Chapter 184: Pretending to Be Real (1)

Chapter 184: Pretending to Be Real (1)

Back in the system space, Nan Yan dragged her little system out from some hidden corner and then stomped on it with her foot. "You mongrel, what happened to being the universally adored group pet?"

"Despised from beginning to end, utterly unwanted!"

"If it weren't for my exceptional skills, the grass on your grave would be tall enough to bury another you by now."

Did Nanyan still remember how this darn system promised to find her a more relaxed world for a vacation? Well, this was it? Just this?

This much-beloved team mascot truly had a miserable time!

The system, covered in footprints, coughed as it apologized, "My mistake, my mistake. I didn't read the mission world description carefully. Besides, didn't you complete the mission successfully this time?"

Nan Yan chuckled coldly. "Haha, what about the points for that fake pregnancy pill? I didn't spend that much in other worlds. You should at least cover half the cost, right? Let's split it evenly?"

What? What kind of joke was this?

Upon hearing this, the system immediately pretended to be dead. It threw its hands up and leaned back. "Forget it, then. Go ahead and step on me again. No points for you, just this shell. I have other forms, after all."

After all, despite the commotion, matters concerning points had to be settled fairly. It had already provided ample energy for inter-world missions; any further deductions would mean it couldn't sustain itself, let alone consume anything, for the rest of its existence.

Nan Yan could tell what it was thinking just by looking at its demeanor.

This dogged system is indeed more stingy than her!

Frugal as he was, the task at hand still needed to be accomplished.

Before embarking on the task, the system informed Nan Yan that Jin Wu Yan had lost half of his divine soul. His original form was trapped at the depths of Leze Lake, slumbering deeply with no certainty of ever awakening.

It was only later that Nanyan learned that Mirror Yan still had a body trapped in the Divine Realm. However, these matters no longer held much relevance to her at present.

That body of Mirror Yan's had lost half its divine soul and suffered severe damage. Unless it experienced another impactful event or awoke on its own will, most dragons, once injured beyond healing, would gradually fade away in their slumber.

But dragons had incredibly long lifespans, and their slumber was more like a protective mechanism. It wouldn't be easy for them to completely vanish unless a thousand years had passed.

Her dear senior brother had taken her body to the extremely Yin region in the northwest, planning to exhaust himself to gather her soul. But this task seemed even more challenging. She had already returned to the System Space, and the cycle of life and death in the mission worlds no longer concerned her. She didn't tread the same path of reincarnation as they did.

She wondered what state her dear senior brother would be in after exhausting himself to no avail in his attempt to reassemble her soul?

Perhaps she would be disappointed...

Nanyan didn't dwell on these thoughts too much. After visiting so many ancient worlds, she was beginning to feel worn out. The modern world was still the best - the food was more delicious, phones were more entertaining, and there were air conditioners and computers. This was the life for a human!

Although the harder the world, the higher the points, one couldn't live solely for the sake of points!

No way, this time she must visit a modern world no matter what. She wanted to experience the life of the wealthy, at least to indulge in some enjoyment.

With this in mind, Nanyan entered a colorful and vibrant world under the system's arrangement. As soon as she opened her eyes, she took a glance around the room.

The ambient lighting was dim, yet even in the gloomy alcove, one could discern the row of handsome men and beautiful women seated beside. The group was eerily quiet, clearly well-disciplined individuals who had undergone training. All were attentively listening to the lead manager speaking up front.

Well then, the Dog System didn't play her this time. It was indeed the modern world she had been expecting.

As the man above continued his lecture, Nanyan rubbed her aching head, momentarily succumbing to a brief spell of dizziness. Gradually, her mind began to assimilate the main narrative and memories of this new world.

Her fortune this time around was not as favorable; she was the daughter of a poor family in a remote mountain village, with a younger brother who had just started elementary school. The mindset of her parents and elders was extremely outdated and heavily biased towards favoring males over females. They had always believed that education was of little use to a girl, and that it would be more reliable to earn more money. As a result, after Wen Nanyan completed high school, they forced her to marry early, even though she had excellent grades, she was compelled to drop out and start working.

Wen Nanyan felt drained by the parasitic demands of her extended family. The unseen constraints and relentless pressure left her struggling to catch her breath. It became unbearable, especially after her parents received a hefty dowry of two hundred thousand yuan from a local family, thereby forcing her to marry a young man from the town who had broken his leg.

