Who's going to be the female lead's simp? Aren't the supporting female characters mor

Inside the private room, the gentle violin music flowed through the air, seemingly creating a separate world from the ruthless business battlefield outside.

Jiang Mengyao looked at the cut steak in front of her, but had no appetite at all.

She was waiting for Bai Jingyou to make an offer.

Everyone is clear about the current situation: the Jiang family is being maliciously besieged, and the construction deadline is fast approaching.

Even at double the price, steel and cement on the market are in high demand, let alone the only available stock that Bai Jingyou currently holds.

This is the business world; taking advantage of someone's misfortune is the norm, while offering help in times of need is a fairy tale.

She was mentally prepared to be ripped off, and as long as it didn't damage the foundation of the Jiang family, she would accept any amount of money.

"The market price has increased by 20%."

Bai Jingyou put down his wine glass, his voice very soft, as if he were talking about today's weather.

Jiang Mengyao suddenly looked up, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes filled with astonishment.

"How much?" She thought she had misheard. "Twenty percent? Bai Jingyou, do you know how much the black market price is going to be right now? Some people are offering double that."

"That's outside." Bai Jingyou took a napkin and wiped his hands. "We don't need that kind of formality between us. A 20% profit is enough for Li Yan and me to report back to our families, and it's also enough for Uncle Jiang to still make a profit on this project."

Jiang Mengyao stared at him for a long time.

She used to think that Bai Jingyou was just a spoiled rich kid who was a little clever, but that was all.

But what happened in the last two days completely overturned all her impressions.

Whether it was making advance arrangements in the building materials market or taking advantage of Chu Xuan's foolishness to operate in the opposite direction, every step they took was precise and ruthless.

But what surprised her most was his restraint at that moment.

Choosing to concede when one should be greedy is not just a matter of personal favor, but also a long-term strategic vision.

"Thank you." Jiang Mengyao raised her glass, this time from the bottom of her heart. "The Jiang family will remember this favor."

"It's just a mutually beneficial arrangement." Bai Jingyou clinked glasses with her.

It may seem like they suffered a loss, but in reality, they first gained 20% more profit, and secondly, they benefited from the Jiang family's favor.

This deal is much better than just making a quick buck.

Just then, the phone on the table vibrated, breaking the rare tranquility.

Bai Jingyou glanced at the caller ID and answered with a smile.

"Boss! It's blown up! It's completely blown up!" Li Yan's loud voice was incredibly penetrating even without speakerphone. "My old man just saw the report and he was so happy he almost choked on his dentures! He kept yelling about how I'm a business genius and told me to stick with you from now on and stop thinking about cars all the time."

The deep voice of Li's father could still be faintly heard on the other end of the phone: "You little brat, how dare you talk to Young Master Bai like that? Call him President Bai! From now on, if President Bai points east, you don't go west, understand?"

Bai Jingyou moved his phone away a little and smiled helplessly: "Uncle Li is too kind. Tell him this is just the beginning; there's a long road ahead."

"Alright! Boss, you don't know, when I got home just now, the way my nanny looked at me was completely different. Before, she looked at me like a spendthrift, now she looks at me like a god of wealth. I'm really impressed this time."

After hanging up the phone, Bai Jingyou looked at Jiang Mengyao, who was trying not to laugh, and shrugged: "Looks like Li Yan will be able to get a good night's sleep tonight."

Jiang Mengyao swirled her wine glass, the smile still lingering on her lips: "Not only him, but I'll also be able to sleep well tonight. However, some people will probably be having trouble sleeping tonight."

……

Haicheng University, Girls' Dormitory 302.

The lights were stark white, and the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Lin Ruyu sat at her desk with the expensive textbook spread out in front of her, but half an hour had passed and she still hadn't turned the page.

At this time of day, the dormitory would usually be bustling with activity.

Her roommates would gather around her, watching with envy as she unpacked one exquisite gift box after another, listening to her casually complain about which suitor had given her a color she didn't like.

But today, there is a deathly silence.

Wang Jia and her two other roommates were watching a variety show together, occasionally letting out a few deliberately suppressed laughs, completely ignoring her.

Ever since Chu Xuan made a fool of himself at the school gate that day, he's been like he's vanished into thin air for the past two days.

He didn't even reply to a WeChat message, let alone pick her up in a Ferrari to go out for French food.

She inquired and learned that the Chu family was having a very difficult time. Several shipments of goods were stuck at the port and couldn't move, and their cash flow was about to dry up.

They're really useless.

Lin Ruyu slammed the book shut in frustration, the immense sense of disappointment gnawing at her self-esteem like ants.

Gao Beining, that idiot, is under house arrest, and Chu Xuan, that good-for-nothing, is too busy taking care of himself.

She suddenly realized that in this vast coastal city, she couldn't find a single person she could rely on.

Her gaze involuntarily fell on the old bag she had tossed in the corner; it was a gift from Bai Jingyou during her freshman year of college.

Bai Jingyou was so good back then.

He's always there for her, and even if she wants wontons from the west side of the city in the middle of the night, he'll drive there to buy them without hesitation.

She has always been pampered and spoiled by others.

"He's probably still sulking." Lin Ruyu bit her lip. Once that absurd thought arose in her mind, it grew wildly like weeds. "He used to like me so much, how could he change his mind so easily? Even if he blocked me, it's definitely to get my attention."

Men, after all, care about their pride.

As long as you give him a way out, soften your stance a little, and apologize, even if it's just pretending, he'll definitely come running back wagging his tail, just like before.

After all, she is Lin Ruyu.

Thinking of this, Lin Ruyu took a deep breath, and that confidence returned to her face.

