“What could I possibly be hiding from you?”
Xu Mei denied it outright, her gaze shifting from Qin Yi to the coffee cup in front of her.
Avoiding eye contact while speaking was a clear sign of evasion.
Xu Mei was guilty.
The dull pain in Qin Yi’s chest intensified.
This was the first girl he’d ever liked, and she liked him back.
He still remembered the nervous yet hopeful look in Xu Mei’s eyes when she confessed to him.
Back then, she must have been terrified of rejection, but she still looked at him boldly, waiting for his response. When Qin Yi nodded, Xu Mei’s expression was so vivid—such a beautiful moment, like it happened yesterday. Every detail was etched in his memory. But now, how long had it been? Xu Mei couldn’t even meet his eyes anymore!
Participating in the talent show wasn’t wrong.
The mistake was signing the contract.
Going further back, it was him bringing Xu Mei to Rongcheng too soon, introducing her to his family.
If their relationship had been more stable, say, after university graduation, before bringing her to Rongcheng, maybe Xu Mei wouldn’t care so much about things outside their relationship?
Family background was indeed important.
Sometimes, though, it wasn’t that important.
Liking someone was just that—a pure emotion. Why did it have to come with extra baggage?
Even if his parents didn’t approve of his choice, they wouldn’t forcefully interfere. As long as he was sure about Xu Mei, they could have made it work.
Why didn’t Xu Mei trust him, choosing instead to believe irrelevant people?
Qin Yi sighed, “Are you really not hiding anything? I hope you’ll come clean yourself. I don’t want this to get ugly.”
Xu Mei’s eyes darted around, her fingers under the table curling slightly, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Did Qin Yi know?
Did he know everything, or just part of it? Who told him? Was he fishing for the truth, or was he about to lay it all bare?
It was just a one-time mistake. That Cao guy was no good, and she nearly fell for his trap, but thankfully, nothing happened.
It wasn’t something she couldn’t talk about, but if she did, Qin Yi would definitely be angry. Xu Mei figured it was better to avoid trouble and keep it quiet, especially since Qin Yi had always opposed her entering the entertainment industry.
Xu Mei was mentally calculating how to spin it in her favour. She reached for her coffee, but her hand kept trembling.
The curtain of the booth was pulled back, revealing Fu Jing’s smiling face, “Qin Yi, what couldn’t you say over the phone? You had to call me here—”
Fu Jing stopped mid-sentence, noticing Xu Mei sitting across from Qin Yi. She paused, quickly adjusting her expression, her voice rising a couple of notches, “Oh, Xu Mei’s here too! Qin Yi, why didn’t you say? You two sneaking off for a café date, how romantic.”
Xu Mei’s expression was anything but happy. Seeing Fu Jing appear, she was filled with suspicion and unease.
What was Qin Yi up to?
Was he planning a confrontation with Fu Jing?
Had Fu Jing told Qin Yi about that night? No, impossible. Fu Jing wouldn’t betray her.
Xu Mei reassured herself, though deep down, she wasn’t entirely sure.
Xu Mei vaguely knew Fu Jing had a thing for Qin Yi. Back during dorm late-night chats, Fu Jing had talked about Qin Yi with enthusiasm. Later, with her friends’ encouragement, Xu Mei made the first move, confessed, and won Qin Yi over.
Because she vaguely knew, Xu Mei calmly accepted Fu Jing’s efforts.
Fu Jing wasn’t doing it for her—she was trying to look good in front of Xu Mei’s boyfriend, Qin Yi. Her intentions weren’t pure, so why shouldn’t Xu Mei make use of her?
Xu Mei looked up at Fu Jing.
Fu Jing, however, only had eyes for Qin Yi. Xu Mei decided to focus on Qin Yi too.
If Fu Jing was really out to harm her, to sabotage her, Xu Mei would pin everything on Fu Jing.
Qin Yi asked Fu Jing, “Xu Mei’s hiding something from me. Do you know what it is?”
In that instant, countless thoughts raced through Fu Jing’s mind.
Qin Yi knew.
Fu Jing had known he’d find out.
That night, Fu Jing had deliberately dawdled to ensure someone saw Xu Mei get into Cao’s car.
Fu Jing had spotted Li Mengjiao in the rearview mirror. She knew it would eventually reach Qin Yi. She’d expected Qin Yi to explode upon returning from Macau, but he’d held off until now!
Fu Jing didn’t know Li Mengjiao had hesitated for days before telling Qin Yi. She assumed Li Mengjiao had snitched immediately, and it was Qin Yi who’d delayed the confrontation until today.
Since Qin Yi was bringing it up now, he must be at his limit, maybe even holding some evidence.
Fu Jing was secretly thrilled, but her face showed no hint of it, only a touch of reluctance, “What could Xu Mei be hiding? You know how much she likes you! Qin Yi, why are you acting like those insecure guys, always suspecting your girlfriend? Did someone stir trouble behind your back?”
Fu Jing would never betray Xu Mei.