In such circumstances, Wen Nanyan, left with no choice, decided to secretly flee on her own.

She refused to be married off without a clear understanding, and she certainly didn't wish to spend her entire life in such a gloomy existence.

Thus, that very evening, she took her identity card, household registration book, and the thousand yuan she had saved secretly, and escaped alone to the city of Lingcheng. She aimed to break free from the quagmire behind her and seize control of her own destiny.

But this was merely the fleeting existence of a secondary character, glossed over in a few strokes. She was not the main character in this story world; her tale held little significance. She was just a tool for the male lead to provoke his former girlfriend.

The plot of this particular narrative followed the clichéd formula of ancient, sweet romance. Logic mattered little; what counted was the sugary affection between the characters.

Somewhere along the line, the male lead, due to a severe misunderstanding, broke up with his long-term girlfriend. Despite the separation, he still held her in his thoughts, unable to fully let go of their relationship. Yet, he was too proud to swallow his pride and reach out to her for reconciliation.

Ultimately, urged by his close friend's advice, he deliberately sought out a new girlfriend to flaunt his affection in front of his ex, aiming to provoke her jealousy and also to make her regret her actions.

The protagonist is Zhong Ling. Ling refers to the high peak, as he is indeed a lofty flower, an elegant and noble youth admired from afar, blossoming atop a mountain. He is restrained and courteous, even during his relationship with Wen Nanyan, never overstepping any boundaries. They rarely even held hands.

At first, Wen Nanyan took it as a sign of respect and felt a sweet sense of fulfillment. But later on, she realized that the person probably didn't wish to, or perhaps inherently held a subtle disdain and indifference towards her, which was why they had never allowed her proximity from the very beginning.

His former girlfriend, Ruanyao Xiao, takes the lead role in this narrative. The two were a match in terms of status and background, a couple that the entire entertainment circle looked up to as a golden pair.

Zhong Ling is principled and abstemious, while Ruan Xiaoxiao comes from an educated family but has a sunny and sweet disposition. In terms of background, education, and appearance, they are a match made in heaven, perfect for each other.

Almost everyone believed that this lovely couple would soon reach their happy ending and become a model of blissful matrimony within their circle.

Yet, fate had a sudden twist.

They inexplicably broke up.

As for Wen Nanyan, she was merely a catalyst in their relationship, and now, she finds herself in the awkward role of the temporary girlfriend, a pawn in their drama!

The narrative commences with the protagonist discovering that his girlfriend of nearly six years has been unfaithful. He stumbles upon an enigmatic message on her phone:

"Darling, didn't I satisfy you that night? Why won't you be with me?"

Upon reading this, the protagonist reacts with remarkable composure. He restrains his anger and, upon locating Yuan Xiaoxiao, seeks a plausible explanation. He asks who sent the message, what exactly transpired on the night in question, and how long she had been in contact with this person.

Yet, Yuan Xiaoxiao herself is uncertain about that fateful night. They were both studying abroad, and her boyfriend prioritized academics over her. On her birthday, he was engrossed in studies, unable to spare any time for her. Heartbroken, she spent the night recklessly with a group of friends, drowning her sorrows in alcohol at her birthday celebration.

Upon waking the next morning, she found herself sharing a bed with a complete stranger, her head still muddled. She couldn't recall anything from the night before due to the alcohol, yet afterward, the man began sending her intermittent harassing messages.

Tears streaming down her face, she drove the man away. In the immediate chaos of the moment, her first instinct was panic; she impulsively destroyed all evidence, the soiled bedsheets, and then secretly kept the incident concealed for a long time. She fooled herself into believing she could hide it forever.

Yet, to her surprise, her boyfriend eventually found out. Filled with guilt, remorse, and a sense of wrongdoing, Nuan Xiao Xiao was unable to come up with any defense. She remained silent in response.

Yet, such an attitude caused Zhong Lin's heart to sink to the bottom. He believed that his girlfriend was deliberately refusing to explain and was even intentionally hiding information about that man.

How could he tolerate such an attitude?

Despite his efforts, his girlfriend remained reticent, repeatedly claiming ignorance, an attitude that genuinely agitated her boyfriend.

This incident ignited their first irreparable argument since they started dating!

Zhon Ling, usually so composed and rational, was fuming with anger. In a fit of frustration, he decided to end the relationship and promptly returned home for an early graduation.

However, news of their breakup was known only to a select few within their social circle. Their family elders were completely unaware, and both sets of parents were even in the midst of planning their wedding.

