When Yang Quan came to pick up Qian Dailan, he unexpectedly received a gift.
The transparent, sturdy gift box was adorned with an exquisite light pink silk ribbon tied into a beautiful bow.
Inside, six cookies of different flavors and shapes were arranged at a pleasing angle.
“You’ve been picking me up for so long; I kept troubling you, brother,” Qian Dailan said.
“There’s a bakery nearby that makes good cookies. I wasn’t sure what flavors you like, so I bought one of each. There just happen to be six flavors—six sixes for good luck.”
Yang Quan adjusted his glasses and, seeing that he couldn’t refuse, accepted the cookies.
He was quite surprised.
“How did you know I like these?”
“The first time we met, I heard Xiyan-ge mention it,” Qian Dailan said with a slight smile.
“Actually, I should have prepared a gift for Xiyan-ge as well. But I heard that he’s allergic to peanuts, and I was worried these cookies might contain allergens. So I chose a different gift for him.”
The first time they met?
That was a year ago.
Yang Quan was even more surprised.
Before, he had thought of Qian Dailan as a poor girl who had dropped out of school early and left her hometown to work.
But after spending time with her, he started to feel that such sympathy was perhaps misplaced.
“It’s just seven o’clock now,” Yang Quan said, outlining the evening’s schedule.
“We’ll first pick up the dress that was ordered, then get your makeup done, and finally, I’ll drop you off at the restaurant.”
“…The ordered dress?”
Yang Quan smiled and explained that the dress had been custom-made by Ye Jianhe, who was Ye Xiyan’s mother, Madam Ye.
Madam Ye was about the same height as Qian Dailan—tall and slender—but she had recently gained some weight, and the dress no longer fit her.
Rather than waste it, she decided to gift it to Qian Dailan.
Qian Dailan recognized the brand.
Dior.
It was a logo and label frequently featured in fashion magazines.
She had once bought an eye cream from their skincare line as a gift for Sister Mai.
The store’s Sales Assistants (SAs) had been waiting for a long time.
They warmly welcomed the two into the VIP lounge—one served them tea and desserts, while another went to retrieve the dress.
The stunning little black dress was eventually carried out by two SAs together.
They politely and kindly asked Qian Dailan, “Would you like assistance in trying it on?”
She nodded.
“Yes, thank you.”
The dress was exquisitely tailored.
It reached her ankles, with straps no wider than two fingers.
The sweetheart neckline formed a smooth curve, revealing her fair neck and slender arms.
The waist was cinched in perfectly, hugging her figure precisely, while the voluminous skirt swayed elegantly like a lily of the valley as she moved.
While helping her change, the SA kept praising her flawless skin and great body proportions.
Seizing the moment, Qian Dailan lowered her voice and asked directly, “How much does this dress cost?”
She explained, “It was given to me as a gift, but I’d like to know the approximate price so I can return the favor appropriately.”
The SA smiled and replied, “98,000 yuan.”
Qian Dailan’s vision went black.
The SA, ever considerate, continued, “Mr. Ye also had us prepare matching shoes for you. Would you like to know the price of those as well?”
“…Go ahead,” Qian Dailan said, bracing herself.
“I think I can handle it.”
“6,200 yuan.”
Her vision darkened again.
She had already guessed that Ye Xiyan was generous, having tried to support her financially ever since they first met.
Anything he picked would undoubtedly be expensive.
But she hadn’t expected this expensive.
Now, she completely abandoned the idea of repaying the favor—she simply couldn’t afford it.
If the total value of the gifts was just a few thousand yuan, she might have gritted her teeth and paid it back once she became financially stable.
But the gap was too wide, too overwhelming—so much so that the money had lost all meaning.
She was practically wearing the price of a car.
Feeling as though she had just put on a small luxury vehicle, Qian Dailan slowly walked out of the fitting room and went to try on the shoes that Ye Xiyan had chosen for her.
They were classic black kitten heels, wrapped with a narrow silk ribbon printed with “J’ADIOR” along the sides and back.
Yang Quan quietly asked the SA if there were any matching accessories, saying there was no budget limit—
“No need,” Qian Dailan quickly interrupted.
“It’s already more than enough, thank you.”
At 7:55 PM, Yang Quan delivered the lightly made-up Qian Dailan to the restaurant right on time.
It wasn’t the kind of grand banquet hall in a hotel that she had initially expected.
Instead, it was a Western restaurant with a serene white-and-green color scheme.
The windows were painted a soft shade between light cyan and pale green, with large transparent glass panes.
The entrance was decorated with clusters of green and white flowers, either hanging or arranged in elegant displays.
A sign outside the restaurant read:
“Temporarily Closed for Private Event.”
As she looked at it through the car window, Qian Dailan marveled, “This is even more beautiful than the wedding venue of the richest man in our village when he remarried.”
Yang Quan couldn’t help but laugh.
“When you and Xijing get married in the future, Xiyan-ge will be the one making the arrangements. And if he does, it will definitely be even grander than this.”
He got out of the car, walked to the back, and opened the door for her.
