Chapter 2023: Some Things Are Useless Even If You Try

Wei Yangyang pursed her lips and smiled, then asked, "How did you know?"

"Because you are always smiling, and you seem to be in a very good mood. So, what happy event has happened?"

There was actually nothing that couldn't be said about the matter between Wei Yangyang and Li Xingyan.

Since Lao Qin asked, Wei Yangyang answered truthfully, "I've started dating."

"Really? Congratulations, congratulations! Oh, is your boyfriend the gentleman who helped you out of that predicament the other day?"

"Mm, it's him. His surname is Li; his name is Li Xingyan."

No sooner had Wei Yangyang finished speaking than she heard the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground behind her.

She hurriedly turned to look and saw Yi Xiang standing there, his face drained of color.

Yi Xiang had rushed over, travel-worn and weary, intending to give Wei Yangyang a surprise.

And yet...

At this moment, Yi Xiang felt his mind go completely blank.

His lips moved, and he asked in a strained voice, "You... are together with Li Xingyan?"

Wei Yangyang responded very calmly, "Yes."

"When did this happen?"

"Just recently."

"Oh."

Yi Xiang's tone grew increasingly stiff.

The aura radiating from his entire being was also very oppressive.

Lao Qin sensed that something wasn't right, so he found an excuse to leave first.

Now, only Wei Yangyang and Yi Xiang were left in this corner.

Yi Xiang desperately wanted to appear carefree.

But he couldn't do it.

His lips moved several times before he said in a hoarse voice, "I should be congratulating you, but... I've already become famous, so why did you end up with someone else!?"

Wei Yangyang's expression remained very indifferent.

She replied, "I never said that just because you became famous, I would be with you."

Yi Xiang was dazed for a moment.

Then he said with self-mockery, "That's right, you never promised me anything."

After speaking, Yi Xiang tilted his head back and let out a long sigh.

To be honest, this feigned strength of his was actually quite heartbreaking.

But Wei Yangyang did not show any sign of softening.

She smiled, patted Yi Xiang on the shoulder, and said generously, "In the future, you will definitely meet a girl you like who also likes you!"

At this moment, Yi Xiang didn't want to think about the future.

He only felt aggrieved and miserable.

It felt as if a hole had been torn in his heart.

But he didn't want Wei Yangyang to look down on him, so he lifted his chin as if nothing were wrong and said, "That goes without saying. I'm so handsome and dashing, so striking—many girls are captivated by me!"

"Mm, then I wish you success in your career and fulfillment in love."

Wei Yangyang's well-wishes were very sincere. It was just that they sounded... as if the two of them were about to go their separate ways for good.

Yi Xiang felt panicked and stifled, so he complained, "Don't make it sound like we won't see each other anymore. At the very least, you haven't finished renovating this house yet."

"Ah, don't worry about the house; I will definitely make sure you're satisfied!"

"Actually, as long as you're satisfied, that's enough."

"What did you say?"

Wei Yangyang hadn't heard clearly what Yi Xiang said, so she asked.

Yi Xiang didn't repeat it, but instead brought up something else: "Are you not concerned about whether you can win an award anymore?"

"How could that be! I've started dating, not lost my career ambition!"

"Oh, that's good. I was afraid you'd become slack, so I was just giving you a nudge."

When Yi Xiang said this, he looked completely awkward.

And could Wei Yangyang not see through his insincerity?

But Wei Yangyang didn't expose anything; she just smiled and replied, "You don't need to nudge me; I've always been on edge."

Her smile was very open and honest.

Yi Xiang took a deep look at her.

And this look let him know that, in Wei Yangyang's heart... he had never occupied even the slightest bit of space from beginning to end.

Yi Xiang was utterly dejected.

Meanwhile, while looking down, Wei Yangyang noticed a large bag on the floor.

She was curious and asked, "What is this..."

"Oh, I have something else to do, I'm leaving first!"

Yi Xiang didn't even wait for Wei Yangyang to finish her sentence; he picked up his things and left.

Wei Yangyang was left standing where she was, sighing softly.

She knew that Yi Xiang's infatuation had been misplaced.

She also hoped that Yi Xiang could move on as soon as possible and find the happiness that belonged to him...

Yi Xiang hurried out of the villa and bent down to get into his car.

As the car door closed, Yi Xiang was left alone in the enclosed space, and only then did he reveal a sorrowful expression.

He closed his eyes, his mind replaying over and over the bits and pieces of the time he spent with Wei Yangyang.

And the endpoint of those memories was Wei Yangyang's words: "I'm in a relationship!"

Just those few words made Yi Xiang's heart ache as if it were about to split open!

Amidst a wave of suffocation, Yi Xiang's phone rang.

He immediately opened his eyes and reached for the phone.

Unfortunately, the name displayed on the screen was not the one Yi Xiang was hoping for in his heart.

Yi Xiang lowered his eyes and answered the call in a muffled voice: "Hello?"

"How did the gift-giving go? Was Wei Yangyang moved?"

Yi Xiang glanced at the bag on the passenger seat and gave a bitter smile.

That was the gift he had meticulously prepared for Wei Yangyang.

As it turned out...

Yi Xiang took a deep breath and then said, "The gift wasn't given away."

"Why? Didn't you meet with Wei Yangyang?"

"I met her, but she is already with Li Xingyan, so there is no need for me to give this gift anymore."

Yi Lingluo was silent for a moment, then asked, "So you were still a step too late?"

"Perhaps from the very beginning, I never had the qualifications to enter this game."

Yi Xiang's mood was low, and his voice was very deep as he spoke.

Yi Lingluo could not stand his self-pitying manner.

He said, "Since you are so reluctant to let go, then win her back."

"Win her back? Wei Yangyang is stubborn; she has developed genuine feelings. Tell me, what do I have to compete with Li Xingyan?"

"You can definitely still fight for it; it just depends on whether you put in the effort or not."

"I have tried, I tried very, very hard, but I still failed!"

"That only means you didn't try hard enough, or you tried in the wrong direction. You, show the same momentum you use to defy Mom and Dad; with that momentum, are you still afraid you can't handle one woman?"

Yi Lingluo spoke with an air of indifference.

It was as if pursuing a woman was just overcoming a difficult problem.

But things are not that easy!

Yi Xiang sighed heavily: "Relationships are not like doing business; effort doesn't always lead to results."

"That also depends on who is putting in the effort."

Yi Lingluo was inexplicably confident.

And Yi Xiang did not want to continue this ineffective communication with his brother.

He rubbed his temples and said, "You, just focus on your business and don't get involved in matters of the heart."

"If you weren't my younger brother, I wouldn't even bother getting involved. By the way, don't schedule any work for the first of next month; come home."

"Why? Whose birthday is it?"

"It's not a birthday, it's my engagement day."

Yi Xiang was stunned.

After a few seconds, he blurted out: "You, engaged!?"

"That's right."

"But when did you start dating? How come I didn't know anything about it?!"

"I'm not dating; I met the girl twice, thought she was good, and decided to make the relationship official."