Nan Qi lay stiffly on the bed, endlessly replaying memories of Qiao Xiuyu and Bo Ranying in her mind, an overwhelming ache gripping her heart.
It wasn’t until sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting dancing patterns of light and shadow across the room, that she finally closed her eyes and sank into the soft, fragrant embrace of her bedding.
Tears trickled down to the tip of her nose, soaking into her lips and teeth. She inhaled deeply from the chestnut-scented diffuser, hoping the warmth would seep into her cold, numb limbs.
Qiao Xiuyu was the second son of Linxi’s prominent Zhenyu Group, overseeing the company’s tourism development projects—a job that demanded constant travel. During one performance he attended with business partners, he caught sight of Bo Ranying on stage and was utterly captivated, struck by love at first sight. He pulled every string to find her contact information and launched a passionate pursuit.
Everyone who knew him belonged to Linxi’s circle of business heirs—children of the elite, born into wealth or nobility. They all agreed it was the first time they’d seen Young Master Qiao humbled by love, clear proof that he’d found the real thing.
Nan Qi had shared a few meals with Qiao Xiuyu alongside Bo Ranying.
Even as his romantic rival, she had to admit objectively that Qiao Xiuyu was thoughtful and considerate, witty and charming. He was gentle and patient with Bo Ranying, without a trace of the spoiled rich boy’s flaws. His gestures of affection never felt overbearing or uncomfortable.
Bo Ranying didn’t rebuff his advances, and Qiao Xiuyu respected her pace, starting out as friends.
Their relationship progressed smoothly into frequent dates. Afterward, Bo Ranying would always share the details with Nan Qi, eagerly seeking her thoughts and opinions.
Her starry eyes would sparkle, her lips curving into a smile that tugged at the heartstrings.
But none of those feelings were ever for Nan Qi.
All she could do was watch Bo Ranying melt into Qiao Xiuyu’s tenderness, her own heart shattering into pieces, while mustering the strength to offer advice on Bo Ranying’s love life.
She couldn’t recall exactly when it happened, but one night she drowned her sorrows alone in the apartment, drinking from daylight into the dark.
Only when the sky was filled with stars did Bo Ranying appear at the entryway. With a click, she flicked on the light and chided Nan Qi for drinking so much. She quickly shouldered half of Nan Qi’s weight and guided her stumbling form to the bathroom to wash her face.
Nan Qi caught the faint scent of men’s cologne on her but said nothing, simply savoring Bo Ranying’s care and the press of their bodies.
But that fragile peace didn’t last long.
True to form, Bo Ranying began sharing the day’s date highlights. “What do you think of Qiao Xiuyu? I think he’s really nice.”
The alcohol eroded her restraint. The taut string in Nan Qi’s mind snapped, and words spilled out unchecked, laced with sarcasm and bitterness. “Are you brainless or something? A few sweet nothings and you’re putty in his hands? I’ve whispered sweet words in your ear for years—how come you never noticed me?!”
Seeing the shock on Bo Ranying’s face brought Nan Qi a twisted sense of satisfaction, fueling even harsher words.
“Nice guy? You don’t think Qiao Xiuyu’s just fake? Nobody’s that perfect. He’s just good at wrapping himself up, hiding his darker side. As an outsider, I can see it clear as day.”
Bo Ranying’s eyes reddened with anger and profound disappointment. She cut her off with a cold laugh. “Outsider? Sounds like you’re just slandering him because I turned down your confession!”
She stormed back to her room and slammed the door.
That night, they parted on bad terms.
When Nan Qi sobered up and remembered it all, embarrassment kept her from facing Bo Ranying. She checked into a hotel for a few days instead.
Once she’d gathered herself, she picked out a thoughtful gift, intending to apologize and make amends—only to learn that Bo Ranying had officially gotten together with Qiao Xiuyu…
It hit her like a bolt from the blue.
When Nan Qi woke, the spot beside her had long gone cold. The curtains were half-drawn, and she faintly heard rustling sounds from the living room.
Her head throbbed mercilessly. She sat up and massaged her temples for a while.
Her throat was parched, swallowing even saliva sent jolts of pain through her, and her body felt like it had been taken apart and put back together wrong—utterly drained, as if she’d been brutally assaulted.
Every symptom screamed that she’d caught a cold.
It must have been from yesterday: underdressed in the rain and wind, then soaking too long in the warm bath while pining for Bo Ranying, letting her body chill. Afterward, she’d spent the night tending to a clingy, drunken troublemaker and neglected herself entirely.
