Chapter 125: A Forced Explanation

As soon as Zhang Zhenghao shouted Liu Zhibo’s name, the expressions of those behind him shifted. Ye Hao and Haozi knew that Liu Zhibo had once been Xiao Lin’s rival in love. Shangguan Xueer, meanwhile, looked the sleazy guy up and down with great interest. Wang Yuqing had just come over to say that Ma Yunrou was also dancing at this disco and that Xiao Lin looked upset; fearing trouble, she had urged Zhang Zhenghao and the others to go and check on him immediately.

He was indeed Liu Zhibo. Wang Yuqing had also heard Zhang Zhenghao’s words, and she knew this was the second person who had once broken Xiao Lin’s heart. At this thought, she glared at Liu Zhibo with resentment.

"Yo, where did this little knight-in-shining-armor pop out from? Zhang Zhenghao, is it? Is that any way to speak to your senior?" Liu Zhibo asked, looking at Zhang Zhenghao with an arrogant expression. When Zhang Zhenghao was in his third year of middle school, Liu Zhibo had been a freshman in high school, and both had attended Donghai City No. 1 Middle School. Thus, it was technically accurate for him to call himself Zhang Zhenghao’s senior.

"You’re no damn senior of mine. Get as far away from me as you possibly can," Zhang Zhenghao retorted with a curse. His disdain for Liu Zhibo wasn't just because of his history with Xiao Lin; when Zhang Zhenghao had entered No. 1 Middle School for high school, a girl in his class had been taken advantage of by Liu Zhibo. Zhang Zhenghao had spoken up against Liu Zhibo’s behavior, only to be beaten up by a group of thugs Liu Zhibo had called. As a newcomer at the time, Zhang Zhenghao had been unable to defeat the older student and had been forced to swallow his pride, but a deep grudge had been forged between them.

"Kid, are you looking to die?" Seeing Zhang Zhenghao tell him to get lost, Liu Zhibo jumped up in a rage, though his short, stout frame didn't even reach Zhang Zhenghao’s height.

Zhang Zhenghao stepped forward, grabbed Liu Zhibo by the collar, and raised a hand to strike him. The action made Liu Zhibo shrink back in terror. "He’s hitting someone! Help! Help!" he shrieked. Liu Zhibo had been invited to the disco by Ma Yunrou and had come alone, so he was terrified at the prospect of being beaten by Zhang Zhenghao.

Hearing Liu Zhibo’s cries, Zhang Zhenghao let him go. He was not Xiao Lin; he worried that fighting here would draw the attention of the disco’s security guards. If it were Xiao Lin, he wouldn't have cared if Liu Zhibo screamed or not—he would have landed a punch long ago.

"Get out!" Zhang Zhenghao roared at him.

Startled by the shout, Liu Zhibo turned and fled. After running a few paces, he threw a vicious look back at Zhang Zhenghao. "Kid, you just wait." Before Zhang Zhenghao could reply, he vanished into the crowd.

"My God, so that’s Liu Zhibo. He looks like a round, earthy blob. I really wonder how he ever managed to beat Xiao Lin back then," Shangguan Xueer sighed, looking at the retreating figure.

"His family is rich—the 'very rich' kind. You know how society is these days; money equals power. Girls nowadays would rather cry in a BMW than laugh on the back of a bicycle," Haozi remarked, as if remembering something.

"What kind of talk is that? Those girls are in the minority, okay? Most girls in this world are good, like me," Xu Qing retorted, rolling her eyes at Haozi before clearing her throat and patting her chest.

While they debated the ratio of good girls to bad, Xiao Lin and Ma Yunrou were arguing at the entrance of the disco.

"Why did you lie to me? Don't you know I hate being lied to more than anything? It would be one thing if you lied, but you were dancing with that guy! What exactly are you trying to do, Ma Yunrou?" Xiao Lin shouted as soon as they stepped outside. Although he no longer loved her, he still felt a sense of responsibility toward her because of what had happened that night. For Ma Yunrou to not only lie to him but to be seen dancing with the man he once loathed was more than even the usually calm Xiao Lin could endure.

Seeing the veins bulging on Xiao Lin’s forehead, Ma Yunrou felt a chill of terror. She knew he wouldn't hit her, but she was still frightened. She regretted her actions bitterly; if Xiao Lin were to break up with her in a fit of rage, her million-dollar payout and her spot at the Kyoto Film Academy would all vanish like bubbles.

