Chapter 24

Afraid that getting too close would allow Wen Xihan to catch her, Ruan Xinyi kept her distance, carefully following behind her while stretching her neck just to hear what she was saying to the person on the other end of the phone.


"Where are you now?" Wen Xihan's voice was calm, with no discernible emotion. "Then let’s meet at the coffee shop on the third floor. I have something I want to discuss with you."


"Alright, I'll hang up now."


Ruan Xinyi let out a soft "tssk" sound. Whether it was just her imagination or not, she had the feeling that the woman’s mood right now... wasn’t very good.


After Wen Xihan entered the elevator, Ruan Xinyi emerged from behind the pillar, walked into the opposite elevator, and pressed the "3" button.


The coffee shop Wen Xihan mentioned was the only one on the entire third floor, making it easy to find, as it was right by the elevator.


Ruan Xinyi stood at the elevator door for a moment, adjusted the brim of her hat, and then walked into the store with large strides.


Wen Xihan was sitting in a secluded corner, but Ruan Xinyi spotted her almost immediately upon entering. She had a cool, detached expression, her profile pale and smooth as jade, her jawline delicate and slender, and there was a subtle air of aloofness around her, as if keeping others at a distance. At that moment, she was holding her phone, likely replying to a message.


Ruan Xinyi casually ordered a cup of coffee and sat in a seat just behind and to the side of Wen Xihan. She then grabbed a magazine from the rack and held it in front of her as a shield.


Not long after Ruan Xinyi sat down, she saw the waiter place a cappuccino on the table where Wen Xihan was sitting.


"Thank you." Wen Xihan put down her phone, gently moved the cappuccino in front of her, and was about to pick up the small spoon when she suddenly turned her head around, as if sensing something.


Ruan Xinyi thought she had been caught and quickly raised the magazine higher, covering her face completely.


Wen Xihan looked at Ruan Xinyi for a few seconds, feeling suspicious. Not only had this person entered the coffee shop wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap, but she was also holding the magazine so high. Especially when Wen Xihan noticed her turning around, the movement was too obvious—it was clear that this person was either watching or following someone, and most likely wasn’t a good person.


However, Wen Xihan didn’t pay much attention to the strange person, because Fu Fangbai had arrived.


Fu Fangbai slightly nodded toward her, and Wen Xihan withdrew her gaze, taking a sip of her cappuccino.


Seeing Wen Xihan turn her head away, Ruan Xinyi adjusted her sunglasses and slowly followed her gaze toward the door.


A young man entered at that moment. He was tall and slender, with a handsome, refined appearance. There was an air of elegance about him, and he was dressed formally in a shirt and black slim-fit trousers. His arrival immediately drew the attention of many people.


Looking at him, Ruan Xinyi suddenly had an ominous premonition.


Especially when she saw the man walk over to the table where Wen Xihan was sitting and take a seat opposite her, Ruan Xinyi's brow furrowed even more.


So... this man is her boyfriend?


It seemed like a match made in heaven—handsome and graceful—but no matter how she looked at him, Ruan Xinyi just couldn't shake the feeling that something about him rubbed her the wrong way. It was a very strong sense of dislike.


Her fingers gradually tightened, crumpling the corner of the magazine page. Ruan Xinyi's gaze remained fixed on Wen Xihan.


"Miss, your coffee is ready." The waiter's voice suddenly pulled Ruan Xinyi's thoughts back.


Ruan Xinyi loosened her grip on the crumpled magazine, swallowed hard, and hoarsely replied, "Mm, thank you."


"You're welcome. Enjoy your drink."


Ruan Xinyi's attention was still on Wen Xihan. She didn’t even glance at the coffee the waiter had brought. Mechanically, she flipped a page of the magazine, straining her ears to catch the conversation between the two.


"Xihan, sorry to keep you waiting." Fu Fangbai's voice was warm and magnetic, his tone friendly.


Wen Xihan set her coffee down, her voice polite but distant, "I just got here too."


