Chapter 12: Encounter with the Former Lover Once Again

The young lady at the front desk bit her lip and stamped her foot. Her cheeks flushed a rosy pink as she pouted and said, “Who says I don’t keep my word? My name is Liu Fangfang. Wait for me—I’ll call my coworker to cover my shift at the front desk.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you,” Cao Bin replied, signaling OK.

Relaxing on the eve of the apocalypse was indeed a fine choice. Liu Fangfang went to the back to make her call, clearly asking a colleague to come over. Though she seemed shy, her mood was unmistakably cheerful.

Cao Bin took a seat beside the front desk, waiting for Liu Fangfang while mentally reviewing all the trivial details surrounding the coming apocalypse. He needed to have every detail clear—one mistake during those days could be fatal.

While Cao Bin was carefully retracing his plans, the hotel’s main doors swung open once more, and a noisy crowd poured in. Spotting them, Cao Bin was momentarily stunned—many among them were familiar faces.

Some recognized him as well.

“Hey… Bin, what are you doing here?”

The group’s arrival caught him off guard; he hadn’t expected to run into his classmates at this hotel. What surprised him even more was that among them was his ex-girlfriend, Wang Tingting, with whom he’d parted ways not too long ago.

Wang Tingting walked in hand-in-hand with another man, radiating sweetness. He recalled—it had been nearly three months since their breakup. It was normal; a woman could end a relationship, forget her former lover, and embrace a new one in a single day, let alone a hundred.

He didn’t care, nor did he mind. It was best if their paths never crossed again; he wanted nothing to do with her.

But Wang Tingting and her friends were not of the same mind.

She strode over, brimming with hostility, her expression disdainful. “Bin, what’s your deal? Why are you here? We’ve broken up—don’t you know that? There’s no need for you to keep pestering me. What good does following me do?”

“The last time I messaged you, it was only to ask you to explain things, not to rekindle anything between us. There’s nothing possible between us anymore. Stop indulging in false hopes.”

“This is my boyfriend, Zhang Fengwei, captain of our school basketball team. Fengwei, this is Cao Bin, the one I told you about.”

Zhang Fengwei nodded, made his way over, and cheerfully slapped Cao Bin’s shoulder. “Listen, brother, let’s not make things awkward. Breakups should be clean—no need for anyone to linger. Now Tingting’s my girlfriend. I hope you won’t try to get involved with her anymore, alright?”

Cao Bin regarded them as if they were fools. He brushed Zhang Fengwei’s hand off his shoulder and replied calmly, “You go have your fun. Who has time to follow you? I’m here for my own business.”

“Hm?” Wang Tingting looked at Cao Bin with utter disdain. “You’re here for business? What business could you possibly have?”

“It’s none of your concern, is it? No need for you to meddle,” Cao Bin replied without so much as a glance.

He had no intention of wasting time on them, yet his classmates seemed unwilling to let the farce die down.

“Bin, you’re being unreasonable,” someone chimed in. “Even though you and Tingting aren’t together anymore and can’t be lovers, you were classmates for years. You’re making yourself look bad talking like this.”

“Yeah, man, be generous, be open-minded. Don’t let a little heartbreak mess you up—it’s not worth it.”

“And Tingting really cares about you. She’s been searching everywhere for you these past couple of months, and you didn’t give the slightest sign. Even if you’re exes, is this right?”

“You don’t know how many times the school’s come looking for Tingting. She’s always covered for you. You’re lucky to have such an ex.”

“Bin, what are you doing at Peace Hotel anyway?”

“You didn’t hear about us holding a celebration for Zhang Fengwei here tonight, did you? Are you pretending to bump into us just to see Tingting?”

“That trick is way too old, Bin. It’s pointless. Our Fengwei was MVP in the basketball tournament tonight—no matter how you try, you have no chance with Tingting now.”

“Haha… Being Fengwei’s rival is just pitiful—there’s not a single chance for you to fight back.”

Everyone present wore mocking expressions and threw out crude jibes, convinced that Cao Bin had followed Wang Tingting here, playing some tired game of ‘accidental encounter’ to win her back.

Cao Bin was speechless. How did their imaginations run so wild? In his previous life, he’d never experienced anything like this; back then, he and Wang Tingting had still been dating, never broken up.

He truly couldn’t be bothered with these people. They were merely casualties of the coming apocalypse; wasting time on them was pointless. He prepared to leave.

He stood from the high stool, ready to turn away.

But Wang Tingting wasn’t about to let him go so easily. She was irritated by his indifferent expression and reached out, grabbing his backpack.

“Why are you leaving before finishing what you have to say?”

Rip—

Her tug popped the zipper open.

Crash!

The backpack, stuffed full of cash, spilled out in bundles as the zipper gave way.

Gasps echoed as the crowd involuntarily sucked in a breath.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded, the atmosphere frozen.

Wang Tingting was especially stunned, staring in disbelief at the stacks of red banknotes littering the floor.

Cao Bin turned, his face dark, and said coldly to Wang Tingting, “I told you—after our breakup, we have nothing to do with each other. Don’t bother me again. Understand?”

He stooped to pick up the fallen money and stuffed it back into his bag. Just then, Liu Fangfang emerged from the changing room, dressed in her new outfit.

She’d shed her blazer and pencil skirt for a white T-shirt and denim shorts. The ensemble was daring—the shirt was cropped, showing her navel, and the shorts hugged her hips, barely covering them.

A veteran of the hotel, she knew how to showcase herself and her long, slender legs. She carried a small black bag, her hair now styled into twin ponytails.

Bouncing out with youthful energy and striking allure—those ponytails were a real accelerant.

Liu Fangfang paused, surprised at the crowd gathered around the front desk, but she’d already arranged for a colleague to cover her shift; hotel work was the last thing on her mind.

She skipped cheerfully to Cao Bin’s side, naturally wrapping her arm around his and grinning.

“Hehe… Darling, I’m ready. Let’s go.”

“Alright, let’s,” Cao Bin replied, boldly slipping his arm around her slim waist.

It was their first meeting, yet they embraced with such intimacy. Liu Fangfang’s face flushed, but she had no intention of pulling away, her shy head nestling against him.

“Isn’t it a bit too abrupt to get started right away tonight? Why don’t we have some red wine first?” Cao Bin suggested.

“Sure.”

“You must have red wine here, right?”

“Of course, how could we not? We have every brand. Which do you want?”

“The best, of course. Pick the most expensive bottle for me, and arrange some snacks, fruit, maybe barbecue.”

“Why go for the most expensive? Our top bottle is 188,888.”

“If we’re drinking, we drink the best. Go ahead and arrange it.”

“Are you joking?” Liu Fangfang was incredulous.

“Are you worried I won’t pay? Isn’t the cash in this bag enough? In fact, it’s all yours now. That should put your mind at ease,” Cao Bin said, patting his backpack.

“Wow… You’re so bold, brother—I adore you!” Liu Fangfang nearly jumped for joy.

With laughter and chatter, the two headed off to the elevator, leaving Wang Tingting and her group staring in shock, exchanging bewildered glances. Their minds were a tangled mess, unable to make sense of what had just happened.