She picked up her phone and dialed that number she knew by heart once more.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is currently busy..."

Still on the blacklist.

Lin Ruyu frowned and turned to look at her roommate Zhang Wei, who was painting her nails.

Zhang Wei and she usually had a passable relationship; she was the kind of person who would switch sides.

"Weiwei," Lin Ruyu put on a pitiful expression, "I want to call home, but my phone is dead. Could I borrow your phone for a moment?"

Zhang Wei paused for a moment, her eyes sweeping over the fully charged screen of her phone. She knowingly pursed her lips, but still handed over the phone: "Hurry up, I need to use it."

"Thanks."

Lin Ruyu took her phone, walked to the balcony, and closed the sliding door.

The night breeze was a bit chilly, giving her goosebumps.

She pressed a string of numbers, her fingers trembling slightly.

You must be gentle, appear aggrieved, and make him feel sorry for you.

She mentally rehearsed her opening remarks several times.

beep - beep -

The phone is on.

At that moment, Lin Ruyu's heart inexplicably raced.

"Feed?"

A deep, magnetic male voice came through the receiver. The background was quiet, with the occasional clinking of cutlery against a porcelain plate.

That was Bai Jingyou's voice.

Lin Ruyu's eyes instantly reddened. This time it wasn't acting; it was a long-lost feeling of security mixed with resentment.

"Jingyou, it's me..."

Her voice was soft and sweet, with a tremor of three parts and a hint of sorrow.

It was the kind of tone she was best at. In the past, whenever she spoke in this tone, Bai Jingyou's anger would instantly dissipate, no matter how great it was.

however.

It was the very instant I uttered the word "me".

There was no pause or hesitation on the other end of the phone.

"Beep beep beep..."

Blind voice.

The call was disconnected.

Decisive, efficient, and ruthless.

It's like casually hanging up on a harassing insurance sales call, without even bothering to say "stop bothering me."

Lin Ruyu stood frozen in place, her phone pressed to her ear, the cold busy tone like slaps to her face.

How is that possible?

He recognized my voice, and then... hung up?

You won't even give me a chance to hear a single word from me?

A wave of immense shame washed over her, making her cheeks burn.

She felt like a clown stripped naked, performing a one-woman show on the breezy balcony.

"what!"

Lin Ruyu screamed, completely losing control of her emotions.

She suddenly raised her hand and slammed the phone in her hand to the ground.

"Snapped!"

The latest iPhone was smashed heavily onto the tiles, the screen instantly shattering into a spiderweb pattern, with parts scattered everywhere.

The loud noise startled everyone in the dormitory.

Zhang Wei jumped up from her chair in fright, rushed to the balcony, and screamed, "My phone! Lin Ruyu, are you crazy? I can forgive you for lending me your phone, but what's wrong with you?!"

Looking at the pile of scrap metal on the ground, Zhang Wei was heartbroken and tears welled up in her eyes: "I just bought this less than a month ago! You have to pay me back!"

Lin Ruyu stood there, her chest heaving violently, her eyes filled with a frighteningly venomous resentment.

She looked at the broken pieces of the phone on the ground as if she were looking at Bai Jingyou's indifferent face.

"What's all the noise about!" Lin Ruyu turned around, her hair disheveled, her expression somewhat ferocious, completely unlike her usual school beauty self. "It's just a broken phone! How much did it cost? I'll pay you back!"

"Is this just about a phone? The data on it..."

"I said I'd get you a new one!" Lin Ruyu roared hysterically. "I'll buy you one tomorrow! Now shut up!"

After saying that, she shoved Zhang Wei, who was blocking her way, rushed back to her bed, and forcefully pulled the curtains shut.

The world is isolated.

She curled up in the darkness, her nails digging into her palms.

No money, no backup plan, no face.

At that moment, she finally realized that Bai Jingyou, who had once cherished her, truly didn't want her anymore.

Moreover, it was done in the cruelest way—by ignoring it.

……

Inside the private room.

Bai Jingyou casually tossed his phone onto the table, his expression as calm as if nothing had happened.

"Who was that?" Jiang Mengyao cut a small piece of beef and asked casually, "Why did they hang up as soon as they heard the voice?"

She actually heard that voice.

That voice that she once minded immensely, and even felt a little jealous of.

"Junk call." Bai Jingyou picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth. "Not interested in those selling inferior products."

Jiang Mengyao paused for a moment, her beautiful eyes curving into crescents.

Inferior product.

This assessment is truly... accurate and harsh.

"It seems Mr. Bai has very high standards now," Jiang Mengyao joked. "Ordinary sales pitches no longer catch your eye."

Bai Jingyou raised his head and looked at the intelligent, generous girl in front of him who could stand on her own in the business world. His eyes became more serious.

"It's not that I have high standards, it's just that I've been spoiled and I'm not used to it anymore." He smiled.

Jiang Mengyao's heart skipped a beat.

She lowered her head to hide the blush rising on her cheeks, and raised her wine glass to take a sip as if to conceal her embarrassment.

"Now that we've finished discussing business, shouldn't we talk about celebrating?" Jiang Mengyao changed the subject. "Once the project in the east of the city starts, I'll be very busy for the next few months. How about I treat you to a drink tonight?"

Bai Jingyou glanced at the night view outside the window; the neon lights of the bustling city shimmered, reflected in his deep eyes.

This is just the first step.

The best is yet to come.

"Alright." Bai Jingyou stood up and extended his hand in a gentlemanly manner. "Then I'll gladly accept your offer."

The two walked out of the restaurant side by side, their shadows stretching long under the lights.