When Lisa Li returned home, Julia Yu still hadn't come back.
Lisa Li didn't care and happily removed her makeup.
Looking at the face in the mirror, now restored to youthful beauty, Lisa Li felt nothing but extreme disgust.
She knew herself that ever since that incident, her makeup had become more and more exaggerated, more and more glamorous, less and less like herself.
But this was exactly the result she wanted.
She despised her real self.
She wanted to cut off all those unbearable memories from the past.
Especially Julia Yu, who had witnessed her most shameful moment—she absolutely couldn't let her have it easy.
Lisa Li took off her four-leaf clover bracelet, worth tens of thousands, and carelessly tossed it onto the sink, not caring that it shouldn't get wet.
Julia Yu really didn't go home. She drove to an artificial lake.
Right now, the lakeside was at its liveliest.
Many of the middle-aged women gathered in groups of three or five to dance in the square, with the sound of internet pop songs everywhere.
There were also lots of young people out for a night run, and the whole scene was full of life.
Yu Jie parked her car in the lot, took a shawl from the back, draped it over her shoulders, and slowly walked along the park path by the lake, dodging the runners and lost in her own thoughts.
Back when she decided to sell her eggs, Julia Yu never thought about regretting it.
She was already an adult when she made that decision.
She understood that everyone has to pay the price for their choices.
And she was willing to bear that price.
After all, before so-called glory, the most important thing is to survive—to keep living.
Back then, she was so poor, yet she still gritted her teeth and saved money from her living expenses to buy study materials and tutoring books.
She had no one to rely on, only herself.
That's why she's successful now.
It's precisely because she was ruthless enough with herself that she achieved success today.
But the things she did in the past still affected her far too much.
Luckily, most of her true friends don't judge her by her past—they still treat her the same as ever.
As for these new acquaintances... Whatever, not worth mentioning.
She used to think Xiong Xiong would be a different kind of new friend, but now she realizes she was just being naive.
It's not that she thinks Xiong Xiong's values are wrong.
Honestly, there's no strict right or wrong in this world—everyone just has a different level of acceptance.
If others can't accept her past, then there's no need to be friends.
Besides, her life was pretty busy anyway.
Apart from work, she barely had time to make friends.
Julia Yu was lost in thought when her phone vibrated.
She took it out and saw a message from Shen Keke: "Where are you?"
"I'm... taking a walk at the lakeside park," Julia Yu replied.
"Doumiao made lotus root and pork rib soup tonight. She made too much, so I'll bring you some," Shen Keke messaged again. "I'm off tomorrow, so I'll come hang out with you."
"...Okay." Julia Yu smiled.
See, people who understand her don't need words.
A few close friends in life are enough. As for the rest—whatever!
Shen Keke said she'd be there soon, but it took almost an hour for her to arrive.
"You actually walked this far?" Shen Keke complained, carrying a neat food box. "Good thing I brought a thermal container, or the soup would've been cold by now."
Julia Yu saw Shen Keke was only wearing a thin jacket, so she immediately draped her own Hermès shawl over her friend's shoulders. "Why didn't you wear something warmer?"
"How was I supposed to know it'd be this chilly at night?" Shen Keke replied, shrugging. "At the Yin family, we've got central heating and air conditioning twenty-four seven."
Yu Jie smiled and sat down with Shen Keke on a bench by the lake. She opened the box and the scent of pork rib soup wafted out.
"The young madam isn't home, so you guys are running wild!" Julia Yu joked. "You even have time to make soup."
"It's just company stuff. With President Mu and President Yun around, Doumiao and I just help out here and there," Shen Keke replied, waving it off. "Our CEO keeps the young madam to himself and won't let her come back early, so we're free anyway. Doumiao figured she might as well cook something. Since you're on vacation lately and probably annoyed by Lisa Li, she found an excuse to bring you soup and get you out for a bit."
Yu Jie took a sip of the soup and closed her eyes in comfort.
This is what real friendship is.
No need for words—sometimes they even tease and roast each other.
But when something really happens, they always keep it in their hearts.
"What is President Mo even thinking? That Li Si is always so snarky and weird, but instead of dealing with her, he just dumps the trouble on you," Shen Keke said, sticking up for Yu Jie.
"Isn't being an assistant all about helping the boss out?" Yu Jie replied, not bothered. "After all, Li Si's father once saved President Mo's life, and it was his dying wish for Mo to look after her. Mo can't just ignore her. But from what I see, if Li Si keeps acting up like this, Mo's patience will run out soon. When that happens, if she makes a mistake, she might never recover."
