Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Sure enough, Li Shiyi had been completely cornered. She stormed back in a huff, flung her little bag aside, and every inch of her screamed that she was unhappy.

Now the pressure shifted to Lin Zhi. Faced with our two imposing stares, she looked like she was about to cry.

“I… I never thought about marrying him…”

Li Shiyi exploded on the spot.

“Lin Zhi, are you messing with me? The whole world knows you two are getting engaged, and now you’re telling me you’ve never thought about marrying him? Are you showing off in front of me? Do you think I won’t hit you?”

Lin Zhi covered her face and burst into tears.

“But he and I have never even dated!”

Li Shiyi was stunned.

So was I.

Still, I did believe Lin Zhi. Someone like Song Qingyan, who worshipped strength, would never lower himself to date someone weak.

At most, he treated Lin Zhi like a pet. He could order her around, tame her, control her, and dote on her. But he would never give her the respect, understanding, support, or trust a lover deserved.

I handed her a tissue. “Tell us.”

Lin Zhi did not seem to know where to start.

So I simply asked, and she answered. “How did you two meet?”

Lin Zhi blushed. “His company came to our school to give a recruitment talk. I was in charge of receiving them.”

Li Shiyi flew into a rage. “So you shamelessly asked for his contact information?”

“No. He asked for mine, but I didn’t give it to him.”

“That sounds nice, but didn’t you add him in the end anyway?”

“I ran into someone who wouldn’t leave me alone. He saved me, and I…”

“Oh? A hero saving a damsel in distress.” Li Shiyi’s jealousy had overturned completely, and every word out of her mouth was sour.

This plot had a decent splash of melodrama in it.

But combined with the dream I had, where Song Qingyan forcefully seized Lin Zhi and made her his, I suspected this whole heroic rescue was something Song Qingyan had arranged for himself.

I looked at Li Shiyi. “Song Qingyan used to like me. Why were you never this jealous of me? Why are you so bitter when it comes to Lin Zhi?”

Li Shiyi snapped, “Can she compare to you? If I lose to you, I accept it wholeheartedly. But what is she? Aside from a face that looks like yours, what part of her can compare to you?”

Now I was angry too. “You know I’m outstanding, and I know I’m outstanding. For someone as outstanding as me, how could trash like Song Qingyan ever be worthy? I forbid you from using that scumbag to insult me.”

Li Shiyi looked a little dazed. “What’s wrong with Song Qingyan? He’s the most outstanding guy I know. He was able to manage the company well as soon as he graduated, he’s good-looking, and he’s capable. How is he not worthy of you?”

I refuted her loudly.

“He keeps saying he likes me. You know it, everyone else knows it, but I don’t know it. He has never done a single thing to pursue me. He has never confessed to me in words. He has never given me a gift on any holiday. I was abroad for three years, and he never once came to see me.”

“He does nothing but talk, yet he made everyone think I was the one who looked down on him and refused him, as if it was my fault. Now when I attend your gatherings, people look at me like I’m some heartless bastard. But what did I do wrong?”

“On one hand, he ruins my reputation. On the other, he gets himself an identical substitute to disgust me. At my welcome-home dinner, he deliberately brought Lin Zhi over and ordered her around like a servant. What? Since he can’t order me around, he has to find the thrill of conquering me through a substitute?”

“Why does a two-faced, morally corrupt, low-class, despicable man like that get to like me? Why does he get to have your affection? Being liked by him is the greatest humiliation of my life!”

“Besides, he inherited that company from his parents. The company’s talent was cultivated by his parents too. After he took over, he happened to catch the right market trend, so the company became profitable. He was just lucky. That doesn’t mean he’s actually capable.”

“If a company like that were handed to you, you could make money just the same. The reason you can’t isn’t because you lack ability. It’s because your parents favor sons over daughters and only see you as someone to marry off for an alliance. That does not mean you’re incapable!”