Zhang Xixi continued to live a decadent life, devoid of passion, ideals, culture, and quality. Apart from her promiscuous lifestyle, she had everything a rich girl should have - a lavish lifestyle, courtesy of her wealthy father's money. She went on wild shopping sprees, buying luxury goods that she would never use, and then partied with her boyfriend in nightclubs until they got bored. After a thrilling experience of crashing into a tree on Hangzhou's Longjing Road and being saved by the airbag, she found it all too exhilarating. Skipping school and failing classes seemed like child's play compared to this. For half a year, she hadn't slept at her own apartment, instead opting for luxury hotels - tonight at Shangri-La, tomorrow at Shanghai Jinjiang, and the next day at Four Seasons Puxi, where she would book the most expensive suite. Dressed to impress, she would encounter foreigners who had ulterior motives towards her, and with a sly smile, she would tell them in broken English that she wouldn't settle for less than 100,000 yuan for one night.

  Occasionally, she would shout to Beijing's young master Xiao Mei to go to an SD bar. It seemed that only in the most casual moments would she mention the name Chen Erdou, who had been hacked to pieces. At that time, Zhang Ya's hatred for him was so intense that it made her teeth ache, and she gave Xiao Mei a feeling of desolation.

  One day, Mu Xiaoyao, who had been absent from school for a year, suddenly found Zhang Xixi. Zhang Xixi, who was as bored and empty as an underground party, immediately regained her spirit and motivation when she saw Mu Xiaoyao, whom she considered to be her lovely and adorable girl. First, without saying a word, she dragged Mu Xiaoyao to tour all the high-end shopping malls in Shanghai. Then, at the Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel, she specifically requested room 5387. At night, she took Mu Xiaoyao to the tallest bar in China, where she was actually the only one who was teasing the handsome service staff while playing poker under the guise of drinking. Zhang Xixi looked left and right, up and down, and examined Mu Xiaoyao from head to toe before finally asking: "Xiaoyao, that bastard Er Gou abandoned you and ran away with his tail between his legs. How come you don't look like a sad and resentful woman at all? Instead, you're so spirited and refreshed?"

  "What should I do? Cry every day? Or learn from those pseudo-literary youths who moan and groan without being sick? Unfortunately, I'm like Er Gou, neither of us has that literary talent." Mu Xiaoyu's small face was smiling brightly like a sunflower basking in the warm sunshine. Nowadays, Mu Xiaoyu wore her hair in pigtails, canvas shoes, jeans, and loose cotton T-shirts, looking pure and innocent enough to conquer all.

  "Do you want to know why Er Gou left Shanghai?" Zhang Xixi said mysteriously.

  "I don't want to." Mu Xiaoyao smiled and said, refusing to fall into Zhang Xixi's trap.

  "Really don't want to?" Zhang Xixi asked in surprise.

  "I want."

  Mei Xiao Yao sipped her orange juice, gazing out the window at the night view of the Bund, and said softly, "But I want him to say it."

  "Silly girl, it's only someone like you who would be deceived by that kind of nonsense."

  Zhang Xixi huffed and puffed, thinking that Xiaoyao was as delicate as a small white vegetable, but she couldn't even bear to taste it herself. Just like last year when that guy had ravished Xiaoyao in the apartment, Zhang Xixi's anger surged up again. She viciously handed the waiter a few small bills and told him to scram, then downed a mouthful of whiskey, her eyes gleaming with resentment, as if she were one of those pitiful women who had been played by Chen Ergou and left without payment. "Xiaoyao, are you just going to wait for him like this?"

  "What's unclear and unjust?" Mu Xiaoyao asked with a tilted head and a smile.

  "No status, no commitment, no future, always in the dark, can't even see your fingers in front of you." Zhang Xixi said with hatred.

  "Xiang Xiang, you and Er Gou are just the same, both of you are thorough pessimists. I'm not like you guys." Mu Xiao Yao didn't refute, but said something that made Zhang Xiang Xiang's body tremble, as if a layer of fake outerwear had been stripped off, revealing some age-old wounds. Mu Xiao Yao didn't intend to expose Zhang Xiang Xiang's life scars, but instead asked: "Xiang Xiang, can you return the room? I want to sleep in our apartment and also go check out that SD bar."

