The person speaking is named Zhang Tianrui. He comes from a good family background without any bad habits. Although he can't compare with someone like Huang Xiaoyang, a top-tier second-generation rich kid, just not having bad habits already makes him a fine young gentleman in people's eyes.
Zhang Tianrui turned his gaze toward a girl among the group of girls, and coincidentally, Wang Yue was also staring at that girl.
Tian Ling.
Zhang Tianrui said, "We all graduated from the same school, and now here we are living in the same city, gathered here, truly a stroke of fate. Today I must share some news with everyone. I'm together with Tian Ling now. I want you all to be my witnesses today."
Tian Ling avoided Zhang Tianrui's gaze, a blush like red wine spread across her face, as she deeply bowed her head and said, "You're annoying."
This scene left many people at the venue petrified, and everyone fell silent.
Someone secretly glanced over at Wang Yue.
Wang Yue and Tian Ling have been together… before.
It's something many people know. Logically speaking, since they've already broken up, whomever Tian Ling chooses to be with next shouldn't be worth much comment.
But, why does it still feel so strange? When did Zhang Tianrui and Tian Ling get together? Their secrecy work was impeccable.
"Wait, was it so sudden for you guys?" someone asked.
Zhang Tianrui chuckled and said, "Not suddenly, it's been a while..."
His gaze lingered on Wang Yue for a moment before moving away.
After a moment, everyone started to react. The girls teased, "Tian Ling, who would've thought, actually capturing our handsome Zhang's heart."
Someone also congratulated Zhang Tianrui, "Wow, brother, if you'd told me earlier, I would have brought a present over."
Others started to cheer, "Photo! Take a photo! Kiss each other!"
Tian Ling shyly bowed her head.
The atmosphere was lively and cheerful, yet someone appeared out of place in such an environment, and everyone seemed to inadvertently ignore that person, although they still secretly watched from the corner of their eyes.
Li Younan helplessly looked beside him at Huang Xiaoyang, who was finally no longer drinking tea but still had no expression on his face.
Li Younan then looked at Wang Yue, whose eyes were previously ablaze, now collapsing into something gray; he still tightly clutched the jewelry box in his hand.
...
"Tian Ling, don't you think you've gone too far?"
Suddenly, among the group of girls, someone stood up, staring at Tian Ling.
Everyone was stunned, and the atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward.
This girl who always had little presence was Yang Manman.
Yang Manman saw the flame in Wang Yue's eyes extinguished, wind blowing away even the ashes, and she felt indescribable heartache.
In the past six months, Yang Manman understood the things Wang Yue did for Tian Ling, she comprehended Wang Yue's heartbreak at this moment acutely.
Wang Yue was such a flamboyant guy, yet for Tian Ling, his edges were smoothed out. The chauvinist in him even bashfully called to ask her about what flowers to send and what gifts to buy for a girl.
Actually, Yang Manman was a bit thankful to Tian Ling; back when Wang Yue pursued Tian Ling, he often called Yang Manman for advice, making those days her most frequent interactions with Wang Yue.
Yang Manman stared at Tian Ling, clearly these two could whisper sweet nothings in a corner where no one else was, then find a suitable time to announce it broadly via channels like WeChat.
Yet they ran their happiness through the wringer for Wang Yue, why? Why be so cruel?
Tian Ling was first surprised, then looked extremely disgruntled. She defiantly said, "What did I do?"
Yang Manman's cheeks flushed red, and after a long pause, she only uttered, "You... you didn't do anything wrong."
Tian Ling was taken aback; she assumed Yang Manman would scold her, even mentally prepared herself to respond or retort with a few stinging words. But Yang Manman's words "You didn't do anything wrong" unexpectedly threw her off.
Because Yang Manman truly didn't know what more to say; it seemed Tian Ling... indeed, hadn't really done anything wrong.
Yet Yang Manman just couldn't swallow it.
At this moment, the most bewildered was Wang Yue, who dumbly stared at Yang Manman.
...
Huang Xiaoyang said, "Beg me, and I can make Tian Ling and Zhang Tianrui break up."
Li Younan replied helplessly, "Obviously, you really want to do this yourself, right? Why throw the decision to me? That's shirking responsibility; you wouldn't stop until seven temples were dismantled... I'm not asking you, if you want to do it, do it."
Huang Xiaoyang nodded, "Alright, then I'll leave it be."
"But... how are you planning to do it?" Li Younan was still curious.
Huang Xiaoyang glanced at Li Younan, then stood up and strode toward Zhang Tianrui.
At that moment, Zhang Tianrui frowned, feeling uneasy but unable to say anything as a girl was causing trouble. Just then, Huang Xiaoyang walked up to him, took out his cell phone, and showed a chat log, handing it over without saying a word.
This chat log was given to Huang Xiaoyang by a friend.
The reason he knew so much information was because of that friend; after Tian Ling and Wang Yue broke up, she became close with several second-generation wealthy kids. One of them happened to be Huang Xiaoyang's childhood buddy, and that guy, perceptive and shrewd, evaluated Tian Ling as difficult to control, eventually ceasing further conversations with Tian Ling, but he saved the chat log, intending to caution Huang Xiaoyang.