As he helped her out, he gently reminded her once again:
“Xiyan-ge said, if anyone asks, you can say you’re his friend. If you don’t feel like talking, you can ignore them. Xiyan-ge has already reserved a seat for you. I’ll take you there in a moment.”
Qian Dailan thanked him.
She understood what Ye Xiyan meant.
Being “Ye Xiyan’s friend” and being “Ye Xijing’s girlfriend” were two very different things in the current situation.
If she were introduced as Ye Xijing’s girlfriend, she would face scrutiny and hostility, as his family disapproved, and outsiders would judge them as “mismatched.”
But as Ye Xiyan’s friend, even if she said nothing and did nothing, no one would dare to challenge her.
Taking a deep breath, Qian Dailan stepped onto the soft wool carpet in her high heels.
But tonight, she was here for one reason:
To have a serious conversation with Ye Xijing about their relationship.
Breakups should be handled with dignity.
Ten minutes earlier.
Ye Xijing had just received his water-damaged phone and was attentively listening to his older brother’s lecture.
“A public relations specialist also needs to handle all kinds of business banquets—choosing venues, selecting menus, and tasting dishes are all essential,” Ye Xiyan said.
“When selecting a venue, you must prioritize the convenience of your guests. You should consider their availability and ease of travel. Do I need to remind you of that?”
“And regarding the menu, the most important thing is to avoid allergens. I assume I don’t need to emphasize that? Also, consider other details. If someone is currently taking traditional Chinese medicine for their health, then the menu must not include radish—”
Ye Xijing frowned.
“But there are so many people—how am I supposed to know who’s taking medicine?”
“Investigate. Ask. Once the guest list is confirmed, it’s your job to find out these details.”
Ye Xiyan handed the menu back to him, displeased.
“Why did you pick this Western restaurant? Have you even considered that some guests might not be used to Western food or know how to use a knife and fork?”
Ye Xijing was indifferent. “
In this day and age, who still doesn’t know how to use a knife and fork?”
Ye Xiyan closed his eyes briefly and pressed his fingers against his temple.
Ye Xijing asked, “Ge, are your eyes uncomfortable?”
“Not really,” Ye Xiyan said.
“Just a little painful—probably because your foolish words are polluting them.”
Ye Xijing said, “But these trivial matters can be handled by others. I’m not a professional in public relations anyway—”
“Xijing,” Ye Xiyan interrupted, “Do you think that when you join Father’s company for training, you’ll immediately be made a manager or a director?”
“Isn’t that the case?”
Ye Xijing asked.
“No,” Ye Xiyan said, his tone heavy.
“If you truly want to understand how a company operates, you have to rotate through different departments, intern in each for a few months, and only then will you get a rough grasp of things. There is no such thing as a trivial matter.”
Just then, a gentle voice interrupted the conversation.
“Xiyan.”
A woman in a light purple dress and nude-colored delicate kitten heels approached.
A simple yet elegant bullhead diamond necklace adorned her slender neck.
She smiled and asked, “What are you two talking about?”
Ye Xiyan didn’t respond.
His gaze fell on her shoes—the nude-colored kitten heels had a delicate camellia logo on the front.
Wu Ke subtly extended her foot and asked with a smile, “Do they look nice? Xijing’s girlfriend picked them for me.”
Ye Xiyan asked, “Xijing’s girlfriend?”
Ye Xijing frowned.
“You went to that store again?”
Ye Xiyan glanced at his brother’s expression, then shifted his feet slightly.
“You two talk.”
“Xiyan,” Wu Ke reached out, lightly tugging at Ye Xiyan’s sleeve before letting go.
She explained in a warm voice, “That girl is working here alone. It’s not easy for her, so I went to help her boost her sales a little.”
“Is she really struggling for sales?”
Ye Xijing suddenly asked.
“She never told me that.”
“How long do you plan on preserving that precious brain of yours?” Ye Xiyan scoffed.
“Won’t you ever think, even once?”
Then, turning slightly, he asked Wu Ke, “Do you go to her store often?”
“No, this was only the second time,” Wu Ke shook her head.
“Last night, I accompanied Aunt Lin there once.”
She observed that Ye Xiyan’s expression remained as composed as ever—not happy, not sad.
“You know Aunt Lin… yesterday, she—” Wu Ke hesitated, then continued, “So today, I went to the store mainly to apologize to her.”
Ye Xiyan said, “That’s not really appropriate.”
“It isn’t,” Ye Xijing agreed.
“After all, it was my mom’s fault. You tried to stop her yesterday—you don’t need to apologize. This has nothing to do with you.”
Wu Ke replied, “Aunt Lin is an elder. It’s more appropriate for me to apologize on her behalf.”
“I meant,” Ye Xiyan said, “apologizing at the store in that way isn’t appropriate. News outlets love to sensationalize things nowadays. If a customer bows to a sales assistant in apology, it can easily be turned into a story and spark public backlash.”
Wu Ke paused.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that.”
“It’s fine,” Ye Xiyan said lightly.
“You’ve been working in academia for years—you wouldn’t pay attention to these things.”
Without looking at her, he turned to Ye Xijing.
“I still have something to ask you.”
