Both Lu Chengwen and Chen Moqun had assumed it was a servant coming to tend to them. They were so engrossed in their conversation, and since Chen Mengyun rarely entered Chen Moqun's room unannounced, the situation quickly turned awkward.
The moment Chen Moqun saw his sister, he pointed at Lu Chengwen, shouting, "Lu Chengwen! What kind of nonsense are you spewing? That's my sister—the sister I respect, admire, and deeply love!"
Lu Chengwen's mind reeled. She's home? Didn't they say she's hardly ever here? How much did she hear? Judging by her face, probably everything. I'm screwed!
"Sorry, I… might've had too much to drink," Lu Chengwen stammered, nervous.
"Sis, it's like this—Chengwen didn't mean—" Chen Moqun stood, trying to play peacemaker.
"Get out!" Chen Mengyun snapped.
"On it!" Chen Moqun bolted without hesitation, leaving Lu Chengwen to face her wrath alone.
Watching his spineless friend vanish, Lu Chengwen turned to Chen Mengyun. "I'm really sorry. I had a bit to drink and got carried away. I apologize."
Chen Mengyun's eyes blazed with anger, humiliation, and hurt. Her voice trembled. "Lu Chengwen, after we broke up, you went around telling people I acted like a slut in bed. Now you're saying this in front of my brother. I want to know—what were all those moments we shared to you?"
Lu Chengwen wanted to kick himself. Guys sometimes talk like this with their buddies, joking about women's bodies—whose chest is bigger, whose hips are curvier. It's not always about low morals, though, in Lu Chengwen and Chen Moqun's case, their standards weren't exactly high. It's just banter, a way to shoot the breeze. But when a woman—especially the woman in question—overhears, it's a different story. It's insulting, degrading, and deeply disrespectful.
For someone as pure as Chen Mengyun, hearing her first love talk about her like this was unbearable. Seeing tears in her eyes, Lu Chengwen said guiltily, "It was just a joke. I swear I didn't spread rumors about you."
"So, to you, I'm just some woman you toyed with, stripped naked, no different from any other—a big doll to play with, right?"
"I didn't toy with you!" Lu Chengwen protested. "I didn't do anything, and I didn't say anything. You know how rumors fly with people like us. Back in school, gossip was everywhere—how much of it was true?"
"Bragging to everyone that you slept with the Chen family's eldest daughter—feels good, doesn't it? Makes you proud? Gives you clout?"
"Stop, please, I was wrong," he pleaded.
Chen Mengyun pulled out her phone and dialed. "Hey, Hu Shuhui. Didn't you want to take me to dinner? I'm free tonight."
Lu Chengwen's eyes widened. Hu Shuhui? Damn it, another villain! He tries to pursue Chen Mengyun, drugs her at dinner, and just when he's about to succeed, Long Aotian shows up and… oh no. This plot's kicking off early, and Long Aotian's on vacation today! She's walking straight into a wolf's den!
"Mengyun, you can't hang out with Hu Shuhui, let alone have dinner with him," Lu Chengwen said urgently.
"Who are you to tell me what to do?"
"It's not that—he's bad news, up to no good!"
"Is anyone worse than you? A bigger scumbag?"
Lu Chengwen was at a loss for words. "Just… if you have to eat with him, can it be tomorrow? Do whatever you want tomorrow, I won't care."
"I'll eat when I want. For years, I waited for you!" Chen Mengyun's voice rose. "I thought you'd change, grow up, remember the moments we shared as kids. But I never imagined I was so cheap, so worthless in your eyes!"
"You're not worthless—you're priceless! Mengyun, I was wrong. You can't go to dinner with Hu Shuhui. He's dangerous!"
She turned to leave, but Lu Chengwen grabbed her arm. "Mengyun, I'm begging you. It's all my fault—give me a chance!"
Chen Mengyun sneered. "You said the same thing back then. Pathetic. You thought you could keep fooling me with that line, that I'd always believe you. I'm not that naive little girl anymore, Lu Chengwen. Go chase Leng Qingqiu and be her lapdog!"
She stormed off, ignoring his pleas. Lu Chengwen chased after her, desperate. "Chen Mengyun, I'm not letting you go!"
They'd reached the living room, where Chen's parents were munching on a fruit platter, watching TV. Chen Moqun lounged on the sofa, eyeing them nervously.
Lu Chengwen, too caught up, didn't notice the change in setting. "I don't care about anything else, but you're not having dinner with Hu Shuhui—not today!"
"Who are you to stop me?"
"Because I'm a jerk! I'm being unreasonable today, so what?"
