Chapter Twenty-Nine: What Are Men Anyway? Just Find Another One!

The reason Mai Xijun loved this city most was undoubtedly one of its greatest qualities: even on windy days, you never had to worry about your hair being tossed into disarray, because the air here remained clean. Even when the weather was blustery, as it was today, there was never dust swirling through the sky, no stepping outside only to have your face sandblasted, no returning home looking like a sphinx. Such things simply didn’t happen in this city.

Before leaving the house, Mai Xijun remembered to apply some ointment Shen Yanlie had brought back for her. Once she was ready, she stepped out the door. But tonight, there was to be a banquet—did she need to prepare anything? She didn't understand why Luo Youcong wanted to take her, but she could only keep her questions to herself. To challenge her superior would be as good as saying she was tired of her job. Besides, Luo Youcong hadn’t even mentioned docking her pay. Heavens above, you’ve finally opened your eyes! President Luo finally showed a hint of humanity! Oh my Lady Gaga! Three months’ salary, at last, was safe!

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All day, Mai Xijun was absorbed in her own affairs. Behind her back, people gossiped, saying that the man who had bought her jewelry that day was none other than the president of Eurasia Trading. They praised Shen Yanlie as outstanding and mysterious, a sentiment she actually shared—though they had yet to discover what she had: that Shen Yanlie was, in truth, a cunning, reserved, and supremely arrogant scoundrel.

But perhaps “scoundrel” was too harsh; her opinion of him had changed, ever since he’d taken her to treat her injured back. She’d begun to see him in a slightly different light.

The rumors kept swirling. Some claimed she’d cheated first, and that Xue Lizan had broken up with her after discovering her infidelity. Others said she was fickle, a gold-digger who’d dumped her boyfriend at the first sign of wealth. In any case, putting someone like her with a man of such power and popularity was simply asking for trouble. Did they think she enjoyed this, or chose it? It wasn’t her who had sought out Shen Yanlie! Why was everything always her fault?

“Sigh…” Mai Xijun let out a weary breath. Even going out to fetch a glass of water drew sidelong glances. She could feel eyes boring into her back, watching, scrutinizing. She spun around abruptly, but in an instant, the group had reverted to their usual professional composure, discussing work as if nothing had happened.

This state of affairs sent a chill down her spine. Was she imagining things, or were they really sneaking around to gossip about her? So what if she’d hit the jackpot, if her reputation had soared? So what if a rich, handsome man had bought her ring for ten million, and she’d become the talk of the jewelry world? What did they want from her? If they couldn’t stand it, let them bite her! Ridiculous.

Her mood soured.

As the workday ended, just as Mai Xijun was gathering her things to leave, someone burst into her office. She had only just calmed her nerves, but the sight of the two people at her door sent her mood plummeting to freezing point.

“What exactly is Shen Yanlie to you? Why didn’t you ever mention him before?” He Jingjing arched her brows and demanded coldly, her posture haughty, her expression icy.

He Jingjing had always been this way—so how had she ever become friends with her? Mai Xijun bitterly regretted not listening to others’ warnings. She’d always believed some bonds could withstand anything, that as long as He Jingjing was sincere with her, nothing else mattered. But in the end, human nature is inescapable.

“Who he is to me is none of your business, is it?” Mai Xijun, abandoning her previous indifference, refused to let herself be entangled any further now that she had resolved to let go. It was a silent torment, and seeing Xue Lizan’s evasive gaze behind He Jingjing, she no longer wished to share the same room, the same air, with them.

“I’m talking to you, Mai Xijun!” He Jingjing snapped, only to have Xue Lizan tug her sleeve from behind, which she shook off with a fierce jerk.

“Is it because I stole your man that you went out of your way to seduce someone else to get back at me?” He Jingjing strode over in seven-centimeter heels, leaning in close. The words that followed were ground out through clenched teeth, spoken low into Mai Xijun’s ear, slow and deliberate, but every syllable clear as day.

Mai Xijun clenched her teeth. “I’ve already wished you happiness, so I hope you’ll stop interfering in my life. Thank you.”

As she turned to leave, He Jingjing seized her arm and yanked her back, slamming her waist against the desk with a thud. Mai Xijun nearly cried out in pain, but only managed a muffled gasp.

He Jingjing unleashed her spoiled temper. “What are you, Mai Xijun? No family, no status, no position—an orphaned nobody. What right do you have to show off in front of me?”

He Jingjing’s long nails dug into Mai Xijun’s skin, sending sharp pain through her arm. Inside, Mai Xijun felt as if a thousand wild horses were stampeding through her heart. Her eyes filled with tears, her gaze aggrieved, like a wronged child. She was about to speak when a low, angry voice thundered from outside: “What’s going on in here?! Throwing your weight around in LOV? Even if you’re drunk, know where you are!”

He Jingjing startled, instantly letting go and forcing a smile. “President Luo, I’m sorry, you misunderstood—”

“Misunderstood? Are you saying what I saw and heard isn’t real?” Luo Youcong’s face was ice-cold. “You’re Xue Lizan from HR?” He ignored He Jingjing, turning to point at Xue Lizan.

“Yes, President Luo,” Xue Lizan replied at once.

“I seem to recall you were Mai Xijun’s boyfriend. Why didn’t you stop them when your ex-girlfriend was being bullied?” Luo Youcong’s tone was frigid, his presence as unyielding as a block of frozen radish.

He Jingjing’s face drained of color; seeing Xue Lizan answer “yes,” her expression grew even more strained.

“And as for you, He Jingjing, let me remind you: LOV is for people with dreams. If losing one competition is enough to make you stir up rumors and trouble, then you’re free to leave. With your family background, you can always find another decent job. But don’t cause chaos here in LOV!”

Luo Youcong’s words lasted barely half a minute, but they brought tears to the eyes of the ever-proud, haughty He Jingjing.

“Yes, President. I will remember your advice.” That arrogance vanished completely. Mai Xijun pressed her lips together, saying nothing. She would not play the tearful heroine, making excuses for those who had bullied her. Besides, her waist still throbbed from He Jingjing’s blow; she had nowhere to turn.

“I don’t want to see this happen again. Leave.”

“Yes, sir.”

The two replied in quick succession and left. Throughout, Xue Lizan had never once looked Mai Xijun in the eye.

A friend taking a step forward becomes a lover, but once a lover steps back, not even friendship remains.

“If anything like this happens again, you can come to me,” Luo Youcong said, turning to Mai Xijun, whose eyes were still brimming with tears.

“Thank you, President, for stepping in just now.” Mai Xijun couldn’t hold back her tears as pain shot through her waist. Luo Youcong, seeing this, broke into an unusually unguarded smile. “A breakup is no big deal. What’s a best friend or a man, anyway? Just find another.”

...

Mai Xijun wanted to explain, but turned away instead, wiping the tears from her face, and said nothing more.