How come you're also my ex-girlfriend?

Chapter 83 I Need More Money (Second Update)

Why aren't you home?

In the passenger seat of Pamela, neon lights flashed by outside the window.

Xu Yan received a message from Jiang Yiyao.

This news is somewhat disorienting.

Xu Yan: [Do we have a home?]

Yao Yiyao: [?]

Yao Yiyao: [If you have hysteria, go get treatment right away! I'm asking why you're not at home!]

Oh, is that what it means? I was so scared! I thought I had skipped dozens of chapters.

Perhaps due to the system upgrade, this body's desires are becoming increasingly intense, making it prone to strange fantasies.

It's all the system's fault.

Xu Yan: [I had to go out for some errands. Why did you call me? Did you miss me?]

Yao Yiyao: [Get lost!]

Xu Yan: [Kid, not all eggs can roll. If you don't love someone, please respect them.]

Yao Yiyao: [?]

Yao Yiyao: [I really need to teach your childhood friend a lesson on Xiaohongshu.]

Xu Yan: [Stop messing around~ Why did you call me?]

Yao Yiyao: [Hmph... I was thinking of inviting you to dinner... but it seems you won't have that luxury.]

Xu Yan: [That's a pity.]

The rearview mirror reflected the boy's smiling face. This wasn't the first time Shu Ying had seen such a smile on his face; it was extremely similar.

Is it because he always wears the same expression when chatting with people he knows well, or does he only have the same smile when talking to the same person?

Yao Yiyao: [I ordered takeout.]

Yao Yiyao: [I'm starving! Why hasn't my takeout arrived yet?!]

Xu Yan: [What's the use of telling me you're starving? Go downstairs and find a restaurant to eat something.]

Yao Yiyao: [?] [Then what about my takeout?]

Xu Yan: [By the time you finish eating out, the takeout will have arrived, right?]

Yao Yiyao: [Damn it, this is insane!]

Why is she speaking Tibetan now? This little girl really needs to be disciplined.

The conversation was almost over, and the car had just come to a stop.

Xu Yan turned his head. "Hmm? Are we here? This doesn't seem to be a bar."

There was only a supermarket outside the car; I didn't see any bars.

Shu Ying, who had just parked her car in a roadside parking space, took off her seatbelt. "If I want to drink beer, I don't need to go to a bar. I can just buy some and drink it somewhere else."

"Hmm...that works too, it's up to you."

The two walked side by side into the large supermarket that sold everything. Shu Ying didn't waste any words and led Xu Yan directly to the counter that sold alcohol to start picking it out.

"Do you often come here to buy wine? You seem to know the route very well."

"I asked casually as I pushed the shopping cart," Xu Yan asked.

"Yeah, but I usually buy it to drink at home."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yan gave Shu Ying a strange look.

Want to bring your buddy home? That's a bit too possessive.

Shu Ying slightly raised her eyes and met Xu Yan's gaze. The young man immediately withdrew his strange look.

But she seemed to know everything: "Don't overthink it. It's just that my environment has made it difficult to find suitable people to drink with casually."

Does this mean that although one is surrounded by upper-class and elite people, there is actually no one with whom one can confide and freely show one's true self?

Xu Yan watched the young woman reach for a beer on the shelf. "Actually, I'm not a casual person."

Shu Ying glanced at him. "Whoever you are."

"Is my sister so tolerant of me? Actually, I'm a conflicted person, I need a..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shu Ying interrupted him, "It doesn't matter whether you're human or not."

Xu Yan:

That's a bit hurtful, okay? Don't think that just because you're paying me, I won't have any objections. Even though I haven't received any payment, I can't just act rashly.

It's a common practice, but criticizing the cook after a full meal might not be a bad thing!

After selecting the beer, I bought a whole big bag of it.

When Shu Ying paid, Xu Yan asked curiously, "Are you really going to finish all this?"

"If you can't finish it, I'll take it home for you."

"That's not a good idea...you paid for everything."

Seeing Xu Yan's embarrassed expression, Shu Ying sighed softly, and left four words as she paid: "Pretending."