Upon returning to China alone, Zhon Ling found no solace. He realized he couldn't let go of his girlfriend; his longing for her deepened with each passing day.

He even began to reflect on himself, wondering if his cold demeanor during his years abroad was the reason behind his girlfriend's infidelity?

But why did she remain so unresponsive even after he took the initiative to end things?

Did she care that much about that man? So much so that she wouldn't spare a single word for him?

Upon returning home, Zhong Ling's mood didn't improve. He thought he could regain his composure and control himself, but he found that he couldn't let go of their relationship.

They had been together almost six years – how could six years of feelings be cast aside so easily?

In truth, he had never mentioned to his girlfriend that he had already planned and designed their future home, tailored to her preferred style. He had intended to propose on graduation day, envisioning that after completing their studies, they could return home and get married together.

But then, this incident occurred at such an unexpected time.

How could he possibly accept it?

Or be content with it?

What made it worse was that after he brought up the breakup, his girlfriend didn't even try to reconcile. This led Zhong Ling to doubt if she had been waiting for him to say those words all along.

The usually amiable Young Master Zhong became somewhat unpredictable due to this matter, and this also affected his circle of friends. Everyone knew that Zhong Ling couldn't let go of his ex-girlfriend, but he was too proud to approach her first. Thus, they began offering him one ill-advised suggestion after another:

To make his ex-regret her decision, he needed to find a new girlfriend who was even more considerate and gentle than she was, and then flaunt their affection in public!

Actually, there was no need for her to be exceptionally outstanding; all that mattered was that she was pretty, docile, and obedient. They should behave intimately together, preferably making a big fuss about it, as if they were just dating casually to ease their emotions.

After hearing so many harebrained ideas, Zhong Ling, perhaps influenced by his misguided friends, momentarily lost his cool. Coupled with his ex's indifferent attitude, he really went out and found himself a girlfriend.

She turned out to be a "princess" from a club, someone not suitable for formal occasions. And it was at this moment that Wen Nanyan finally entered the scene.

When Wen Nanyan initially fled to Lingcheng City with a few thousand yuan, she discovered that life in the metropolis was far from easy. Without a high-level education, she struggled to find decent employment. She yearned for further education but lacked the funds, and when she sought part-time jobs, her youthful appearance and apparent instability deterred potential employers.

Eventually, Wen Nanyan rented a small one-bedroom apartment on the outskirts of the city. Through the recommendation of an acquaintance, she found herself working part-time at a club.

This acquaintance, a kind-hearted woman named Zhou, explained that the club's work wasn't as devious as it seemed, yet it wasn't entirely legitimate either. It was a world of hedonistic excess, where indulgence reigned supreme, but the allure was perilous. One misstep could lead to a swift descent into a quagmire from which escape was difficult.

However, if one had their principles and held onto them firmly, there was still hope for a clean life after earning money.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case for her. Back then, she was young and inexperienced, facing constant rejection in her job search. She couldn't endure hardship and had only her attractive appearance going for her. Tempted by smooth talkers, she chose to sell herself. Initially, she became a kept woman to a coal tycoon, then later worked as a hostess at the club. Over the years, she accumulated a considerable sum, but it was all lost in a failed business venture a few years prior.

While she was aware that such actions were improper, she had still gone ahead and done them. Sister Zhou didn't feel the need to justify her actions with secretive hardships or excuses; it was purely for money and pleasure. Yet, in her youth, she had been too indulgent in these pleasures. Now, as she had grown older, she found herself increasingly regretting her impulsive choices.

Thus, she offered a few extra words of advice to this younger girl, who also came from a less privileged background.

Prompted by the other party, Wen Nanyan indeed held firm to her principles. Well-read and versed in many truths, she was short on funds but not to the point of selling herself out.

Having witnessed firsthand the opulent and decadent lifestyles of the wealthy offspring in those clubs, during her moments of respite, the slender young girl would stand atop a towering rooftop. Gazing down at the city below, where neon lights flickered amidst the bustling traffic, she found her heart growing increasingly serene and lucid. She realized more than ever that only through her own efforts could she lead a peaceful life with a clear conscience.

From then on, she followed Sister Zhou, serving tea and water to guests in the club, slicing fruits. She could earn around seven or eight thousand yuan a month. Although she occasionally encountered men with wandering hands, her wit, combined with Sister Zhou's frequent watchfulness and protection, allowed them to support each other through life, making their days pass tolerably well.

