Uttering words of blessing, they somehow didn't sound so pleasant to the ear.
Lin Kexin clung to Lu Tianze, her freshly manicured fingers almost digging into his palm, with a fake smile that seemed on the verge of cracking at any moment. Suddenly thinking of something, she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "Xiao Er, why are you alone here? Don't you have a date?"
"Ah? I'm not alone..."
However, Lin Kexin gently pulled her closer, with a face full of reassurance, "It's okay, Xiao Er, there are many guests here today. I'll ask Tianze to keep an eye out and see if there's someone suitable. Don't worry, Tianze and I will vet them for you. It's like you're so in need of a man that I'm here to find you one."
Gu Xiaoer shook her head wordlessly, waving her hands, "No need, I don't need one. I have..."
Before she could say she had a boyfriend, Lin Kexin cut her off.
"Xiao Er, there's no need to be embarrassed. Tianze and I both want you to be happy..." Her sincere expression was hard to doubt, "By the way, Tianze has a business friend, Boss Li, who is over forty and divorced, but he's wealthy, which I think is just right for you! Xiao Er, how about it? Shall I ask Tianze to introduce you to him?"
Surrounding laughter filled with ill intent, Gu Xiaoer's face turned somewhat pale.
Standing aside without speaking, Lu Tianze coughed lightly, with a soft ripple in his gentle gaze, observing Gu Xiaoer, whose exquisite attire he had never seen before. Her blue dress was obviously customized. The girl he used to know was casual and plain, though prettier than most. But today, she looked more like an uncut jade, worthy of being carved and polished.
Lin Kexin nudged the somewhat distracted Lu Tianze, shaking his arm coquettishly, "Tianze, what do you say, hmm?"
In her heart, she noted another mark against Gu Xiaoer. Just an ordinary person like grit, yet always able to draw men's attention—she could still make Lu Tianze distracted even after they had broken up.
Lu Tianze returned to the moment, looking gently at Lin Kexin, his eyes conveying comfort, indifferent to the surroundings, "I'll do as you say."
Biting her lip, Gu Xiaoer's clenched fists turned white at the knuckles. Lu Tianze had always been cold to her, but now he was so tender with another woman, her heart sank even more.
Seeing them again, the doting affection was blinding and heart-wrenching.
It was they who had betrayed her first, yet they presented themselves with an air of genuinely sweet lovers. Where did that leave her?
"I said I don't need it," Gu Xiaoer's tone hardened a bit, and she turned to leave. She hadn't come here to be humiliated at will—if there was anything she was still clinging to, it was to find a reason to let go completely.
"Xiao Er, you're not still hung up on Tianze, are you!" Lin Kexin took a step forward, her gaze somewhat sorrowful, and the air became charged with tension.
Her words elicited a collective sigh from the onlookers.
Gu Xiaoer and Lu Tianze's relationship had been discreet, known to only a few. To many others, it was common knowledge how Gu Xiaoer had clung to Lu Tianze. With Lin Kexin bringing it up today, it naturally cast her as the one hopelessly in love, trying to interfere in someone else's relationship—a third party.
Lin Kexin's mouth bore an innocent smile, but her eyes were full of mockery. Indeed, she had invited Gu Xiaoer today just to embarrass her. Not competing, not fighting—did she think she was the Virgin Mary? Dressing up to come to the banquet, there was no way Lin Kexin believed that Gu Xiaoer wasn't still thinking about Tianze. After all, everyone at school knew how Gu Xiaoer used to pester Lu Tianze.
"Xiao Er, you can't do this... I'm your good friend. Even if you like Tianze, when it comes to love, I won't step back..." Lin Kexin's tone was gentle and coaxing, making herself seem more like an innocent, pitiful damsel.