To be honest, Chen Tang suddenly not giving out perks anymore was pretty disappointing. Liu Yan was still a college student at that age, after all.
He certainly looked forward to those perks. Even though he always wore a helpless expression, he actually enjoyed them quite a bit.
‘Bro, she really is amazing!’
Still, he didn’t completely resent Liu Mengmeng moving in.
After all, she was his cousin. How could he refuse?
‘Just behave!’
…
Bai Mengling was unwilling to accept defeat. Yesterday, she had been utterly humiliated by Chen Tang. After class, she fled all the way to her family’s company and threw herself into work.
What many people didn’t know was that Bai Mengling had already stepped down from her position as Student Council President.
She had even applied for a leave of absence and immediately started taking over the group’s business operations.
This was the result of her furious negotiations with her parents after seeing that WeChat Moments post that night. After a fierce argument, she finally got their terms.
“Fine! If you want to chase your own love, then first prove you have the ability to safeguard the Bai family’s legacy and the group! If you can do that, then you will be the Lord of the Bai Group. Do whatever you want—even use the group as your dowry! I won’t interfere! But if you can’t, don’t blame your parents for being heartless!”
That was her parents’ final answer.
But it was enough.
If Chen Tang knew about this, she would probably say, “Father and Mother Bai are confused.”
After all, she knew that most rich second-generation heirs would squander their parents’ businesses.
But for a woman like Bai Mengling… in the original novel, she began taking over the family business when she graduated. Within two years, she had dominated the X City business world, raising the Bai Group to an even higher position.
So, this woman actually—
Really had that ability.
And it was formidable.
But for now, Bai Mengling didn’t know she would create a business legend.
She was just a girl suffering from heartbreak.
After finishing a day’s work, she asked someone to drive her to the hospital.
With her help, Shi Yiyi had undergone surgery by a domestic expert in the field. She had safely passed the critical period. According to the doctor, after another week or two of recuperation, she could be discharged and rest at home. In another month, she could return to normal life as long as she didn’t overexert herself or tear the wound. After half a year, she would have full mobility.
“Sister Bai, thank you.”
Shi Yiyi now called Bai Mengling “Sister Bai.” She was genuinely grateful for what Bai Mengling had done for her.
“About what happened back then, please…”
“No need to say more. I know what you want to say. I forgave them long ago.” Bai Mengling smiled and peeled an apple for Shi Yiyi. It didn’t look very good—clearly a skill she had just started learning.
Still, Shi Yiyi was grateful. “You took time out of your busy schedule to visit me. I really don’t know how to repay you.”
“Don’t mention repayment. I didn’t help you expecting anything in return. It’s just that I happened to see you, and I happened to have the ability. That’s all.”
She didn’t claim to be a saint. There were many people in the world who needed help. Bai Mengling couldn’t possibly extend a hand to every single one. It was just that Shi Yiyi was lucky enough to be seen by her, and she felt a bit of kindness. That was all.
The rest wasn’t worth mentioning.
Besides, if it weren’t for Shi Yiyi, she and Liu Yan might have already missed each other…
Although it seemed like they had missed each other anyway, Bai Mengling wouldn’t admit that fact. Nothing was set in stone. Besides, even if he married Chen Tang, what of it? In her circle, extramarital affairs were common.
She didn’t believe marriage was the end.
But there was no need to tell Shi Yiyi all that.
“Sister Bai…”
Bai Mengling smiled faintly. “But if you really want to repay me, come work as my secretary after you recover.”
“Huh?”
“You might have to take a leave from school for a while, but I can have someone inform the school. Just take the final exams on time. As long as you don’t fail, you’ll graduate without any issues. It won’t affect anything.”
Shi Yiyi’s eyes lit up.
She was a very ambitious person. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have joined the Debate Society.
If what Bai Mengling said was true, then she was already ahead of most students.
Not every student at X City University of Arts and Sciences could work for the Bai Group, and not everyone could be Bai Mengling’s secretary.
Just as she was thinking about this, Bai Mengling suddenly asked, “By the way, Yiyi, what do you think of Liu Yan?”
At the mention of Liu Yan, Shi Yiyi blushed a little and looked away. “You, why are you suddenly asking about Brother Liu Yan?”
She didn’t know that Liu Yan and Bai Mengling had broken up. In her eyes, they were still together. Now Sister Bai was suddenly asking this…
Was she suspecting something between her and Brother Liu Yan?
But she hadn’t done anything…
She couldn’t be wrongly accused.
“Don’t be nervous.”
Bai Mengling sighed inwardly at the girl’s reaction. She knew what kind of person Liu Yan was… In just one week, Shi Yiyi had begged Liu Yan to take her to watch the debate competition—clearly, her favorability with Liu Yan was very high.
It wasn’t surprising. After all, she herself had fallen for him in just a week or two.
That guy Liu Yan was like a succubus.
At this moment, Bai Mengling truly admired Xia You. Facing Liu Yan, she could remain composed, even break up with him directly, forcing Liu Yan to save face by confessing to her.
She couldn’t do something like that now.
“I’ve already broken up with Liu Yan.”
Bai Mengling said this.
“Huh?”
Shi Yiyi looked flustered. “You, how could you break up with him? Is it because of me…”
Bai Mengling found it amusing. You?
In Chen Tang’s eyes, you’re probably just an NPC. She probably doesn’t even bother to deal with you—did she even say a single word to you during that debate?
The girl overestimated her own importance.
