Chapter 191: A Quick Eye Check

Chapter 191: A Passing Look

Deng Xuefeng brushed off Xu Jianwen's words.

He lounged back in his chair and said nonchalantly, "Do you know who Ye Xiaoxiao is seeing these days? Looks like she got over you pretty quickly."

After this, the onlookers who had been trailing Xu Jianwen watched his reaction closely.

Xu Jianwen had always been harsh with Ye Xiaoxiao.

But seeing her move on so easily must have stung Xu Jianwen.

Hao Yanyan had been pleased by Xu Jianwen's defense, but Deng Xuefeng's question made her glance at Xu Jianwen worriedly.

"Who with?"

Xu Jianwen kept a calm face, but his grip on the glass tightened.

Deng Xuefeng smirked, "Lu Hanchuan."

"Impossible!"

Xu Jianwen's voice rose at the end, "Ye Xiaoxiao couldn't possibly know Lu Hanchuan."

"I'm not making this up. Ask around. They were seen together at Old Mr. Han's birthday party," Deng Xuefeng replied.

Xu Jianwen looked at the others.

A man next to him nodded, "It's true. Lu Hanchuan admitted it himself."

Hao Yanyan was a bit confused.

Who was this Lu Hanchuan? Was he the man she saw at the school gate last time?

That fat guy?

Xu Jianwen didn't speak, but his expression was grim.

Seeing his reaction, someone nearby quickly tried to comfort him.

"It's a good thing you're not with her. Her deep feelings for you in the past were probably fake. Maybe the two of them had already hooked up."

"Anyway, you don't like Ye Xiaoxiao, so who she's with has nothing to do with you."

The incessant chatter around him made Xu Jianwen increasingly irritable.

He slammed his glass heavily on the table.

The surroundings instantly fell silent.

"Jianwen..."

Hao Yanyan looked up at Xu Jianwen.

"I'm going to the restroom."

Xu Jianwen said with a dark expression, then got up and left.

Only after Xu Jianwen left did someone mutter in dissatisfaction.

"What's his problem? Everyone's just being honest."

"Why is he mad at us? If he’s got the nerve, he should go find Lu Hanchuan."

Hao Yanyan, hearing this, felt uneasy and could only explain, "Jianwen didn’t mean it that way, don’t get it twisted."

Since Hao Yanyan was still there, the others held back from being too harsh.

Everyone shifted the conversation, but the atmosphere wasn't as lively as before.

...

Over on Ye Xiaoxiao’s side, things were much more relaxed.

Bai Mengan: "Duan Lei said he would come back, but he's in the military now, so he won’t be able to make it this time. Next time we’ll throw one for Duan Lei when he returns."

This time it’s all about welcoming Xiaoxiao. Next time, we’ll throw one for Duan Lei."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Sure, next time it’s on me."

Bai Mengan said boldly, "I’ve got money to burn."

Ye Xiaoxiao stared at Bai Mengan, "You’re totally wasted, aren’t you?"

Bai Mengan shook her head, "Me? Drunk? I can hold my liquor like a champ. Hold on, I’ll hit the restroom, and we’ll pick this up when I’m back."

Bai Mengan got up, wobbling unsteadily.

Ye Xiaoxiao supported her, "I’ll tag along."

"You coming too? Alright, let’s roll."

The two walked out.

The restroom was at the end of the corridor. The moment Bai Mengan stepped out, she nearly face-planted.

Ye Xiaoxiao managed to catch her, but they still collided with someone.

"Hey, watch it! Can’t you see where you’re going?"

Hao Yanyan had just stepped out and hadn’t gone far when she was bumped into by a drunken woman.

She snapped, but when she looked up, she saw Bai Mengan and Ye Xiaoxiao.

Bai Mengan squinted, finally recognizing her.

In an instant, some of her drunkenness wore off.

"Hao Yanyan? What are you doing here?" Bai Mengan, who never liked Hao Yanyan, nearly charged at her.

