Chapter 319: Chapter 314: Phoenix Man
Li Xin saw Ye Qiu pick up the beer and head to the courtyard, so she finally showed herself and stood in front of him to block his path.
"Is there something you need?" Ye Qiu said with a face devoid of expression, his tone even somewhat cold.
Li Xin felt a bit heartbroken hearing this. Why was Ye Qiu always so cold towards her? In what ways was she not equal to Zhang Meng?
"I have something I want to talk to you about." Li Xin looked up at Ye Qiu with determination and a frail beauty, standing at the base of the stairs.
Ye Qiu frowned slightly, speaking indifferently: "It seems we have nothing to do with each other."
"Didn’t you need to use the restroom? Why did you pull me in here?" Zhang Meng asked with a puzzled face.
"Shh, keep it down." Song Shi put a finger to her lips, pulling Zhang Meng further forward until they could clearly hear the conversation, stopping when they reached a clump of roses that perfectly concealed their figures.
Behind them, Zhong Sheng, Dan Bei, and Huang Lou were also hiding cautiously—Huang Lou was clueless, whereas both Zhong Sheng and Dan Bei’s expressions were a bit tense.
"Ye Qiu, can’t you speak to me in a nicer tone? Why do you treat me like this?" Li Xin’s expression was somewhat pained and vulnerable.
"What exactly do you want?" Ye Qiu was losing patience.
"I don’t want to do anything." Li Xin lowered her head and said softly, "I wouldn’t do anything to you, I just..."
Ye Qiu didn’t want to listen any longer and stepped aside to try to walk past her.
Li Xin quickly stepped forward and blocked his way again.
From within the rose bushes, Zhang Meng watched this scene, her eyes growing cold. She might be naive, but she was not a fool—Li Xin’s intentions, even without saying it, were clearly exposed. When did it start? When did Li Xin start to harbor these feelings for Ye Qiu?
"I like you, Ye Qiu, I really do." Li Xin suddenly mustered courage, shouting her feelings out to Ye Qiu.
"I know that you and Mengmeng are about to get married, and I know what I’m doing is wrong, but liking you is my business, confessing is my right, of course..." Li Xin’s voice choked up, as if she was about to cry, "of course refusing is your right, so I don’t regret it. I’m afraid if I don’t say it now, I’ll never have the chance to say it again, Ye Qiu, I really like you."
"Holy shit!" Huang Lou was stunned. He didn’t expect that by being dragged over by his leader, he’d witness this scene. He stared blankly at Zhong Sheng, asking in a trance, "Did you guys know about this all along?"
"Only you’re clueless." Dan Bei said coldly.
Zhang Meng tightly gripped Song Shi’s comforting hand, but she didn’t rush out. She still wanted to hear what else Li Xin had to say.
"Are you done?" Ye Qiu glanced at her, his gaze indifferent.
"I... I’m done." Li Xin didn’t see Ye Qiu’s gaze. After finishing her confession, she felt a sense of release, even exhibiting some shyness.
"Did you ever consider Mengmeng’s feelings before you said all that? You know, she’s always treated you as her best friend," Ye Qiu stated calmly.
Li Xin stepped back, seemingly guilty, but when she looked up again, her eyes were defiant: "I know, but there’s nothing I can do. Emotions can’t be controlled."
"Oh, so does that mean your unrequited love is more important than the bond you’ve shared with Mengmeng for so many years?" Ye Qiu retorted.
"That’s not what I meant." Li Xin quickly shook her head.
"But that’s exactly what you’ve made it look like." Ye Qiu suddenly looked at her with sarcasm and said mockingly, "Li Xin, do you know? If it weren’t for Mengmeng, I wouldn’t even bother speaking a word to you. And your performance today, acting like a innocent yet scheming bitch, is just terrible. Do you think you’re the heroine in a Qiong Yao’s drama? Spouting such foolish things like ’I’m here to join, not to disrupt,’ you think you can find happiness like the mistresses in those dramas? Are you dreaming?"
"Emotions can’t be controlled? It seems like you controlled them very well in the past. So, now that I’ve gained a bit of fame, you can’t control yourself anymore? Or could it be you’re not actually into me, but my money instead? I bet you’re trying to make your presence felt in front of me first, then when the timing is right, create scenarios that will make Mengmeng misunderstand us, waiting for us to break up so you can swoop in? Judging by your surprised expression, I knew I wasn’t wrong."
"But who gave you the confidence to think I’d gradually fall for you? And what makes you think you can tear me and Mengmeng apart? Was it the confidence sold by fancy shampoo commercials? What do you take me for, Hong Shixian? To leave behind a wonderful person like Pinru for a mistress like you, Ali?"
"Do you think I’m foolish?"
"F**k." Huang Lou, who was watching from afar, was utterly astonished. He nudged Dan Bei beside him and whispered, "I take back what I said before. You’re not the Prince of Poison Tongues, Ye Qiu is. I didn’t expect him to be this ferocious in a confrontation; scientists really are different, huh."
"How can you think so badly of me?" Li Xin had a wounded look on her face, "I just like you, I’m just here to confess, why do you have to paint me in such a vile manner? In what ways am I inferior to Zhang Meng?"
"You’re inferior to her in every way," Ye Qiu said coldly, then corrected himself, "Oh, no, that’s wrong. There’s one thing you’re better at than Mengmeng—your skin is thicker."
"You can refuse me if you don’t like me, but why insult me?" Li Xin wiped away tears, looking so frail and pitiful.
But Ye Qiu clearly doesn’t believe in cherishing the fragile, his tone still icy, "Whose fault is it that you presented yourself to be insulted? You want to be a mistress and not be criticized for it?"
Li Xin pursed her lips, her hands clenched tightly, but she continued to argue stubbornly, "Ye Qiu, no matter what you think of me, my affection for you is unchanging. One day, I will make you see my worth."
"There’s no need for that." Zhang Meng emerged from the shadows, looking at Li Xin with a stranger’s gaze.
"Mengmeng?" Li Xin murmured, "When did you get here?"
"Not too early or too late, just when you started confessing to my fiancé," Zhang Meng said as she walked up to Ye Qiu. Her tone was even, but it was this evenness that made Li Xin fear even more.
"Mengmeng, listen to me, this is just a..."
"Just a what? A misunderstanding?" Zhang Meng scoffed, "Looks like you’re pretty practiced in these confessions, must have thought about it quite a bit."
Now that things had come to this point, Li Xin decided to lay it all out, her tone earnest yet filled with hurt and guilt, "Mengmeng, I know it’s wrong of me to fall for Ye Qiu, but you can’t blame me. Knowing how outstanding Ye Qiu is, as you’ve been together for so many years, my liking him is nothing extraordinary. The sudden confession was merely an impulsive moment, but you can’t take away my right to confess! Besides, didn’t Ye Qiu reject me already?"
Having said all that, Li Xin closed her eyes in pain.