Chen's father, chewing, muted the TV with the remote. The family sat silently, watching the drama unfold.
Chen Mengyun scoffed. "Get this straight, Lu Chengwen. The Chen family doesn't bend over backward for business interests like some. Watch how you speak to me!"
Chen's father leaned toward Chen Moqun, whispering, "What's going on?"
Chen Moqun lied smoothly, "Lovers' spat. He wants to get back with Sis, but she's ignoring him and going to dinner with another guy."
Chen's father nodded.
Chen's mother asked, "Who's Hu Shuhui?"
"The eldest son of the Hu family," Chen Moqun said. "We got into a fight with him back in school."
Chen's mother frowned. "Isn't Lu Chengwen pursuing Leng Qingqiu? Engaged next month? Why's he after Mengyun now?"
Chen Moqun grinned. "Last-minute realization of who he really loves. Just watch—it's better than a soap opera."
Chen Mengyun declared, "I'm going to dinner with Hu Shuhui tonight. If it goes well, I'll date him. If I feel like it, we'll get a room tonight and be engaged by next week—before you and Leng Qingqiu!"
Lu Chengwen exploded. "Fine! You'd better mean it. Don't come crying to me when Hu Shuhui scams you!"
"Even if he scams me, I'd rather that than hear another word from you! My biggest regret is ever knowing you!"
"I'm telling you one last time," Lu Chengwen said. "Do what you want, be with whoever—I don't care!"
"Then why are you yelling?"
"Because Hu Shuhui's off-limits!"
"I'm choosing him. What now?"
"Tomorrow! Sleep with him, get engaged, pick out a wedding dress—I don't care. Just stay home tonight!"
"No! You lost the right to tell me what to do when you dumped me!"
"You dumped me!" Lu Chengwen roared.
"And why did I? Care to say?"
His mouth moved, but no words came. "I was wrong back then, but right now, you can't go to that dinner!"
He turned and saw the Chen family staring at him. His anger cooled instantly. He bowed awkwardly. "Hello, Uncle, Auntie."
Chen's father smiled. "Chengwen! Come, sit, let's chat."
Chen's mother added, "It's been years since you visited! Sit, have some fruit."
"Well, these past few years… I've been a bit ashamed," Lu Chengwen mumbled. "I was immature back then, hurt your feelings. I've always felt guilty. Today, I was in a bad mood, just wanted to catch up with Moqun…"
His head was spinning, mortified that Chen's parents had witnessed their fight. He rambled, trying to ease the tension.
Chen Moqun cut in, "Bro, my sister's gone!"
Lu Chengwen whipped around—Chen Mengyun was nowhere in sight. "Uncle, Auntie, I'll see you later!" he called, sprinting out.
"Come back anytime!" Chen's mother shouted after him.
Chen's father looked baffled. "What was that?"
"Young people," Chen's mother said. "All love and hate at that age."
"But he's engaged!"
"Didn't you steal me away when I was engaged?"
Chen's father grumbled, "Engaged and still chasing my daughter…"
"Turn up the TV," Chen's mother said.
Lu Chengwen raced outside, but Chen Mengyun was gone. He ditched Zhao Gang, driving around Xuecheng aimlessly. The city was too big to find her. Desperate, he called Leng Qingqiu.
Leng Qingqiu sat on her bed, hugging her knees, heartbroken. Her father's ultimatum loomed—her CEO position was at risk. And Lu Chengwen, once her devoted follower, now treated her like a curse, desperate to avoid her. Is the world abandoning me?
When her phone lit up with Lu Chengwen's name, hope surged through her. She was stunned by how quickly her mood flipped from despair to excitement. Why's he calling? What does he want? Is he chasing me again? Hmph, I won't make it easy! If he asks me out, what should I wear? Wait, how do I even talk to him?
She sat up, cross-legged, fixed her hair and clothes, cleared her throat, and took a deep breath to calm herself. Pressing the answer button, she tried to sound composed, though her voice trembled. "Hello, what's up?"
"Qingqiu, are your people still watching? Has Long Aotian gone home?"
He sounded frantic.
"They left ages ago," she said, her mood sinking. Not about me. Not chasing me.
"Send them back—find Long Aotian, now!"
"Why?" Her heart hit rock bottom.
"It's urgent!" Lu Chengwen said. "I fought with Chen Mengyun, and she's off to drink with Hu Shuhui. I'm worried about her. We need Long Aotian—he's the only one who can find her and bring her back to me—"
Leng Qingqiu's rage erupted. "Lu Chengwen, go to hell! Drop dead!" She hung up.
_
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