  Zhang Xixi didn't refuse, and in her father's eyes, she was almost obedient to Mu Xiaoyao, who was stubbornly infatuated with her. After some thought, Zhang Xixi called Xiao Mei, and the three of them met up at SD Bar. This young master from Beijing, who usually kept a low profile, still didn't put on any airs or have any ulterior motives, and insisted on not letting Zhang Xixi pay the bill. The three of them sat in the corner of the second floor, looking out at the small bar that was no longer crowded with familiar faces, feeling a sense of "the things are gone, but the people remain". Especially Mu Xiaoyao, who was leaning against the railing, lost in thought, her delicate face filled with sorrow. Mu Xiaoyao was beautiful, and women can be captivating to a certain extent - unless they're the kind that bring disaster to the country, it's just a matter of personal taste. In Zhang Xixi and Chen Ergou's eyes, Mu Xiaoyao's beauty was undoubtedly exceptional. She may not have been as seductive as Zhang Xixi, but she had an irresistible charm for mature men. Zhang Xixi and Xiao Mei leaned against her, each smoking a cigarette, exhaling clouds of smoke.

  Xiao Mei is not like Zhang Xiang who has abandoned his conscience, but he is also not someone who likes to sympathize with others. However, he is the only one who has witnessed both the extreme brutality of Fu Gui and Chen Er Gou's humiliation at Jian Guan. As a man, he naturally understands the difficulties faced by Mu Xiao Yao more than Zhang Xiang, who uses his sharp tongue and soft heart as a disguise. Even when facing Zhao Kun Peng, who comes from a wealthy family and has exceptional fighting skills, Xiao Mei can only avoid him. Through various channels, Xiao Mei learned that Zhao Kun Peng was stabbed and hospitalized for half a year, but he didn't elaborate on the terrifying details to Zhang Xiang, nor did he want to speculate about it himself, as it would only add to his shame of being a bystander at Jian Guan. He doesn't mind that Chen Er Gou left Shanghai without Mu Xiao Yao; in fact, if he had done so, Xiao Mei would have found it laughable - a fugitive with an uncertain fate, running around with a weak and timid girl, is this love or madness?

  Xiao Mei always thought that a man who makes himself and his woman suffer is no hero.

  Chen Ergou's brain wasn't stupid, so he left on his own without surprising Xiaomei. Xiaomei could even imagine Chen Ergou's pent-up resentment and deep guilt towards Mu Xiaoyao. Perhaps for the rest of her life, pure and simple Mu Xiaoyao would never understand what that man who disappeared silently or suddenly appeared one day had done, thought, endured, and borne in those silent years - was he lonely or stubborn?

  What should be done when you like someone or love someone is just right?

  This is a question, a very profound question.

  Xiao Mei, who had hung out in the Peking University philosophy department for two years, thought that was a really pale, hollow and damn stupid question.

  At this moment, Xiaomei, who was smoking, suddenly found that Zhang Xiangxiang, who was walking beside her and didn't take the usual route, was a clever woman. Living such a carefree life without worries or attachments is really great.

  "Xiao Yao, Er Gou is a good person." After deliberating for a long time, Xiao Mei finally only said one sentence that made Zhang Xixi extremely despise.

  Mei Xiao Yao nodded slightly, smiling with gratitude in her heart.

  On the way back to her apartment complex, Zhang Xixi received a text message from Xiao Mei on her phone, reminding her to be careful and not to show off too much with Mu Xiaoyao. Zhang Xixi replied with a two-word text: "Got it." As soon as they entered the apartment building and exited the stairs, Zhang Xixi was shocked to see Mu Xiaoyao with her mouth wide open.

  A well-dressed man in a suit and tie, typical of the upper class.

  It was a Chen Erdou who was completely different from the one working at Amu restaurant and SD bar.

