Chapter 2

I ran.

The instant they stepped out from the corner, I fled.

One was my best friend. The other was the man I loved most.

How was I supposed to face them?

Yet somehow, it seemed I had brought all this on myself.

Xue Meng was my childhood friend, as well as my best friend.

We had grown up together. After more than twenty years of friendship, I trusted her more than anyone.

She felt the same about me.

So when she discovered Xie Yang was cheating, I was the first person she told.

It was an agonizing time for her.

Back then, all she could think about was why Xie Yang had cheated, why he had betrayed her.

She wasn’t thinking about what to do. She just stubbornly wanted an answer.

I stayed by her side. We drank, went clubbing, traveled together.

Zhou Yuxing had been far from happy about it.

He thought I was neglecting him for Xue Meng.

There was nothing I could do except try to keep them both happy.

Eventually, Xue Meng made up her mind to divorce him. But Xie Yang refused, leaving her no option but to take him to court.

“Shuning, could you ask your husband to handle my case?”

I wanted to help her as much as I could, but I was afraid Zhou Yuxing would refuse.

Sure enough, he frowned when I asked.

“Civil litigation isn’t my area. If she needs someone, I can recommend a specialist. Besides, I don’t have time.”

Zhou Yuxing was busy, but he could have made time.

I knew he simply didn’t want to take Xue Meng’s case.

He thought she was fussy, affected, and emotional.

“You can’t say a word to her, let alone raise your voice. Clients like that are the worst!”

But Xue Meng trusted only Zhou Yuxing.

“The way I trust you. Shuning, please help me.”

I had no choice but to pester Zhou Yuxing. I even resorted to seducing him.

In the end, he held me in his arms and gave in. “All right, all right. I’ll take it!”

I was the one who had pushed him to take the case.

So when he grew closer and closer to Xue Meng, even leaving me out, he could say with perfect self-righteousness, “Weren’t you the one who asked me to take her case?”

When I returned to the dining room, Xue Meng was sitting in my seat, talking to Zhou Yuxing.

He listened as he poured her a glass of water and handed it over.

She took it naturally, as though they had done this many times before.

Xue Meng noticed me first.

Her expression froze for a moment. Then she stood quickly and took my hand.

“Shuning, where did you go? How come I didn’t see you?”

I pushed her hand away. “Out for some air.”

Hurt flickered in her eyes.

She smiled as if nothing had happened. “Have your seat, then. I’ll go talk to Xiaobai and the others.”

As I sat down, Zhou Yuxing spoke in a low, unpleasant voice. “What are you sulking about now?”

I looked at him, baffled. “How am I sulking?”

He wore a stern expression, as though I knew perfectly well.

That was rich.

I actually laughed aloud.

Zhou Yuxing was about to say something else when a commotion broke out across the room. Several people were clamoring for Xue Meng to have beer with them.

Almost reflexively, he started to rise.

I held him down. “These are all my friends. Spare me some dignity.”

Then I got there ahead of him and stepped in front of Xue Meng.

“She has gastroenteritis. She can’t drink! If you really want a drink, I’ll have one with you.”

Had I turned around then, I probably would have seen the blood drain from Xue Meng’s face.

But I didn’t turn. I just smiled faintly and kept the others entertained.

They didn’t insist. They even remarked on what good friends Xue Meng and I were.

I drank a lot after that. Xue Meng wanted to stop me but didn’t dare come over.

Zhou Yuxing took my hand, and I pushed him away.

In the end, he carried me to the car.

Outside, he told Xue Meng, “Get in. I’ll take you home first.”

She shook her head. “No, I’ll take a taxi. Take Shuning home!”

But he insisted. “It’s late. I won’t feel right letting you go home alone. It’s fine. It’s on the way.”

Suddenly, Xue Meng lowered her voice. “Zhou Yuxing, don’t. Please. Just go.”

I listened without a shred of guilt, then closed my eyes and rolled over.

In the end, Zhou Yuxing gave in to the fragile Xue Meng.

The drive home was quiet. No music, no conversation.

That night, Zhou Yuxing stayed awake until morning, smoking on the balcony.

I slept soundly. For once, I even had a lovely dream.