Chapter 10

The awkward atmosphere didn’t last long. Cheng Shuyang led Jiang Lai to a corner seat, and although they kept their voices low, she carefully introduced everyone in the private room to her one by one.

“That girl is Lin Wanqiu. I don’t know what happened between you two, but keep your distance from her. She’s the kind of spoiled young lady who can be incredibly willful. Don’t let her hurt you.”

The woman leaned close to her ear, and her warm breath brushed Jiang Lai’s neck. Jiang Lai tightened her hand in her lap, her face flushing faintly. “Mm, I know.”

After chatting casually for a few more minutes, Director Zhang, as the host of the gathering, clapped his hands and said a few perfunctory words.

It was nothing more than a reminder about the recent incident between Jiang Lai and Qin Huaicheng. The matter had caused a storm in the city; no one present was unaware of it. Between the lines, Director Zhang was warning them to keep their distance and not bring private feelings into work.

As soon as he said that, everyone in the private room unconsciously turned their eyes toward Jiang Lai and Qin Huaicheng.

Jiang Lai silently lowered her head, her fingertips grazing the rim of the wineglass, her expression unreadable.

Qin Huaicheng still looked as composed as ever. Holding a tall glass, he clinked it lightly with Director Zhang’s. “Director Zhang, you’re joking. For this drama to keep filming smoothly is naturally the wish of everyone on the crew. How could we stir up trouble and ruin our own reputations?”

Watching Qin Huaicheng chat and laugh so easily with Director Zhang at that moment, Jiang Lai suddenly felt that she no longer knew him at all. No wonder he had wanted to break up with her. They had been together for seven years, and it seemed she had never truly understood him...

She let out a self-mocking smile. When she looked up, she saw Lin Wanqiu across from her, the female lead of the drama, staring at her viciously. Following her gaze, Jiang Lai saw that the person reflected there was indeed Qin Huaicheng.

She raised an eyebrow and had no intention of dealing with Lin Wanqiu. She only looked down indifferently at the red liquid in her glass. Just a girl who had only just left school; it wasn’t worth getting angry over her.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, dessert was brought out one by one by the waitstaff. A plate of freshly cut mango was placed in front of Jiang Lai. Before she could say anything, the person beside her was already reaching out to take the plate first, her brows faintly furrowed. “Sorry, she’s allergic to mangoes and can’t eat this. Do you have lychees here? Ideally chilled; she likes those best.”

Countless eyes once again focused on the two of them.

With a loud crash, a wineglass hit the floor. Dark red liquid splashed all over the girl’s clothes, then soaked into the carpet.

Jiang Lai struggled to steady her emotions; only then did she barely manage not to lose control. The tears pooling in her eyes were forced back by sheer effort.

She pulled a few tissues at random from the box and bent down to wipe the floor. The man instinctively wanted to help her, but the woman got there first.

A warm hand closed around her wrist. Jiang Lai looked up. Cheng Shuyang was half-crouched beside her, her expression unchanged as she helped her to her feet. “I’ll have someone take care of this. You don’t need to do it yourself.”

The waitstaff quickly mopped the floor clean.

Jiang Lai sat back down, clenching her fists. Clearly the two of them had already broken up, yet she didn’t understand why Qin Huaicheng could still act so unconcerned; in front of so many people, he’d spoken of concern for her in such a casual tone...

Ignoring Lin Wanqiu’s almost murderous glare, Jiang Lai stopped the waiter who was about to take away the mango plate. “It’s fine. Just leave it here. I won’t touch it.”

“Huai Cheng, people have already said not to bother; why are you still forcing your way in?” Lin Wanqiu’s sour voice came from the side.

Qin Huaicheng ignored her. Instead, he stood up himself, preparing to take away the plate of mango in front of Jiang Lai; however, a pair of jade-like hands got there first and carried it away. “No need to trouble Mr. Qin. Alai was brought here by me; I’ll take good care of her myself.”

Hearing the meaning in Cheng Shuyang’s tone, Qin Huaicheng had no trouble understanding it. He silently sat back down in his original seat and drained the wine in his glass in one gulp.

Jiang Lai couldn’t help looking at him, but when she noticed the thing hanging around his neck, she suddenly froze. She sniffled and hurriedly stood up. “Sorry, I may need to go out and change clothes.”

Without waiting for anyone to respond, Jiang Lai rushed out of the private room. Qin Huaicheng watched her back and also stood to leave. “Sorry, I’m going to the restroom.”

In the private room, everyone’s expressions shifted in different ways. Seeing Qin Huaicheng’s retreating back, Lin Wanqiu stamped her foot in anger. Cheng Shuyang glanced at her faintly. “Miss Lin, you’ve only just debuted. You must understand what should be done and what shouldn’t.”

Lin Wanqiu’s face flushed red, then pale. “Thank you for your guidance, senior. I understand.”

“No need to thank me. Just remember it.”

