Tang Xiaomin shook her head.
"We've already bought ours, we'll let you off the hook today."
"Heh..."
The bitterness deep in Ye Lingyun's eyes betrayed his smile; he felt more sorrow than joy at this moment.
It was the summer vacation, and he had deliberately bled himself dry to gather this small group, using it as a legitimate excuse to see her.
He hadn't expected to see her, but she was with Yan Jue again, rekindling their old flame.
Suppressing his disappointment, he forced a casual smile.
"You're the only one who understands. Unlike those others, they'd be happy to drain me dry."
Tang Xiaomin also smiled.
"Because I'm a good person. We've already bought our tickets, so we're leaving now."
"Mm, goodbye."
Tang Xiaomin walked away, linked arm in arm with Yan Jue, and even her receding figure looked so full of happiness.
Lu Sisi watched it all, a bitter feeling engulfing her.
"Yun Shao, Xiaomin has made up with her boyfriend."
Ye Lingyun shot Lu Sisi an annoyed glance.
"I have eyes, I can see for myself. You don't need to deliberately remind me again."
Each time she mentioned it, it was another stab to his heart.
Lu Sisi lowered her head, feeling extremely wronged.
"Yun Shao, I know you like Xiaomin. If you don't mind, I can help you pass a message to her."
"There's no need to be so secretive about feelings, you should let her know, don't you think?"
Ye Lingyun looked at Lu Sisi with a piercing gaze, seeing through her completely.
"You go and tell her."
"Some things, once spoken, will mean we can't even be friends. Do you really want me to become strangers with her?"
Lu Sisi felt as if she had been stripped bare. Her hidden intentions were exposed, and her face immediately turned pale.
"Yun Shao, I didn't mean that, really."
"Heh."
Ye Lingyun let out a mocking cold laugh.
Lu Sisi, in this moment, truly seemed like a self-important clown.
"Lu Sisi, I'm warning you. If I can't even be friends with Tang Xiaomin anymore, I will hold you accountable for it."
Lu Sisi's scalp tingled, too shocked to utter a single word.
Meanwhile, Ye Lingyun had already walked far away, not wanting to spend another second with her.
A hint of unwillingness flickered across Lu Sisi's face, losing its usual soft demeanor.
"Tang Xiaomin, you already have a boyfriend. Why do you still want to steal Ye Lingyun's heart?"
"Shameless vixen!"
Lu Sisi left. Unlike others, she didn't go on a frantic shopping spree.
She ran quickly in the direction Tang Xiaomin had gone and finally saw them walking into the open-air parking lot in front of the mall.
Just as she was about to go up and say something to Tang Xiaomin, her eyes widened abruptly, and she shrank back into the corner of a wall.
Beside a black Porsche, the world seemed to spin. Tang Xiaomin was pinned against the car door.
The sudden action startled her.
Even though she had lost her memory and her aggression had lessened, Yan Jue's inherent possessiveness remained unchanged.
Their eyes met, their faces so close.
Tang Xiaomin thought Yan Jue was going to kiss her. Her heart fluttered, and she tilted her chin upwards, waiting.
After a long pause, instead of the expected kiss, she felt the man gently caress her cheek.
"The one just now, Ye Lingyun, are you familiar with him?"
Tang Xiaomin was surprised that Yan Jue would suddenly bring up Ye Lingyun.
"Just a classmate from university, an ordinary friend."
"An ordinary friend, who invites you shopping?"
Although this was the first time he had met Ye Lingyun, Yan Jue's male intuition picked up on a certain special sentiment from Ye Lingyun towards Tang Xiaomin.
"Silly girl, when a man is good to a woman, there's always a hidden motive. You should keep your distance from him in the future."
Tang Xiaomin was unconvinced.
"You're overthinking it. I've gotten into several fights with him. My impression of him is that I'm a tigress. What you're saying is impossible."
Yan Jue impatiently straightened Tang Xiaomin's face, making her look him in the eyes.
"I'm serious. You must keep your distance from him from now on."
"If you don't listen to me, do you want to see me go mad?"
Only Yan Jue knew how he had felt in the mall just now.
Seeing his serious expression, Tang Xiaomin wisely nodded.
"Okay, okay, I promise."
"That's a good girl."
He contentedly planted a brief kiss on her lips before reluctantly pulling away.
Only after they drove off did Lu Sisi emerge from behind the wall.
She had clearly witnessed the intimate scene just moments before.
Tang Xiaomin was enjoying the complete affection of one man, while simultaneously receiving the unspoken adoration of another.
A chilling malice, unprecedented, filled Lu Sisi's eyes.
"Tang Xiaomin, last time Tang Xu sacrificed himself to save you. Next time, you won't be so lucky."
"That good-for-nothing Zhang Guo'er is completely useless, hmph!"
...
Back at Xianfu Group, the office had become a peculiar space. It was called an office, but now it resembled a living room more than anything.
As soon as she returned, Tang Xiaomin changed into her slippers.
Under her coaxing, Yan Jue went into the lounge to change.
She leisurely brewed a cup of tea and had just taken a small sip when a commotion erupted at the office door.
"You're not allowed in without Miss Tang's permission, stop right there!" Zhong Li yelled angrily.
"Get lost!"
Yan Jun ignored Zhong Li's obstruction, and Zhong Li, unwilling to back down, assumed a fighting stance.
"Zhong Li, stand down," Tang Xiaomin said, having arrived at the office door.
Yan Jun was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his long hair tied up in a ponytail.
A few stray strands casually brushed his cheek, resembling an exaggeratedly quirky anime character, yet exuding a free-spirited handsomeness.
Tang Xiaomin's gaze was drawn to a glass box in his hand. Similar to the skull ornament in her office, this one also contained a skull.
It was inlaid with jade and had gold trim, its style vintage yet undeniably luxurious.
"What is the meaning of this?" Tang Xiaomin asked in a voice devoid of warmth, her face etched with coldness.
Yan Jun gave a wicked smile and raised the ornate skull ornament in his hand.
"This is Meng Yiren's skull. Isn't it prettier than your previous one? I said I'd get you a more beautiful one. What do you think of this one?"
...
Tang Xiaomin felt utterly bewildered. What was all this?
"Not interested, take it away."
"I need to work, don't bother me."
Tang Xiaomin said, turning to go back inside. Just as she was about to close the door, it was forcefully blocked.
It was Yan Jun, his hand still on the door.
"You haven't answered my question yet. Is this artwork beautiful or not?"
"If you say it's not beautiful, then I'll go find another one until I find one you're satisfied with."
Yan Jun's lips curved into a wicked, triumphant smile.
Tang Xiaomin's gaze sharpened. "Are you threatening me?"
"No, I'm making you choose."
"My Queen, I'm getting more and more interested in you."