Zhai Li walked straight up to Gu Bai, slightly raised her head, and stared directly into Gu Bai's eyes.
Behind her were two girls carrying bags, probably her lifestyle assistants assigned by the company.
Seeing Zhai Li's aggressive demeanor, Gu Bai chuckled lightly, also staring into her bright eyes without any hint of evasion.
Although his first reaction upon seeing Zhai Li was to avoid her, he immediately regretted it after turning away. Did he really need to avoid her? The breakup was Zhai Li's idea, after all. Gu Bai acquiesced, and as far as he was concerned, their relationship had ended four years ago. Was there any need to keep dodging?
If Gu Bai were still leading the same unremarkable life as before, he'd feel justified in avoiding Zhai Li. Their worlds had diverged, with Gu Bai doomed to admire her from below. But now? With a system backing him, even his starting point far surpassed the achievements Zhai Li had worked four years for in her previous life.
As the saying goes: only those who feel inferior avoid others.
The two stared at each other for almost a minute, neither daring to interrupt, until it was Zhai Li who finally looked away.
She sized up Gu Bai briefly, then glanced at Yi Yiyi beside him, speaking with her unique cool sarcasm, "I didn't expect your tastes to change so much over just a two-month summer break."
Yi Yiyi was at a loss for words.
It's like sitting quietly at home and suddenly trouble comes out of nowhere, isn't it?
Gu Bai shrugged, his tone casual, "Gotta try something different now and then."
Yi Yiyi wasn't one to be trifled with; she feigned fragility, sidling up to Gu Bai and gently tugging at his sleeve, "Senior, does this auntie have something against me?"
Gu Bai managed to hold back his laughter, but Deng Bo and a few others burst out laughing instead.
Zhai Li was the kind of ethereal beauty, although the same age as Gu Bai, she always dressed a bit maturely, but certainly not to the extent of being called 'auntie' by Yi Yiyi. It seemed that this white-haired girl's sense of revenge was quite strong.
Gu Bai opened up Zhai Li's profile panel.
"Name: Zhai Li
Appearance: 94
Health: 96
Affection: 82"
Zhai Li's looks were definitely top-tier; otherwise, she wouldn't have been signed by the most elite entertainment company, Huayi Media, and propelled into the ranks of the new generation's top four young actresses with a few big resources over the years.
Her health was normal, too. Gu Bai knew Zhai Li in front of him had always been a girl with an extremely discreet private life, hardly any male friends. But her level of affection puzzled Gu Bai; he never thought she would still have such high regard for him.
Zhai Li's face darkened slightly from Yi Yiyi's retort, but her well-maintained poise couldn't allow her to engage in a shouting match like other girls.
Without acknowledging Yi Yiyi, she turned to Gu Bai and said, "You've changed."
"How so?"
Zhai Li brushed her hair back from her forehead.
"You're different from before. You used to never give girls like that a second glance."
Zhai Li wasn't wrong. Early in college, Gu Bai considered himself the cream of the crop, seeking out things of so-called depth, always feeling he was distinct from ordinary people.
But once his prodigy halo faded, a year after graduation, he was beaten down by society, bringing him back into the ranks of the common folk.
Four years can so easily change a person.
Gu Bai shrugged, nonchalantly saying, "Who ever stays the same? Being happy is what matters in life.
Besides, aren't you the same? If you'd always been like this, it would just mean I was blind back then."
Looking at Gu Bai's indifferent expression, Zhai Li felt terribly upset inside, and her tone finally changed.
"I thought you'd understand."
Gu Bai exhaled softly, letting out a slight chuckle.
"Oh, I understand you alright. Otherwise, I wouldn't have so readily accepted being dumped by you. But you can't expect me to graciously act as if it was all nothing, right?
Pursuing your dreams is your business, but don't ever think the world revolves around you. I'm human too. Just because I don't bring certain things up doesn't mean they don't bother me. So, don't feel guilty and don't hope for my forgiveness. Just focus on your things; there's no point in saying too much.
You must've heard the saying, 'you can't have your cake and eat it too,' right? Don't be that kind of person."
Gu Bai understood Zhai Li's thoughts clearly. She felt guilty for leaving him for her future, seeking his forgiveness...
But there was no need.
Gu Bai harbored no longing or attachment towards Zhai Li, with the carefree life he envisioned just around the corner. Zhai Li was at best a passerby.
Suddenly, Zhai Li found the handsome young man before her somewhat unfamiliar. Lost in thought, she took a few extra seconds to look at Gu Bai's face. A strange feeling surfaced, and she lowered her head slightly, looking blankly at the stones by her feet.
"I came to campus today just to see you and say sorry. My company has arranged several films for me in the coming period, so I probably won't be able to make it back to campus much."
"Hmm, wish you skyrocketing success."
