Chapter 88: The Bitterness of Chasing After a Lost Love

Shen Qingli understood at once, then shook her head at Ye Qingqing, saying, “I don’t know Su Jing, and I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Hearing this, Ye Qingqing sneered coldly, utterly disbelieving this woman’s one-sided story. “It must be you. Otherwise, how would Su Jing know about this?”

Her obstinacy was infuriating. Shen Qingli found her tiresome, and her expression turned icy in an instant. She spoke in a cold voice, “I’ve already told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t even know Su Jing. There are plenty of people around here, you wouldn’t want them to find out that the campus’ new darling, Ye Qingqing, is here, would you?”

Ye Qingqing’s face, hidden beneath her mask, changed subtly. She hadn’t expected Shen Qingli to threaten her.

The Shen Qingli of the past would never have done such a thing.

Clearly, this Shen Qingli had changed quite a bit.

As expected, without protection, everyone changes.

“Shen Qingli, I hope you’re telling the truth. If you’re lying, I won’t let you off!”

Shen Qingli watched Ye Qingqing’s departing figure in silence.

Suddenly, something occurred to her.

If she was right, Rong Qiaoyi liked Xie Jinchuan. In the memory she’d seen from Ye Qingqing, the person was her. If she and Xie Jinchuan were together, why would Rong Qiaoyi tolerate Ye Qingqing being around her?

What’s more, Rong Qiaoyi had gone to great lengths to pave the way for Ye Qingqing.

There must be something she didn’t know.

Indeed, she had been too preoccupied with Xie Jinchuan back then. Now, looking back, much of it didn’t add up.

Shen Qingli calmed herself, her desire to browse the mall evaporating. She decided to head straight home.

Leaving the mall, she caught sight of a tall, familiar figure.

Instinctively, she turned in another direction, intending to circle around and find her car.

But before she could get away, Xie Jinchuan’s voice called out, “Qingli!”

Shen Qingli pressed her lips together, cursing her bad luck inwardly. Still, she turned to face Xie Jinchuan, who was approaching her, her tone distinctly impatient. “What do you want?”

Xie Jinchuan wasn’t angered by her tone. He simply pressed his lips together and said, “Nothing. What a coincidence, you’re out shopping too?”

Coincidence, my foot. He’d probably been waiting here for her all along.

Shen Qingli didn’t reply. She simply regarded Xie Jinchuan in silence, curious to see what he would say next.

Facing Shen Qingli’s gaze, Xie Jinchuan felt a bit uneasy. But pursuing the woman he wanted required a thick skin. “About that collaboration last time—I think the project’s promising, so I invested a bit. Would you like to have dinner together sometime?”

He acted as if he’d forgotten he was the one who’d driven her away in the first place.

Shen Qingli arched an eyebrow, then smiled. “Sure. Where do you want to eat?”

If Xie Jinchuan dared let her go, she would dare lead him straight into heartbreak.

Green Cilantro, watching from the sidelines, sensed a trace of vengefulness in Shen Qingli’s reply and shuddered with unease.

Oh no—should it inform the Immortal?

But if the Immortal learned that Shen Qingli was just playing hard to get, he might truly give up on her.

If he did, there were only two outcomes: Shen Qingli would grow suspicious and connect the dots back to it, or she’d simply kick Xie Jinchuan to the curb.

Either way, it would end up the scapegoat!

Better to wait and observe. Telling the Immortal outright wasn’t the best idea.

Xie Jinchuan had no idea he’d already fallen into Shen Qingli’s trap. In his mind, Shen Qingli had never been one for schemes.

But he’d forgotten that Shen Qingli was now a match for anyone on the Mingguang Entertainment board—her skills were no less than his.

Given a little time to grow, Shen Qingli could easily stir up a storm in the entertainment industry.

Xie Jinchuan’s eyes brightened in surprise. He hadn’t expected Shen Qingli to agree so readily. It felt almost unreal.

“There’s a restaurant on the first floor. Let’s go there,” he suggested.

Shen Qingli didn’t refuse and simply followed Xie Jinchuan. The two walked off together.

Meanwhile, Ye Qingqing had just finished shopping. The anger Shen Qingli had stirred up had finally subsided, but the moment she saw Shen Qingli walking side by side with Xie Jinchuan, her rage flared anew.

The middle-aged man who’d accompanied Ye Qingqing had bought her plenty of things. Though it wasn’t a fortune, he’d spent enough that he expected something in return.

“Qingqing, now that we’ve finished shopping, why don’t you come to my place for dinner?”

Ye Qingqing’s eyes, hidden behind her sunglasses, flashed with mockery, though her voice was sweet as honey. “But I have something on today. How about we meet another day? I’ll cook for you myself.”

The rejection irked the middle-aged man, but her follow-up soothed him. He nodded. “Alright, let’s meet another time. Call me when you’re free.”

“Of course, don’t worry. You’ve done me such a big favor—I’ll be sure to thank you properly.”

Even though Ye Qingqing’s face was almost entirely covered, the man could still imagine her features, and a flush of desire rose in him.

If he didn’t have to be cautious, he’d have forced her to his home already.

But he couldn’t, not with Rong Qiaoyi behind her.

“I’ll be off, then. Remember to message me when you get home.”

He had another meeting to rush to, and Ye Qingqing knew it. She lingered brazenly at the mall entrance, deliberately stalling until the man finally left.

The moment his figure disappeared from sight, Ye Qingqing whipped out her phone and called Rong Qiaoyi.

“Hello, Qiaoyi?”

Rong Qiaoyi frowned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Why are you calling me all of a sudden? Shouldn’t you be with your patron right now?”

“I was, but he had a meeting to get to, so he left first. But that’s not why I called. Shen Qingli and Brother Jinchuan just went to have dinner together!”

“What?!”

Rong Qiaoyi shouted, slapping her desk and springing to her feet.

Only after a moment did she regain her composure, realizing her reaction was too extreme.

Ye Qingqing was startled by the commotion on the other end, but dutifully embellished her account of the day’s events for Rong Qiaoyi.

Rong Qiaoyi’s resentment toward Shen Qingli deepened.

“This Shen Qingli is utterly shameless! Where are they eating? I’ll go there right now.”

“Caixiang Mall, first floor. The restaurant’s called Sea of Flowers.”

What a romantic name—clearly a place for couples.

What was Shen Qingli up to this time!

Furious, Rong Qiaoyi stormed toward the mall, not even stopping to consider what right she had to confront them.