Zhao Dong arrived at the restaurant but didn't see Lin Qingyun. Bored, he began to wait alone. After a moment, he stood up, intending to go to the restroom. Just as he reached the restroom door, a woman walked toward him. He couldn't dodge in time and bumped right into her.
"I'm sorry..." he apologized quickly.
The woman looked at him, her face filling with surprise. "Zhao Dong?"
Zhao Dong lifted his head. When he saw the woman's face clearly, a violent tremor ran through his body. I never would have expected to run into Ding Lan here, not in a million years.
Ding Lan—his ex-girlfriend. She was a doctor at the First Hospital of East Sea, beautiful and with a respectable job. They had been through a three-year relationship that ultimately ended due to the pressures of reality.
Coming back to his senses, Zhao Dong looked at her with a complex expression. "What a coincidence. You're here too."
Ding Lan smiled graciously. "When did you get discharged? You seem to have lost a lot of weight."
"Just a couple of days ago... Are you here for dinner?"
"Why are you still so blunt? What else would I be doing in a restaurant?" Ding Lan chuckled.
"Right..." Zhao Dong gave a sheepish smile, feeling a little dazed as he looked at the woman before him. Ding Lan was still as beautiful as ever. She was dressed in white casual wear with her hair in a bun. Her delicate, oval face was accentuated by a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, giving her a look that was pure yet tinged with elegance.
His eyes caught a glimpse of the diamond ring on Ding Lan's finger, and his heart trembled. Feigning indifference, he smiled. "Are you seeing someone?"
"Yes, we're about to get engaged. We just bought a new car today, so we came out for a celebratory meal." Ding Lan's gaze drifted toward the brand new, unregistered white Audi Q5 outside the restaurant.
Zhao Dong followed her gaze and gave a bitter smile. A car worth over 400,000... I'll probably never be able to afford one in my entire life.
Ding Lan's eyes swept over Zhao Dong again, her gaze lingering for a moment on the worn-out, outdated sneakers on his feet. Her expression grew complicated. It seems my decision back then was the right one...
Adjusting her glasses, she asked, "Have you found a job since being discharged?"
Zhao Dong shook his head with a bitter smile. "No."
"So what do you plan to do?"
"I'll take it one step at a time. I haven't figured it out yet. What about you? How's work at the hospital?"
Ding Lan smiled. "It's going well. I'm an attending physician now."
Zhao Dong was taken aback. A year ago, when they broke up, Ding Lan had just been a regular doctor; now she was an attending physician. To achieve that title at her age in the First Hospital of East Sea meant her future was incredibly bright.
And then there's me...
Just then, a figure approached from the side, accompanied by a gentleman's laugh. "Lan, why are you just standing here? The food is all on the table."
As he finished speaking, a man in an expensive suit and tie appeared. He saw Zhao Dong, and his brow furrowed involuntarily. "Lan, this is..."
For a fleeting moment, Ding Lan's eyes darted away before she regained her composure. "My ex-boyfriend, Zhao Dong. I've told you about him." Then, she looked at Zhao Dong and introduced with a smile, "My current boyfriend, Zhang Shaowen."
Zhang Shaowen sized up Zhao Dong's attire, then extended his hand with a hearty laugh. "So you're Zhao Dong. I've heard so much about you."
Zhao Dong reached out his hand. Zhang Shaowen gave it a quick, perfunctory shake before letting go and asking with a faint smile, "What kind of work do you do now, Brother Zhao?"
Zhao Dong shook his head. "I was just discharged. Still looking for a job."
Ding Lan's eyebrow twitched slightly. "Shaowen," she said suddenly, "is your family's company hiring? If so, maybe we could let Zhao Dong give it a try?"
Before Zhang Shaowen could answer, Zhao Dong declined. "There's no need. I'll find something on my own."
Ding Lan smiled. "Don't get me wrong. I just thought that since we were classmates, I should help you out if I can."
Zhao Dong still shook his head. "Really, no need. Thank you."
Ding Lan was silent for a moment. "You don't have to put on a brave face in front of me. We were all classmates. If you're having difficulties, you can just say so."
Zhang Shaowen coughed. "How about this, Brother Zhao? You might not be suited for a technical role, but I can arrange a position for you as a security captain. The salary is decent, eight or nine thousand a month. What do you think?"
