Chapter 4: The Birthday Gift

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Xia Yangyang initially planned to leave. However, Lu Haotian saw her, exited his car, and quickly grabbed her arm. "Yangyang, let me explain," he said.

Xia Yangyang turned, her voice cold. "Fine, speak."

Lu Haotian said, "I was drunk that day. I thought Xue'er was you."

Xia Yangyang replied, "Is that all? If so, I'm leaving."

It was rush hour, and the building's exit was crowded. Xiao Man happened to be driving her small Polo out of the garage. Yangyang intercepted her and hopped in. Lu Haotian didn't chase them.

Once on the freeway, Xiao Man asked, "Who was that handsome guy? Was he the one who sent roses this morning?"

"Boyfriend?"

Xia Yangyang shook her head. "Ex-boyfriend."

"He seems to want to reconcile," Xiao Man observed. "But why did you break up? He's incredibly handsome and seems wealthy. Yangyang, how could you let him go?"

"Xiao Man, I have a headache," Xia Yangyang replied. She usually remained nonchalant, even when reprimanded by the CEO, so this was unusual. Xiao Man stopped questioning her.

Xia Yangyang looked out at the city lights, her thoughts drifting back three months. November 11th, her birthday, was the day she caught Lu Haotian in bed with someone else—her best friend, Gong Xue'er.

Betrayed by the two people closest to her, she went to the "Night Emperor" bar to drown her sorrows, leading to the events that followed. For three days, expensive rainbow roses appeared on her desk, and Lu Haotian waited at the company entrance each evening. The entire office knew a very handsome man was pursuing her. Only Xiao Man knew the truth.

On the fourth day, more rainbow roses arrived, along with a visitor: Gong Xue'er. Xia Yangyang frowned.

Gong Xue'er approached quickly. "Yangyang, you won't see me or answer my calls, so I had to come here. Can we talk?"

Many people in the office watched curiously. To avoid attention, Xia Yangyang said, "Come with me."

She led Gong Xue'er to a nearby meeting room. There, tears streaming down her face, Gong Xue'er grabbed Xia Yangyang's arm. "Yangyang, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I don't want to lose you."

Xia Yangyang responded, "If you truly considered me a friend, you wouldn't have done this. I remember you weren't drunk."

Through her tears, Gong Xue'er confessed, "Yangyang, you don't know, I've liked Young Master Lu for a long time. Yes, you two grew up together, and I shouldn't have interfered, but if love could be controlled, it wouldn't be love."

Gong Xue'er continued to plead, "Yangyang, we've been friends for so many years. Can't you let me have Young Master Lu? You're the Xia family's cherished daughter; even without him, you'll find someone better. But I'm not the same. Without him, I have nothing. You're always so non-competitive; can't you just let him go?"

Xia Yangyang was speechless. Let him go? She had never clung to him. After the incident, she realized there was no future for them.

Turning to Gong Xue'er, Xia Yangyang asked, "Is that why you're here?"