Chapter 21: I'm Sorry

“Who the hell are you?”

Just as they were about to watch some spicy action, the mood was suddenly ruined. Someone felt an immediate surge of irritation; had it not been for the fact that the intruder was a girl who was quite easy on the eyes, they likely wouldn't have restrained themselves and would have instead burst into a string of curses.

“It’s Sister-in-law!”

That was right.

The one pushing open the door was Ai Qian.

Some people in the private booth didn't recognize her, but others had seen her before.

“Sister-in-law, you're here! Come, sit down.”

Ai Qian turned a deaf ear to the sycophantic voices, staring straight at Liang Zhenlun and Zhao Ning'er, who were still embracing. Her hands clenched tightly, her heart filled with an indescribable rage.

As boyfriend and girlfriend, it was one thing that he hadn't told her about his birthday.

But to actually be snuggling and acting intimate with another girl—if she hadn't walked in just now, would they have already started performing a full-blown erotic scene?!

After a moment of daze, Liang Zhenlun finally unclasped his arms from Zhao Ning'er's waist with unhurried composure. Zhao Ning'er hurriedly pushed herself a few steps away, awkwardly smoothing her hair.

Caught red-handed by his official girlfriend while fooling around, Liang Zhenlun didn't show even a shred of shame. He nonchalantly patted down his clothes, frowned slightly, and even asked back, “Why are you here?”

Ai Qian noticed the strange looks the people in the booth were giving her. Humiliation and anger gnawed at her heart like ants. She desperately wanted to lash out, to curse this scumbag, but she understood that if she truly did, she would undoubtedly be abandoned without mercy.

She wasn't ready to break up yet.

“I came to spend your birthday with you.”

Ai Qian forced a smile. With immense willpower, she suppressed all her negative emotions, acting as if she hadn't seen anything at all.

It was admirable, yet tragic.

Liang Zhenlun's brow remained unrelaxed; clearly, he did not welcome his girlfriend's arrival. However, with so many eyes watching, as a man, he couldn't exactly kick his girlfriend out. He could only suppress his displeasure and gesture toward a seat.

“Sit.”

Ai Qian didn't know how she managed to sit down. As these men and women greeted her with hypocrisy, she merely nodded and smiled in a numb, mechanical fashion. Even though it was her boyfriend's birthday, she seemed completely out of place, and her arrival seemed to have dampened the atmosphere, making her a spoilsport.

Looking at Liang Zhenlun, who wouldn't even speak to her, Ai Qian began to regret it. Was following Wei Chuyin's suggestion to rush over in the rain tonight truly the right decision?

“Zhenlun, let's sing a song together?”

Since she was already here, she had to make an impact. She had humbled herself and come uninvited for the sole purpose of repairing her relationship with her boyfriend.

Thus, even though Liang Zhenlun was indifferent, she didn't take offense. Instead, she took the initiative to show goodwill, exerting the utmost feminine tenderness.

“Brother Liang, you certainly know how to manage your woman.”

The guy drinking with Liang Zhenlun gave a subtle thumbs-up.

Liang Zhenlun appeared indifferent, but in truth, he felt quite self-satisfied. However, he didn't intend to forgive Ai Qian so easily. He said flatly, “My throat is uncomfortable. Sing it yourself.”

Ai Qian's smile froze. She felt as though her dignity was being thrown onto the ground and trampled underfoot.

“Sister Ai, let's sing it.”

A girl felt a pang of sympathy, picked up the microphone, and gave Ai Qian a way out.

After singing a song, Ai Qian, who felt like she was suffocating in the room, excused herself to go to the restroom. Forget about accompanying him—Liang Zhenlun was busy shaking the dice cup with his rowdy friends, not sparing her a single glance.

In the corridor, Ai Qian walked like a walking corpse, her heart freezing over.

As she passed a private booth, a waiter happened to be coming out. Lost in thought, she didn't notice and walked straight into him.

“I'm sorry, are you alright?”

The waiter, dressed in a small suit, was quick-handed and instinctively caught her before she could fall.

As their eyes met, the vacant expression in Ai Qian's eyes flickered, like ripples appearing on a stagnant pond, as her spirit gradually returned.

“Jiang... Chen?”

Seeing Ai Qian here, Jiang Chen was also quite surprised. However, he remained professional; once he saw her steady herself, he quickly let go.

“Please watch your step.”

With that, he intended to walk away.

“Wait!”

Without thinking, Ai Qian almost instinctively grabbed his wrist.

“Why are you here?”

“I'm working here.”

Only then did Ai Qian notice the small suit he was wearing, and her heart couldn't help but skip a beat.

She knew, of course, that Jiang Chen often worked part-time jobs off-campus, but she had never cared about where exactly he was or what kind of work he did.

Those memories, once considered worthless, resurfaced in her mind like old photographs caught in a breeze.

At this very moment.

She finally realized how sincere and precious Jiang Chen's feelings for her had been back then.

“I'm sorry.”

Ai Qian's voice trembled. As she gazed at the young man who had once been her everything, tears shimmered in her eyes.

This time, there was no pretense.

In that booth just now, she had been a clown, devoid of any dignity.

How similar was the former Jiang Chen to the man before her?

Finally feeling the weight of it, tears rolled from the corners of Ai Qian's eyes, streaming slowly down her cheeks. She murmured, repeating herself once more.

“I'm really sorry.”

“Everything I did before was of my own free will. I also said, there is no need for apologies between us.”

Standing to the side, Jiang Chen slowly pulled his hand away from hers.

“I have work to do. Excuse me.”

His footsteps gradually faded away.

Ai Qian reached out, wanting to grab him, but her hand fell weakly by her side halfway through. She turned around, watching that back—not particularly muscular, yet resolute—disappear at the end of the corridor. She laughed and cried simultaneously, looking almost crazed.

————

“Young Master Liang, Sister-in-law has been gone for a long time. Do you want to go check on her?”

Hearing the reminder from his friend, Liang Zhenlun looked around and realized his girlfriend indeed hadn't returned.

Although the V-Group's security was powerful, one could never guarantee that accidents wouldn't happen in a place like this.

“I'll go take a look.”

Reluctantly, Liang Zhenlun was about to head out to find her when Ai Qian pushed the door open and walked back in, perfectly fine.

Moreover, she seemed to have washed her face; her exquisite makeup from before was gone. Her bare face revealed a unique kind of purity that, set against the smoky, chaotic atmosphere of the booth, was even more striking.

Even Liang Zhenlun was momentarily stunned.

Ai Qian gave him a smile.

Liang Zhenlun composed himself, his tone softening slightly as he asked with a semblance of concern, “Are you feeling unwell?”

“I'm fine.”

Ai Qian shook her head. Aside from her voice being a bit raspy, her emotions seemed perfectly normal. She said reasonably, “You go back to playing.”

Liang Zhenlun felt she was acting a bit strange, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong. He didn't bother thinking too much about it and gave a lukewarm nod.

“Order whatever you want to eat or drink.”

This didn't sound like a boyfriend's care for his girlfriend; it sounded more like a condescending—

Alms.

*Ring, ring...*

Liang Zhenlun's phone rang.

He pulled it out and answered.

A sultry, charming voice came from the other end.

“Young Master Liang, which booth? We've arrived.”

(End of Chapter)