Chapter 9: A Woman of Fickle Affections

Ye Shen noticed Ye Yao’s agitation and asked her what had happened. She explained everything in detail, and he immediately sent people to help search, but there was still no news.

The ring was of great importance to Ye Yao. Just as she was at her wit’s end, a message from Shen Yan arrived.

“Your ring is with me, Ye Yao. Let’s talk.”

Upon receiving the message, Ye Yao frowned slightly. The ring was with Shen Yan? Almost instinctively, she called him immediately.

“Give me back the ring.”

After speaking, she realized her tone was too harsh and forced herself to soften it. “Shen Yan, the ring is very important to me.”

If Shen Yan had simply found the ring, naturally she would need to speak politely. But at this point, Ye Yao wasn’t sure how the ring had come into his possession.

“How can you prove the ring is yours?” Shen Yan’s leisurely tone nearly choked her.

Ye Yao took a deep breath. “Inside the ring are the initials of my name—three Ys—and the numbers at the end are my birthday.”

After she finished, she waited quietly for his response.

One must bow their head beneath the eaves. Otherwise, she would have hung up long ago!

However, after waiting for a long time, all Ye Yao got was the busy tone.

What on earth was Shen Yan trying to do?

Yet, because she wanted her ring back, Ye Yao had no choice but to keep contacting him. She sent him several messages and asked to meet, but all were met with silence. For now, she had to let it go.

Finishing her work, Ye Yao drove to the airport. Today, two good friends were returning from abroad. She waited at the arrivals gate and soon saw her best friend Yu Wanqing in a spaghetti-strap dress, with the young man Gu Yancheng in a sweatshirt beside her.

“Wanqing! Yancheng! I’m over here,” Ye Yao called out excitedly, waving.

“Yao Yao!” Yu Wanqing didn’t care about her short skirt and ran straight to Ye Yao, nearly throwing herself into her arms.

Afraid her friend might expose herself, Ye Yao quickly tugged at the hem of her skirt. “Watch your image.”

Seeing her friends, Ye Yao felt like her old self again. During the time spent around Shen Yan, she had hardly recognized herself—suppressed, stifled, and gradually closing herself off. But with her friends, she couldn’t help but smile brightly.

Yu Wanqing hugged her tightly and said offhandedly, “What does it matter? I’ve got a great figure!”

“All right, our Wanqing has the best figure!” Ye Yao laughed, then turned to Gu Yancheng, surprised. “Is this really Yancheng? Last time we video-called, your hair was still blond. Did you dye it black as soon as you got back?”

Yu Wanqing couldn’t help but laugh, and Gu Yancheng glared at her.

“I just wanted… to try a different style.”

Ye Yao nodded, half-understanding, and put an arm around Yu Wanqing’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s get something to eat.”

“A restaurant?”

“Where else would we eat if not a restaurant?” Ye Yao asked, puzzled.

“I already booked a private room. I was so busy abroad these past months that I never had time to really relax. Now that I’m back, we have to enjoy ourselves!” Yu Wanqing took a deep breath. “Let’s go to a bar! I even booked male models tonight. I haven’t seen a living, breathing man in ages—it’s been a lonely time.”

Ye Yao laughed. Since Wanqing had made plans, she might as well go along—besides, she’d been buried in work and needed to unwind.

On the way, Gu Yancheng sat beside Ye Yao, looking distinctly uncomfortable. Yu Wanqing, in the front passenger seat, kept glancing back at them with a mysterious smile.

“Wanqing, what’s so funny?” Ye Yao asked helplessly.

“Nothing,” she replied, but her gaze lingered on Gu Yancheng.

Ye Yao didn’t press further, thinking they must be sharing some secret.

When they arrived at the private room, a line of male models stood at attention in uniform before them.

Yu Wanqing let loose completely, pointing at them and commanding, “Now, immediately, take off your shirts for me!”

“Wanqing, isn’t this a bit much?” Gu Yancheng shot her a warning look. “Yao Yao’s here too.”

“That’s exactly why I want them to strip—because Yao Yao’s here!” Yu Wanqing hugged Ye Yao to her side. “She just got out of a toxic relationship. To help her move on, she needs this!”

“Only by meeting new men will Yao Yao get over it faster.”

Yu Wanqing was well aware of what had happened between Ye Yao and Shen Yan. Growing up together, there were no secrets between them. Back then, Ye Yao had been headstrong, giving her all to Shen Yan without reservation, and Yu Wanqing hadn’t tried to stop her. She understood that everyone had their own tribulations, and Shen Yan was Ye Yao’s to face. Interference would have been pointless.

Now, Ye Yao had made it through her ordeal.

“I’m fine, you don’t need to worry about me,” Ye Yao smiled nonchalantly. “Let’s just enjoy ourselves tonight!”

Yu Wanqing studied her for a moment, decided she was telling the truth, and patted her on the shoulder.

“All right, then I won’t worry about you. Yancheng, take care of Yao Yao for me.”

Gu Yancheng nodded, glancing at Ye Yao with a complicated expression. Sensing his low spirits, Ye Yao ruffled his hair like a little boy.

“What’s wrong with you? You look down. Don’t tell me you’re heartbroken?”

Gu Yancheng was two years younger than Ye Yao, and as boys mature later, his childish antics during school had been the source of much teasing. In Ye Yao’s eyes, he was like a younger brother.

He froze for a moment, then nodded vacantly. “Heartbroken? I suppose so.”

“Really? Which girl was foolish enough to reject you?”

“It’s not that she rejected me—I haven’t even confessed yet,” Gu Yancheng replied, tension in his voice.

“So your secret crush failed?” Ye Yao asked patiently.

Gu Yancheng fell silent. After a long pause, just when Ye Yao thought he’d dropped the subject, he looked at her, eyes bright with hope.

“Yao Yao, what do you think of me?”

Ye Yao considered briefly. “Yancheng, it doesn’t matter what I think. Everyone is different, and naturally, everyone judges things differently.”

“I think you’re great, but that doesn’t mean the girl you like feels the same.”

There was nothing to fault in Gu Yancheng’s character—he was just a little immature.

Hearing this, his eyes shone even brighter. “Really? You really think I’m great?”

“You are. Why do you ask?” Ye Yao frowned in confusion.

“Well, Yao Yao, would you be willing—” Before Gu Yancheng could finish, the door was suddenly kicked open.

The abrupt noise startled everyone. The three of them turned in confusion.

Shen Yan stood at the door, face dark, glaring coldly at the two on the sofa.

He’d seen and heard everything!

That man was confessing, and Ye Yao seemed about to accept? Things with Ye Shen weren’t even settled, and now she was with someone new? After leaving him, she was living so wildly?

Shen Yan strode forward, seized Ye Yao’s wrist, and squeezed so hard that her skin instantly reddened.

“Shen Yan, what are you doing? Let me go!” Ye Yao struggled.