Li Xiaojia's heart began to waver, her best friend's words like a fire, igniting the desire in her heart.
She looked at Lin Yang, her eyes filled with both shock and a hint of attraction.
The impoverished past she once disdained now seemed insignificant in the face of Lin Yang's generosity.
She imagined her life as Lin Yang's girlfriend: designer bags, expensive clothes—things that were once out of reach now seemed within her grasp.
However, when she saw Hu Qian by Lin Yang's side, a hint of apprehension arose in her heart.
Hu Qian's beauty, grace, and elegant demeanor made Li Xiaojia feel inferior.
She compared herself to Hu Qian in her mind, realizing she couldn't compare in any aspect, whether it was looks, figure, or even her dress and overall temperament.
"Maybe I should just give up, he already has a girlfriend."
Li Xiaojia's voice carried a hint of helplessness and disappointment.
Her best friend, however, looked at her with an expression of anger at her lack of ambition:
"Xiaojia, even married people can divorce, so what's having a girlfriend? Think about how Lin Yang paid just now, not even blinking an eye when spending hundreds of thousands on clothes. He's not only rich but also handsome. Where will you find someone like him if you miss out!"
Her best friend's words were like a sharp knife, piercing Li Xiaojia's heart and cutting off her last bit of hesitation.
"Yes, you're right!"
Li Xiaojia suddenly made up her mind.
Li Xiaojia quickly walked towards Lin Yang, her face covered in a fawning smile, her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, and her mouth stretched almost to her ears. The smile looked as if it were glued on, appearing exceptionally forced.
"Lin Yang, it really is you! Long time no see!"
Her voice was so soft it was almost coquettish, with a slight upward lilt at the end of each word. Every word seemed to be squeezed out, making anyone who heard it uncomfortable:
"I didn't expect to run into you here. How have you been lately?"
As she spoke, she gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, took a small step forward, and leaned her body slightly, trying to close the distance with Lin Yang.
"Do you still remember that snack shop we used to go to? Those days, though simple, were truly wonderful."
Li Xiaojia blinked, her eyes revealing a hint of pitifulness, trying to evoke Lin Yang's memories of the past.
"I've been thinking about our time together a lot lately; those memories are truly precious to me."
As she spoke, she secretly observed Lin Yang's expression, hoping to find a trace of affection on his face.
"Lin Yang, I... I actually never forgot you."
Li Xiaojia bit her lip, her voice trembling slightly, a blush spreading across her face as she feigned shyness.
"Look, can we... start over?"
Lin Yang's brows furrowed tightly, his face filled with disgust, his eyes so cold they seemed to frost over.
He stepped back a large stride as if he had seen a ghost, afraid of even the slightest contact with Li Xiaojia.
"Don't be like this; what we had is over. There's no possibility of starting over."
Lin Yang's voice was low and firm, without a trace of hesitation. Every word seemed to be squeezed out, conveying an undeniable decisiveness.
Back then, Li Xiaojia went with her best friend to the factory to wait for her best friend's boyfriend.
It happened to be after work, and she bumped into Lin Yang at the factory gate.
Seeing Lin Yang's good looks, Li Xiaojia began to pursue him.
When Lin Yang interacted with her, she couldn't stop talking about money, implying she wanted this and that.
If she was like that before they even started dating, imagine what she'd be like if they were together.
Lin Yang knew Li Xiaojia wasn't suitable for him, so he firmly rejected her.
Who knew Li Xiaojia would relentlessly pester him, constantly sending WeChat messages and calling him day and night.
After he blocked her, she even went directly to the factory gate to block him.
It annoyed Lin Yang endlessly.
Helpless, he had to find a way to solve this problem.
Lin Yang knew that if he pretended to agree to her pursuit, she would definitely break up with him once she realized he didn't have extra money to buy her gifts.
So Lin Yang pretended to agree to her pursuit.
Half a month later, Li Xiaojia hadn't gained any benefits from Lin Yang, so she proactively broke up with him.
Lin Yang was overjoyed to hear it and readily agreed to her.
To celebrate, he had a rare big meal outside that evening.
He hadn't seen Li Xiaojia since then.
Who knew, he would actually meet her again here today.
Even more disgusting was that she actually proposed getting back together.
Lin Yang felt a sudden wave of dizziness; the trouble he had finally gotten rid of had come knocking again.
As the saying goes, it's easier to invite the King of Hell than to deal with a persistent imp.
Lin Yang's mind raced, thinking about how he could avoid being entangled by this trouble.
Fortunately, he had already resigned from the factory, and his rented place was about to be demolished.
At that time, she wouldn't be able to find him even if she wanted to.
"Miss, excuse me, do we know each other?"
Hu Qian had been observing Lin Yang's reaction, and seeing his look of disgust, she immediately understood a few things.
She walked quickly to Lin Yang's side without hesitation, naturally linking her arm through his, a confident and radiant smile on her face. That smile was like blooming flowers in spring, bright and captivating.
She lifted her chin slightly, a hint of pride in her eyes, asserting her ownership.
"Miss, please understand the situation. Lin Yang is my boyfriend now."
"Please don't disturb us anymore."
A trace of disdain flashed in her eyes, as if she were looking at a clown. Li Xiaojia's actions seemed so ridiculous and presumptuous in her eyes.
Li Xiaojia's face instantly turned extremely ugly, alternating between red and white, as if she had been slapped hard several times.
Her lips trembled slightly, wanting to say something, but she was suppressed by Hu Qian's aura. Her throat seemed to be choked by something, and she couldn't utter a single word.
She stood awkwardly in place, her hands unconsciously clutching at the hem of her clothes, her fingers white from gripping, her eyes filled with unwillingness and embarrassment.
Seeing this, her best friend immediately stepped forward, wanting to help Li Xiaojia regain her composure.
"What are you, to talk about Xiaojia like that?"
Maybe Lin Yang still loves Xiaojia in his heart!"
Her best friend stood with her hands on her hips, head held high, a hint of arrogance on her face, trying to use this posture to cover up her inner lack of confidence.
Hu Qian glanced contemptuously at her best friend, the corners of her mouth curving slightly into a mocking smile.
"What I am isn't important; what's important is that Lin Yang loves me."
Hu Qian's voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, like sharp swords piercing her best friend's heart.
"As for you, mind your own business and don't make a fool of yourself here."
Her best friend was left speechless, her face burning. She opened her mouth but couldn't find any words to retort.
Her hands clenched tightly into fists, her body trembling slightly with anger, but she dared not speak easily again. She could only stand there, looking at Hu Qian with resentful eyes.