Ruan Xinyi bit down on her back teeth and silently cursed in her mind. ''Just got here? She's almost finished her coffee, and he’s making her wait for so long? Any man who does that is definitely not a good one!''


Fu Fangbai smiled apologetically and gently spoke about the plans for the day: "Xihan, it’s still early. How about we go for a stroll, then have dinner and catch a movie?"


"Fu Fangbai." Wen Xihan's expression was calm, and her tone remained neutral. "Let’s break up."


Fu Fangbai froze, his expression stunned.


Ruan Xinyi, who had been eavesdropping, was also stunned, a strange sense of joy rising in her heart uncontrollably.


So sudden...?


"Xihan, if you want to break up, you should at least give me a reasonable explanation," Fu Fangbai said, quickly regaining his composure. His voice was still gentle and deep, as if Wen Xihan's breakup request was nothing more than a minor tantrum.


Wen Xihan raised her brows slightly, impatience flickering in her eyes. "The reason? We’re just not suited for each other."


Fu Fangbai, however, smiled, lowering his voice in a helpless tone: "Xihan, if you don’t want to get married right now, I apologize for my previous impulsiveness. I admit that the proposal was sudden, but I really like you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." His tone was sincere, and his eyes were filled with genuine emotion, saying all the right things that would appeal to a young girl.


Too bad Wen Xihan was not a naive little girl.


She took a sip of her coffee, her brow furrowing slightly. Her attitude was firm: "Fu Fangbai, you should have sensed it by now. I don’t like you."


Ruan Xinyi's pupils widened in shock, and her hand trembled in excitement. The magazine slipped from her grip and landed on the table with a soft thud.


Before anyone could notice, Ruan Xinyi lowered her head, swiftly picked up the magazine, and propped it up in front of her, pretending to be uninterested in the situation, while her attention was fully focused on the two of them.


Hearing the sound, Wen Xihan turned her head and briefly glanced at Ruan Xinyi, who was suddenly reading her magazine, before continuing her conversation with Fu Fangbai.


 "This isn’t about not wanting to get married. If it wasn’t for the proposal, I would still have broken up with you. It was just a matter of time."


Fu Fangbai’s smile faded, and his brows slowly furrowed. His voice grew heavier: "Xihan, are you serious?"


Wen Xihan nodded, picking up her bag, ready to leave. "That’s it, Fu Fangbai. Let’s part on good terms."


Fu Fangbai's breath caught, and he no longer cared about maintaining his warm demeanor. His face darkened as he grabbed Wen Xihan’s wrist.


Her brows knit together slightly, Wen Xihan bit her lip, her eyes glancing down at Fu Fangbai’s hand gripping her wrist.


Fu Fangbai loosened his grip a little but didn’t let go. They stood there in a tense standoff.


Witnessing the entire scene, Ruan Xinyi was stunned.


Before she could process what she had overheard, Ruan Xinyi threw her magazine aside, removed her sunglasses, and quickly walked to Wen Xihan’s side. In a tone reserved for subordinates, she said, "Miss Wen, the time we agreed on is almost here. We need to leave."


Wen Xihan narrowed her eyes slightly, giving Ruan Xinyi a look full of unspoken meaning. She turned her wrist and pulled her hand free, following Ruan Xinyi’s cue: "Fu Fangbai, I have something to do. I’m leaving now."


Seeing Wen Xihan preparing to leave, Fu Fangbai’s face showed reluctance. He raised his voice slightly: "Wen Xihan, I don’t agree!"


Wen Xihan paused, her eyes flashing with clear impatience. "It seems we can't even be friends anymore."


Ruan Xinyi bit her lower lip hard, turning her head away to suppress a smile.


Fu Fangbai stood there, his fingers curling into a fist. His face grew dark, and there was an ominous glint in his eyes. He opened his mouth, his voice dry as he said, "I understand."


To an outsider, his expression and tone might make him seem like a deeply affectionate man, still trying to win back his girlfriend even after being rejected; whereas Wen Xihan appeared to be the cold-hearted one.