Ma Yunrou hadn't invited Liu Zhibo because she liked him. No girl would fancy a guy that ugly and stupid, least of all the vain Ma Yunrou. She had only been with him initially because he could help her get into the film academy. Once she reached her goal, she had dumped him immediately. She never expected that Liu Zhibo would be so incensed that he would pull strings to have her expelled.

Although she hated Liu Zhibo for that, she was a vain, materialistic person who only valued profit. After helping Lin Yuemei, she had not only regained her spot at the academy but also received an extra million. Suddenly feeling empowered, she had spent the last few days treating old friends to meals and showing off her new clothes, cosmetics, and the news of her return to school. She didn't want Xiao Lin to know about this, so she had lied, saying she had gone back to her hometown. Today, while dining with some friends, a girl mentioned Liu Zhibo, and Ma Yunrou hatched a scheme. She thought she was "successful" now and wanted to flaunt it in front of the people who had once looked down on her to satisfy her vanity. That was why she had called Liu Zhibo to meet at the Grand Fortune Disco.

She never imagined that Xiao Lin, who never went to discos, would show up and catch her in the act.

"Wuwu, Xiao Lin, I hate that jerk too! He lied to me, claiming he could get me into the Kyoto Film Academy. I believed him, but I was kicked out after only a week—all because of that bastard! I had no idea I would run into him at the disco tonight; I haven't had any contact with him at all! Xiao Lin, you have to believe me!" Ma Yunrou played the victim, her tears streaming down her face, looking incredibly pitiful.

"Then why did you lie and tell me you went to your hometown? If you wanted to come to a disco, you could have asked me to take you. Why come alone? Don't you know how dangerous that is?" Looking at her tears, Xiao Lin, despite his skepticism, didn't have the heart to press her further.

"I didn't come alone. I came with Qing’er and the others, but they had to leave early, and I was just about to go too." Ma Yunrou was committed to her lie.

"Really?" The explanation was too thin. How could it be such a coincidence that her friends left right as Liu Zhibo arrived? Xiao Lin’s face remained etched with deep suspicion.

Seeing that he didn't believe her, Ma Yunrou suddenly threw her arms around him and sobbed. "Xiao Lin, I know you still hate me, and you still blame me for leaving back then. I know I was wrong, I really do. Ever since I left you, I’ve regretted it every single moment. Every day I think about our past. That night, when you were with me, I was so happy—truly—because you had come back to me. Please, forgive me, Xiao Lin. Let’s never be apart again." She played the part of the helpless, sobbing girl perfectly. Anyone who didn't know her true colors would have been moved.

Xiao Lin was no exception. It was impossible not to care about a former lover you had once loved so deeply. Although his heart now belonged to Wang Yuqing, Ma Yunrou’s words reminded him of their night together. He sighed inwardly and gently patted her back.

"Alright, stop crying. You’re not a child anymore. I’ll let it slide this time, but don’t lie to me again."

Hearing this, Ma Yunrou breathed a sigh of relief; she knew she had made it through. Just then, she saw a group of people walking out of the disco, Wang Yuqing among them. Ma Yunrou immediately hugged Xiao Lin tighter. Because Xiao Lin had his back to the entrance, he didn't notice their arrival.

Having failed to find Xiao Lin inside, Wang Yuqing and the others had stepped out to see if he was outside, only to walk right into the scene of Xiao Lin holding Ma Yunrou.

"What is this? Tell me I’m not seeing things—is Xiao Lin actually hugging Ma Yunrou?" Ye Hao rubbed his eyes vigorously, unable to believe his sight.

"I haven't had a drink today, so why do I feel so dizzy?" Haozi muttered.

Only Wang Yuqing and Shangguan Xueer knew that Xiao Lin and Ma Yunrou were back together. When Wang Yuqing had come to tell them that Xiao Lin had seen Ma Yunrou and looked upset, Zhang Zhenghao and the others had rushed over, thinking Xiao Lin was triggered by bad memories and needing comfort. They never, in their wildest dreams, imagined they would see this.

As for Wang Yuqing, seeing Xiao Lin holding Ma Yunrou made her stagger. That warm embrace had once belonged to her, and now it was occupied by another girl. Even though she wanted Xiao Lin to be happy, her heart couldn't help but twist with sharp pain.

"I have something to take care of, I’m leaving." Fighting back tears, Wang Yuqing turned and ran. Seeing this, Shangguan Xueer immediately understood. She chased after her, pulled the heartbroken girl into her car, and sped away.

Xiao Lin noticed Wang Yuqing running off and quickly pulled away from Ma Yunrou, only to find everyone else staring at him in shock. Xiao Lin’s mouth twitched.

They had been found out after all.