Ye Xijing trailed behind his older brother, silently following him onto the terrace.
Wu Ke stood there alone, dazed for a moment, until she heard Liang Wanyin calling her.
“Ke Ke!”
Dressed in a white shirt and blue jeans, Liang Wanyin walked over briskly.
“I just saw Xiyan-ge and Xijing go upstairs—did something happen? Xijing looked like he was getting scolded again.”
“Getting scolded by Xiyan? That’s nothing new,” Wu Ke was already used to it.
“What’s wrong? You don’t look happy.”
“It’s Aunt Lin again,” Liang Wanyin sighed.
“She had a fight with Xijing this afternoon and threw his phone into the koi pond. Xijing just fished it out and left it at that—I was the one who had to apologize and pay for the damages.”
She couldn’t help but complain, “I think Aunt Lin is overreacting. There’s no way Qian Dailan would come today. You even said it yourself—Aunt Lin tormented her all night yesterday. If she has any self-respect at all, she wouldn’t show up today.”
Wu Ke frowned slightly.
“That’s true.”
“But,” Wu Ke hesitated, “I just saw that the seat next to Xiyan-ge was still empty—there was no name tag. I asked Xijing about it, but he wasn’t sure either. He only said it was reserved for a ‘friend’—who could it be?”
“Probably Yang Quan,” Liang Wanyin guessed.
“Anyway, I’m heading in. I’m exhausted. It’s so hot outside, and I feel like my makeup is melting.”
But the reserved seat was definitely not for Yang Quan.
Wu Ke had already spotted Yang Quan’s name—it was placed to Ye Xiyan’s right.
Then who could it be?
She looked toward the stairs in confusion.
The long glass staircase led up to the terrace garden on the second floor.
There, Ye Xijing leaned lazily against the wooden railing, speaking to Ye Xiyan.
“I’ve never hidden anything from Dailan when it comes to Ke Ke,” Ye Xijing said bluntly.
“I admit that I did like Ke Ke before, but… I truly love Dailan now.”
Ye Xiyan commented indifferently, “You lack common sense, but you sure are romantic.”
“You’ve always told me to treat Dailan well, and I really have,” Ye Xijing lowered his head, confused.
“But now I don’t understand anymore. Sometimes… I don’t even know what I really want.”
The wind ruffled his tousled hair.
He gave a melancholy smile and said, “Ge, you’ve never been in love—you don’t understand. Liking someone doesn’t always mean you can be with them.”
“Ke Ke likes you—everyone knows it.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Back then, I pursued Ke Ke and got rejected—everyone knows that too. You all think Dailan is the pitiful one, as if I only ended up with her because I couldn’t be with Ke Ke. But that’s not true. She has never been my second choice.”
“Wanyin always says Dailan and Ke Ke have similar eyes, but I never thought so. Dailan’s eyes are bigger, brighter.”
He choked up.
“I was the replacement.”
His voice trembled.
“When she first got together with me, it was only because of my face.”
“Because of my face.”
“If not that, then what?”
Ye Xiyan asked.
“What else could it be? Because of that—bowl of flour—bowl of water you call a brain? Because of your blind arrogance, completely oblivious to everyone else? Or because of your childish self-righteousness, your naive innocence, and your frequent, irrational tantrums?”
“Ge,” Ye Xijing called out, “enough.”
He crouched down, hugging his head.
“When we first started dating, I told her that I had liked Ke Ke before,” Ye Xijing said.
“And she told me that when she first noticed me, it wasn’t just because I had testified for her in front of the police—it was also because I looked like a man she had seen on the cover of a magazine she once read.”
Ye Xiyan watched his brother quietly.
Ye Xijing stood up straight, pressing both hands against the railing.
“She later told me that it was love at first sight. But the more I thought about it, the more it didn’t feel right. How could it have been love at first sight? She must have been in love with that man from the magazine cover.”
“What magazine?”
Ye Xiyan asked.
“How would I know?”
Ye Xijing shook his head.
“But someone as ridiculously handsome as me is rare. She must’ve said that just to mess with me.”
Ye Xiyan didn’t respond.
His attention was suddenly drawn to someone downstairs.
He leaned forward slightly, carefully observing a familiar, slender figure.
“It’s actually better that Dailan didn’t come today. If she’s not here, she won’t be mistreated.”
Ye Xijing turned around, his mind drifting back to last year—to the first time he had introduced Qian Dailan to Ye Xiyan.
Back then, her entire outfit had been over-the-top, her makeup too heavy to suit her.
Metal bangles jingled on her wrists and arms.
She didn’t belong here.
In a place like this, she would only feel lost—only make mistakes at every turn.
A sense of melancholy settled over Ye Xijing at the thought.
When he glanced to the side, he noticed Ye Xiyan standing at the railing, staring intently at something below.
Curious, Ye Xijing moved beside him and followed his brother’s gaze—
He saw only the back of an elegant, stunning girl.
She wore a perfectly tailored black gown, her jet-black hair cascading smoothly down her back.
Sunlight fell upon the arm that gently lifted the hem of her dress, casting a glow on her skin—a soft, pure white radiance, almost ethereal.