This time, I played along, shyly tugging at Lin Chen’s sleeve and lowering my head like a bashful bride.
“It’s been almost three years,” Lin Chen said calmly.
“Wait… what? Wasn’t it just a year? Just senior year?” Liu Yu almost dropped her chopsticks.
“I’ve liked Yun Qing since her first year of high school. I was afraid of distracting her from her studies, so we only made it public in senior year. I didn’t want her to suffer from rumors anymore,” Lin Chen explained, his tone gentle but firm.
Xu Yiran’s brows furrowed in confusion. “But what about us? Back in sophomore year…”
It was true that rumors had swirled about Lin Chen and Xu Yiran being a couple for a year, but neither had ever confirmed it publicly. Whenever anyone teased Lin Chen, Xu Yiran would act shy, and Lin Chen never denied it—until now.
“I’ve only ever had one girlfriend—Yun Qing. There’s never been anyone else,” Lin Chen said, his voice clear and unwavering.
On the way here, I’d even mentioned to Lin Chen, “My dad said you’ve helped me a lot. He wanted to ask you about tutoring…”
“How long have you been tutoring me, really?”
“Since my freshman year, you’ve been quietly helping me. You only kept our relationship a secret to protect me, right?”
“My dad said you’re not just talented but also responsible. He’s planning to give you two million yuan as a tutoring fee.”
Lin Chen frowned, as if wanting to protest, but when he heard what I said next, he took my hand and gently kissed the back of it.
“Silly, my feelings for you go back much longer than three years.”
Xu Yiran looked as if she’d been struck by lightning, her eyes suddenly unfocused. It wasn’t until Liu Yu tugged at her sleeve that she snapped out of it.
“This is the notebook Lin Chen lent me. Now that exams are over, I don’t really need it anymore,” Xu Yiran said, handing Lin Chen a thick notebook.
As luck would have it, a shopping receipt slipped out from between the pages and fluttered to my feet.
It was a receipt for a Chanel global limited edition bag—the Crise CF beaded “Snow White” model. The VIP customer name: Lin.
I looked up to see Xu Yiran grinning at me smugly.
Lin Chen was watching me nervously, his earlier smile frozen on his face.
Xu Yiran, Snow White—what a perfect gift.
Xu Yiran turned to the waiter with a hint of disdain in her voice, making sure everyone’s attention was on her as she cradled a delicate white designer handbag.
“This bag is gorgeous! Who gave it to you?” Liu Yu asked, reaching out to touch it.
Xu Yiran pulled her hand away, annoyed. “It cost over a hundred thousand yuan, so please don’t touch it
I watched their little show with cold detachment.
I owned the exact same bag, so I knew at a glance that hers was a fake.
I bent down and picked up the receipt, pretending not to notice anything unusual.
“Xu Yiran, you dropped your receipt. As far as I know, this model isn’t even available in China. Maybe you should get it authenticated when you have time,” I said calmly.
Lin Chen’s face instantly turned pale, the smile he’d been forcing freezing on his lips.
“What do you know? Just because you can’t afford it, you’re calling it fake? Sour grapes much?” Xu Yiran retorted, her voice rising.
“Exactly! Yiran got this as a birthday gift from a very important friend. With her family’s background, why would she need a fake? Who would give her a knockoff?” Liu Yu echoed, glaring at me.
I didn’t bother arguing. Instead, I pulled out my phone and dialed the Chanel flagship store on speaker, letting everyone hear.
“Hello, this is Ms. Yun Qing. May I ask you something?”
“Of course, Ms. Yun. How can we assist you today?”
“Could you tell me who in China owns the Crise CF ‘Snow White’ limited edition bag?”
My classmates were stunned, not expecting me to have such powerful connections. All eyes were now on me.
“Ms. Yun, there are only five of these bags worldwide. As for China, you are the only registered owner.”
The restaurant fell silent. Xu Yiran’s hand trembled as she clutched the bag, her face drained of color. Even Liu Yu was speechless, her mouth hanging open in shock.
I smiled politely and handed the receipt back to Xu Yiran. “It’s always good to double-check the authenticity of a gift, especially when it’s supposed to be so rare.”
Lin Chen’s expression was unreadable, but the tension in his jaw spoke volumes.
The classmates began to whisper among themselves, their earlier admiration for Xu Yiran quickly turning into suspicion and embarrassment.
Chapter 06
*