Xu Zhiyi, who had been silent for quite some time, smiled as she watched the whole scene. Leaning against the back of her chair with her left hand supporting half her face, she wore a meaningful smile. “You really do care about that Jiang Lai.”

Cheng Shuyang’s expression didn’t change. “She’s my daughter’s friend. Of course I’ll take good care of her.”

“Is that so?”

Xu Zhiyi patted Cheng Shuyang’s hand. “Then I’m relieved.”

After leaving the private room, Jiang Lai ran into the garden. Seeing no one around, she finally collapsed weakly into a corner, the grievance she had been suppressing all night bursting out at last. She stubbornly lifted her head, refusing to let her tears fall.

But footsteps suddenly sounded behind her. Jiang Lai hurriedly wiped away her tears, turned around, and looked at the person with red-rimmed eyes. “Why did you come out too? Don’t you need to stay and look after your Miss Lin?”

Qin Huaicheng kept his hands in his pockets, his expression blank. “I have nothing to do with Lin Wanqiu. You don’t need to misunderstand.”

Jiang Lai shrugged. “You don’t need to explain to me. We’re already broken up; who you’re with is your freedom.”

“Sorry. I was abrupt.”

“It’s fine.”

Jiang Lai took a card from her bag and handed it to Qin Huaicheng. “That apartment we bought overseas; I sold it without your permission. According to the original ratio, this money is yours.”

Qin Huaicheng frowned as he looked at the card in front of him, but he didn’t take it. “I don’t want it. Keep it for yourself.”

“What, compensation for the years I lost on you?” Jiang Lai tightened her grip on the card, but her manners remained impeccable. “I don’t need it either.”

Qin Huaicheng took a step forward, narrowing the distance between them. He reached out, took the card, and then tucked it back into Jiang Lai’s bag.

“You!”

Qin Huaicheng stopped her and gave her a slight smile. “Keep it. Just think of it as the compensation you mentioned; I know you don’t need it, but this is what you deserve. I’m the one in the wrong here.”

Jiang Lai’s expression faltered. She looked up at the man she had loved for so many years and took a deep breath. “Qin Huaicheng, I want to ask you something. Over all these years, did you ever love me?”

“I did. Even now, I still love you.”

Qin Huaicheng’s answer came without hesitation, yet it made Jiang Lai’s eyes redden again.

“Then why...?”

“Jiang Lai, you’re very good; you’re the best girl I’ve ever met. But you should also know that my family... really isn’t worthy of you.”

“I never cared about that.”

“I’m a man, Jiang Lai, a man with a very strong macho streak. I know myself very well. Cutting losses in time—that phrase is especially fitting for the two of us.”

Qin Huaicheng wiped off a stone step by the roadside and sat down without any scruples. Jiang Lai leaned against the railing, meeting his gaze.

“What is it?”

“Nothing. I just think the saying ‘the world is full of unexpected changes’ is really true.”

“Alai, the two of us really aren’t suited to be together anymore. Separating is better for us both. From now on, you have to keep your eyes open and find a good person.”

“Do I need you to tell me that?”

The man gave a helpless laugh. “I forgot. Miss Jiang’s taste in people has always been excellent; you just made a mistake with me.”

“All right already.”

Jiang Lai held out her arms to him. “One last hug. After this, there won’t be any more.”

Qin Huaicheng said nothing. With a tight pull of his arm, he drew the girl into his embrace. “Jiang Lai, I’m sorry...”

The two of them hugging was seen by someone not far away. Xu Zhiyi slowly walked past Cheng Shuyang and said, “Have you never heard that saying? When an ex cries, the current partner loses for sure. No matter what, Qin Huaicheng is a cinnabar mole in Jiang Lai’s heart; that’s a reality no one can change.”

A trace of movement appeared on Cheng Shuyang’s otherwise unruffled face. “What are you trying to say to me?”

“Nothing much. I just want to tell you that I’m set on pursuing Jiang Lai. If I succeed in the future, do I have to call you Aunt Cheng along with Alai?”

“If you’re willing to lower your own status just to call me Auntie, then I have nothing to say.”

“You’re just being stubborn!” Xu Zhiyi was choked into silence for a while. Cheng Shuyang glanced at her lightly. “I know you. You’re only tough with your mouth. In reality, you won’t.”

“Don’t act like you know me so well!”

The woman walked past her. “I won’t forgive you so easily.”

“As you wish.”

Cheng Shuyang turned her gaze back to the pair still embracing. For some reason, that scene felt unbearably glaring.

After the man left, she stared at his back for a long while before finally withdrawing her gaze.

A figure stood beneath the covered corridor. She hesitated for a moment, then walked forward. “Aunt Cheng.”

“Everything taken care of?”

Cheng Shuyang turned around and gently brushed the leaves off the girl’s shoulder.

The girl nodded. “Why did you come out?”

“The room was a little stuffy, so I came out for some air.”

Her gaze fell on the stone path not far away, and she suddenly said, “Then I’ll stand with you for a while too.”

The woman said nothing, only shifted slightly to the side, as if silently allowing it.