  Zhang Xixi let out a sharp cry, and was so angry that she wished she could strip Chen Ergou naked and dissect him.

  Mu Xiaoyao wanted to rush up, but saw a cold face, her heart sank, squeezed out a smile, put her hands behind her back, intertwined fingers, wanting to say something but couldn't say it. Her straightforward and innocent heart was like a bucket shaking back and forth, filled with anxiety and nervousness. Zhang Xixi suddenly felt the atmosphere was off and burst into flames, walking up to Chen Ergou and saying in a sarcastic tone: "Ergou, you wouldn't have found a rich widow to be a kept man, would you? Do you want to play the role of Chen Shimei who got his head chopped off in front of Ben Gege?"

  Chen Ergou ignored Zhang Xixi, who was being sarcastic and mean from the start. He extinguished his cigarette, threw it on the ground, and became one of many cigarette butts. He didn't have Zhang Xixi's or Mu Xiaoyao's phone numbers, nor did he have a way to get them. At the same time, he didn't dare contact them casually. Zhao Kunpeng was still an insurmountable mountain for the time being. All Chen Ergou could do was use the stupidest method of waiting at the apartment entrance like a hunter waiting for rabbits, and he waited for three days. Originally, he wanted Zhang Xixi to tell him Mu Xiaoyao's home address in detail, but unexpectedly, he ended up waiting for Mu Xiaoyao herself.

  Chen Ergou took a few steps forward, brushing past Zhang Xixi, and stopped two meters away from Mu Xiaoyao. His pale and thin face was expressionless, perhaps tainted with a bit of Wei Duan Gong's gloominess and Chen Qingzhi's coldness. His unsmiling face was eerily icy as he said three words he had never spoken to anyone before: "I'm sorry."

  Tears burst out of Xiaoyao's eyes in an instant.

  Bitterly waiting for nearly a year, but only waited for three words with great suspicion of ingratitude.

  Zhang Xixi didn't care about the seemingly simple and easy words having any hidden meaning, but as soon as she heard them, she was immediately stunned. She didn't have time to scold herself for being a jinx, and turned around to run in front of Chen Ergou, gritting her teeth and saying: "Chen Fusheng, you've got some nerve! If you don't make things clear today, not only will Zhao Kunpeng not let you off the hook, but I won't even let you leave Shanghai! Do you believe me if I call someone to take care of you right now?!"

  Directly calling Chen Fusheng, Zhang Xixi was truly furious to the extreme. Her father was at least a number one figure among the Ningbo gang's wealthy people, and he had done his fair share of spending money to hire thugs. Zhang Xixi had made up her mind to confront this beast she had identified as having a wolf's heart and dog's lungs, and it was possible that someone might end up dead.

  "I've found a woman who can help me struggle less for 30 years, she's willing to marry me, I don't want to waste this opportunity." Chen Ergou said with an expressionless face.

  "Do you love her?" Mu Xiao Yao wiped away tears with all her might, but no matter how hard she wiped, the tears just wouldn't dry.

  "Does it matter?" Chen Erdou asked back.

  Zhang Xuanxuan raised her hand and was about to slap Chen Ergou, but was caught by Chen Ergou.

  "Doesn't it matter?" Mu Xiao Yao sobbed, her eyes like those of a lonely and helpless child.

  Zhang Xixi struggled to shake off Chen Ergou's hand, but it was in vain. Chen Ergou's grip was so tight that it hurt her skin, and Zhang Xixi, who had even thought of killing him, used all her might to kick Chen Ergou several times. This time, Chen Ergou neither blocked nor dodged, but his eyes never stayed on hers for a second.

  "Sorry."

  Chen Ergou said those three words again, which meant nothing to ordinary people and had no sincerity. Then he stopped looking at Mu Xiaoyao's tear-stained face, took out a card and put it in Zhang Xixi's hand that he was holding, saying calmly: "This card is yours, whatever you spend will be reimbursed."