Ye Xiaoxiao held her back, "Weren’t you headed to the restroom? Get moving."

Bai Mengan muttered, "Way to kill the mood."

"Honestly, it’s like you’re the one who got swapped with Hao Yanyan. Can’t you just chill?"

Ye Xiaoxiao figured this must be the main character’s plot armor. Even if she wasn’t there, some other poor soul would end up causing trouble for the female lead, just to prop her up.

Bai Mengan didn't know what had transpired between her and Hao Yanyan at school, but as soon as they met, they were at each other's throats, and Bai Mengan could hardly contain herself.

If it had been when she first arrived in Beijing, Hao Yanyan would have been afraid of Bai Mengan.

But now that she had Xu Jianwen and was the rightful daughter of the Hao family, Bai Mengan's haughty tone didn't intimidate Hao Yanyan.

"I'm here to dine, of course, not to cause a drunken ruckus."

Bai Mengan couldn't tolerate this and stepped forward to shove Hao Yanyan.

Ye Xiaoxiao was restraining Bai Mengan's arm, so the shove wasn't forceful.

But Hao Yanyan fell to the side, slamming into the second-floor corridor railing and dramatically collapsing.

"Ah!"

A scream pierced the air.

Bai Mengan was dumbfounded.

"Have I somehow developed superhuman strength?"

Ye Xiaoxiao was equally baffled because, with her restraining Bai Mengan, it seemed Bai Mengan's hand hadn't even grazed Hao Yanyan's shoulder.

But soon, both of them caught on to what was happening.

Xu Jianwen rushed over from the side and helped Hao Yanyan to her feet.

"Yanyan, are you okay?"

Hao Yanyan, on the verge of tears, said, "I'm fine, don't blame Xiao Xiao."

Ye Xiaoxiao was utterly confused.

"Huh? What's this got to do with me?"

Bai Mengan also yelled, "Hao Yanyan, I was the one who shoved you, I just can't stand you, it has nothing to do with Xiao Xiao."

Unfortunately, Xu Jianwen seemed deaf, completely disregarding this statement.

"Xiao Xiao, I thought you had changed, but it seems you're still the same haughty and overbearing person as before. I'm deeply disappointed in you."

Ye Xiaoxiao: Deaf, everyone's deaf, being deaf is just fine.

"Apologize!" Xu Jianwen demanded, leaving no room for argument.

Bai Mengan retorted, "Who are you telling to apologize!"

Ye Xiaoxiao calmly looked at Bai Mengan, "Don't you need to visit the restroom?"

Bai Mengan was cut off.

"Ah... I can still wait."

Ye Xiaoxiao urged her, "No need to wait, go on."

Bai Mengan: "How can that be? If I leave, what if these two um people bully you!"

"No one will bully me, you go ahead, I'll catch up with you later."

Ye Xiaoxiao's tone became a bit more serious.

Bai Mengan stared into Ye Xiaoxiao's eyes for a few seconds, then settled down considerably.

She glared at Mr. Xu Jianwen and Hao Yanyan, then slowly moved towards the restroom.

Ye Xiaoxiao looked at the angry Mr. Xu Jianwen and the delicate, pitiful Hao Yanyan.

"I didn't push her, so I don't need to apologize. Instead of wasting time here pointing fingers, you should take your girlfriend to the hospital for a check-up. She looks so fragile; what if she's actually hurt?

Although I didn't push her, seeing her in such a sorry state, I'm willing to cover the medical expenses.

By the way, Mr. Xu Jianwen, you might as well get your eyes checked at the hospital too."

Ye Xiaoxiao's bluntness made Mr. Xu Jianwen feel slightly guilty.

But anger got the better of him, perhaps fueled by what he'd overheard earlier in the private room.

In any case, Mr. Xu Jianwen only left with the words, "You'll never change your ways; sooner or later, it'll come back to bite you," before scooping up Hao Yanyan and storming off.