Chapter 136: Know Their Fate

Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Know Their Fate

"Oh... He is not bad... But he is not the sole owner." Qiao Meixia stated quietly.

"What? The shop has two co-owners?" Ruan Jiaojiao asked, leaning in.

"Hmm... It’s run by him and his wife." Qiao Meixia clarified with a nod.

"Oh... He is already married." Ruan Jiaojiao let out a theatrical sigh, her voice tinged with exaggerated disappointment.

Shen Meiling immediately reached over and playfully flicked Ruan Jiaojiao’s forehead.

"Ouch! That actually hurt!" Ruan Jiaojiao whined, rubbing the spot on her forehead.

"I barely touched you! And honestly, what crazy thoughts are running through your head? Do you seriously want to run off and marry a humble pastry chef? Do you actually think your father would ever allow such a thing?" Shen Meiling scolded her with a raised brow.

Ruan Jiaojiao let out a soft, bashful chuckle. "I am just joking around, of course."

Shen Meiling looked at her closely. Even though Ruan Jiaojiao claimed she was merely teasing, Shen Meiling knew with absolute clarity what lay buried deep within her friend’s heart.

They were, after all, daughters raised within prestigious, high-society families. They had grown up fully aware that their lives, futures, and choices were never truly theirs to decide. They understood their predetermined fates all too well, knowing that when the time came, their families would inevitably arrange their marriages to align strictly with corporate interests and political alliances. After everything their families had provided for them, they had no real power or choice but to accept that reality.

That was precisely why they could lightly joke about falling head over heels for someone from an ordinary, working-class background, even while knowing deep down how impossible it would be to ever pursue it. Their families would never accept a partner simply because of frivolous feelings like love.

There were far too many rigid factors that had to be weighed first.

Prominent family background.

Elevated social status.

Strategic business connections.

And most importantly, whether that person could bring substantial value and leverage to the family empire in the future.

Ruan Jiaojiao understood all of this better than anyone. That was the sole reason why she kept her romantic fantasies confined to harmless jokes.

Shen Meiling gazed at her friend for a long moment before letting out a soft, resigned sigh. "At any rate, you had better make sure you don’t actually go and fall for some random pastry chef."

"Why? What’s so wrong with being a talented pastry chef?" Ruan Jiaojiao asked, pouting slightly.

"There is nothing inherently wrong with being a pastry chef." Shen Meiling paused, her expression softening with a touch of realistic sympathy. "The insurmountable problem is your father."

Ruan Jiaojiao immediately went quiet. She knew Shen Meiling was speaking the harsh truth. Her father would never, under any circumstances, consent to a match like that.

"Forget it then." Ruan Jiaojiao muttered, shaking off the heavy mood.

"Anyway, what exactly did you end up ordering?" Ruan Jiaojiao’s bright eyes quickly darted back to the dessert box resting in Qiao Meixia’s hands.

"Cake." Qiao Meixia looked down at the neatly packed box.

"We obviously know it’s cake," Shen Meiling laughed softly. "What specific kind of cake did you get?"

Qiao Meixia carefully opened the lid just enough to reveal the contents. Inside rested several exquisitely crafted, picture-perfect desserts.

Ruan Jiaojiao’s eyes lit up instantly.

"Wow!" Ruan Jiaojiao leaned over excitedly. "That looks unbelievably delicious!"

"Did you really custom-order all of these just for yourself?"

Shen Meiling leaned in as well, inspecting the gorgeous array.

"Hmm... I just said what I want." Qiao Meixia nodded. "I ordered them yesterday."

"Just how many pieces did you buy in total?" Ruan Jiaojiao stared at her in mild disbelief.

"Enough." Qiao Meixia tallied the items silently in her mind for a second.

"That completely dodges my question!" Ruan Jiaojiao stated.

"You are really something else, Meixia." Shen Meiling was rendered momentarily speechless before bursting into a genuine laugh.

Qiao Meixia did not bother responding. Instead, she casually picked up one of the delicate pastries from the box and took a small, satisfying bite.

Watching her maintain that usual, unreadable poker face while quietly and blissfully savouring her sweet treat, Shen Meiling and Ruan Jiaojiao exchanged an amused glance.

If there was one undeniable truth they had learned about her, it was that Qiao Meixia truly, unconditionally loved her sweets.

"Meixia, can I please have just one bite?" Ruan Jiaojiao pleaded sweetly.

"You can just have this entire piece." Qiao Meixia offered, pushing a full pastry toward Ruan Jiaojiao.

"No... No... Absolutely not!" Ruan Jiaojiao shook her head frantically. "If I eat this whole piece right now, I would not be able to eat a single thing for the rest of the day!"

Qiao Meixia honestly could not comprehend Ruan Jiaojiao’s frantic calorie-counting logic. In her mind, maintaining your weight was simple. You just needed to exercise regularly. If you happened to eat a bit more than you should, you simply exercised a little harder to burn it off.

However, she was not one to force her own mindset onto others, so she did not push the matter. Since Ruan Jiaojiao genuinely only wanted a single taste, Qiao Meixia held the pastry out so she could take a small bite.

"Mmm... This is heavenly!" Ruan Jiaojiao hummed, savouring the single bite. "Thank you so much, Meixia!"

...

When lunchtime finally rolled around, Qiao Meixia once again politely declined to join the group for a meal outside. The three girls did not press her. After they left the classroom, Qiao Meixia stood up, picked up a heavy sketch notebook, and made her way out into the hallway. She had decided to head back to the quiet garden near the vending machine.

***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko***