Lu Tianze, clad in a deep brown suit, cut an imposing figure with a scholarly charm. His neat short hair was impeccably styled, and the image of the business elite he presented was hardly reconcilable with the man in her memories.
Having seen him just a day ago, it felt as if worlds had shifted apart.
And there, the happy heroine of the moment, was held in his embrace. She was dressed in a brilliant red evening gown that shimmered with delicate beauty, her form graceful and enchanting.
The day before yesterday, one was her boyfriend, telling her, "Xiao Er, once my company settles down, I will treat you well," while the other was her friend, who had affectionately linked arms with her saying, "Xiao Er, even though we're in the same year but different majors, we will always be good friends."
Now, to think back on those words was just so ironic.
"It's Miss Lin and her boyfriend!" An exclamation went up, and everyone snapped out of their admiration to cheerfully welcome the stars of the evening with raised glasses.
Gu Xiaoer's throat felt dry. She had imagined that today, facing these two people again, she would walk away nonchalant, able to calmly say, "I wish you happiness."
But witnessing such a harmonious scene between the man and woman, she still felt a sting.
Not wanting others to see her in weakness was why she had gone to rent a man.
Speaking of Han Luoli, Gu Xiaoer furrowed her brow, wondering why he hadn't arrived at the agreed time. Was he stuck in traffic, lost, or caught up in something else?
Messaging him to hurry up went without reply, like casting stones into a deep sea.
Working in the service industry, how could he lack such basic professional integrity...
Shrink, shrink, shrink back, trying to lower her presence, at least until Han Luoli showed up. But she, so starkly out of place, still drew many curious and puzzled looks.
Yang Xue, however, was a no-show. Perhaps her shoes had broken, or her dress had gotten dirty, leaving her too embarrassed to face anyone...
"Xiao Er!"
The joyously exuberant voice of the woman made Gu Xiaoer's heart skip a beat. She sighed and rose from her seat, stiffening her chest with a semblance of bravado. Some people were unavoidable; she had to face them head-on.
Lin Kexin strolled over, arm in arm with Lu Tianze, their complementary looks and affectionate moves the picture of bliss, inciting envy from those around them.
Gu Xiaoer's initial awkwardness quickly faded, and she lifted her glass of red wine, pursing her lips and nodding her head.
The three exchanged looks, and a subtle tension filled the air.
Lin Kexin, with her meticulously applied makeup, appeared momentarily stunned—this was too incredible. The Gu Xiaoer smiling at them, dressed in a high-quality, elegantly tailored gown that seemed the work of a master artisan. Her understated makeup and neatly arranged long hair—where was the shabbily dressed and ordinary girl from school?
Damn it, this wasn't the reaction she should be having! Was Gu Xiaoer not supposed to come begging her with an ugly, tear-streaked face? Lin Kexin was frustrated that she couldn't deliver the prepared lines she had eagerly anticipated saying!
Thinking again, Lin Kexin couldn't help but smirk contemptuously inside. To think that such an appearance could sway a man's heart was just laughable! She was the only daughter of the chairman of Lin Corporation; anyone who wasn't blind would know whom to choose.
Lin Kexin slightly tightened her grip on Lu Tianze's arm, subtly flaunting the diamond on her ring finger with a sweet smile: "Xiao Er, how have you been?"
After a brief scan of the couple in front of her, Gu Xiaoer smiled as well: "Ha, I'm doing great!" It's just that you berated me in private, but maintain a facade of harmony in public. Quite nauseating, really.
"I'm truly happy you could come today. Thank you, Xiao Er. Tianze and I will always be happy..."
"Of course, you must carry on being happy!" Gu Xiaoer said earnestly, "Otherwise, it would all be a disservice to the Crystal Coffin I designed for you both. On one side drawing you, on the other him, wishing you'll be together even in death. You know, my drawing skills are always up to par..."