They share a lot of information within their circle.
Without a doubt, this chat log would spell trouble for Tian Ling.
After reading the chat log, Zhang Tianrui's face turned sour.
After Huang Xiaoyang finished this matter, he turned around and called the still daydreaming Yang Manman, then knocked on Li Younan's desk, indicating that it was time for him and Wang Yue to leave.
If Tian Ling suddenly reacted, Huang Xiaoyang would find it somewhat troublesome.
...
After the four of them walked out of the restaurant, they wandered aimlessly along the street.
Huang Xiaoyang didn't say anything, he was always like this.
Actually, he felt a bit frustrated at the moment, because when they had just left, he suggested that he and Li Younan drive away, while Wang Yue and Yang Manman could take a cab or stroll.
It was a reasonable suggestion, after all, considering the atmosphere between Yang Manman and Wang Yue, it was best not to have a third person around as things progressed…
Besides, his car was a two-seater, which couldn't fit four people.
But Li Younan didn't agree.
Li Younan shook his head and said, "You think too highly of Wang Yue."
Huang Xiaoyang realized Li Younan was right.
After going through such a matter, other guys would definitely have shown some indication to Yang Manman by now. But Wang Yue just walked along like a fool, doing nothing.
Yang Manman, however, seemed quite content; she lowered her head, her mind filled with the joy of surviving. Honestly, she was never good at arguing with others, and the current situation was already the most perfect outcome she could imagine.
At that moment, it was finally Li Younan who broke the silence. He stopped in front of a bench by the roadside, sighed, and said to Wang Yue, "Bro, you need to say something. Do you intend to just keep walking like this? You want me and Huang Xiaoyang to keep tagging along with you? We were supposed to leave you two some space to be alone, but seeing how you are…"
Huang Xiaoyang amusingly stepped aside, watching Li Younan coaching the fool.
Wang Yue hesitated, stammered, and said, "I… I, what have I done?"
Li Younan, usually with a good temper, felt somewhat angry at this moment. He dragged Wang Yue to face Yang Manman, which startled even Yang Manman.
Li Younan pointed at Yang Manman and said, "This girl just stood up for you. Everyone thinks you're a fool, and only she risked being thought a fool too, to shield you."
"You graduated a few years ago, came to this city because of Tian Ling, and this girl foolishly followed you here without knowing what she was waiting and striving for."
"Whenever you had relationship issues with Tian Ling over these years, you turned to this girl for answers. What gives her the obligation to answer you? Tell me, why should she take care of your emotions and answer those queries? Who takes care of her emotions; did you ever notice her feelings?"
Yang Manman was dumbfounded, avoiding eye contact and lowering her head. Today, she was wearing a pair of sandals, and her feet curled nervously together.
Li Younan then turned to Yang Manman and said, "Give it to me!"
Startled, Yang Manman obediently took out the piece of jade from her bag.
Li Younan shoved the jade into Wang Yue's hand and said, "Look at what this is?"
Wang Yue stared at the pattern on the jade, his mind stagnant.
His ear was again filled with Li Younan's voice: "When you joined the basketball team in your sophomore year, this silly girl watched every match from the sidelines."
"There was one game…"
"She didn't remember Huang Xiaoyang's 9 three-pointers in that game, nor my three dunks, but only remembered you scoring 1 point throughout the whole game, and that was from making 1 out of 2 free throws!"
"Tell me, how did you manage to do that? Damn, if it weren't for your missed free throw in that game, would we have been dragged into overtime?"
The score of 77:77 stood conspicuously on the jade.
Huang Xiaoyang actually came over to take a look at the jade, wearing a surprised expression on his face, he hadn't thought Li Younan made it so beautifully.
Yang Manman also paused for a moment… Huh?
So, 77:77 had this meaning?
She didn't understand basketball, and nobody explained it to her, she didn't know.
Li Younan raised his voice again, saying, "But in this girl's eyes, this was your highlight of life!"
"She even meticulously found someone to carve this scene out!"
"Tell me, what are you going to do next? Regardless of how you feel inside, you owe her an explanation; her youth is nearly exhausted!"
Wang Yue was left speechless, nearly choking, he dared not look at Yang Manman.
Yang Manman lowered her head deeply, quietly sobbing.
Initially, she never thought of those things, but now with Li Younan saying all this, she suddenly felt… so wronged.
...
Wang Yue and Yang Manman took a cab away, leaving Li Younan and Huang Xiaoyang in the car.
Huang Xiaoyang ignited the car engine, glancing at Li Younan, and said, "You were a bit emotional earlier."
Li Younan nodded, mimicking Huang Xiaoyang's tone, saying, "A little bit."
Li Younan gazed out of the window, his eyes slightly moist, exclaiming, "Honestly speaking, I kind of envy Wang Yue."
Huang Xiaoyang's eyes became puzzled.
Li Younan turned his head, smiling, and said, "His life has a girl who's willing to throw caution to the wind for him…"
The envy was genuine.