With that, Gu Bai took Yi Yiyi's suitcase and headed into the campus without looking back, while Yi Yiyi quickly followed behind him like a little assistant, skipping along.
Watching Gu Bai's silhouette gradually fade away, Zhai Li clenched her fists, her breathing grew heavy as if her heart had been pierced hard.
Until Gu Bai's silhouette completely disappeared around the corner, Zhai Li's tears flowed down uncontrollably.
It seemed as if she was the one being abandoned.
If only Gu Bai could show the slightest reluctance, her pitiful pride could comfort herself, telling her she was not wrong. But the more indifferent Gu Bai appeared, the more vulnerable her pride became.
As for Deng Bo and the others, seeing Zhai Li in tears, they exchanged glances but didn't approach her. They considered Zhai Li a friend, but only when Gu Bai was involved. Without Gu Bai, they wouldn't care about her at all. They merely glanced briefly and then followed in Gu Bai's footsteps, leaving.
Zhai Li stood there, in a daze, tears streaming down.
The two assistants stood behind her, not daring to step forward to comfort her.
A slightly chubby middle-aged woman in black casual clothes walked over to Zhai Li from afar.
"So? Have you given up?"
This woman might be unrecognizable to ordinary people, but in the entertainment circle, she was a well-known figure.
Huayi's top manager, Mo Yonghua, known as Sister Hua, held significant top-tier resources. She had launched several A-list stars in the past, and her role wasn't just a manager — she was also a shareholder of Huayi.
Seeing Sister Hua beside her, Zhai Li glanced at her but said nothing.
"Xiao Li, I actually understand your feelings quite well, but you have to understand what ambition is. It's like catching fireflies; they won't wait for you. You only have a chance to catch them when they're flickering their dim light.
Now the opportunity is right in front of you, you must seize it. Some things are worth abandoning, they're not a pity.
You're the best prospect I've seen in years, talented, determined. I promise to turn you into a true A-list star within a few years!"
"Sister Hua, I actually understand everything you're saying, I'm not regretting it, I just feel like I've missed something."
Zhai Li wiped her tears, regaining her previous cool demeanor.
Sister Hua's small eyes on her round face narrowed slightly.
"Are you referring to that boy just now?
If it's him, someone like that, with nothing but a face, and completely giving up his existing capital to loftily choose a directing department, does he really think he has a chance in our Hua Country's directing circle?
Trust me, in a little while, he'll be like countless ordinary people, looking up to you from below the stage."
Zhai Li nodded, finding a way to console her pride.
If Gu Bai could hear their conversation, he would surely scoff, "Nonsense."
Admittedly, if things progressed normally, Gu Bai would really end up as the chubby woman said, with the distance between him and Zhai Li increasing indefinitely. But everything is different now, Gu Bai's life has launched into a cheat mode, and can't be judged by ordinary logic.
Perhaps the gap between Gu Bai and Zhai Li would only grow further, but at a higher level, only Gu Bai could reach.
In reality, it was the distance while Gu Bai and Zhai Li spoke that prevented Mo Yonghua from seeing Gu Bai's attire up close. Even if she had been closer and noticed his entire outfit, she wouldn't have spoken so confidently.
Gu Bai was dressed in a custom LV outfit, with its logo barely visible to ordinary people, but for someone like Mo Yonghua, well-versed in the upper echelons of the entertainment industry, it would be recognizable with a glance.
However, none of that mattered. What mattered was if she saw the Patek Philippe 6002G on Gu Bai's wrist, she'd swallow all her words back.
But none of this mattered to Gu Bai anymore. Today, his standards were extraordinarily high, and his confidence and pride were through the roof. After all, in the past month in Shanghai, he was no longer the ordinary person he once was in a previous life.
Now he could engage in a relationship as he wished, and abandon one just as easily; let others be the ones to fawn.
At that moment, he had already arrived at the registration desk with Yi Yiyi, the white-haired twin-tailed loli.
"White Pieces, you wouldn't believe how Zhai Li cried like a pear blossom in the rain after you left. I think she still likes you."
After catching up, Deng Bo patted him on the shoulder, speaking in a knowing tone.
"You guys think she cried because of the breakup with me?"
"Isn't that the case?"
Yi Yiyi suddenly jumped out from the side.
"Of course not! She cried because she felt unappreciated by Gu Bai Oni-Chan! Women are like that: the weaker you act, the tougher they are; the stronger you show yourself, the softer they become. Although I don't know the relationship between her and Gu Bai Oni-Chan, as a woman, I understand women very well!"
Gu Bai looked at Deng Bo.
"A little girl understands this logic and you don't, no wonder you're single."
Having said that, Gu Bai glanced at Yi Yiyi, "You call yourself a woman?"
"I am! I'm an adult!"
"Sorry, my criteria for determining a woman aren't just about being an adult."
"Teehee!"
...