Before Lan Lan could think deeply, Zhou Bing continued, "Can you tell me how you two met?"
This was not something Liang Yu Feng had asked her to act out; it was purely Zhou Bing's curiosity. Even in the short time they had known each other, she could see how deeply Liang Yu Feng was fixated on Lan Lan.
She had tried to probe him indirectly, but Liang Yu Feng refused to answer. Fearing she might anger him, Zhou Bing dared not discuss it with him. However, her curiosity only grew. Now that she had met the other party involved, she wondered if she could get an answer.
"We were university classmates," Lan Lan never thought that her past with Liang Yu Feng was something to be hidden. Since Zhou Bing was so forthright, she was no less so. "We dated for a while in our freshman year, then broke up."
"People have their base instincts. I was the one who broke up with him back then. The esteemed Mr. Liang, having never been dumped in all these years, probably remembered me," Lan Lan told Zhou Bing. "Once he gets this anger out of his system, he and I will be fine."
Zhou Bing felt like she had stumbled upon a juicy piece of gossip. She had initially thought Liang Yu Feng and Lan Lan met at work, perhaps Liang Yu Feng pursued Lan Lan and failed, or they were in a push-and-pull, ambiguous phase, which led Liang Yu Feng to come up with the idea of her "pretending to be his girlfriend" to stimulate Lan Lan and escalate their relationship. To her surprise, they had this history.
Dating in their freshman year, they must have been only eighteen or nineteen then? And Liang Yu Feng was the one dumped by Lan Lan... Someone like him could also be rejected?
Zhou Bing had only ever seen Liang Yu Feng reject others; she could hardly imagine what it would be like for him to be rejected.
"So that's how it is. He never mentioned your past," Zhou Bing said with a smile. "I thought you met at work."
Lan Lan smiled and shook her head, but inwardly she thought, of course Liang Yu Feng wouldn't mention it. It wasn't a past worth reminiscing about; it was likely the most dismal chapter in his glorious life, which was why he still couldn't come to terms with it.
"Then how did you get back together?" Zhou Bing asked. "You two must have started before I started dating him."
Lan Lan was surprised by Zhou Bing's magnanimity. She even wondered if Zhou Bing and Liang Yu Feng's relationship was genuine. Would any woman be so friendly to her fiancé's "lover," even sitting down to listen to their interactions?
As if sensing Lan Lan's confusion, Zhou Bing added, "You're no threat to me. He has already promised me that no matter how many women there are outside, he will only marry me."
What familiar words. Lan Lan chuckled, suddenly feeling her worries were unnecessary. She knew many women who married into wealthy families who had the same mindset as Zhou Bing.
She couldn't quite tell who was more naive. Although she enjoyed her freedom, she had never treated marriage as a transaction, which was why she chose not to marry. But some people could commodify marriage. In such exchanges of benefits, feelings and loyalty became the least valuable things; contracts were the anchors that maintained the stability of relationships.
Lan Lan had thought Zhou Bing must really like Liang Yu Feng, but after hearing her say this, she dismissed the idea.
"Have you thought about marrying him?" Zhou Bing asked again when Lan Lan remained silent. This question, she was asking on Liang Yu Feng's behalf.
Upon hearing this, Lan Lan chuckled again. "I have no plans to get married in the near future."
Zhou Bing: "He's such a good catch, you really haven't thought about it?"
Was this tone a test? Afraid she might change her mind one day and shake her status as the "future Mrs. Liang"?
"There are many men who pursue me who are also good catches," Lan Lan said. "I'm not interested in marriage."
Zhou Bing: "..." She could only silently mourn for Liang Yu Feng in her heart. Lan Lan was truly not an easy woman to handle.
Zhou Bing fell silent. Lan Lan, thinking she was worried, explained the whole story. "He and I had already ended things, but now there's a problem. I need to let him get his revenge to his heart's content before I can leave, otherwise my career will be ruined. Don't worry, I won't pester him, nor do I want to be his Mrs. Liang."
Before Zhou Bing could say anything, she caught sight of Liang Yu Feng coming down the stairs out of the corner of her eye. They had been engrossed in their conversation with Lan Lan and hadn't heard footsteps. At this moment, only Zhou Bing noticed Liang Yu Feng. Lan Lan realized Liang Yu Feng had come downstairs only when she saw Zhou Bing glancing around.
She ended the topic, but her expression remained natural, not feeling that she had said anything inappropriate. Seeing Lan Lan's composed demeanor, Zhou Bing suddenly felt sympathetic towards Liang Yu Feng.
It would be too difficult to win Lan Lan over...
Before long, Liang Yu Feng had returned and sat beside Zhou Bing. They were close, and Zhou Bing could clearly feel the chill emanating from him, making her tremble. However, with Lan Lan present, she not only couldn't tremble but had to feign affection with Liang Yu Feng.
"Are you done with your work?" Zhou Bing asked Liang Yu Feng.
Liang Yu Feng replied with a curt "Mm," his indifferent response creating an awkward silence. Zhou Bing subtly winked at him and said, "Why hasn't lunch arrived yet? I'm so hungry. Can you hurry them up?"
"Mm, I'll call and ask," Liang Yu Feng said to Zhou Bing. "There's bread in the refrigerator. Would you like to eat some to tide you over?"
Zhou Bing put on a show. "Then go get it for me."
This was a privilege exclusive to a fiancée. Lan Lan didn't find Zhou Bing's behavior excessive; she was quite cute. She wasn't problematic and knew what she wanted.
Unfortunately, Liang Yu Feng was oblivious to her charm. He didn't move for a long time. Zhou Bing swayed his shoulder and acted coquettishly. Liang Yu Feng said, "I'm on the phone, it's inconvenient."
"I'll go get it," Lan Lan offered to take on the task. It happened that she also wanted to get some milk from the refrigerator, and finally, she had an opportunity.
"Then I'll have to trouble you," Zhou Bing said without being polite to Lan Lan.
Lan Lan went to the dining room, and Liang Yu Feng distanced himself from Zhou Bing, his aura becoming even colder. Zhou Bing dared not say anything and waited quietly.
Liang Yu Feng's refrigerator always had milk and bread. Lan Lan got the bread for Zhou Bing and found a packet of toast for herself, along with two boxes of cold milk. Zhou Bing politely said "Thank you," and the two of them ended up eating in the living room.
Lan Lan was too hungry and ate three slices of toast, finishing all the milk. If lunch hadn't been delivered, she might have eaten the entire packet of toast.
Lunch was ordered from a very famous private kitchen in Nanjiang City. This restaurant did not offer delivery; only supreme members could enjoy exclusive delivery services. Liang Yu Feng used his wealth to ensure Lan Lan also got to eat at this restaurant.
Lan Lan was quite picky about her food, and this restaurant was among her favorites.
The three of them sat down at the dining table and began their lunch in a rather peculiar state.
Lan Lan had never imagined that one day she would be dining at the same table with Liang Yu Feng and his fiancée, especially knowing each other's identities.