She hadn’t slept a wink.
All those factors had conspired to bring on the illness.
Nan Qi dragged her sickly, heavy body upright and grabbed her vanity mirror. One glance at the haggard, defeated face staring back nearly scared her to death: puffy eyelids, eyes threaded with red veins, skin deathly pale—like a willow bending weakly in the breeze.
It was practically broadcasting to the world: I’ve just been dumped.
Fuck!!!
No way was she letting Bo Ranying see her looking this pitiful!
She bolted out of bed, downed some cold medicine, slapped on an emergency overnight face mask, and carefully dabbed eye cream around her lids, managing to mask some of the damage.
She leaned close to the mirror for a thorough inspection and realized traces of her crying jag were still visible.
If she was going to play a role, she might as well go all in. Nan Qi applied a full face of makeup, using deft techniques to reduce the swelling: sharp, upturned eyeliner for an elongated, alluring look; a seductive smoky eye; a sheer, luminous base; and retro brownish-red lips that brightened her complexion while underscoring her professional edge—perfect for commanding presence in negotiations.
Her naturally aloof gaze and cool demeanor contrasted sharply with the bold, vibrant makeup, creating an explosive allure that could leave anyone spellbound.
Once she was presentable, Nan Qi fluffed her curled hair ends and stepped out of the room, her movements a touch stiff.
At the dining table sat an adorable figure in the Cinnamon Dog onesie, legs tucked under her in the chair. Hearing the noise, she awkwardly tried to twist around for a look.
Nan Qi’s heart softened at the sight. She hurried over. “No need—you stay put.”
Bo Ranying gave up and waved her over instead. “Come eat breakfast. I reheated the wontons you bought last night. Join me!”
The big wontons had been divided into two portions, served in handle bowls printed with strawberries and avocados, placed at opposite ends of the table.
Bo Ranying adored anything cute.
Only then did she look up and freeze, her soup spoon hovering midair.
Being around each other constantly, she spotted Nan Qi’s changes right away.
Today’s Nan Qi had curls cascading down, her makeup strikingly glamorous and beautiful. Her clear eyes shimmered like pools of autumn water. The simple gray suit skirt was crisp and professional, but her killer figure turned every gesture into pure allure—like a glamorous starlet from a ’90s film. Stunning.
A far cry from her usual routine of just moisturizer and lipstick.
And today, a fragile beauty bloomed in her features, stirring an urge to protect her.
Bo Ranying couldn’t tear her eyes away. “You look so pretty, Little Qi,” she murmured, lost in admiration.
Nan Qi paused, then quipped lightly, “Keep staring and I’ll start charging.”
Relief washed over her inwardly—Bo Ranying hadn’t noticed the bloodshot eyes. Crisis averted.
As she ate her wontons, Nan Qi studied Bo Ranying’s expression. Her voice came out hoarse and a bit forced. “What’s on the agenda today?”
Bo Ranying thought for a moment. “Morning practice at the Dance Troupe. If there’s time this afternoon, maybe trying on wedding dresses.”
“Qiao Xiuyu’s back in Linxi in a couple days, so I figured I’d check styles with him ahead of time. We can tweak them together if needed.” She spoke of her boyfriend with easy familiarity.
Nan Qi’s hand jerked, nearly flinging the spoon across the table. Hearing that casual intimacy in Bo Ranying’s tone toward Qiao Xiuyu turned the wontons in her bowl utterly tasteless. The soreness in her throat deepened into bitter anguish.
She deliberately hadn’t mentioned the message she’d glimpsed last night, but Bo Ranying wasn’t letting her dodge reality.
Nan Qi suspected it was deliberate—a retaliation for her impulsive confession, a way to force her to face facts. Bo Ranying couldn’t give her anything.
And Bo Ranying knew exactly how to hurt her worst.
…
Nan Qi lowered her gaze, feigning calm. “I’ll drop you off at the Dance Troupe later, then.”
“Mm.” Bo Ranying had made her point and said no more.
As the principal dancer of the Linxi Ballet Dance Troupe, Bo Ranying was starring as the female lead in the Romeo and Juliet Ballet. With the touring production approaching, she poured her heart into rehearsals, seizing every free moment to perfect her performance.
She finished breakfast and hurried to the bedroom to change.
By the time Bo Ranying was ready, Nan Qi was too. She waited by the entryway, naturally taking Bo Ranying’s bag as they rode the elevator down to the basement parking garage.