"I appreciate the offer, but I'll look for something on my own," Zhao Dong replied, his expression growing cold.
Ding Lan frowned. "Eight or nine thousand a month is not a low salary, Zhao Dong. You need to have your feet on the ground. That's what's most important."
Zhao Dong touched his nose. "I'm not aiming too high. I just don't want to be a security guard right now. I'm open to other things."
Ding Lan's tone became earnest. "Zhao Dong, sometimes it's not a bad thing to recognize your own limitations early. I think this is a really good opportunity for you. You don't need to act tough in front of me. It serves no purpose other than making me look down on you."
Zhao Dong looked into her eyes, and for a moment, he felt like he didn't even know her anymore. He gave a self-deprecating smile. "Haven't you always looked down on me?"
"If you insist on making this about whether I look down on you, then I'll tell you the truth. Yes, I do. Because other than your status as a veteran, you have nothing else to show for yourself." Ding Lan stared into his eyes. "Zhao Dong, accept that you're ordinary. Stop having thoughts you shouldn't be having."
Her words sounded like a well-intentioned lecture, but they also carried the weight of a pointed warning.
Many people in the restaurant had turned to look their way. Zhao Dong could feel their mocking, sneering gazes. Isn't this the most humiliating moment for a man, running into an old flame while in such a pathetic state? He suddenly felt like a clown—the most pathetic clown in the entire world.
Just then, a woman's indifferent voice sounded from behind him.
"Zhao Dong is my man. Who has the right to call him ordinary?"
The words silenced the entire restaurant. Under the crowd's watchful eyes, Lin Qingyun walked in gracefully, bringing a fragrant breeze with her. Everyone was stunned. How could a woman this beautiful exist? She was like a goddess descended to the mortal realm, outshining everyone else.
Watching Lin Qingyun approach, Ding Lan's mouth fell slightly open in shock.
To the utter disbelief of everyone present, Lin Qingyun came to Zhao Dong's side and linked her arm with his. Then she extended her hand toward Ding Lan with a faint smile. "Hello, I'm Zhao Dong's girlfriend."
Ding Lan was dazed for a full three seconds before she, too, extended her hand to shake Lin Qingyun's. "Hello, Ding Lan."
A faint, unnatural trace had crept into Ding Lan's voice. How could Zhao Dong have such an outstanding woman by his side? She's not just more beautiful than me, but her noble and aloof aura is actually making me nervous.
An indescribable emotion flickered in her heart. However, she quickly composed herself. So what if she's beautiful? There's no way her other qualities are better than mine. I'm an attending physician at the First Hospital of East Sea, one of this city's elite.
Just then, Lin Qingyun turned to Zhao Dong and said gently, "What were you all talking about just now? I messaged you to come look at my new car. Why didn't you reply?"
Zhao Dong was momentarily startled. What does she mean by that? Did she say that on purpose?
At the mention of buying a car, a hint of pride appeared on Ding Lan's face. She took the initiative to smile and say, "What a coincidence. I just bought a car, too. An Audi Q5."
Lin Qingyun nodded slightly. "That's a decent car. It's good."
Ding Lan's eyebrows twitched. Decent? Lin Qingyun's somewhat dismissive tone annoyed her. She smiled and asked, "I suppose it's alright. What kind of car did you two get?"
Ding Lan stared intently at Lin Qingyun. She looks younger than me. I refuse to believe her car is better than mine. Besides, for someone in Zhao Dong's position, I should be the best woman he could ever hope to be with. He couldn't possibly find someone more outstanding than me. That was the source of her confidence.
Lin Qingyun smiled faintly. "It's nothing special. Just something to play around with."
Ding Lan inwardly smirked. I knew it. Her car must not be as good as mine, so she's too embarrassed to say what it is. She smiled and glanced outside the restaurant. "Is it that black car over there without the license plate? Actually, that's not bad. A car worth over a hundred thousand is enough to keep you out of the elements."
"No, that's not it," Lin Qingyun replied with a light smile.
"Then which one is it?" Ding Lan asked, confused.
Lin Qingyun just smiled faintly and gently pressed the key fob in her hand.
Outside, parked in front of the restaurant's main entrance, the headlights of a Ferrari 488—worth over six million—flashed on.
Ding Lan's mouth hung open. The handbag she was holding slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor. THUD.