Liu Zijian was a little nervous.

He hadn't even taken a sip of the coffee on the table. In the past few days, he had mostly gotten his family's affairs in order and had even found a house. He was ready to sign the contract today.

Thinking about starting a new life, a small smile appeared on Liu Zijian's face, and much of his nervousness faded. Ever since his father passed away and his wife left him with their young son, Liu Zijian had gone through a long, dark period. It was a sunless, hopeless time. His mother's serious illness had drained all of their family's savings. To make matters worse, someone had broken his leg, leaving him disabled.

But everything changed after Elder Brother Mu appeared.

His mother's illness was cured. It seemed his son had also undergone an intellectual awakening and stumbled upon a great opportunity. In the last couple of days, his mother had met with Auntie Su, and they were preparing to open a restaurant, their confidence in life renewed. And he, Liu Zijian, was about to have a house and a career of his own.

Life was gradually improving.

However, the smile on his face quickly vanished. The muscles in his face began to twitch with a hint of suppressed anger.

It was because he saw a woman: his ex-wife, Huang Qi.

Huang Qi wore a tailored suit, her hair was styled up, and her makeup was delicate. The woman had her arm linked with another man's, her face beaming with happiness. After saying something to the man beside her, Huang Qi suddenly seemed to sense something and looked toward Liu Zijian. After a brief moment of surprise, a faint, smug smile appeared on her face.

Huang Qi walked over and sat down directly in front of him.

"Long time no see."

She scrutinized Liu Zijian. Her tone was devoid of emotion, but her eyes held a hint of disdain and relief. She could tell at a glance that Liu Zijian was down on his luck. Even the suit he was wearing was the same one from a few years ago.

"Do you need something?" For the woman before him, Liu Zijian felt little hatred and certainly no affection. From the moment she chose to leave him, all contact between them had ceased. Calling them the most familiar of strangers wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Huang Qi studied him, her lips curling slightly. "It seems you haven't been doing very well lately," she said, her voice flat but laced with sarcasm.

"Couldn't be better, thanks to you," Liu Zijian replied.

Huang Qi was taken aback, her mouth falling slightly open. She seemed surprised that the usually reticent Liu Zijian would offer such a sharp retort. She smoothed a stray strand of hair by her ear and said coldly, "Are you still holding a grudge against me?"

Looking at her, Liu Zijian suddenly found the situation amusing. "Are you worth it?"

Huang Qi was left speechless, and her expression turned ugly.

"You weren't like this before."

In the past, whenever she spoke, he would either remain silent or simply obey. He would never have been so sharp-tongued, leaving her speechless as he just had.

"You said it yourself, that was the past. People change," Liu Zijian said, his emotions having already stabilized as he met her gaze with indifference.

Huang Qi seemed slightly uncomfortable under his stare. She said disdainfully, "Yes, people do change. Some get better and better, while others... become more and more wretched."

She added, "Like you."

A couple who could have grown old together were meeting and speaking like this after just a few years. It wasn't a matter of disappointment, but it was far from pleasant.

Huang Qi seemed to feel she had regained the upper hand. She lifted her chin and said, "At least, seeing you like this proves my choice back then was correct."

This woman... as self-righteous as ever. It was just like what she'd told him when she left: "I'll lead a better life without you."

Indeed, she was now a middle manager at Boheng Pharma, holding the position of deputy sales manager. Though only a deputy, she would soon be promoted to the full position. And who could blame her? She had found herself a capable and well-connected fiancé.

"As long as you're happy," Liu Zijian said.

His tone was so calm it seemed foreign to Huang Qi. She had expected anger, resentment, perhaps even a few hurled insults. That, at least, would have brought her some comfort, as it would prove he still hated her. After all, hate can only come from love. But instead, all he had said was, "As long as you're happy."

And of course, she was delighted! She was about to be promoted to sales department manager.

"I'm about to get a promotion, and my fiancé is the company's HR manager," Huang Qi said proudly. "If you're out of work, you can contact me anytime. For old times' sake, I can put in a good word for you."

Back then, Liu Zijian had just been a minor functionary in a public institution. Their life had been tight—so tight she couldn't afford decent clothes or jewelry, let alone a luxurious meal. But now things were different. She wore designer brands, ate Western cuisine, and lived in a high-end residential complex where apartments cost over ten thousand per square meter. She truly felt she had the right to look down on him.

"Congratulations."

Liu Zijian's simple reply, however, made Huang Qi feel vaguely uncomfortable. It was like a thorn under her skin, making her squirm.

"Liu Zijian, if you really hate me, just say it! If you find it too hard to ask me for help, you can be direct about that too! There's no need to be so passive-aggressive," Huang Qi snapped, her face clouding with anger. This good-for-nothing loser! What was he trying to prove, putting on an act in front of me?

Liu Zijian was somewhat surprised. He shook his head slightly and said, "Don't you think too highly of yourself? Or did you think that I, Liu Zijian, couldn't survive without you?"

"Isn't that true?" Huang Qi's voice rose a notch. "Do you even have a job now? That place you live in is rented, isn't it? Your mother's illness isn't cured, is it? What right do you have to show off in front of me?"

Typically, it is the insecure who derive satisfaction from belittling others, as if it is the only way to prove themselves right. Huang Qi was a perfect example.

"Who is he?"

Just as Liu Zijian was about to speak, a man walked over carrying two cups of coffee. It was Tang Feng, a man who, based on appearances alone, was leagues above Liu Zijian.

"It's nothing, just an... ordinary friend," Huang Qi said, her voice a little unnatural. She glanced at Liu Zijian with a hint of a threat in her eyes, as if to warn him not to say anything foolish.

Liu Zijian was speechless for a moment, then laughed silently. This woman is truly full of herself.

"Oh?" Tang Feng extended his hand to Liu Zijian, his tone gentle and approachable. "I rarely hear her mention any friends. Since we've met, it must be fate. Nice to meet you. My name is Tang Feng, Qi Qi's fiancé."

Liu Zijian shook his hand, glanced at Huang Qi, and said, "Liu Zijian, a... friend of Huang Qi's."

Hearing him introduce himself that way, Huang Qi, standing to the side, breathed a sigh of relief, though not without a pang of guilt.

"Dear, let's go," she said, pulling on Tang Feng's arm.

Tang Feng looked puzzled. "We haven't even had our coffee yet. Besides, it's not every day I get to meet one of your friends. Let's chat for a bit. We're not in a rush, anyway."

A slightly enigmatic smile touched Liu Zijian's lips. "I don't mind."

Huang Qi clenched her teeth and glared at Liu Zijian. "Fine!"

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