Just like in TV dramas—the more the female side character interferes, the more the main couple's feelings intensify.
"So after you broke up, has Zhou Yu contacted you in all these days?" He Ailin asked.
Jian Ran shook her head, her tone calm. "No. I blocked his WeChat and phone number later."
After falling ill at the villa, she blocked him to avoid seeing and being annoyed. Not that it would have made any difference either way.
He Ailin muttered, "Bastard. Good thing I gave him a piece of my mind that day—at least it was somewhat cathartic."
"Oh, by the way, he even asked me what you do for a living now."
Jian Ran paused, recalling the breakup day. "Did you tell him?"
He Ailin looked incredulous. "Of course not."
"Hmph! As if he deserves it. Why would I even bother? You've broken up, so who does he think he is? I didn't even acknowledge him—just turned and left."
Ridiculous. He didn't even know what his own girlfriend did for a living and had the nerve to ask her?
Jian Ran smiled. That was so like He Ailin.
She loved and hated clearly, always venting her anger on the spot, never bottling it up.
Seeing that Jian Ran seemed fine, He Ailin silently breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hang on a sec—I need to use the restroom."
She had needed to go on the way there but had been too worried about Jian Ran to stop.
Jian Ran nodded slightly, watching He Ailin walk away. The smile on her face gradually faded.
Bringing up Zhou Yu suddenly had affected her more than she let on, but much less than right after the breakup.
Come to think of it, it had only been a little over a month since they split, yet it felt like a lifetime ago.
Probably because she had been so busy lately, stretching time.
At that thought, Jian Ran inevitably thought of Chu Lulin. She turned her gaze back out the window and looked at the private club across the street.
Why was he, a poor student, here? And who was that woman beside him?
They seemed close. Probably a family elder.
But something felt off, though she couldn't put her finger on it.
Oh well, it's his private business.
Jian Ran looked away and started scrolling through her Moments out of boredom.
Though she didn't post much, she enjoyed browsing to pass the time and see what everyone was up to.
As she scrolled, she paused. Jiang Man had posted about eating Japanese cuisine.
The photos included food and a selfie with Xu Zhi.
So they were back in Nan City. Seeing them having a meal together reminded her of Chu Lulin.
If she hadn't had those improper thoughts, they might have been able to hang out like friends. After all, she rarely met someone as comfortable to be around as Chu Lulin.
Alas, beauty can lead one astray.
A wry smile flickered in Jian Ran's eyes as she casually liked Jiang Man's post.
But unexpectedly, Jiang Man soon sent her a message.
"You left so suddenly last time I didn't get to say a proper goodbye. How are things? Are the family issues resolved?"
On the morning Jian Ran left the villa, she had run into Jiang Man in the hallway. She was in a hurry to catch a flight, so they only exchanged a few words before she left.
"Thanks for asking, Sister Jiang. Everything's fine."
They exchanged a few more pleasantries, and Jian Ran steered the conversation toward Jiang Man's dinner with Xu Zhi.
Then, Jiang Man dropped a bombshell.
"Actually, we're together now."
Jian Ran's eyes widened. She stared at the message, reading it several times.
Jiang Man and Xu Zhi were together?!
That... was definitely unexpected. There was a more-than-ten-year age gap, so Jian Ran had never even considered it.
But thinking back to Xu Zhi saying he liked older women, she realized they must have already had feelings back then.
"What, surprised?" Jiang Man followed up.
Jian Ran took a deep breath and replied honestly, "Not surprised, exactly. Just a bit taken aback."
Jiang Man sent a confused emoji.
"Taken aback? Really? I thought you would have noticed."
Jian Ran was baffled. When had she ever given Jiang Man that impression?
She sent an embarrassed scratching-head emoji.
"I guess I'm just dense. Congratulations! May all lovers be united."