Yang Xueyi never expected Ying Yun’s claim of going to the Chunri Youyuanhui to be true.
It wasn’t until Ying Yun’s day off, when Yang Xueyi stood with him at the entrance of the Chunri Youyuanhui, waiting for Qiao Qianqian, that her regret reached its peak.
At the entrance of the Chunri Youyuanhui, almost everyone was a couple.
Others all wore bright smiles, but when it came to Yang Xueyi’s side, Ying Yun wore a cold expression, looking like a creditor afraid Yang Xueyi would run away.
Yang Xueyi herself looked awkward.
Standing together, they resembled a resentful pair trapped in an arranged marriage.
Originally, Yang Xueyi had hoped that Qiao Qianqian’s arrival would liven up the gloomy atmosphere.
However, Qiao Qianqian was busy with work and only hurried over to hand them the tickets before leaving quickly.
Leaving Yang Xueyi alone to face the cold, indifferent, and over-the-hill Dashaoye Ying Yun.
Though the Dashaoye was down and out, his temperament remained unchanged.
After Yang Xueyi helped him check the ticket and they entered the venue, Ying Yun casually said, “Yang Xueyi, am I bothering you? After all, you originally planned to ask someone else out.”
How could a man be so melodramatic and fragile?
Yang Xueyi really wanted to scold him.
She had explained herself that day, but Ying Yun didn’t buy it.
She had been much harsher to him before, yet he never got angry then.
Now, it seemed he was quite upset.
Sure enough, when a person falls on hard times, they become more prone to inferiority, turning sensitive and fragile instead.
Forget it, Yang Xueyi thought.
Ying Yun was so unlucky now; she’d just tolerate it.
Although it was the Chunri Youyuanhui, the weather was truly biting cold for spring.
Yang Xueyi felt a chill and decided to browse a mobile booth of an independent design brand nearby.
She found a cute pink jacket she liked.
“Our brand specializes in one-of-a-kind pieces,” the female staff enthusiastically explained. “Although there is only one of each style, we mainly focus on couples’ clothing. The male version corresponding to this jacket is still available! Would you like me to help you buy one for your boyfriend as well?”
“They’re loose-fit, one size fits all. You can wear it no matter your figure. If you buy both, you get a 40% discount; buying separately doesn’t get a discount.”
Yang Xueyi hadn’t planned to buy Ying Yun a jacket, but upon hearing about the discount, she instantly perked up. Splitting the cost would be such a bargain!
She turned to look at Ying Yun but hadn’t even opened her mouth when he coldly said, “Impossible.”
Ying Yun cast a frosty glance at her.
“I hate pink more than anything. I will never wear this color jacket in my life. Even if you gave it to me at a deep discount, I wouldn’t wear it.”
Fine, fine.
Even a fallen Dashaoye still had standards; real men didn’t wear pink.
Yang Xueyi had no choice but to pay full price for her own female jacket.
Fortunately, once worn, it warmed her up quite a bit.
The soft pink jacket made her feel like she was surrounded by springtime crabapple blossoms.
Unable to resist, she took out her phone and posed in several cute ways, hoping to drag Ying Yun to take a couple of photos with her.
Unfortunately, Ying Yun looked utterly disgusted.
“Yang Xueyi, how childish you are.”
Still, despite this, Ying Yun didn’t leave.
He was pulled into the frame and took several couple photos with her.
When Yang Xueyi asked him to take solo photos of her, he surprisingly didn’t refuse and cooperated reasonably well.
She struck all kinds of poses, switching from one to another, and Ying Yun’s expression didn’t show impatience.
However, his photography skills were so poor that when Yang Xueyi checked the photos, she was devastated.
She immediately stopped him and found a passing young man to take a few shots for her instead.
Probably because he found Yang Xueyi’s photo-taking childish, and because it wasted a lot of time, Ying Yun’s expression darkened once the other guy started shooting.
Yang Xueyi suspected Ying Yun came to the Youyuanhui out of petty jealousy.
Sooner or later, he’d find an excuse to leave while they were still wandering.
Sure enough, as she was being approached by the first guy, Ying Yun lingered nearby at a moderate distance.
By the time the third guy tried to strike up a conversation, Yang Xueyi glanced back and saw that Ying Yun had already disappeared without a trace.
She had been too optimistic about him.
Who would have thought this man wouldn’t even bother with an excuse or a goodbye—just left outright!
Is he even human?!
Yang Xueyi politely declined the third suitor’s advances, but to her surprise, a fourth quickly showed up.
The first three weren’t particularly good-looking, but this fourth one…
Probably because Ying Yun was gone and there was no stark contrast anymore, Yang Xueyi actually found this fourth guy quite decent.
Her thoughts shifted: Now that her work was stable, she could indeed start looking for a boyfriend and fall in love.
Besides, it would be better to date freely than to be set up by Yang Meiying in a blind date.
Since the guy wanted to exchange contact info, why not…
Just as Yang Xueyi reached for her phone to scan his QR code, the man glanced somewhere off in the distance, then suddenly put his phone away with an embarrassed look and stammered, “Sorry, sorry.”
Then, looking guilty and scared, he ran off.
What on earth did he see?
Yang Xueyi followed his gaze and turned back—only to see Ying Yun.
He had actually come back.
At 1.88 meters tall with well-proportioned limbs and broad shoulders, though a fallen Dashaoye, his aura was cold and arrogant, borderline imperious.
Every gesture exuded distinction.
