Everything was as Mother Xue expected. Xue Shao broke up with Linlang.
This result shocked everyone around them. No one could believe it.
It was said that this heir apparent who vowed to become a model student was now going around with a certain group of friends. He obsessed over car racing and roamed bars every night in order to hit on women and go drinking. It was insane. He was outperforming his former self.
As for Linlang...
Well, she was staring at a handsome guy.
He was tall and slender with an indifferent yet dashing face reminiscent of medieval kings.
The camel-colored long scarf concealed some of the man's delicate chin. He pushed up his glasses and looked at her with a blank face. "Did you call me here to waste time looking at my face?"
The girl crossed her delicate fingers together. Tilting her head, she chuckled and said, "Master Xue doesn't seem to be confident about his charm. You look so seductive. How can it be a waste of time?" Good food paired with a good face. It would be a shame not to enjoy it.
Linlang only cared about admiring him and forgot she was also a part of this painting.
Her long hair was like splashed ink, and a pair of smoky-purple tassel earrings were swaying over her white shoulder, looking as perfect as a deity's darling.
Some people's beauty was entrenched in their bones in a way that outshone their physical form.
Xue Shen lowered his eyes. "Sorry, but I have something else to do. I won't be accompanying Miss Xu to talk about life."
He stood up as he said this, then picked up his briefcase to leave without any show of affection.
Haha, what a cold and heartless person. Who's the one that forcibly kissed her before?
Linlang slowly sipped her milk tea. "If you won't talk about life, then what about Miss Zhang?"
The passing man stopped in his tracks.
After taking a deep breath, he returned to his seat. The emotion in his eyes was dark as ink when he asked, "What are you trying to say?"
"I have a way to make Zhang Mengmeng fall in love with you. Wanna hear about it?" The girl smiled at him. Her eyes bent into shallow crescents wrapped in gentle spring water.
Linlang's smile was particularly sweet whenever she wanted to do bad things.
However, Xue Shen was formidable. After a momentary daze, he soon recovered his usual calm.
"Why do you want to help me?" The man scrutinized Linlang. He was not as dumb as Xue Shao who was easily charmed by her sweet talk.
On the contrary, he thought Linlang was undoubtedly dangerous. A beauty with brains can be a destructive force. However, Xue Shen has played in the business world for many years. He wasn't likely to be played by a little girl.
"Because you're handsome. I like you." Linlang was beaming.
"Thank you for the compliment. I won't like you."
Xue Shen's expression was calm. This kind of routine didn't work on him.
"Really? Are you sure you can control your heart?" The bad sister asked meaningfully.
Her excessive smiling was getting on Xue Shen's nerves. His expression was extremely severe when he spoke. "Just what method do you have? Don't spout nonsense."
"Then come a bit closer. I'll tell you." Linlang slightly perked up her chin.
The man pursed his lips and said nothing.
"Pfft—"
Linlang's charming red lips spread open in a laugh.
"What, is such a big man afraid I'll swallow him?"
Xue Shen let out a sigh. There was a callous brilliance in the depths of his eyes as he said, "Xu Linlang, I advise you not to pull any tricks."
Tsk, this infatuated male match was a troublesome one.
If you look at this sister like that one more time, believe it or not, I'll bring you to your knees.
"Do you want to hear it or not?" Linlang's expression was also impatient. "Bring your ear closer if you want to listen."
Xue Shen glanced at her then did as he was told.
"The method is..."
The girl's warm breath swept across his ears, but Xue Shen braced himself and listened. Finally, he released a cold smile. "A woman's heart is the most ruthless."
"Isn't there a saying, 'Ruthlessness is the mark of a great man'? Look, we're a match made in heaven."
She whispered in his ear, and the soft smile in her voice was titillating.
Xue Shen's lowered head saw her slender eyelashes fluttering like the wings of a butterfly.
By chance, her eyes turned and met his gaze.
They came to an agreement.
After the grand meal, Xue Shen drove her back.
"Good night, my Mr. Xue."
Linlang left with a smile. Her slender figure showed a kind of unbridled beauty in the night.
Xue Shen watched her for a while, not leaving until she entered the dormitory building.
As soon as she opened the door, the three pairs of eyes in the dorm room seemed to size her up.
Linlang pretended not to notice. She picked her clothes and went to take a shower.
When she was dating Xue Shao, her roommates were mad with jealousy. But now, the crown prince hadn't appeared in a half month, and rumors about Zhang Mengmeng being his new girlfriend were circulating. They thought Linlang had been ruthlessly abandoned. So, they reveled in her misfortune.
"They say no flower can bloom for a hundred days, let alone a human being. Don't be too high-profile, otherwise life will come down on you quickly." The girl shook her expensively manicured fingers at Linlang who was walking out of the bathroom.
The bare-faced beauty was drying her hair with a towel.
Such an ordinary movement of combing one's hair with their fingers seemed so delicate when she performed it.
This was a habit of hers. The body was a gift from one's parents. She has always attached great importance to it.
