Chapter 30: Shocked: A One-Meter-Eighty Strong Man Is Targeted by His Ex-Girlfriend

“...It’s just that the two of us had a falling out, Guan Yue went to talk to him on my behalf, and just now he was just teasing you—he’s sometimes a bit erratic.”

Tong Dawei understood—or rather, he saw clearly.

When Dong Xuan came downstairs, besides explaining to him, her eyes never left Yan Li; Yan Li’s attitude toward Dong Xuan and Guan Yue was completely different.

It was very likely he had misunderstood.

Now Tong Dawei started to panic—before, their quarrel had never been resolved, and now wasn’t this adding fuel to the fire?

“Guan Yue, I’m sorry.”

Tong Dawei quickly apologized, but Guan Yue’s face was cold: “What exactly did you do wrong?”

“You’re wrong for caring too much about her.”

Before Tong Dawei could speak, Yan Li chimed in again: “This whole incident happened precisely because this guy cares too much about Guan Yue—concern leads to confusion, confusion stems from deep feeling, a minor lapse in composure, but his intentions were good.”

Tong Dawei clearly understood Yan Li was defending him, nodding vigorously: “That’s right, Guan Yue, I was just afraid you’d break up with me.”

Guan Yue shot Tong Dawei a glare, then turned to Yan Li: “What does this have to do with you? Can you please focus on solving your own problems first?”

“Look at you—I’m trying to bring you two together, and you don’t appreciate good intentions.”

Yan Li was still about to say more, but Dong Xuan could no longer bear it; she grabbed his arm and dragged him upstairs, tossing out one last line.

“You two talk.”

“Good luck, buddy.”

As Yan Li was pushed upstairs by Dong Xuan, he called out one last thing; Tong Dawei wanted to thank him loudly, but seeing Guan Yue’s dark expression, he clamped his mouth shut.

Leaving aside how Tong Dawei and Guan Yue worked things out, Yan Li followed Dong Xuan upstairs into their shared apartment.

It was slightly smaller than the place he lived in Jimen, but more cozy, with all the furniture and appliances fully equipped.

Unlike their graduated vocational class, Dong Xuan’s undergraduate class only entered their third year in September and hadn’t graduated yet, so they could legitimately ask their families for living expenses.

Those attending Beijing Film Academy, while not necessarily from wealthy families, rarely came from poor ones.

For example, Dong Xuan’s father was a professional soldier, but in the cultural division of the choir—he’d served a long time, with a rank equivalent to regimental or deputy divisional level.

Guan Yue’s family background was also good, possibly even better than Dong Xuan’s.

With affluent means and a willingness to spoil their daughters, their living allowances were generous—how could their lives not be far better than those of Zhang Songwen and his broke Beijingers just out of school?

“Drink some water.”

As Yan Li was examining the apartment’s layout, Dong Xuan poured him a glass of water.

“Do you two live here alone?”

“There’s also Yin Xu. Originally Peng Xinyi lived with us too, but she went home due to family matters.”

Yan Li knew both of them—they were fellow performance students from the 2000 class at Beijing Film Academy who got along well with Dong Xuan.

Especially Yin Xu, who was Dong Xuan’s closest friend after Guan Yue.

Yan Li had a good impression of her, because when he and Dong Xuan broke up, Guan Yue urged him to end it, while Yin Xu urged him to reconcile.

For that alone, in Yan Li’s mind, Yin Xu’s image was far superior to Guan Yue’s.

After handing him the water, Dong Xuan leaned in and sat beside Yan Li, her voice soft: “Did you come here today just to see me?”

“Mind your distance—we’re broken up.”

Yan Li shifted slightly away, then pulled two red bills from his pocket.

“I mainly came to return the money for the fan.”

Dong Xuan stared blankly at the money in Yan Li’s hand, her eyes reddening, tears welling up, her voice trembling with disbelief.

“You... you really have to be this cold and clear with me?”

Yan Li sighed and rubbed his forehead: “Enough already. Right in front of Guan Yue, I didn’t even dare expose you—don’t keep pushing it.”