If she did, sure, Qin Yi and Xu Mei would break up, but she’d be seen as a backstabbing friend in Qin Yi’s eyes.
Since Qin Yi already knew, Fu Jing wasn’t about to play the villain who sells out a friend.
Not only did Fu Jing keep quiet, she even used her eyes to reassure Xu Mei.
Xu Mei did breathe a sigh of relief.
But Qin Yi was tired of their silent exchange. Making this decision had pained him for two days. Even moments ago, he’d been giving Xu Mei a chance.
His heart ached, but a person had to have boundaries. When Xu Mei signed with the company behind his back, their relationship had cracked. He forgave her then, which led to her deceiving him again.
Qin Yi didn’t blame Xu Mei, nor Fu Jing.
He didn’t even blame the Hunan playboy trying to steal his girlfriend.
It was he who’d first compromised his own boundaries. He gave an inch, Xu Mei took a mile, and now things had come to this awkward mess.
“I asked you to talk, but you won’t. Now, I don’t want to hear it anymore.”
Qin Yi stood up, took out his phone, and deleted both Fu Jing and Xu Mei’s contacts right in front of them. Amid their stunned expressions, he called the waiter to settle the bill.
Before leaving, Qin Yi said, “Xu Mei, we’re done. Let’s both move on. I wish you a bright future.”
The café staff were dumbfounded.
The café was a hotspot for young people, and the staff had seen plenty of attractive guys and girls.
People confessed here, people broke up here.
Successful confessions were full of joy, breakups often led to shouting matches and mutual accusations. A breakup this dignified and composed was rare.
The waiter couldn’t help glancing at Fu Jing and Xu Mei. Whichever one had let a guy like that slip away would likely regret it later.
It wasn’t until Qin Yi was downstairs that Xu Mei snapped out of it.
She stood up, unsteady, grabbing Fu Jing’s arm, “…Did I hear that wrong?”
Fu Jing was laughing inside but put on a face of distress and shock, “That jerk Qin Yi actually broke up with you! He didn’t even ask for the full story before judging you!”
Xu Mei found Fu Jing’s voice grating. She pushed her away and stumbled downstairs.
Qin Yi had taken a taxi and was long gone by the time she got there.
Xu Mei called him. The phone rang a few times before being hung up, then it was just switched off.
Qin Yi had broken up with her without even asking!
Xu Mei couldn’t accept it even by nightfall.
She had gone to dinner with that Cao guy for a mall opening performance in Hunan. Cao offered the company 200,000 yuan for one show, plus a private 100,000 yuan “effort fee” that bypassed the company’s cut, going straight to her account.
One performance, and Xu Mei could earn over 100,000. It was just a dinner—she couldn’t say no.
That night, she got drunk and didn’t return to the hotel until dawn, but nothing inappropriate happened with Cao. Fu Jing had stayed by her side, deflecting Cao’s insinuations at the dinner.
She knew Qin Yi would be upset if he found out, but she hadn’t imagined he’d go straight to breaking up!
Their rule was to never mention breaking up during arguments.
Last time, Xu Mei had said it in anger. This time, Qin Yi meant it.
Xu Mei panicked, unable to fathom why she’d been foolish enough to get into Cao’s car. Her breakup with Qin Yi caused a stir. She cried in her dorm, skipping classes. Her roommates couldn’t believe Qin Yi had dumped her. Mutual friends tried to mediate, but Qin Yi didn’t budge.
He avoided Xu Mei and everyone else, rushing off campus after classes. Catching him was no easy task.
Soon, rumours spread that Xu Mei had been too busy after the competition, and Qin Yi had fallen for a girl from another school, which was why he dumped her.
Friends told Xu Mei not to be sad—she was on her way to stardom and could find a better boyfriend than Qin Yi.
The gossip reached Qin Yi’s dorm, and his roommates defended him.
What girl from another school? Nonsense. Qin Yi was running around looking for a storefront to open a crayfish franchise in Shanghai.
But why he broke up with Xu Mei, his roommates couldn’t figure out.
Everyone knew Qin Yi would never cheat.
“Mate, don’t you want to clear this up?”
Qin Yi shook his head, “Nothing to explain. Xu Mei just needs time to accept it. She’ll be fine.”
Badmouthing an ex wasn’t something Qin Yi could do.
He knew Xu Mei hadn’t betrayed him. That Hunan playboy had only just made his move.
His breakup with Xu Mei wasn’t about “betrayal” but her deliberate concealment, which shattered his trust. How could he tell others that? Outsiders would speculate, and Xu Mei, still at school for years, would face gossip.
This was the last gentlemanly act Qin Yi did for the girl he’d loved. From now on, he couldn’t walk her path with her.
He genuinely hoped Xu Mei would do well. Since she’d chosen the entertainment industry, she should become a big star to make their failed first love worthwhile.
Doing the most gentlemanly thing didn’t ease Qin Yi’s pain. He threw himself into the “Shrimp King” franchise, using busyness to numb himself.