"You're too nice. Just scold her if you have to—why hold it in?" Shen Keke had become pretty cold ever since she tricked her own dad. "Even if you called Li Si a dog, President Mo wouldn't care. In his eyes, you're the real right hand, and Li Si is just a burden."
"You can say that, but you can't actually do it. I worked hard to get to this position, can't leave any handles for others to grab," Yu Jie said after finishing the soup. "Doumiao's cooking skills keep getting better."
"Of course! These ribs were specially sent from her family. They say the pigs weren't fed regular feed, but grain. Honestly, I didn't tell her parents, but all the meat at the Yin family is specially supplied," Shen Keke said. "It's just a mother's love, I guess."
"What is President Mo even thinking? That Lisa Li is always so snarky and weird, but instead of dealing with her, he just dumps the trouble on you," Shen Keke said, standing up for Julia Yu.
"What's the big deal? In a few days, let's go visit Doumiao's place together," Shen Keke said. "She'd love that."
"Sure," Yu Jie replied with a smile.
They chatted a while longer, then Shen Keke left with the thermal container.
She'd originally planned to go home with Yu Jie, but thinking about Li Si's snark, she decided to leave it for another day.
Yu Jie didn't invite her again. After seeing Shen Keke off, she went home herself.
Sure enough, as soon as she walked in, Li Si started snarking: "Back this late? Which lover were you out with?"
"Looks like barbecue can't shut you up. Do I need to report everything I do and everyone I meet to you?" Yu Jie shot back. "Pretty sure it's my job to take care of your daily life, not for you to boss me around."
"Oh, so you remember you're supposed to look after me? Then why'd you leave me with Xiong Xiong and walk off?" Li Si pressed. "You really trust Xiong Xiong? What if he..."
"If you couldn't trust Xiong Xiong, he still brought you back safe. But you trusted someone else, got in a stranger's shady car, and ended up sold off in the mountains..." Yu Jie sneered.
Yu Jie hadn't finished when Li Si suddenly screamed, as if triggered: "Yu Jie, how dare you! You actually dare bring that up!"
"Why wouldn't I dare? Why should I keep taking your crap over and over? Li Si, have I ever told you how annoying you are?" Yu Jie crossed her arms. "I mean, I'm the one who finds you blind dates, so trash me in front of them all you want. But could you at least change your lines? Do you really have to tell every single date that I used to sell my eggs? What, you always wait until I go to the bathroom to slander me behind my back—does that make you so much better than me?"
Li Si's scream cut off instantly. "You heard all that?"
"Want me to play you the recordings? You trashed me eight times, and I have proof for every one." Yu Jie said coldly. "Since you hate living with me so much, I'll report to the company tomorrow and apply to move out. I won't deal with you anymore, okay?"
Li Si looked like she'd been choked—she couldn't say a word.
Yu Jie gave Li Si a cold look and turned to go to her room.
Before Yu Jie could go in, Li Si suddenly rushed over and blocked her way. "Yu Jie, what do you mean by this?"
"What do I mean? As you wish, I'm done dealing with your problems, okay?" Yu Jie looked at Li Si coolly. "No matter what I arrange, you always have to fight me. If you're not tired, I am. I put up with you because of President Mo, but that doesn't mean I have no boundaries. I can cut my vacation short, I can apply to work overseas—bottom line, I don't want to see you anymore. Is that clear enough for you? Whoever you want to take care of you, let them do it!"
"No, no!" Li Si shouted bossily. "Why should you get to quit just because you want to? Brother Zixin told you to take care of me, so you have to do it! I don't care, I don't care, I'm not listening, I'm not listening! Yu Jie, if you dare stop looking after me, I'll jump from here—believe it or not!"
"Whatever," Yu Jie shoved Li Si aside and went in.
Who would've thought, Li Si really grabbed a fruit knife from the kitchen and aimed it at her own neck. "Yu Jie, if you dare leave, I'll die right in front of you!"
Yu Jie looked at the hysterical Li Si and realized her mental state was truly unstable.
"What do you really want?" Yu Jie asked.
"I... I know I was wrong, Yu Jie. Can you give me a chance to apologize?" Li Si's attitude suddenly changed. "I'm planning to host a dinner and invite you, Xiong Xiong, and all the people I went on blind dates with—I'll formally apologize to you all!"
Yu Jie's eyes widened in surprise.
Lisa Li's words and actions were totally inconsistent.
What was she even trying to do?
Was her mind really still normal?
Lisa Li threatened Julia Yu: "If you don't agree, I'll die right in front of you—I mean it!"