Chapter 43:

The voice was crisp, and the surprise it carried was unmistakable to anyone.

Qin Chaoyu frowned. Her memory was excellent—it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she never forgot anything. Even things she didn’t consciously try to remember would stay in her mind for months. She was certain she had heard this voice before. Though she hadn’t seen the speaker’s face, her intuition told her she didn’t like the person.

Turning to look at the speaker, Bai Pengpeng was visibly displeased. She and Chaoyu had just sat down when this overconfident person popped up. Didn’t she know Bai Pengpeng hated being interrupted when she was spending time with Chaoyu? “Who are you?”

Pan Ruoyi’s smile vanished instantly, replaced by a pitiful expression, her eyes reddening as if she were about to cry. “I… I was just surprised to see someone familiar. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

Instead of snapping back at Bai Pengpeng’s harsh tone, Pan Ruoyi adopted a meek and harmless demeanor to win sympathy from others. She knew all too well that people tended to side with the underdog—this was her specialty. She had used this tactic countless times to gain pity, even surpassing the favor her father’s own daughter received by a landslide.

With her acting skills and delicate, ethereal appearance, Pan Ruoyi effortlessly tugged at the heartstrings of many men present.

A fragile, innocent beauty like her—if someone stepped forward to defend her now, surely they’d earn her gratitude!

The men around them stirred, but those who could attend this gathering hosted by the second young master of the Wei family weren’t fools. Without some status, they wouldn’t have been invited. Before knowing the identity of the person who had offended the beauty, acting rashly would be idiotic. Better to observe first.

For these scions of wealthy families, no matter how beautiful a woman was, their own interests always came first. Flattering a beauty was fine if it cost them nothing, but risking themselves? Absolutely not.

Bai Pengpeng scowled. She despised women like this—always on the verge of tears, acting as if the whole world had wronged them, pretending to be pure and flawless. Disgusting. “You, you, you—what’s with the ‘you’? Who are you putting on this act for? Even if I *did* bully you, so what? Looking at you, I can only think of one word: *white lotus*!”

The meaning of “white lotus” wasn’t lost on the crowd. In the age of information, the internet had spawned countless new terms, and “white lotus” was one of them—referring to someone who appeared innocent and delicate but used that facade for selfish gains, often the kind of character in novels designed to antagonize the heroine.

Women, of course, had sharp eyes for spotting such pretenses. The moment this “white lotus” appeared, they’d already seen through her. It was just the men who were blind. Bai Pengpeng’s blunt outburst was cathartic for many of them.

With no one stepping forward to defend her, Pan Ruoyi grew increasingly awkward. Bai Pengpeng’s verbal assault made her expression falter slightly. She could clearly sense the shift in how people were looking at her. Clenching her teeth, she realized she was stuck—was this woman insane?

Tears welled up as she stammered, “Th-this young lady, please don’t… speak to me like that. I was just… saying hello to… to this young lady.”

Turning her head, Qin Chaoyu’s gaze sharpened. So it was *her*. What a coincidence! No wonder she’d felt a sense of familiarity. This skill of bursting into tears and playing the victim wasn’t something just anyone could pull off. The incident at the café a month ago had left Chaoyu with no desire to engage with this girl, but letting her stand there indefinitely wasn’t an option either. Coldly, she said, “I don’t know you.”

That’s right—Pan Ruoyi was the girl who had approached Qin Chaoyu at the café a month ago, asking for Bo Jixi’s contact information.

Pan Ruoyi had left quite an impression on Qin Chaoyu back then, reminding her of her stepsister from her past life.

Bai Pengpeng scoffed. “Hear that? She said she doesn’t know you.”

Pan Ruoyi trembled, shrinking back as if terrified of Bai Pengpeng. Anyone watching might think Bai Pengpeng had physically struck her. Not daring to meet Bai Pengpeng’s gaze, she turned to Qin Chaoyu. “We *have* met! A month ago, at the café—you were with a man. We *did* meet!”

Her lowered eyes brimmed with venom. Pan Ruoyi was convinced Qin Chaoyu was denying their acquaintance because she also had feelings for that man and didn’t want to share his information. Did she really think that would stop her? Dream on!

After that encounter, Pan Ruoyi hadn’t been able to forget the man she’d fallen for at first sight. She’d never met anyone like him—someone who commanded attention just by standing there, even without speaking. Though he’d harshly rejected her, humiliating her, it didn’t matter. There wasn’t a man Pan Ruoyi couldn’t win over. Given the chance, she’d make him hers, body and soul.

But a month had passed, and she hadn’t seen him again. Frustration gnawed at her, and her initial determination had waned. Yet fate had a way of opening doors—attending this banquet had led her to the girl who knew that man.

Eagerly, she’d wanted to greet Qin Chaoyu, hoping to get closer and perhaps obtain Bo Jixi’s contact details or learn about his interests.

But before she could even begin, she’d run into Bai Pengpeng—this immovable obstacle.

Qin Chaoyu: “Sorry, my memory isn’t great. I really don’t remember what you’re talking about. I don’t know you.”

