Xiao Die closed the door.
She sat at her desk, reading her reference books. She didn't notice that her phone kept buzzing.
— Xiao Die, I want to see you.
— Why did you steal my boyfriend?
These were messages from Qin Peipei, the school beauty.
Xiao Die was completely baffled. She had never spent time with Qin Peipei, much less known anything about her boyfriend.
— Xiao Die, I'm giving you one last chance.
— I'm at your door. Open up.
The violent knocking broke the long-held silence, like waves battering the shore.
Xiao Die opened the door. Qin Peipei stood there, dressed in an elegant lace dress, radiating the dazzling glow of a romance-novel heroine.
"My boyfriend wants to break up with me. He says you're his white moonlight—the one he could never forget. How can you be so shameless!"
"May I ask who your boyfriend is?"
"The most powerful businessman in A City, Qin Zu."
"I don't know this person. I've never even heard of him. Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"
"Then why does he have your information and photos at his house?!"
Qin Peipei pulled out a thick stack of photographs, all candid shots of Xiao Die from every angle.
At first, Xiao Die had only been confused. She hadn't wanted to make a fuss, even after being humiliated by the school beauty. But the moment she saw those photos, she refused to tolerate it any longer.
"I'm going to call the police right now and prove my innocence."
Hearing Xiao Die say she would call the police, Qin Peipei stepped back a few paces, but she kept pressing: "Xiao Die, do you really not know my boyfriend?"
"She doesn't know him."
Su Mosheng pushed open the door. He had heard the entire conversation.
"And who are you? What gives you the right to say she doesn't know him?"
"Because I am her boyfriend."
Xiao Die hadn't expected Su Mosheng to come to her rescue like this.
Su Mosheng continued: "Qin Zu, forty-nine years old, was once the president of F Group. This year, his company went bankrupt, and he's caught up in judicial cases. He owes nearly ten billion in debt and can barely save himself. He is not some successful businessman."
"What does a poor loser like you know? Don't slander my boyfriend! You live in the same rundown apartment as Xiao Die. You and my boyfriend are from completely different worlds."
"The essence of things doesn't always match their appearance. Take your boyfriend, for example. He looks like he loves you very much, but he goes through women faster than he changes clothes."
"I don't believe you! You're just jealous of us!"
"Your private life is none of my business. But I would advise you to leave Qin Zu as soon as possible. If you want more evidence of how far he's fallen, come find me at BR Group headquarters. Here's my card."
He handed his card to Qin Peipei: BR Group President, Su Mosheng.
Qin Peipei burst into tears. She regretted ever falling for scum like Qin Zu.
"You're only eighteen. Your life can start over at any time. Don't cry for someone who isn't worth it."
Su Mosheng closed the door. Qin Peipei, now full of gratitude, hugged Xiao Die.
Before leaving, Qin Peipei smiled and said, "Xiao Die, your boyfriend is so gentle. I'm so envious of you."
"He's even kinder and more gentle than I imagined."
"And he's only twenty-nine, and better-looking than some top celebrity. Not like me—I found myself an old man, and I almost hurt you because of him."
"He's not my boyfriend, he's…"
Qin Peipei didn't hear what Xiao Die was trying to say. Fortunately, through this whole incident, they became good friends.
She decided to hand the photos over to Xiao Die. Before she left, she reminded Xiao Die to stay safe.
"Hurry on home now. Good luck on the college entrance exam!"
"Good luck on the exam, you top-ranking innocent beauty!"
Xiao Die remembered that her mother's idol had once been Ken Takakura. The way Su Mosheng had stood up for her just now reminded her very much of Ken Takakura's spirit.
She wished more than anything that he weren't the president of BR Group. But this was his choice, and she would support every decision he made. Between the two of them, there would always be equality—no keeping score, no debts owed.