Chapter 17: Deceiving Oneself and Others

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“You don’t mind if I sit here, do you?”

Du Ruanruan’s voice came from above her. Xianyu instinctively clenched her palm, yet she could not bring herself to utter a refusal.

“I imagine you’ve already guessed. Last night, Ayou stayed with me the entire time.”

“Our baby was being restless, and I was in terrible pain. I called him, and he came over immediately.”

“You must have been taking pictures with Ayou on the beach then.”

Xianyu froze for a moment. “How do you know all that so clearly?”

Du Ruanruan lifted her lips in a coquettish smile. “I thought you were clever enough to understand things at the slightest hint.”

It was not that Xianyu could not guess. She simply did not want to think in that direction.

Because if she admitted the truth, then she ought to make room for Liang Youjia and Du Ruanruan.

“I don’t understand what you mean, Miss Du. This is a matter between you and Ayou. I’ve finished eating, so I’ll be leaving.”

Xianyu was about to go when Du Ruanruan suddenly called after her.

“A beautiful girl like you surely has no shortage of admirers. If all you want is money, why keep clinging to Ayou?”

“He can’t give you his complete love. No—not even a fragment of it.”

“You know that perfectly well. Otherwise, why would you have had an abortion?”

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Xianyu turned back in disbelief. “How did you know about my miscarriage?”

“I started paying attention to you long before you ever paid attention to me.”

Xianyu fled almost in disgrace.

Because she realized she could not find a single reason to refute her.

Xianyu buried her face in the blankets, not knowing how long she had cried.

When she finally lifted her head, her eyes were filled with determination—the determination to abandon this relationship.

She immediately searched through her contacts. In the past, many professors had invited her to remain at the university, while numerous agencies had extended offers, hoping she would become their public face. She had rejected them all.

Now, she did not know whether it was already too late.

She had to admit that times had changed. She had been out of the spotlight for two years. During that time, newcomers had risen to fame—girls younger and more beautiful than she was, who had begun working with universities and agencies long before her.

So when she reached out, every one of them turned her down.

Xianyu was somewhat disappointed, but after thinking it over, she felt it was only natural.

She had been separated from society for so long; she could not expect the world to keep revolving around her. She had to pay the price for allowing herself to be ruled by love.

She made call after call, but there was one person she could not bring herself to contact: Tan Yang.

Even if she had already thrown away every last bit of her pride, she still did not want her best friend to look down on her.

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Yet she never expected that the person who would contact her first would be Tan Yang.

Tan Yang said her company was facing a financial crisis. She needed several million to keep things moving and wanted to seek financing from Xianyu.

“Not a loan. I’m buying a stake.”

Xianyu’s voice was gentle but firm.

This time, it was Tan Yang who was astonished. “Weren’t you utterly devoted to Liang Youjia? Being the second owner of a company isn’t exactly leisurely. You’ll have to step into the public eye…”

“I can do it,” Xianyu said. “Since I’m investing, I can shoulder the responsibility. I’m only afraid you won’t be willing to accept me.”

Tan Yang gave a soft scoff. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

In truth, she had searched everywhere. The funding gap was substantial, yet no one was willing to help. They were afraid that she had neither powerful connections nor influential acquaintances, and that if the company collapsed, she would be unable to repay them.

Xianyu had been the last person she considered, and she had also worried that the girl might hold a grudge.

But Xianyu truly did have money.

“I’ll transfer two million to you first. I’ll give you the rest after I return home.”

Only then did Tan Yang realize that Xianyu was abroad. Still, two million would be enough to solve the immediate crisis, so she readily agreed.

“All right. I’m not in a hurry.”

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