Chapter 474: Cheng Yuan, You Can’t Give Zhixuan Happiness

Chapter 474: Chapter 474: Cheng Yuan, You Can’t Give Zhixuan Happiness

He Zhixuan quickly hung up, not giving her uncle any time to scold her.

She might have sounded domineering, but she was actually a nervous wreck. Her heart was about to leap out of her throat!

After a good ten seconds, He Zhixuan finally calmed down and looked at Cheng Yuan pitifully. "Junior, you wouldn’t just leave me to die, would you?"

Cheng Yuan smiled faintly. "Didn’t we just agree? I can pretend to be your boyfriend to help you get out of this engagement."

He Zhixuan’s lips curled up slightly. ’Pretending is just the first step. What I want is much more than just pretending!’

"Cheng Yuan, can you not go back to the hotel just yet? Stay with me for a bit. If my uncle finds me and you’re not here, my cover will be blown."

"Well... alright."

As they were speaking, He Zhixuan’s phone rang again. Seeing the name on the screen, she let out a small sigh of relief and answered.

"Ruyan, are you here?"

"I am. I’m waiting for you at the domestic arrivals exit of Terminal T2."

"Okay, we’re on our way."

"We? Who are you with?"

"A junior from my school. I’ll tell you when we meet!"

...

Five minutes later, Cheng Yuan and He Zhixuan walked out of the airport.

Not far off, a silver Audi A6 was parked on the side of the road.

Leaning casually against the car door was a girl in professional attire. Even without makeup, she was at least an eight out of ten. She wore black-rimmed glasses and had a cold, unapproachable air about her.

This was one of He Zhixuan’s two best friends—Liu Ruyan.

Liu Ruyan was a senior partner at a well-known law firm.

In Gui City, she was definitely considered a high-end professional.

Liu Ruyan was known for being cold and heartless. She never minced words, not even with clients. But when she saw He Zhixuan, a gentle smile softened her icy expression.

Liu Ruyan and He Zhixuan had grown up together. Liu Ruyan’s family was extremely poor, and she had been so severely malnourished that she had even fainted from hunger in class a few times.

Ever since He Zhixuan learned about Liu Ruyan’s situation, she had brought her a carton of yogurt and two eggs every day.

To Liu Ruyan, He Zhixuan was more than just a best friend; she was an angel.

"Zhixuan, you’re back?"

Liu Ruyan strode forward and gave He Zhixuan a big hug.

After a good five or six seconds, Liu Ruyan let her go.

He Zhixuan smiled and made the introductions. "Ruyan, this is Cheng Yuan, my junior. Cheng Yuan, this is Liu Ruyan, one of my two best friends."

Cheng Yuan proactively extended his hand. "Miss Liu, hello."

Cheng Yuan??

The smile on Liu Ruyan’s face instantly froze as she shot Cheng Yuan a cold look.

Evidently, she had heard He Zhixuan mention the name "Cheng Yuan" so many times she was sick of it!

Liu Ruyan didn’t shake his hand. Instead, she said coldly, "I was doing just fine. But now that I’ve seen you, I’m not fine at all."

Cheng Yuan froze. ’This is the first time I’m meeting this Miss Liu, isn’t it?’

’Why does Miss Liu have so much animosity toward me?’

"Miss Liu, have we met before?"

"No, but your name certainly precedes you. Cheng Yuan, as an ex-convict, you need to be clear about your own status! Don’t go getting ideas about a swan. I’m warning you, from now on, stay away from Zhixuan."

Cheng Yuan’s expression darkened. He Zhixuan was the one who had approached him, and she was the one who had asked for his help. How did that turn into him pestering her in Liu Ruyan’s mouth?

He Zhixuan knew Liu Ruyan’s temper all too well and quickly tried to smooth things over. "Junior, don’t mind her! Ruyan’s temper is a bit strange, but she has a good heart. She didn’t mean it like that."

Liu Ruyan spoke in a tone of deep exasperation. "Zhixuan, you know that’s exactly what I mean. You were heartbroken over this ex-convict for three whole years! I can’t let him keep hurting you!"

Cheng Yuan was taken aback, and the anger in his heart gradually faded.

’She was heartbroken over me for three whole years?’

If that was the case, it was no wonder Liu Ruyan couldn’t stand the sight of him.

Cheng Yuan explained, "Miss Liu, rest assured, I won’t pester your friend. I’m just helping her call off her engagement."

Call off the engagement??

Liu Ruyan scoffed. "You, Cheng, aren’t you despicable? It’s better to tear down ten temples than to ruin a marriage. Zhixuan finally found a good match. Why are you trying to sabotage it?"

A good match?

Cheng Yuan froze and looked at He Zhixuan in confusion. "Senior, didn’t you say your fiancé was some rich playboy?"

He Zhixuan bit her lip and said nothing. Beside her, Liu Ruyan scoffed again. "Rich playboy? Pei Yuanbin started taking over the family business in his junior year of college. In five years, he’s tripled the Pei Group’s output value! How could Pei Yuanbin possibly be a rich playboy? He’s clearly an outstanding diamond bachelor!"

Huh??

Cheng Yuan was a little dumbfounded. He asked with a baffled expression, "Senior, what’s really going on? Your fiancé isn’t a rich playboy? Why did you lie to me?"

He Zhixuan gave a bitter smile. "Pei Yuanbin really does have a great mind for business and a lot of foresight, but... there’s a bit too much gossip about his love life, and I don’t like it."

An expression of understanding dawned on Cheng Yuan’s face.

But Liu Ruyan didn’t agree with He Zhixuan. "Zhixuan, that gossip you’re talking about is just a bunch of baseless rumors. Most of it is fake news made up by gold diggers trying to get close to Pei Yuanbin. According to my investigation, Pei Yuanbin has been deeply devoted to you since high school and has never even dated anyone else. He is absolutely a good match."

He Zhixuan bit her lip lightly and remained silent.

She couldn’t refute Liu Ruyan’s words because Pei Yuanbin really was a high-quality suitor.

If she hadn’t run into Cheng Yuan today, He Zhixuan probably wouldn’t have been able to hold out much longer and would have compromised with fate, marrying a man who liked her.

Cheng Yuan finally understood. His senior’s fiancé wasn’t as bad as she had made him out to be.

"Senior, if someone has liked you since their senior year of high school and has persisted until now, that’s really something. He might be worth considering."

He Zhixuan flared up, shouting, "It’s one thing for Ruyan to try and persuade me! Cheng Yuan, are you trying to push me toward another man too? Yes! Pei Yuanbin likes me! But what does him liking me have to do with me? I don’t like him! Don’t I, He Zhixuan, have the right to pursue love?"

Cheng Yuan quickly waved his hands. "Of course not. You have every right to pursue love, Senior."

"Then that’s settled. Get in the car."

He Zhixuan huffily got into the car and sat in the back seat.

Cheng Yuan sighed and went to join her in the back, but Liu Ruyan raised a hand to stop him.

"Cheng Yuan, Zhixuan is just being stubborn right now. One day, she’ll see reason. You’re just an ex-convict. You can’t give Zhixuan happiness. I suggest you don’t get any ideas about her. As long as I’m here, your scheme will never succeed!"

Even with his good temper, Cheng Yuan was starting to get angry. He said coldly, "Miss Liu, this is the first time we’ve met. Do you know anything about me? What gives you the right to decide that I can’t make her happy? But you can rest assured about one thing: I have no improper designs on your friend. I’ll be leaving Gui City soon."