  "Damn you, I don't even want to touch your stuff!" Zhang Xixi threw away the bank card and suddenly squatted on the ground, wailing loudly. "Chen Fusheng, you're a complete and utter Chen Shimei! Your parents shouldn't have given birth to you!"

  "My father, whose name I don't even know, got my mother pregnant and then ran away. I'm his offspring, so naturally the things I do are more or less the same." Chen Ergou said with a smile, carrying two or three parts of self-mockery, the remaining meaning, Zhang Xiang didn't understand, nor did she want to try to understand.

  Bang.

  A crisp slap in the face.

  Mei Xiao Yao, not strong and not city-like, could only cry like a child, slapped Chen Er Gou's face with a loud slap. That pale face immediately showed five finger prints. Mei Xiao Yao's heart was fiercely contracted into a small group, almost suffocating, and she sobbed: "You leave, I don't want to see you again, a man who would give up on me for money and status, I don't want! You be your own Chen Shi Mei, get out!"

  Mei Xiao Yao, seemingly destined to be a mere pawn in Wang Hu's game of fate, was just a minor demon in Chen Er Gou's life, with shallow Taoist skills that would forever prevent her from achieving greatness.

  Chen Ergou was not shocked at all, but calmly removed the red rope from his wrist and tied it to Xiao Yu's white wrist without giving her a chance to refuse, then stepped into the elevator.

  Zhang Xixi sat on the ground with a thud, leaning against the wall, crying her heart out, seemingly more resentful of Chen Fusheng's ruthlessness and lack of loyalty than Mu Xiaoyao.

  "Xiaoyao, don't cry. He's just a shameless bastard. It's lucky to see through this kind of man early on." Zhang Xixi comforted Mu Xiaoyao with sobs, afraid that this girl would do something stupid if she wasn't careful.

  "Oh, don't say that about him."

  Mo Xiao Yao stretched out her hands to wipe away the tears on her face, finally stopping her crying. She walked over to Zhang Xiang Xiang's side and squatted down beside her, leaning against the wall with her. Staring at the pile of cigarette butts, staring at the ceiling, she said: "A man who can make both of us like him, how could he be a heartless and ungrateful Chen Shi Mei."

  Zhang Xuan's face was shocked, silent, and biting her lip.

  In my impression, Mu Xiaoyao, who was protected by Zhang Xixi for three years in college and would continue to be protected, wiped away her tears and said with a slight sob: "If he wants to break up, I'll break up. This is probably the most meaningful thing I can do now. I don't know what happened to him, but I understand him better than anyone else. The number of times he says sorry in his life can definitely be counted on one hand. I heard it twice a day, and it was worth it."

  "Xiaoyao raised her arm in Zhang's stunned gaze, staring at the red rope and muttering to herself: "He told me that when they find wild ginseng in the mountains, they tie a red string around the root. I don't understand what this string means for our life together, but from the first day I met him, I've never seen it removed. Zhang, I'm not as weak as you think. Er Gou doesn't owe me anything. What did I give him? My body? You think he took advantage of me, but I feel like I took advantage of him instead. If I didn't give myself to him that first time, I would regret it for the rest of my life.

  As for whether we can spend our lives together, I want to, very much so. But if life forces us apart and things don't go as planned, I won't force Fusheng to make promises or give me a ring. That's too selfish. He's a man who bears the weight of his family's hopes and endures hardships every day. I'm just a carefree woman with no brains and no depth. I was just lucky enough to meet the right man at the right time.

  You and Xiaomei think I don't see his struggles, but Zhang, you don't understand. When Fusheng is serious, he always smiles. Only when he's truly suffering does he become solemn. I'm crying not because he lied to me, but because he doesn't want me. I'm heartbroken for him, not because I'm a selfless woman or anything great. But when I fall in love with someone, I want to slowly nurture that love and cherish it for a lifetime.

  There are some things Er Gou never tells me, but I understand. So I'm willing to wait, even if it's in vain. I won't regret it."

  Mei Xiao Yao is very silly but not stupid. (To find out what happens next, please log in and read more chapters to support the author and official version!)