However, the girl was very annoyed and felt that Linlang was being hypocritical. She muttered, "There's no man to look at you, what are you pretending for?"
The two girls across from them sniggered.
Unexpectedly, just when her voice fell, a suave male voice sounded from outside the door.
"Hi, I'm looking for Xu Linlang."
The recent days have been humid, and so everyone in the girls' dormitory left their doors open for ventilation. They didn't expect for a handsome boy to see their words and deeds against Linlang!
The girls were very embarrassed. They tried to prick up their ears to listen closely. When did Xu Linlang approach another rich brother? Why aren't they as lucky?
It was the frivolous Hua Shao. When he saw Linlang in her pajamas, he urged her to change into a lighter outfit.
"It's late. Is there something wrong?"
Linlang knew she won't be able to shake off responsibility for Xue Shao. Hua Shao's expression looked solemn. After all, he was his closest childhood friend.
The opportunity came faster she imagined.
"The group of lowlifes is corrupting A Shao!"
Young Master Hua took a deep breath. His chest was brimming with anger.
Unexpectedly, the other person didn't even raise an eyelid. "Oh," was all she said.
"Why are you so indifferent? If A Shao really falls, he'll be ruined! Do you have a heart?" Hua Shao was upset. The children of affluent families have been sincerely exhorted by their elders ever since they were young. It was okay to join in on the fun, but there had to be a bottom-line. Sinking into vices meant being ruined for a lifetime!
Linlang felt puzzled and amused. Why is it her turn to carry this pot?
"You guys baffle me. When I was with Xue Shao, none of you hesitated to undermine me, thinking I was filthy, a cheap plaything that didn't deserve your noble prince. Your group of friends called me 'Sister-in-law' so affectionally but then turned around to encourage his admirers to abuse me all so you could watch a good show.
"When the prince paid attention to me, you lot got scared by the possibility of this plaything turning into the real thing. You didn't want your social circle tainted, so you joined forces with Xue Shao's mother to insult me with money. Do you think you're the only humans, and that us ordinary people deserve to be used and thrown away like rags when you were done with us?"
Her mouth was raised in a sweet smile, but the poison sunk in.
Good thing she had a bargaining chip and that her business was going well. If it hadn't been for that, she would have faced Xu Linlang's ending of getting knocked out and discarded at some bar by the Xue family's bodyguards. That girl's innocence was forcefully taken by a group of men then got cast aside by everyone around her.
Hua Shao's handsome face flushed red. He opened his mouth to refute but remained silent.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong before, but I'm begging you...
"Please save A Shao..."
Linlang smiled. You think it's all okay if you beg me?
Little bastards!
———Please read this at onemachineshow.blogspot.com
Nightfall arrived quietly. In a club called "Drunken Dreams", a group of buddies wearing very valuable clothes were engaged in a thrilling carnival.
Men and women alike were intoxicated. On the tabletops were an assortment of precious cakes and fruits. A young lady was smoking a cigarette as she rolled a stray stub on the floor. She indulged in the alcohol without a care in the world.
All troubles could be forgotten.
Zhang Mengmeng was very scared as she watched these hedonistic people. Never had she been exposed to such a corrupted and decadent life. Her scalp felt like it was going numb. She wanted to escape from the scene, but her feet seemed to be filled with lead. They didn't move even half a step.
She had never been to such a magnificent place in her life. When this group of chaebols called her sister-in-law, she was light as a feather and felt an unprecedented delight. All her roommates were brimming with envy.
"Sister-in-law, why won't you play? You don't think brother's gift is good enough? This cigar was flown in from abroad. It can't compare to anything on the market!" The young man next to her was smiling, but his eyes were menacing.
What ''Sister-in-law''? She's just a fake. After learning the details about this girl, he felt annoyed that she accepted his gifts without ever saying a word, but still pretended to be some holy virgin and refused to let him kiss her.
If Xue Shao wasn't protecting her, would she be able to sit here right now? She even dared to act too virtuous to follow their bad examples. Who does she think she is?
Zhang Mengmeng's eyes were full of apprehension. She looked in Xue Shao's direction as a cry for help but his eyes were closed.
The other party didn't put up with her.
Under everyone's heckling, she took a drag, after which an uncontrollable euphoria spread to all her limbs.
They say this thing was outrageously expensive compared to ordinary ones and that it was only valued in dollars.
The men and women around were entwined ambiguously. Gradually, she felt her cheeks heat up and her eyes blurred. She couldn't help but lean on Xue Shao. What Zhang Mengmeng experience these past few days by his side can be what they call heaven on earth.
As long as she became Mrs. Xue... she will no longer have to be a worthless little sparrow in the eyes of others.
The cold and greasy scent made Xue Shao frown. He was about to push her away when he caught sight of a figure opening the door. It was none other than the cruel girl he yearned for day and night!
He hugged Zhang Mengmeng in a fit of pique and eyed her provocatively.
If you don't care about me, this master can bring girls over with a hook of his finger!