"Ms. Wen?" Ruan Xinyi gently called out in a tone only the two of them could hear.


Wen Xihan ignored her and walked straight out of the café.


She walked briskly, and Ruan Xinyi nearly couldn’t keep up.


Wen Xihan stopped in front of the elevator, but it hadn’t arrived yet. She pressed the down button, her delicate eyes lowered as though lost in thought.


Ruan Xinyi lightly tugged at her sleeve, tentatively calling out, "Xihan?"


"Why are you here?" Wen Xihan raised her eyes, her tone unreadable.


When she realized the suspicious person was Ruan Xinyi, Wen Xihan was surprised, but only for a brief moment. After all, considering Ruan Xinyi's character, her involvement in such a situation seemed entirely reasonable.


Ruan Xinyi tugged at Wen Xihan’s sleeve, her expression innocent and her tone guileless. “I’m here watching a movie with my roommates. Didn’t I send you a photo earlier, Sister?”


“…” Wen Xihan wasn’t inclined to believe Ruan Xinyi’s nonsense, but she had indeed received a picture of her at the cinema earlier—plausible and supported by evidence.


“Ding—” The elevator arrived.


Wen Xihan stepped in. “Where are your roommates, then?”


It was a subtle way of asking her to leave, but Ruan Xinyi feigned ignorance and followed her into the elevator. “Oh, they’re still shopping at the mall. I said I had something to do and left early.”


Wen Xihan pressed her lips together, staying silent. After all, it was Ruan Xinyi who had resolved the trouble earlier, and out of courtesy, she shouldn’t chase her away. But if she didn’t, this person might just take even more liberties…


Sure enough, Ruan Xinyi followed Wen Xihan into the elevator. Seeing that Wen Xihan didn’t stop her, Ruan Xinyi gradually moved her grip from the sleeve to wrapping her arm around Wen Xihan’s elbow.


Wen Xihan’s temple throbbed slightly. Without showing much reaction, she attempted to discreetly pull her arm free and politely asked, “So, where are you going now?”


Noticing Wen Xihan’s intention, Ruan Xinyi held on tighter, refusing to let her escape. Her tone turned slightly coquettish and unreasonable. “Sister, I didn’t even get to drink my coffee earlier. You have to make it up to me!”


“How much? I’ll transfer it to you.” Wen Xihan picked up her phone, ready to send the money.


“…” Ruan Xinyi let out a small “hmph,” switching tactics. She pleaded, her voice soft and persuasive, “Can’t you just treat me to a coffee now? Consider it as thanks for my help earlier. Please?”


Wen Xihan pressed her lips together. In the end, she relented, silently putting her phone away. Begrudgingly, she asked, “What do you want to drink?”


To avoid running into the man from earlier, Ruan Xinyi quickly mentioned the dessert shop where she had originally ordered afternoon tea.


Planning to pay and leave immediately after, Wen Xihan symbolically asked, “Did you drive here?”


Ruan Xinyi’s expression was honest, and her tone utterly convincing. “No, I came by subway.”


Wen Xihan gave her a skeptical look for a few seconds. Whether she believed her or not, she didn’t press further.


In the underground parking lot, Wen Xihan pulled out her car key to unlock the vehicle. She glanced at Ruan Xinyi before getting into the driver’s seat.


Ruan Xinyi glanced at the black Phaeton parked diagonally behind them, then knowingly opened the passenger door and got in.


Just as the car started, Wen Xihan’s phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she put on her Bluetooth headset and answered the call.


“Hello, Xihan. How’s everything?”


Qi Jingning’s voice came through, brimming with concern but clearly laced with gossip.


Wen Xihan raised her eyes to look in the rearview mirror. Ruan Xinyi was buckling her seatbelt. As she turned her head, her collarbone gleamed faintly under her shirt’s neckline. Her slender waist was perfectly proportioned, the soft fabric clinging to her skin, faintly revealing the outline of her figure…


Wen Xihan’s breath hitched slightly. She quickly averted her gaze and replied calmly, “You’re too late. It’s already been taken care of.”


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