhang Hongwen."
"Little Xin, I've asked Hongwen to learn from Little Yu on the night shift. You're also an old employee here, so if he has any questions, you can teach him."
"Okay, Brother Heng," Xin Zhiyao quickly agreed.
Zhang Hongwen hesitantly said to her, "Please guide me."
The other person was older than him, so he dared not be so presumptuous.
The other girl working with Xin Zhiyao was Yu Xiaoxiao, 25 years old. She usually made the milk tea, while Xin Zhiyao took orders and packed them. By 10 PM, there were fewer customers, so Xin Zhiyao could leave early.
With the sudden addition of a man at the shop, she initially thought he was a relative and didn't dare to order him around. However, he was a man of few words but very proactive. Whenever he saw them carrying heavy items, he would step forward to help.
At exactly 10 PM, Xin Zhiyao received a phone call from Zhou Ji.
She was just about to throw out the trash and leave.
As she was carrying the trash out, someone took the trash from her hand just as she answered the phone.
Xin Zhiyao saw it was Zhang Hongwen. "No, no, you don't have to."
"I'll do it," he said, taking it from her without further ado.
Simultaneously, Zhou Ji's gentle voice came through the phone. "Where are you? Have you finished your evening self-study?"
Xin Zhiyao then remembered that someone was waiting for her to come home.
"Pro-Professor Zhou," she stammered nervously, glancing at the time. "I'll be right there, wait for me for five minutes."
"No rush, don't run," Zhou Ji instructed her.
"Okay, fine."
She quickly hung up the phone, and Zhang Hongwen had just returned after disposing of the trash.
"Um, my part-time job is over, so I'm heading back now," Xin Zhiyao said to him.
Zhang Hongwen nodded at her. "Okay."
Xin Zhiyao changed her clothes, said goodbye to Yu Xiaoxiao, and left.
Zhou Ji had told her not to run, so she didn't dare to, but she did quicken her pace.
To prevent being discovered, she deliberately acted as if she was coming from the direction of the school gate until Zhou Ji's car came into view.
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