When Wen Nanyan had finally saved a modest sum, she contemplated enrolling in self-study courses to improve her prospects. She yearned for a better environment and work opportunity, a desire that Aunt Zhou wholeheartedly endorsed.

It was precisely at this juncture that Wen Nanyan crossed paths with Zhong Ling.

The Zhong family was one of the most prominent in Lingcheng. Their family conglomerate spanned real estate, hospitality, healthcare, and various scientific research fields. Even if successive generations squandered their wealth, the family's assets were so substantial that they would not be depleted. This was not your ordinary affluent family.

Zhong Ling, on the other hand, was the sole heir to the Zhong family fortune. A person from two entirely different worlds, their paths unexpectedly intersected when he requested her company during a fruit-cutting session for his guests at the club.

Their initial conversations were mundane. But every time he visited the club, Zhong Ling would request her presence for conversation. Gradually, their relationship grew closer.

Zhong Ling began to deliberately take her to various galas and banquets, purchasing elegant gowns for her and exposing her to experiences she had never known before. He even introduced her to his circle of friends.

Wen Nanyan couldn't understand why his friends would sometimes look at her with a peculiar, sympathetic gaze. Nevertheless, she threw herself into this relationship, believing that Zhong Ling genuinely cared for her. After all, he had announced to many of his friends that she was his girlfriend.

This was Wen Nanyan's first experience of true affection. She disregarded Sister Zhou's advice and the fact that, as a club employee, she shouldn't become emotionally entangled with the male guests. She convinced herself that they were in love.

She could save money gradually, and once she had enough, she would find a more respectable job. Eventually, she envisioned buying a small house where they would live with a dog and a cat. She even fantasized about their blissful married life, imagining themselves hand in hand, watching autumn leaves fall in the park...

Such a life seemed too beautiful, so much so that Wen Nanyan would smile in her sleep, waking up from dreams filled with joy.

At the mere thought of those blissful scenes, she genuinely believed that her previous life's hardships were deliberately orchestrated by fate, all to ensure her encounter with this boyfriend.

Her boyfriend was exceedingly polite, never-initiating physical contact, refraining from overstepping boundaries, and abstaining from vulgar language. He was a kind of person Wen Nanyan had never encountered before.

Unlike the patrons in the club who deliberately acted rogue and took advantage of girls, he was distant and refined, akin to a serene moon in the sky. There was a clarity in his brows and eyes that pierced through clouds to reveal sunshine, an aura of noble elegance that was pleasing to the eye and simultaneously stirred an irresistible urge to draw near.

Their solitary kiss occurred at a grand gathering, where her boyfriend had unexpectedly and publicly brushed his lips against hers as lightly as a dragonfly touching water. Though fleeting, the moment was so captivating and nerve-wracking that Wen Nanyan's heart thumped wildly for a full half-hour before she could quell the irresistible flutter in her chest.

He treated her with such kindness, purchasing her luxurious clothes and jewelry, helping her upgrade her living situation, and introducing her to high society events. Most significantly, he took her home to meet his parents and share a dinner with them, despite the awkwardness of the occasion. Her boyfriend made it clear that he had set his heart on her.

How could she not be tempted by this?

Back then, she had sweetly and blissfully thought to herself that her boyfriend was probably the best one in the world. Even if his family looked down on her background and despised her for climbing the social ladder right in front of him, she didn't mind at all!

As long as Zhong Ling liked her, that was more than enough.

Yes, if only he truly liked her.

...

But who could have foreseen this?

The affection was fake, the concern was fake—she had misconstrued it all from the beginning. She was nothing but a tool for her boyfriend to provoke his ex-girlfriend's jealousy.

To make his beloved ex feel jealous and concerned, Zhong Lin deliberately chose an ordinary, gentle girl for a month-long relationship. He forced himself to endure the affections of a girlfriend whose name he couldn't even recall.

His plan worked wonders. After he paraded her around at various gatherings, showed her excessive attention, and displayed their loving bond, his ex-girlfriend, who was overseas, indeed became envious and concerned. Ignoring her unfinished studies, she immediately bought a plane ticket back home.

Upon the return of Zhong Lin's ex, her utility as a mere pawn seemed to reach its end. Without any apparent reason, she was swiftly dumped.

