Volume One, Chapter 19: Falling Out

“I’m fine with him, you don’t need to worry,” I interrupted Meng Zicheng.

He cautiously probed, “Really? I’m afraid you’re upset, and Xiao Ge will be depressed again.”

Being with Shen Yixiao was a choice I made willingly, but since I’m still young and hadn’t been in a serious relationship before, occasional mood swings were inevitable.

In Meng Zicheng and Liang Feng’s eyes, I was like a precious treasure cradled in Shen Yixiao’s hands.

I smiled lightly, calm as a breeze, “Really. You know the bond between him and me—after everything we’ve been through, the most basic trust is definitely there.”

Meng Zicheng fell into an odd silence for a few seconds, leaving me unsure whether he pitied or mocked me.

Then he sighed in relief and grinned, “That’s good. I’ll take my leave now!”

“Mm.”

After hanging up, I took my medicine and sat on the sofa, reluctant to go upstairs.

I had barely slept last night, keeping watch over Shen Yixiao, and now, drowsy, my eyelids grew heavy. I didn’t even notice when Shen Yixiao came downstairs or when he carried me to bed.

My sleep was deep, as if I had taken a sleeping pill, and I dreamed strange dreams—on the day Shen Yixiao and I got married, Xu Zhengnan appeared as a sorcerer before us, casting a curse.

“Madam, Madam, Miss Su is here.” It was only when a servant called me that I woke from my dream.

I hadn’t contacted Su Ying for days. She held no value to me; I had planned to distance myself from her to avoid affecting my departure from Shen Yixiao.

Yet, neither the matter of the gown nor the art exhibition made her realize her place.

Shen Yixiao had long gone to the company. The large bedroom was empty, with only a few rays of sunlight streaming through the window, softening the space with a faint glow.

I got up to draw back the curtains and stood on the balcony, basking in the sunlight without any hurry to meet Su Ying downstairs.

I then slowly brushed my teeth, washed my face, and changed clothes, each step deliberately sluggish. Growing impatient, Su Ying knocked on my door.

“Xiao Yue, you’re still not up?” Her voice was tinged with annoyance. “I’ve been waiting for you over half an hour.”

Only then did I open the door, meeting Su Ying’s displeased face. Frowning, I asked, “Why did you come to my place so early? Is there something you need?”

“Are we still best friends or not? If I’m fine, can’t I come visit you?” Su Ying expertly hooked her arm around mine, dragging me downstairs. “Being a rich wife is great—you don’t have to work. It’s only half past ten; come on down, I want to mooch a meal off you!”

Su Ying worked as a comic artist for a website, but her income was modest. Whenever she craved something expensive, she’d come to my place to freeload, knowing I wouldn’t mind.

That, however, was in my previous life.

Once downstairs, Su Ying made herself at home on the sofa, poured herself a glass of orange juice, and started eating fruit as if it were her own house.

Then she instructed the servant, “I want fish for lunch today—the steamed yellow croaker, very fresh and delicious. Use less salt; I eat lightly.”

The servant nodded, “Yes, madam.”

I called the servant back. “Wait a moment.”

Su Ying turned to look at me but didn’t notice anything unusual. Thinking I had other instructions, she glanced my way once more before resuming her snack.

“For lunch, just stir-fry some greens and make an egg drop soup. I’m not very hungry, so I can’t eat much,” I told the servant.

The servant looked at me in surprise. Su Ying often asked them to prepare various dishes before, and I never objected. Sometimes I even asked for extra so Su Ying could take some home.

Today was the first time I refused her request.

Su Ying finally reacted, standing up and glaring at me, “What’s wrong with you? Can’t I even have a meal at your place? Is it because of that lousy dress of yours?”

A lousy dress? I sat down on the sofa and replied calmly, “The dress you’re referring to is custom-made, the only one of its style and color in the world, probably worth over a million.”

Su Ying’s face flushed red, and she snapped back, “But I told you, I didn’t ruin it. If a dress worth over a million has that quality, you should take it up with the brand, not suspect me. Besides, Shen Yixiao is so rich and generous with you. If he bought it with his money, he doesn’t care. Why are you being so petty?”

Her words carried not only impatience and irritation but also a jealousy that radiated from deep within her bones.

I didn’t have many friends; she was the closest to me.

So I never cared about material losses or gains with her. In my previous life, I even bought her a house and a car because she said she didn’t want to marry and had no home of her own.

But in return, she stabbed me in the back and spread rumors about me.

Many secrets between Shen Yixiao, Lu Xiaoyun, and me were leaked quietly by Su Ying. I caught her once or twice, and she explained that she was emotionally overwhelmed by the unfairness she perceived toward me and accidentally let things slip. I believed her.

At that time, my love was already on shaky ground, and I didn’t want to suspect the only friendship I had.

“Every penny Shen Yixiao earns is half mine. Su Ying, I sincerely consider you a friend. Are you really sincere with me?” I looked at her deeply, my eyes filled with doubt, forcing her to avoid my gaze.

She definitely wasn’t.

Maybe she was at first, but as I grew closer to Shen Yixiao, jealousy devoured our friendship.

“Li Yue, I know I’m not doing as well as you now. I don’t have money, but you don’t have to humiliate me like this. If I didn’t consider you a friend, would I be so shamelessly clinging to you? When you and Shen Yixiao had no money to eat, it was the money from my first painting sale that I lent you to get through that time. You probably forgot, didn’t you?” Su Ying accused passionately.

It was precisely because she had helped Shen Yixiao and me that I treated her well.

Su Ying’s eyes were red. “And about the art exhibition—you said you wouldn’t go, but then you did, and you were with Xu Zhengnan. Aren’t you just afraid I’d tell Shen Yixiao, so you tried to avoid me?”

“Xu Zhengnan and I just ran into each other by chance. Before you understood the situation, you told Shen Yixiao, causing misunderstandings and conflict between us. Don’t you think you’re in the wrong?” I grew angry too; people who turn accusations around have no logic.

A flicker of guilt crossed Su Ying’s eyes, and she muttered, “Who told you not to invite me?”

Because I didn’t invite her, she saw me with Xu Zhengnan during a livestream and immediately went to complain to Shen Yixiao.

“Actually, Shen Yixiao had prepared a ticket for you too, but I didn’t want to go with you, so I didn’t give it to you,” I stood up and told Su Ying calmly.