The heavens set sail from the courtyard

In the subway car, Wang Gang and Mi Lai sat together, neither of them speaking, as if they were two complete strangers who just happened to be on the same subway.

Mi Lai seemed to be sulking, but she wasn't quite sure what she was angry about.

Wang Gang didn't want to provoke Mi Lai, so he chose to remain silent.

After the subway stopped at one station, many passengers boarded. A tall man, weighing over 200 pounds, sat down next to Mi Lai, pushing her closer to Wang Gang.

Wang Gang glanced at Mi Lai and offered to make room for her so she could sit more comfortably.

"Gao Qiang, why aren't you with Sister Manny?" Mi Lai finally broke the silence.

"You're all like that, so irresponsible!"

Wang Gang chuckled and said, "It's not that I don't want to take responsibility, it's that Manny doesn't need me to take responsibility?"

"Huh?" Miley asked in surprise, "Why?"

Wang Gang frankly stated, "I do like Manny quite a bit, but she feels that the age gap between us is too big and worries that my current feelings are just a passing impulse."

Mi Lai frowned and said, "Manny is thirty years old this year, which is indeed much older than you, but you two have already done that, which means that Manny has accepted you. Can't you be more proactive?"

Wang Gang shook his head and said, "Manny is much more mature than you. She has her own career and her own pursuits. Men are not a necessity for her. Last night was probably just a moment of indulgence for her!"

Upon hearing this, Mi Lai's face showed a look of disgust.

"I think you just want to take advantage of Sister Manny. You men are all the same."

Wang Gang smiled and said, "Think what you want!"

Mi Lai was silent for a while, then suddenly asked Wang Gang, "Gao Qiang, do you think Lu Tao's feelings for Xia Lin are just a passing fancy, and that he'll dump her once he gets tired of her?"

Wang Gang glanced at Mi Lai and said, "You haven't given up on Lu Tao yet!"

Mi Lai lowered her head and remained silent, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her clothes.

In the original storyline, Mi Lai was unwilling to give up. After going abroad, she came back to pester Lu Tao and even rented a house across from his to "monitor" him at any time.

Speaking of which, Mi Lai is a total love-struck fool. In order to win Lu Tao's favor, she almost caused her father to go bankrupt.

Wang Gang considered Mi Lai a friend and didn't want her to get into trouble.

"If Lu Tao dumps Xia Lin and comes back to you, will you still accept him?"

A glimmer of hope suddenly appeared in Mi Lai's eyes, and she said to Wang Gang, "Did Lu Tao send you to ask me this?"

Wang Gang shook his head speechlessly and said, "So you still have hope for Lu Tao. Is it possible that you would go back to him if he just said one word?"

Mi Lai's eyes reddened, and she said unwillingly, "What's wrong with me? Lu Tao just doesn't like me and likes Xia Lin!"
I'm better than Charlene in every way!

Wang Gang did not answer Mi Lai, because he knew that Mi Lai was already stuck in a rut and would not listen to advice.

He took out his phone, dialed Hua Zi's number, chatted for a few minutes, and then hung up to ask Mi Lai, "Do you want to see Lu Tao now?"

Mi Lai paused for a moment, then looked at Wang Gang with a puzzled expression.

Without saying a word, Wang Gang grabbed Mi Lai and left. They walked out of the subway car, out of the subway station, hailed a taxi, and arrived at the entrance of a restaurant.

Lu Tao and Xia Lin were eating by the window in the restaurant. The two were like lovers, flirting and teasing each other while eating. They seemed very happy, and there was not a trace of guilt for betraying Mi Lai.

Wang Gang pulled Mi Lai to stand not far away, and through the window they saw Lu Tao and Xia Lin enjoying their time together. Mi Lai was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth.

"Why did you drag me here?" Mi Lai shouted angrily at Wang Gang.

"I just want you to see Lu Tao's current state," Wang Gang said. "How do you feel when you see him playing around with Xia Lin?" Mi Lai angrily turned around and ran in the opposite direction of the restaurant, unwilling to face reality.

Fearing something might happen to Mi Lai, Wang Gang quickly chased after her and saw her crossing the road, with a car speeding towards them in the distance.

"Be careful."

Wang Gang grabbed Mi Lai, and the car braked in time, avoiding hitting her.

"How did you cross the road?" the driver yelled at Wang Gang and Mi Lai as he rolled down his window.

"I'm sorry," Wang Gang said to the driver, then pulled Mi Lai to the side of the road and found that she was already in tears.

"Why did you bring me here?" Mi Lai cried as she hit Wang Gang's chest.

Wang Gang roared, "Why are you crying?!"

Miley was startled.

"You're not the one who did something wrong, so why are you crying?" Wang Gang said angrily. "The one who should be crying is the person who betrayed you!"

With tears in her eyes, Mi Lai said aggrievedly, "Why are you yelling at me?"

Wang Gang sighed and said, "Mi Lai, aren't you angry? Lu Tao treated you like that. He betrayed your relationship, let down your years of hard work, and even knowing that Xia Lin was your good friend, he still cheated on you."

"Stop talking." Miley covered her ears and squatted down.

He pulled Mi Lai up, forcing her to face reality.

"You just saw how happy Lu Tao and Xia Lin were. They felt no guilt whatsoever and were happily dating, while you have to endure the pain of betrayal."

Miley cried sadly, "Please, stop talking!"

Wang Gang didn't stop, and continued, "Mi Lai, face reality! Lu Tao has never loved you from beginning to end. You were like a fool before, giving unilaterally, while Lu Tao only treated you as a wallet, or even a plaything to amuse himself!"

Mi Lai was struck dumb, completely stunned.

"No, Lu Tao loves me. He was just seduced by Xia Lin. It's all because of Xia Lin. It's all her fault for seducing Lu Tao."

Wang Gang put his hand on Mi Lai's shoulder and said with unusual seriousness, "Mi Lai, wake up and think carefully. In the years you've been dating Lu Tao, has he ever said 'I love you' even once?"

Mi Lai froze, her eyes widening as she realized that Lu Tao had never said a word about liking her.

"So it was all just wishful thinking on my part all along?" Mi Lai seemed to have lost her soul, and her whole body went limp.

Wang Gang helped Mi Lai to sit down by the roadside.

“Mi Lai, haven’t you realized what kind of person Lu Tao is yet? He doesn’t love you, he doesn’t even love Xia Lin, he only loves himself,” Wang Gang said.
“Lu Tao is essentially a selfish person. To him, a woman is just like a piece of clothing. If he likes a piece of clothing today, he will wear it for a couple of days. When he gets tired of it, he will change to another one.”

"No, no, Lu Tao isn't that kind of person." Mi Lai refused to accept reality and cried, burying her face in her hands.

Wang Gang finally advised, "Mi Lai, why make things difficult for yourself for a selfish man!"

In this world, besides love, there are many other precious things. Let go of Lu Tao and truly appreciate the people around you! You have many people who love you.

Mi Lai looked up at Wang Gang, her eyes red, and said, "Who else will love me?"

Wang Gang said, "Mi Lai, believe me, there will never be a man in this world who loves you more than your father!"

"My dad!?" (End of Chapter)