The male lead, Zhong Ling, after acknowledging his lingering feelings for his ex-girlfriend, the couple experienced another rollercoaster of emotions. Eventually, they clarified that the "infidelity" incident was just a misunderstanding, allowing the male lead to finally put his resentment behind him.

With the misunderstanding with his ex resolved, his affectionate encounters with the club girl became a reality. The couple went through a bittersweet phase, with the male lead embarking on a desperate journey to win back his love. In a kidnapping incident, he got injured while protecting the female lead, who tearfully forgave him.

Both eventually laid down their grievances and prejudices, evolving into a more understanding and cherishful couple.

After the breakup, Zhong Ling was relatively generous towards Wen Nanyan. He gave her a small villa in the city worth over five million yuan, along with all the jewelry he had previously gifted. Additionally, he provided a substantial sum of cash, hoping to buy out their past completely and expecting her to be sensible enough not to disturb him anymore.

However, when Wen Nanyan received the news of the breakup, she was utterly bewildered, clueless about what had transpired.

Why on earth did they suddenly break up?

Moreover, the breakup wasn't even done in person!

That night, she was still at work when her boyfriend called to sever all ties with her. Everything that followed was handled by his lawyer.

This left Wen Nanyan utterly puzzled.

At first, she thought it was a prank.

Yet, when she tried calling him back twice, his phone was consistently switched off. When she attempted to locate him, she found herself unable to do so no matter how hard she tried.

At this point, even if she were the most naive and foolish, she could tell that he deliberately wanted to avoid her. She realized that he had never taken their relationship seriously.

Wen Nanyan was heartbroken for a while.

But after the sorrow, life still had to go on.

In truth, she didn't intend to cling onto him persistently. She had seen many beautiful girls in the club who were first kept as mistresses and then discarded. They would cry and make a scene, yet ultimately gain nothing. After dating Zhong Ling, nothing significant happened. He hadn't done anything to her; instead, she had gained a house and a substantial sum of money for free.

This was already an immense blessing.

She repeatedly told herself it didn't matter, that she should consider it a delightful and heart-fluttering dream. Yet, when she encountered him again in the bridal salon, she couldn't help but approach and greet him. She truly didn't intend to do anything; she just wanted to ask the man across from her...

That man, dressed in a pristine white suit, calmly seated on a sofa with delicate, aloof features that resembled a bright, full moon—had he ever felt the slightest affection for her?

Unfortunately, before she could receive his answer, she was met with retribution.

When the bride emerged from the changing room, Zhong Ling smiled gently, then gently put down the wedding photo album in her hand and effortlessly walked over. With tender care, she brushed aside the bride's stray hairs from behind her ear.

It was as if he had never known her at all from beginning to end.

But just because he didn't recognize her didn't mean the bride didn't. After all, Ruan Xiaoxiao had been in a relationship with her boyfriend for a month, and she couldn't help but care about this nightclub "princess."

She was indeed beautiful, the kind that Zhong Ling would like.

Wen Nanyan had no idea what the two of them had said. All she saw was Zhong Ling frowning as he gave her a cold glance before leading the bride into the house. Nothing else happened afterward. On the night when Nanyan returned to the nightclub for her night shift...

Something strange happened that night. She was particularly harshly challenged by a guest, forced to drink a lot of alcohol, and eventually, in a hazy state, she was made to down a glass of spiked red wine.

In truth, she could have been saved. After spending enough time in such places, Wen Nanyan had learned to be cautious. Sensing that something was amiss with her body, she immediately thought of escape.

But fatefully, at the very last moment, as she clung to the door and was about to flee, she caught sight of a man standing not far from the entrance. He held a cigarette between his fingers, and the smoke from his lips veiled his profile, revealing a chiseled face with captivatingly idle and rakish eyes.

She had seen this man more than once beside Zhong Ling. They were friends, and he was a wildly untamed man, one best left alone.

Wen Nanyan stretched out her hand, pleading for his help. However, the man glanced at her indifferently. Upon noticing her disheveled appearance, a hint of disdain flickered in his eyes. He turned around and, without hesitation, had the door slammed shut.

Her eyes reddened from tears, and her nails broke as she dug into the doorknob, leaving bloody streaks between her fingers. She found it hard to believe that she had never wronged him. Why, then, were these people treating her like this?

That man's gaze, laced with disdain and contempt, would forever be etched in her memory, as if she were some filthy object unworthy of respect.

Yet, when she stood beside Zhong Ling before, he had acknowledged her presence. Why were these people allowed to treat her like an insignificant insect, trampling on her dignity?