Bai Pengpeng shot Qin Chaoyu a strange look. She *knew* how good Chaoyu’s memory was—she could memorize a book in an hour. Back then, Bai Pengpeng had been green with envy. With a cheat skill like that, exams were a breeze. But now she was claiming her memory was bad? Still, Bai Pengpeng would never undermine her friend. Not only would she not expose her, she’d back her up. “Chaoyu is always with me, and she’s busy. She doesn’t even like coffee—why would she go to some café? Besides, she said she doesn’t know you. What’s the point of clinging like this?”

Pan Ruoyi was truly in an awkward spot now. Persisting would only make her seem shameless, like she was forcing herself on someone who clearly didn’t know her. No, she had to turn this around. Spotting Qiu Zheng returning from the restroom out of the corner of her eye, she immediately burst into sobs and ran toward him.

She knew Qiu Zheng liked her—no, *loved* her, to the point of obsession. But she wanted a more outstanding man, someone who could grant her status and respect. Qiu Zheng, whose family was merely well-off, wasn’t in her plans. But as someone who played the innocent and pure role, how could she cruelly reject an admirer?

Pan Ruoyi had it all planned out. Qiu Zheng couldn’t stand to see her cry. If he thought she’d been wronged, he’d defend her without fail.

Sure enough, Qiu Zheng’s face twisted with heartache at the sight of her tears. He longed to pull her into his arms for comfort but feared overstepping. Instead, his frustration turned toward whoever had upset her. “Who? Who did this?”

Pan Ruoyi covered her mouth and shook her head, her eyes darting fearfully—clearly too scared to speak.

“Yiyi, don’t be afraid.” Qiu Zheng clenched his fists, patting her shoulder gently. “Tell me. I’ll make it right.”

Pan Ruoyi glanced back, then immediately turned away. Wiping her tears, she forced a smile and tugged at Qiu Zheng’s hand. “A-Zheng, it’s no one. No one bullied me. Really.”

Her act of enduring grievances while comforting him only made Qiu Zheng’s heart soften even more.

He gazed tenderly at her. This silly girl, bearing her grievances in silence—how could he believe her words? Her tears, her reddened eyes—everything proved she’d been wronged. But if Yiyi was too afraid to speak, it didn’t matter. He’d seen where she’d looked.

Qiu Zheng’s eyes sharpened as he followed Pan Ruoyi’s earlier glance, landing on Wei Yanyi. He knew the second young master Wei’s temperament—he wasn’t the type to bully a woman. It must have been the two girls beside him.

Qiu Zheng wasn’t a fool. He loved Pan Ruoyi—would give everything, even his life, for her. But he couldn’t drag his family into this. Anyone sitting with Wei Yanyi, chatting so familiarly, was clearly beyond his reach.

With a sigh, Qiu Zheng felt a pang of guilt. “Yiyi, if it’s Young Master Wei’s friends… I might not be able to help. We can’t afford to offend Young Master Wei.”

Pan Ruoyi lowered her head. “A-Zheng, don’t feel bad. Really, it’s no one. It’s my fault.”

*Hah. So much for love. Just another hypocrite.* Men’s words were the least trustworthy things in the world.

*Pan Ruoyi, you can only rely on yourself.*

Her words only deepened Qiu Zheng’s guilt. His throat tightened, his heart feeling as if it had been torn apart. As a man, he couldn’t even stand up for the woman he loved. How pathetic was that? But he truly couldn’t—he couldn’t risk his family.

Once Pan Ruoyi left, Qin Chaoyu exhaled in relief. She didn’t dwell on it. Though it wasn’t great to make a girl run off in tears, this one simply rubbed her the wrong way.

“Chaoyu.” Bai Pengpeng nudged her. When Qin Chaoyu turned, Bai Pengpeng waggled her eyebrows. “A *man*? Since when did you go to a café with a man? Who was it? Spill!”

Qin Chaoyu’s eyes ached at Bai Pengpeng’s gossipy expression. And deep down, she didn’t know how to explain. Telling Bai Pengpeng that the man was her brother felt… strangely uncomfortable.

“There was no man. Just someone asking me for medical advice.”

Qin Chaoyu picked up her glass and took a sip. She wasn’t lying—Bo Jixi *had* asked her to treat the Lian family.

“Oh.” Bai Pengpeng deflated. She knew Chaoyu’s medical skills were decent, so it made sense someone would seek her out. She’d been hoping for juicy gossip, but it was just a patient.

“Exactly. Just a patient.”

“Pfft!” Wei Yanyi burst out laughing. “Miss Bai, it’s been a while, but your personality’s changed. Since when are you so nosy?”

Bai Pengpeng rolled her eyes. She had no patience for Wei Yanyi. “None of your business! I’m happy, I’m having fun, I’ve always been nosy—it’s just that no one before was worth my curiosity!”

Leaning half on Qin Chaoyu, she grinned. “Besides, I’m just looking out for my Chaoyu. What if some shady character tries to trick her?”

Wei Yanyi rubbed his temples. “Alright, alright. Whatever makes you happy, *Miss* Bai.”