Chapter 1

Chapter 1

After all these years, I had never imagined this was how I would meet Yang Jingzhi again.

I kept my head down as I carried in the fruit platter, terrified she might see my face.

Xu Wanxing sat beside her. A handsome man and a beautiful woman—they looked perfect together.

“Waiter,” Yang Jingzhi called. “Slice the orange.”

With my back to her, I cut it into thin wedges.

Long ago, back when I loved oranges, Yang Jingzhi had always cut them for me. She was good with a knife; every slice came out exactly the same size.

At the time, I had thought it meant she loved me.

Later, I learned it was only habit. While she cut an orange, she could think about anything in the world—anything except me.

Four years apart felt like half a lifetime.

Somehow, the guests’ conversation drifted to college romances.

“I heard President Yang had a boyfriend for all four years of college.”

My hand stopped.

Yang Jingzhi gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment.

“That’s lovely. Four years—your entire college life.”

She said nothing. The speaker grew awkward and scrambled to fill the silence.

“After four years together, he must be hard to forget, right?”

Silence flowed through the room like a still river.

At last, Yang Jingzhi laughed softly.

“Hardly.”

“Jingzhi was lucky if she didn’t hate him,” Xu Wanxing explained with an easy smile. “I went to the same university as her. Back then… well, she had a rough time. If that ex hadn’t gotten in the way, would Jingzhi and I have taken this long to end up together?”

“Exactly! Mr. Xu is a huge star. However good her ex was, could he possibly compare to a celebrity?”

The room warmed back up.

I tugged my cap lower, desperate to leave. The fruit knife nicked my finger, and my hiss made everyone look over.

“What’s wrong with you? You can’t even cut fruit?” Xu Wanxing complained.

“I’m sorry. I’ll bring you a fresh platter.”

I picked it up and turned to flee.

“Wait.”

Yang Jingzhi stopped me. She enunciated every word.

“Turn around.”

My body might as well have been nailed to the floor.

One second. Two.

The floor manager arrived just in time.

“We’re very sorry. This employee is new and still learning. Tonight’s fruit platters will be complimentary.”

She shot me a meaningful look. “Well? Go bring them a new one.”

I escaped.

Later, the manager pulled me aside.

“Think on your feet next time. We were all new once, but if they complain, you’ll have worked tonight for nothing.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Be especially careful with that VIP room. They’re all important guests. The most beautiful woman in the middle owns a tech startup. We can’t afford to offend her.”

“I’m a little nervous. Could you take the orange in for me?”

“Sure.”

I finally breathed again.

If anyone in this world had already offended Yang Jingzhi beyond forgiveness, it was me.

I was the ex she hated.