The inevitable outcome was that Wen Nanyan was dragged back into the private room by its occupants. Enduring a night of torment, she lost both her innocence and her job. The club manager gave her a month's salary and warned her solemnly:

"Don't provoke those you shouldn't."

That was all the advice she received. She didn't even know who her tormentor was, leaving her with no outlet for revenge or justice. Despite being innocent, she was crushed like an ant without any means of retaliation. Penniless and without connections, reporting to the police held no promise. Moreover, after experiencing such injustice in a club, she knew she had no choice but to accept her fate.

Some even went as far as to blame her for her plight, saying she got what she deserved. Why didn't she value herself more? With so many legitimate places to work, why did she choose to work in a club?

Now, she had to bear the consequences of her actions. Who knew if she had willingly slept with that person? Afterward, finding the payment unsatisfactory, she tries to accuse him of coercion. Isn't such duplicity common? How could anyone truly know the truth?

Indeed, who could really tell?

She had no choice but to resign herself to fate!

As if things couldn't get any worse, in the depths of her despair and confusion, her parents from back home, for some reason, suddenly appeared with a horde of relatives and friends. They swooped in before she could resist, seizing all her valuable possessions, confiscating her ID, and forcefully took her back. Eventually, they coerced her into marrying that young man with the broken leg.

Wen Nanyan learned later from Sister Zhou that her parents had been deliberately sought out. As for that night's incident, someone indeed intended to give her a lesson, hoping only to make her suffer some inconvenience from the guests. However, they didn't anticipate someone taking advantage of the situation and going too far.

It could only be said that fate had played a cruel trick.

All that she had lost was dismissed with a mere "lack of propriety." She could vaguely guess who wanted to teach her a lesson, but whether Zhong Ling had tacitly approved or encouraged it was anyone's guess.

After all, when the one you love holds a grudge and has nowhere else to vent it, you become the inevitable target.

As for Wen Nanyan's ultimate fate, it was predictable. Her parents, having accepted the bride price, didn't even bother with a wedding ceremony. Instead, they bound her and sent her straight to the groom's home. That very night, the crippled man forced her into consummating the marriage. Upon discovering that she wasn't a virgin, he began to abuse her. Due to his own disability, his violent tendencies worsened over time.

In this tormenting situation, Wen Nanyan's spirit broke down entirely, her existence resembling neither human nor ghost. She attempted to escape multiple times, but each attempt was in vain. Eventually, the man simply locked her up.

After a month, on a night when Wen Nanyan took advantage of the man's intoxication, she set fire to everything without a second thought. A great blaze consumed all, engulfing both her and the lame man in its fury.

It seems that you're looking for a continuation or context to provide, but there's no specific text given for me to translate. Please provide the lines you'd like translated, and I'll be more than happy to assist by rendering them into elegant and contextually appropriate English.

But this was merely her subplot as a supporting character; the main leads' story unfolded on a different path. Upon hearing about the demise of his former casual girlfriend, Zhong Ling's expression flickered for a moment, only to return to his indifferent demeanor shortly after.

It was his fiancée in his arms who, upon seeing her reaction, felt displeased. She tugged at his soft tie with irritation and asked, "That girl is so beautiful. Didn't you have even the slightest bit of attraction to her?"

Zhong Ling smiled and, holding his fiancée's hand, honestly confessed, "Really not. You know me, I'm a man of principles. I would never overstep the line before marriage. Besides, I don't even know her name. How could I possibly have feelings for such a girl?"

Satisfied, his fiancée giggled and nestled into his arms. Then, the two began discussing which island would be the best location for their wedding.

On the other side, Wen Nanyan remained blissfully unaware until her last breath that the boyfriend she was still thinking about saw her as nothing more than an unfamiliar face whose name he couldn't recall.

...

Heh heh.

The melodramatic plot left Nanyan feeling as if her heart was being strangled.

So, all secondary female characters exist solely to facilitate the romance between the main leads? If you two want to argue, do it. If you want to break up, then disappear from each other's lives!

Must a despicable man use an innocent girl as a pawn to provoke his ex-girlfriend?

Nanyan could barely suppress the throbbing headache in her mind. She took a deep breath, turned her head, and pondered. Indeed, such soap opera scenarios were quite common.

Many unscrupulous men tended to seek out companions to spite those they cared about.

It's rare to find someone in such a dire situation as hers!