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Xia Yuwei smiled at her, neither servile nor overbearing. "It is a pleasure to meet you. And I must thank you again for saving me last time."

"Ha, Sister Xia, you’re too kind! You don’t know, Brother Chen is just like that—always so helpful. When he sees an injustice, he naturally has to step in. I fully support him, too!"

"Honestly, that man was just despicable. Does a woman really have to look like a mistress just because she’s pretty? I don't think you look like one at all! At the end of the day, that man is just rotten to the core! You should beat him up every time you see him! I even wanted to teach him a lesson myself..."

Bai Yixuan spoke with such righteous indignation and such a relentless flow that she felt it wasn't enough, swinging her arm through the air for emphasis.

Xia Yuwei noticed that Bai Yixuan’s voice was loud enough to draw several strange looks. It was all because of that comment about whether she looked like a mistress. Perhaps it was human nature to be gossipy, as people immediately wanted to see if the woman being discussed really looked the part.

"What exactly does a mistress look like?" a girl in a nearby couple whispered to her boyfriend.

"Like the one behind you. She looks innocent, but her eyes are bewitching and alluring..."

The girl turned to peek at Xia Yuwei, who remained calm and smiling. The girl murmured, "No way..."

"That’s where you don't understand. Men are most easily swayed by women like that."

"Wow, so what about you? Are you swayed by her too?" the girl immediately retorted in a huff.

Sensing he was about to get into trouble, the man quickly refocused on his girlfriend to clarify, "Me? Of course, I only love you..."

Xia Yuwei remained smiling, her expression unchanged. Whether Bai Yixuan had said those things intentionally or not, she didn't really care. If she had lived her life minding such rumors, she would have fallen into depression and ended her life long ago.

"Yixuan, why don't we change the subject? Is there something you wanted to see me about today?"

"Ah! Sister, I’m so sorry..." Bai Yixuan seemed to notice the low murmurs around them and suddenly felt embarrassed, her voice dropping.

Just then, a waiter arrived and placed two glasses of orange juice in front of them. "Please enjoy."

Xia Yuwei nodded and smiled at the waiter, then turned to Bai Yixuan. "There’s nothing to apologize for." She simply felt that Bai Yixuan was too young and didn't know how to choose her words.

"Sister, I really like you. You’re so generous and so cute..." Bai Yixuan stuck her tongue out at Xia Yuwei, made a face, rested her elbows on the table, propped her chin up, and asked earnestly, "Sister, I’m curious, what do you usually do to support yourself?" *If you aren't a mistress, then how? Just the jewelry Brother Chen gave you would be enough to live on for half a lifetime...*

"Me?" Xia Yuwei pointed at herself, not expecting such a question. She took a sip of orange juice and set it down. "Oh, I teach some classes, and in the evenings, I write a bit. You know, the internet economy is very developed now. Supporting myself isn't a problem."

"Wow, Sister, does that mean you’re a writer?" Bai Yixuan exclaimed, becoming suddenly excited. "Is it that popular kind of online serial? Wow! That’s so cool! I love reading those! I love mystery and romance stories. Sister, could I read your work?" Bai Yixuan began chattering away again.

"Heh, I’m hardly a writer. It’s just to make ends meet. If you’re interested, just search for 'Xi Man'—'Xi' as in west, 'Man' as in vine." Xia Yuwei wasn't quite used to her boisterous style, and besides, she had no desire to become friends with Lu Yichen’s fiancée. She also didn't believe Bai Yixuan would actually read her books.

"Xi Man, what a beautiful name..." Bai Yixuan clasped her hands together in admiration.

They continued to chat aimlessly, with Bai Yixuan becoming the protagonist. She told Xia Yuwei nothing but stories of the sweetness and troubles between her and Lu Yichen. Xia Yuwei just offered a faint smile.

"...When things are good, I get a whole set of jewelry from the company every year. When things are bad, he won't talk to me for days... Sister Xia, he’s always like this, hot and cold. Tell me, what should I do?"

"Yixuan, if there’s nothing else, I should get going." It was 4:30. Xia Yuwei glanced at her watch and said goodbye. It was time to pick up Yufan from school, though it was a bit early. She had no desire to play the role of a confidante.

*******************************************************************************

The story Bai Yixuan told was also one of childhood sweethearts, only the protagonists were seventeen-year-old Lu Yichen and ten-year-old Bai Yixuan.

He could finally go back to being the big brother figure. That was good.

Xia Yuwei thought this on her way back.

How similar it was to her aunt’s story.

High society, a May-December romance.

A young new love, an aging old flame.

The difference was that her aunt had expressed her dissatisfaction and protest in such a tragic way.

She, however, chose to live well. And to live with a smile.

Heh, similar stories must be happening in this world every moment. Only those who experience them firsthand know the taste. Outsiders always judge rationally, while those inside the story follow their hearts to perform tragedies that many can already see the ending to.

In many respects, parents are right. After all, they have more life experience. They have seen more stories of others.

But when love is intense, how could one take their words to heart?

Thinking of her mother’s smile and her father’s doting, recalling the happy past of her family, Xia Yuwei pulled the car over to the side of the road and buried her head against the steering wheel.

The sun was setting.

*Daddy, Mommy, are you doing well in heaven?*

******************************************************************************

Bai Yixuan sat in the coffee shop, took out her phone, and began to search for the author name "Xi Man."

The first result was the online platform where Xia Yuwei posted her work. She entered the page.

"*Love Cannot Wake*, *Wasted Life of Haggardness*... Oh, I didn't expect this homewrecker to write so many books... The titles sound pretty good... and the ratings are quite high... I really didn't expect that..."

Bai Yixuan dialed a number, gesturing cutely as she spoke, and hung up a moment later.

"I’m being polite to you, so I won't resort to anything violent, but..."

On the screen of her phone, a beautiful, young, and triumphant face was reflected.