Compared to Qin Lan, Yan Li always felt Dong Xuan was better suited for Qiong Yao dramas.

At least her crying scenes were deeply moving—she excelled at playing pitiful little wives; even when you knew she was acting, it was hard not to be moved.

Exposed by Yan Li, Dong Xuan could no longer keep up the act; she wiped her tears, and her delicate, pure face transformed into the boldness of a Northeastern girl as she stepped forward and demanded:

“Tell me the truth—have you found someone else?”

“No.”

Yan Li firmly denied it, with full confidence—he really didn’t have anyone else, just one more... good friend.

Dong Xuan didn’t believe him: “Then why did you insist on breaking up with me?”

“Sis, you’re the one who broke up with me.”

“But I gave you an out—that was me signaling I wanted to reconcile, so why did you refuse?”

“Didn’t I tell you not to let Guan Yue speak for me? After we broke up, I thought about it—I really was immature in many ways, made you suffer, and I felt bad too. If that’s the case, it’s better to be single—temporarily free from emotional ties, I can fully focus on my career.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Dong Xuan stared hard at Yan Li: “You’re just bored with me and chasing something new—is it that yellow fox, Huang?”

“I haven’t had any contact with her for a long time.”

Dong Xuan pressed: “Then did you meet someone new in Hengdian?”

Yan Li’s expression didn’t change: “I’m not RMB—I don’t get loved everywhere I go.”

Dong Xuan looked at Yan Li uncertainly; he met her gaze calmly, leaving her utterly baffled.

Her entire plan had been for Yan Li to beg her to reconcile, then she’d firmly control him before reluctantly agreeing to get back together, rekindling old feelings.

But Yan Li didn’t follow the script—he kept shouting “single is best” with no hint of reconciliation.

Worse, she’d already shown her hand, lost the initiative, and now the roles were reversed—she was the one begging for reconciliation.

Watching Dong Xuan’s mind begin to fog over, Yan Li placed the money on the table.

“It’s late—I’m going home.”

“You can’t leave.”

Dong Xuan grabbed Yan Li’s arm; seeing he still wouldn’t stop, she bit her lip, rose on her toes, and kissed him full on the mouth.

So what if she looked desperate?

She’d already laid everything out—Dong Xuan was starting to give up all restraint.

She didn’t want to break up with Yan Li, and she couldn’t risk letting him go, fearing they’d be permanently lost to each other.

So she’d hold him down first, then once they reconciled, she’d slowly get her revenge on this bastard and reclaim the dignity she’d lost today.

Yan Li stood over one meter eighty, muscular and strong—yet he couldn’t break free from the kiss of this girl.

He could only flail his hands helplessly against her body, finally stumbling helplessly as she dragged him into the bedroom, his muffled, strained breaths echoing...

————

Downstairs

After coaxing for a long time, Tong Dawei finally calmed Guan Yue down; they lingered a bit, and just as he was about to leave, Guan Yue suddenly noticed the living room light upstairs had been turned off.

“...”

Guan Yue turned to Tong Dawei: “I remember your apartment was a two-bedroom, right?”

Tong Dawei realized it too, nodding with suppressed joy: “Yes, two bedrooms.”

“I’ll stay over at your place tonight—don’t get any funny ideas.”

“No funny ideas, none at all.”

Tong Dawei eagerly led the way for Guan Yue; as he turned a corner, he glanced back toward the apartment building, his eyes filled with gratitude.

That guy named Yan Li just helped him out big time!

Soon after, in Jimen Li community, Zhou Weiwei checked the time, turned off the lights, locked the door, and returned to his bedroom to make a call.

“Old Ghost was right—it’s been almost two hours, he’s probably not coming back.”

“Haha, each owes me a hundred yuan.”

On the other end of the line, Zhang Songwen laughed triumphantly, but Lin Jiachuan, who’d lost a hundred yuan, laughed even louder.

“Haha, I’m going to be Yan Li’s brother-in-law!”

(End of Chapter)