“It has nothing to do with you. It’s mainly because of his childhood friend. I don’t know if you’ve heard of her. She was the girl sitting with Liu Yan at the debate that day.”
Shi Yiyi of course remembered. She was shocked when she saw them that day. The girl seemed very close to Liu Yan.
She thought it might be a sister or something, since Liu Yan’s girlfriend was Bai Mengling…
But it turned out to be a childhood friend!
Brother Liu Yan was a good person.
But she didn’t expect there to be so many women around him.
Still, thinking about it, it made sense. Brother Liu Yan was kind and gentle.
“Sister Bai, can you tell me more about the situation?”
Bai Mengling sighed. “It’s not something I can’t share. I’ll tell you. Actually, a lot of it has to do with me.”
She recounted what had happened in the past couple of days.
She needed someone to talk to.
“So it’s because of your family background. That really is a tough problem.” After listening, Shi Yiyi also felt helpless.
If it were any other reason, it might be manageable. But if it was about family background… Bai Mengling couldn’t just give up the Bai family’s wealth.
And Liu Yan’s concern was reasonable—he really couldn’t afford to offend her family.
So giving up on Sister Bai seemed inevitable.
And with that childhood friend fanning the flames from the sidelines… it was no wonder they broke up.
“Can you accept that, Sister Bai?”
“Of course not! So I’m determined to win him back! But I need to temporarily take over the company to have leverage against my parents. So, Yiyi, even though I said I’d make you my secretary, before that, after you’re discharged, can you help me keep an eye on them?”
Shi Yiyi finally understood!
So that was Sister Bai’s real goal. The secretary offer was just a carrot.
But thinking about it, this was also an opportunity for her. She could get closer to Brother Liu Yan.
“I understand, Sister Bai. I’ll help you! Trust me!”
“Good, Yiyi. I knew I wasn’t wrong about you!”
…
Xia You had recently felt that her judgment was wrong.
Because Teacher Zhou Bin wanted to get physically intimate.
But she was resistant.
A girl should treat her body like a treasure… She didn’t remember where she read that, but it was deeply engraved in her heart.
Wasn’t it too much to want further contact after only two weeks of dating?
Did he really cherish her? Did he treat her like a precious gem? Liu Yan would never do that.
So recently, they had been fighting a lot.
“I only let Liu Yan hold my hand after six months of dating! What else do you want? Huh?”
“You really can’t forget Liu Yan! He’s him! I’m me! Don’t compare me to him! I’m not some useless guy like him!”
If Liu Yan heard that, he’d probably drop his pants right there and reveal his tyrannosaurus to prove them wrong.
But it was just a lovers’ quarrel, and Liu Yan had no way of knowing.
“Why should I forget? Isn’t that part of my life? You can’t even be as gentle with me as he was!”
“Get lost! Get out!”
And like that, they parted on bad terms.
Why did he always think about that kind of thing?
Did a man and a woman have to think about sex in a relationship? Wasn’t platonic love possible?
Xia You didn’t understand.
A girl like her, if she couldn’t hold the line, would easily fall.
She had been receiving all kinds of love letters since she was young.
After starting college, people even sent her private messages on social media, offering “50,000 a month” and such.
It sounded like a lot, but she never wavered. She knew that if she did, she would step onto a path of no return, and she would never live a normal life again.
So dating Liu Yan was comfortable.
He never looked at her with lustful eyes.
Every action was done under her watch.
So why did she break up with him and choose Zhou Bin?
Sometimes you can’t empathize with your past self.
Right now, for instance, she couldn’t understand her own reasoning at all. Why did she think Zhou Bin was her Destiny’s Child? Why did she think Liu Yan wasn’t right for her?
She regretted it a little.
But she had already gotten the news.
Liu Yan and Bai Mengling had broken up.
Bai Mengling resigned as Student Council President and even applied for a leave of absence.
Her best friend had sent her the full “gossip compilation” from that morning’s class.
Hmph.
Liu Yan dating Chen Tang?
Wasn’t that just saving face?
She had dated Liu Yan for six months. She knew what kind of person Chen Tang was.
Any girl might date Liu Yan, but not Chen Tang—so this was just to anger Bai Mengling, a way to cut ties. Just like when she broke up with Liu Yan, he immediately confessed to Bai Mengling—this was probably his way of saving face.
To show he was wanted.
So childish.
As for Chen Tang’s intimate contact with Liu Yan?
Come on, they were childhood friends, like family—didn’t she do the same when taking care of her little brother? Even though he was only in elementary school…
Giving a lap pillow was normal, right? How else was she supposed to clean his ears?
Overreacting.
So right now, Liu Yan was still single.
What if… what if she apologized to Liu Yan, said she had been mistaken…
After all, Liu Yan broke up with Bai Mengling in two weeks—it meant he never really liked her.
That conclusion was very clear.
Liu Yan probably still had feelings for her.
As for Zhou Bin, even though he wasn’t a bad person, she realized she could no longer exist as “Zhou Bin’s girlfriend.”
Besides, when she dated Zhou Bin, Liu Yan also dated Bai Mengling.
From that perspective, they were even.
If Chen Tang knew what Xia You was thinking, she would immediately realize… Liu Yan breaking up with Bai Mengling in two weeks had huge implications.
After all… in the original novel, they dated for a long time, deeply in love. Xia You couldn’t turn back then.
But now, from Xia You’s perspective, Liu Yan breaking up with Bai Mengling…
It was perfect.
The plot was changing!