The next day, Bai Ruxue met her at a rose garden café, all pastel smiles and fake giggles.
"Jie-jie, I heard you canceled the engagement!" she exclaimed, eyes wide. "Why would you do that? Yuze-ge loves you."
Tang Xinyue sipped her tea slowly. "Does he?"
Bai Ruxue blinked. "Of course!"
Xinyue tilted her head. "Then why was he seen outside your apartment building after midnight last weekend?"
The color drained from Ruxue's face.
"N-no, that's not—he was just helping me—"
"You wore his tie the next morning," Xinyue added, smiling thinly. "It's a shame. I always knew you liked him. I just didn't think you'd be so desperate."
"Jie-jie—!"
"Relax," she said, placing her cup down. "I'm not here to fight."
Ruxue narrowed her eyes. "Then why did you come?"
"To give you a gift."
Xinyue passed her a small, beautifully wrapped box.
Inside was a pair of ruby earrings—once gifted by Jiang Yuze to Xinyue herself.
Bai Ruxue's face turned pale.
"I'm returning them to you," Xinyue said sweetly. "I believe they were never meant for me anyway."
Ruxue looked ready to choke.
Tang Xinyue stood, brushing invisible dust from her sleeve.
"Next time, try harder," she whispered, bending close. "I enjoy the game more when my opponent puts in effort."