His eyes were distant and world-weary, paired with a neutral mouth, forming a handsome yet unapproachable face.
And on him…
Was the matching male version of the pink couple’s jacket that perfectly matched Yang Xueyi’s.
Yang Xueyi instantly understood why the guy had run off.
Of course it was terrifying!
Who would want to be hit on when such a man was standing nearby in matching couple wear, looking like a troublemaker and nearly two meters tall?
Who wouldn’t run?
“What’s going on with you wearing this jacket?”
Yang Xueyi demanded.
Ying Yun only lifted his eyelids slightly.
“I was cold. Bought a jacket. Is that a crime?”
“But you said you’d never wear pink in your life.”
He paused, glanced at her, then looked away.
“Buying this one got a discount.”
Hearing this, Yang Xueyi immediately understood.
With money tight now, the Dashaoye Ying Yun had no choice but to accept reality.
There was no room for picky colors.
Since this jacket paired with hers gave a 40% discount, the Dashaoye had no choice but to swallow his pride for a few measly coins!
They had bought the two jackets together and both got a discount, but now Yang Xueyi paid full price for hers, and Ying Yun took the discount for the pink male jacket!
What made Yang Xueyi angry wasn’t this, though—it was—
“Why didn’t you buy it earlier or later? You had to wear it just when that guy was asking me for my contact info? Because you wore this, he thought I already had a boyfriend and left without even adding me!”
Faced with her accusation, Ying Yun looked indifferent, shooting her a cold glance: “If he’s too scared to even ask if you’re single, why bother? What’s the point of such a man?”
He said flatly, “If you really like someone, you can handle any pressure. Only losers run away.”
And he had the nerve to spin this twisted logic!
Yang Xueyi was furious: “Says like you’re such a great catch! What about your first love? The dance partner at your graduation ball? Did you endure the pressure after your confession failed? You still haven’t dated anyone until now, right?”
As expected, her words hit a nerve.
Ying Yun’s arrogant expression faltered; he looked away and his voice lowered: “That’s a different story.”
He sounded like he was gritting his teeth: “If someone doesn’t like me, and I persist, that’s harassment. Besides, I’m not that cheap. The world is big. People can live without anyone.”
Alright, alright.
You’ve made it this far, yet despite all the pursuers over the years, no one’s interested.
Caught at a sensitive spot, Ying Yun fell silent and fixed his gaze on Yang Xueyi.
Yang Xueyi reconsidered.
Though Ying Yun’s love life had failed before, the rest of his life had been smooth sailing.
Now, stripped of everything, he was pitiful.
She decided to be merciful and not stoop to his level.
But because Ying Yun wore that jacket and stuck close like a bodyguard, even when she asked him to keep his distance, that unique and obvious couple’s outfit killed all her chances with anyone—her love life was effectively over.
After Ying Yun came back, not a single man dared approach.
Of course, it wasn’t that no one was interested in Yang Xueyi; it was just that the moment they saw Ying Yun behind her, their eager looks faded, and they quickly looked away and walked off, not wanting trouble.
Yang Xueyi could only console herself that Ying Yun buying pink was out of desperation.
Let it go.
But all her sympathy vanished after she ran into the female staff from that brand in the ladies’ room.
“Ah! Miss, did you just have a fight with your boyfriend? That’s why he wouldn’t buy the couple’s jackets at first, but he still came back and bought the male version. So you two must be back together now, right?”
Yang Xueyi didn’t want any misunderstandings and hastily explained, “He’s not my boyfriend. We just bought couple’s clothes together because the discount made it worthwhile.”
The woman blinked: “But buying separately doesn’t get a discount. Our sales system checks the order completion time; if it’s not the same time, there’s no discount. So he paid full price for the pink male jacket…”
Ying Yun paid full price for the pink one?
He clearly could’ve bought a different color!
There was no such thing as a discount or bargain!
So he did it on purpose!!!
Yang Xueyi’s eyes welled up.
At this point, what didn’t she understand?
She thought Ying Yun’s fortunes had improved with his downfall—what nonsense!
Ying Yun was just as bad as ever!
Yang Xueyi stormed out of the ladies’ room.
Not far outside, Ying Yun was holding her bag, wearing the same pink jacket, calmly waiting.
His handsome face showed no sign of impatience.
If a stranger saw them, they might think he was the perfect, devoted boyfriend patiently waiting for his girlfriend.
Handsome face, but such a wicked mind!
Yang Xueyi, burning with anger, marched up to Ying Yun: “Ying Yun! What discount? I just met the brand staff, and you bought it full price!”
Ying Yun clearly didn’t expect this.
He was stunned for a moment, and for the first time, panic and embarrassment flickered across his face.
“Do you think I don’t know what you’re thinking?”
Yang Xueyi, who had finally caught Ying Yun red-handed, was furious.
“You deliberately created the illusion of couple’s clothing and scared away all my prospects! No wonder you couldn’t catch your first love! If I were your first love, I wouldn’t like you either!”
This annoying ghost had to be bitter about being 28 and single, rejected by his first love, and now fallen on hard times.
His twisted mindset couldn’t stand others doing well.
Thinking about all the times in the past decade her romantic opportunities were ruined by Ying Yun made her blood boil.
At this moment, old and new grievances surged through her heart.
But after her words, Ying Yun’s embarrassment and panic vanished.
Instead, his face darkened, and finally, he only stared at Yang Xueyi, pursing his lips tightly, saying nothing.
After all, facts spoke louder than words.
What could he say or argue?