Chapter 135: We Are Even

"Because I heard you on the phone with those fake kidnappers with my own ears, I knew from the start that it was a charade you staged yourself. I just didn't expect the kidnapping to actually become real."

"..."

Hearing this, Ruan Mianmian didn't know what to make of it.

"Actually, I'm not someone who can't let go of things. I just find everything that’s happened so unbelievable." Song Chenxi couldn't help but offer a bitter smile. "Why has everyone suddenly changed? You don't like Jian Yanzhi anymore, and he doesn't like me anymore. It’s so ridiculous. I really want to know what on earth happened in between."

"Song Chenxi, do you really like him?" Ruan Mianmian asked, looking at her.

Song Chenxi replied, "Is it real? Honestly, even I'm not sure anymore. Should I say I don't like him either?"

Ruan Mianmian let out a long sigh, her brows furrowed with a touch of impatience.

"Forget it."

Ruan Mianmian looked at Song Chenxi calmly. "I don't care what choices you make in the future, but I can tell you this: I will never like him. If it’s possible, I hope you two will end up together. You probably don't realize it, but you are the fated couple—the ones destined to go through trials and eventually be together. I was just a minor interlude. Now that the interlude is over, it’s time for the main act to take the stage."

Song Chenxi looked blank. "What do you mean by that? Am I the female lead? What kind of female lead has no protagonist halo?"

"Yes, you are the female lead." Ruan Mianmian stood up and looked at her. "Go home. Go back and sort out your thoughts. Whether you want him or not, you should think it over carefully."

"It's so strange. Why does it have to be you?" Song Chenxi stood up as if suddenly relieved. She took her bag from Ruan Mianmian's hand and said lightly, "Never mind."

With that, Song Chenxi headed toward the front desk, paid the bill, and walked away with an elegant turn. Ruan Mianmian, still worried, followed her for a short distance. Song Chenxi knew she was behind her but didn't look back. Once she entered her apartment complex, Ruan Mianmian stopped at the gate and received a text message from her.

"Ruan Mianmian, we are even now."

Even? How were they even? Ruan Mianmian was baffled. It wasn't until she returned to her car that she realized belatedly. Song Chenxi must have been referring to the past grievances between them.

Come to think of it, the original owner had indeed played many tricks behind Song Chenxi’s back to sabotage her relationship with Jian Yanzhi. For some reason, Ruan Mianmian didn't feel relieved; instead, she felt a sense of complexity.

Ruan Mianmian returned to the bar, preoccupied, and found Chen Ci to express her thanks. Chen Ci smiled, asking, "Seriously, is that girl really your friend?"

"I suppose so." Their relationship was complicated, not something to be explained in a few words.

Chen Ci rubbed his nose and laughed. "I couldn't tell. Such a quiet girl, yet she didn't hold back when she started hitting people. If my friend hadn't intervened, things would have definitely blown up."

Ruan Mianmian asked, "Your friend? Which one?"

"You wouldn't know him, but I was hosting him today. If he hadn't spotted your friend, we probably would have all ended up at the police station tonight."

"I see. Was your friend hurt?"

"No," Chen Ci chuckled. "Actually, we’d been annoyed by that guy who started the fight for a long time. Your friend is impressive!"

"Tsk." Ruan Mianmian rolled her eyes at him. "Alright, thank your friend for me. If there's a chance, you should introduce us."

"Whoa! I wouldn't dare. Jiang Ce is such a jealous type; I'm afraid he'd break my legs."

Ruan Mianmian immediately looked displeased. "Don't mention him to me. It just makes me angrier."

Chen Ci laughed. "Oh? Did you two have a fight?"

Ruan Mianmian couldn't be bothered to explain, so she waved her hand and said goodbye to Chen Ci.

"Tsk! Why the rush? Stay for a drink?" Chen Ci’s voice echoed behind her, but Ruan Mianmian didn't respond, keeping her head down as she walked out.

After she left, Chen Ci slowly returned to the private room and teased the cold-looking man in the corner, "Zhong Yu, what’s wrong with you? Why the need to do good deeds without taking credit?"

Zhong Yu gave a faint smile and replied coolly, "Doing good deeds without leaving a name—do you think everyone is like you?"

"That's a way to put it." Chen Ci leaned in mysteriously, asking, "But I'm curious: how did you know that girl was Ruan Mianmian's friend? Have you met her?"

Zhong Yu curled his lips. "Want to know? I'm not telling you!"

With that, Zhong Yu neatly grabbed his suit jacket, said "See you" to Chen Ci, and quickly left the room.

***

As Ruan Mianmian and A-Kuan pulled out of the parking lot, she spotted a familiar figure by the roadside. She rolled down the window and called out, "Zhong Yu? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, it's you?" Zhong Yu walked over and smiled. "I was meeting a friend here."

Ruan Mianmian understood. "Another gathering organized by Chen Ci?"

Zhong Yu nodded with a faint smile.

Ruan Mianmian gestured. "Didn't you drive? Get in, want a ride?"

Zhong Yu hesitated for a moment, then nodded and smiled. "That would be a bother."

A-Kuan silently asked for the address and drove toward the destination.

"Why are you heading back so early? Chen Ci seemed to be in high spirits. Weren't you going to drink until you dropped?" Ruan Mianmian leaned toward the back seat, laughing.

Zhong Yu rubbed his brow, looking slightly weary. "Can't help it, the family discipline is strict."

"Oh~" Ruan Mianmian revealed a smile. "Looks like there's something going on with you?" No wonder Chen Ci had tried so hard to set him up with Jiang Yao last time, and he hadn't budged.

Unexpectedly, Zhong Yu laughed. "You misunderstood. My mother's health is poor, and I don't want to make her worry. So, even when meeting with close friends, I go home on time."

"So that's how it is." Realizing her mistake, Ruan Mianmian smiled. "You're quite obedient. Your mother must feel very happy; I'm a bit envious of you."

Zhong Yu replied, "Envious of me? Ms. Ruan is so beautiful and intelligent, surely you are the apple of your mother's eye. What could you possibly envy me for?"

Ruan Mianmian bit her lip, her eyes dimming slightly. She gave an awkward smile and silently looked away. The original owner's mother had left when she was a child because of Ruan Jianwen's infidelity. Twenty years had passed, and she hadn't appeared since. No one knew where she was.

As for her own mother...

Ruan Mianmian sighed to herself. To put it bluntly, she didn't have a single true family member here.