They ran into their neighbor, Grandma Qi, on the way. She beamed at them. “Off to work?”
They nodded with smiles.
“You two have such a sweet relationship—going to work together every day. Not like my two little devils. The brother never waits for his sister to head to school.”
Nan Qi replied, “We’ve got the car—it’s convenient.” Then she added consolingly, “Kids are playful at that age. Give it time, and your grandson might start getting protective, chasing off those pesky boys.”
“Hahaha, now that’s music to my ears! I’m just waiting for the day he eats his words out of jealousy. That’s the term, right? Internet slang. I made a big batch of brown sugar sticky rice cakes today. I’ll drop some off tonight—see if Grandma’s skills have slipped!”
“Thanks, Grandma Qi,” Nan Qi said with a smile.
They bid Grandma Qi farewell and reached the parking garage.
Bo Ranying recalled Nan Qi’s dazed expression at the dinner table earlier. Connecting it to the present moment, she felt a surge of emotion and began to contemplate a question she had never properly faced before.
She was so deep in thought that she sat motionless in the car, showing no other reaction.
Grandma Qi’s offhand comment in the elevator that day had successfully stirred ripples in her heart. Looking back over the past four years, Nan Qi—barring any surprises—had always gotten up early on purpose. She would drop Bo Ranying off at the dance troupe first, then head to the law firm for work herself.
It didn’t matter whether it was the firm where Bo Ranying had interned in the past or the Shengqi Law Firm that Nan Qi had founded later with her friend Ye Sheng. Both were in entirely different directions from the dance troupe, making the trips inconvenient.
Because of Bo Ranying, Nan Qi spent two hours commuting each day during the morning rush hour. Astonishingly, this routine had gone on for a full four years.
Bo Ranying was deeply moved by the realization.
All these years, she had forgotten to wonder whether Nan Qi ever felt worn out by it.
Suddenly, the car came to a stop while they were driving, leaving Bo Ranying puzzled.
Nan Qi unbuckled her seatbelt and turned her head to reassure her. “Wait for me a moment. I’ll be right back.”
The tips of Nan Qi’s jet-black hair brushed against Bo Ranying’s cheek, causing her heart to skip a beat for an instant. Bo Ranying instinctively brushed aside the odd sensation and watched Nan Qi’s retreating figure through the car window. A flower shop sign stood at the street corner—she had a good idea of what Nan Qi was off to do, and the thought lifted her spirits.
Perhaps it was Nan Qi’s deliberate effort to dress up that day, but Bo Ranying couldn’t shake a peculiar intuition nagging at her heart. Without thinking, she began examining the car’s interior, tidying up Nan Qi’s scattered belongings and arranging them neatly.
In the process, she actually uncovered a clue.
One of the umbrellas that was always kept on the back seat was missing.
Bo Ranying had placed most of the items in the car herself, so she could spot anything added or missing with just a glance.
She remembered using that missing back-seat umbrella the night before. Nan Qi had come to pick her up from the bar, holding that black umbrella.
Yet after just one night, it had vanished without a trace.
She frowned, racking her brain in careful recollection. Finally, it hit her: last night, there had been Tang Lian with them, too…
They had walked back to the car together under the umbrella!
The umbrella’s fate was now obvious.
Putting it together with Nan Qi’s unusual behavior today, Bo Ranying formed a suspicion in her mind. Nan Qi was going on a date with Tang Lian!
Her Sherlock Holmes-like intuition guided her once more. A sharp corner was peeking out from the crevice in the driver’s seat. Following the lead, she leaned over, pinched the edge with her fingertips, and pulled upward.
A business card emerged.
It was a white card emblazoned with two lines of prominent gold lettering.
Tang Lian.
Contact: 158xxxxxxxxx.
Just a single business card, yet it had been hidden away so meticulously in such a secretive spot.
Suddenly, Bo Ranying felt a sour taste in her mouth. She couldn’t understand what was wrong with her.
She felt a surge of disbelief that someone had schemed right under her nose to get close to Nan Qi.
It reminded her of childhood, when she would come home from school to find that a visiting child had rummaged through her cabinet and pulled out her doll to play with. The same indignant feeling.
Absurdity mingled with irritation, with no explanation in sight.
In the end, Bo Ranying chalked it up to her own sense of loss. Soon, she would no longer be the most important person in Nan Qi’s life.
It was perfectly normal for people to feel possessive about their friendships.
Little Qi had someone she wanted to get close to. Bo Ranying should be happy for her.
