At the dinner table, Xu Yiran was busy pointing out all the wild-caught delicacies on the menu, especially the expensive coral trout.
The waiter beside her was jotting everything down.
“Lin Chen, you finally made it! Yiran kept thinking about what seafood you like and ordered so much. The class president couldn’t talk her out of it,” one classmate said with a laugh.
“And Yiran didn’t order any shrimp because she knows you’re allergic—even though she loves shrimp herself. She really puts you first,” added Xu Yiran’s best friend, Liu Yu.
“Oh, you! No matter how much food there is, you just can’t stop talking. Don’t go on, or Yun Qing will misunderstand,” Xu Yiran said with a playful pout.
Lin Chen looked at Xu Yiran, his eyes full of gentle affection and warmth for her thoughtful gestures.
Setting the Stage
But my focus was elsewhere.
Feigning confusion, I asked, “Is Xu Yiran treating us to this meal? With all this delicious food, it must be expensive!”
Last time, Xu Yiran had publicly accused me of being a third wheel in her relationship with Lin Chen. I was outnumbered, and Lin Chen never really defended me. Xu Yiran’s friends joined in, and I was crushed under their accusations.
Originally, the plan was for everyone to split the bill, but to “calm everyone down,” I ended up paying for the whole thing.
Not this time.
I flipped through the menu, frowning in concern. “This restaurant is so expensive. There’s a really affordable place nearby. We’re all just broke students—shouldn’t we go somewhere cheaper?”
I made sure to emphasize “broke students.”
I knew some people’s pride wouldn’t let that go.
“What do you mean, broke students? We’re not poor! How could you eat at a place with such low prices? Yun Qing, your family owns a company, right? Don’t tell me you usually eat at street stalls?” Liu Yu looked at me like I was some kind of alien.
I glanced at the menu—minimum 3,000 yuan per person. I thought about the red envelope in Lin Chen’s pocket and felt a rush of excitement.
“It’s fine, Yun Qing. We’re already here. Even if it’s a bit pricey, our parents won’t mind. Besides, it wouldn’t be right for Lin Chen to eat at a roadside stall with us,” the class president said, urging me to sit down.
“Yun Qing, this might be our last meal together. My family usually eats like this, it’s really not that expensive. If you really can’t afford it, we can all chip in for you!”
Xu Yiran’s shameless generosity with other people’s money was on full display.
Last time, I was too embarrassed to accept.
This time, I smiled sweetly and said, “Yiran, you’re just too kind! Well, I won’t be shy then. I’m a bit tight on cash lately—thank you all for treating me. Oh, by the way… can you guys drink alcohol?”
In this new life, what did reputation matter compared to truth?
Xu Yiran’s lips twitched, her expression stiff. “You… you…”
Just then, the waiter approached me.
“Miss, would you like to add anything else to your order?”
I glanced at the menu—Xu Yiran had already picked out nearly every expensive seafood dish.
Well, if that’s how she wanted to play, I’d just add a few pricey bottles of wine to the bill.
As I finished ordering, Liu Yu, Xu Yiran’s best friend, piped up nosily, “Yun Qing, how long have you and Lin Chen been together?”
I knew this was a trap.
Last time, I answered honestly and was instantly branded a “homewrecker.”
“One year? So it started the summer before senior year?”
I nodded without thinking.
“So you two overlapped! If that’s not stealing someone’s boyfriend, what is? You took advantage of Yiran’s kindness and let her suffer in silence!”
“Yiran and Lin Chen were just having a fight, not even broken up, and you swooped right in? That’s disgusting!”
“Don’t stop me, Yiran, I can’t stand to watch this! These two are just bullying you because you’re too nice!” Liu Yu struggled as if to slap me, while Xu Yiran, tears streaming down her face, “held her back.”
Lin Chen, meanwhile, tried to smooth things over, “Enough, let’s not talk about the past. I’ll do my best to make it up to Yiran.”
His perfunctory attitude made it look like I was the one clinging to him, refusing to let go.
Last time, I left the table in humiliation.
Chapter 05
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