Once back in the car, Shu Ying drove faster this time, and Xu Yan almost thought she had secretly been drinking. Fortunately, she drove quite steadily and there was no risk of her being transported to another world.

Gradually, Xu Yan realized that Shu Ying was going to take him somewhere for drinks.

Along the Liangjiang River, on the riverside avenue.

The sunset had long since faded, and the already cool weather was now accompanied by a noisy wind.

Xu Yan helped carry the bags. "Want to drink here?"

Shu Ying nodded, and the two of them walked onto the riverside path where they could directly overlook the river. There were many people strolling along the path.

group.

"I used to come here often when I was in school."

Just as Shu Ying finished speaking, Xu Yan spotted a young couple whispering sweet nothings on a bench and smiled, "I know many young couples often date here. Are you one too, sister?"

After all, for young couples, especially those who don't earn much money, taking walks and chatting is the most economical and practical way to date.

Not all young people can enjoy the romantic feelings of "Tiny Times"; most simply experience the tranquility of a gentle breeze and the bright moon.

Shu Ying glanced at Xu Yan, "I came alone."

Xu Yan nodded in sudden realization, "You don't have to be strong alone this time, because your strength has arrived."

Shu Ying: ?

"You really love using these kinds of tired jokes."

"There's no other way; if we don't use tired, overused jokes, what else can we do? We can't just..."

This is what happens when you overuse tired jokes.

As soon as Xu Yan finished speaking, he looked over and almost blurted it out.

Although she managed to stop it abruptly, it seemed that Shu Ying could understand the next sentence without it being spoken.

Her expression was slightly off. Under the dim streetlights along the river, her narrow eyes were slightly narrowed. She wasn't nervous or shy like a young girl; she seemed to only be able to examine herself like this, using her eyes to question her very soul.

This reminded Xu Yan of an acquaintance... and to be honest, Ye Shutong and Shu Ying really do have similar temperaments.

"Sit here."

In the end, Shu Ying did not pursue the matter, but it should be considered the first warning to Xu Yan.

Giving a yellow card is considered a violation.

The two sat down on a bench, spaced fairly far apart, and placed the plastic bag containing beer between them. Xu Yan simply moved further away so he could lean against the armrest.

Shu Ying, on the other hand, approached the plastic bag, then leaned back in her chair and sat there calmly.

Holding a beer in her hand, she let the wind blowing from the river tousle her hair.

Xu Yan occasionally glanced at Liang Jiang in the darkness, and occasionally at Shu Ying in the dim light; it was indeed a pleasure.

"Although Li Qian is an important business partner of mine, her private relationships with men and women are not very clean, and she is also married."

Xu Yan looked at Shu Ying, who had suddenly said this, with a puzzled expression. "Sister, wouldn't you call this a backstabber?"

Shu Ying rolled her eyes at Xu Yan. "I'm just reminding you. What you do is none of my business."

After saying that, he gulped down a large mouthful of beer without mentioning anything about toasting Xu Yan.

Seeing the other person's expression, Xu Yan couldn't help but smile and take a sip as well.

Shuying didn't buy the usual soft beer; most of the beer was over four or five degrees alcohol, but it tasted pretty good, at least easier to swallow than foreign liquor or spirits.

After finishing that refreshing sip of ice-cold beer, Xu Yan leaned back lazily in his chair. "Don't worry, I'm not interested in that kind of woman. Do I look like the kind of gigolo who wants to rely on rich women?"

Shu Ying looked at him. "Really? Then we'll forget about the payment?"

"That won't do, one thing at a time."

"Heh." Shu Ying chuckled and extended her hand to invite Xu Yan to clink glasses. As Xu Yan's wine bottle clashed with hers, she casually remarked, "People are very good at overestimating their own limits, thinking that their willpower is strong, but simply that the temptation in front of them is not enough."

Xu Yan nodded and took a sip.

The river breeze blows in your face, as if it can blow away your wisdom.

"That makes sense. You sound very experienced, have you encountered similar situations before?"

Shu Ying replied irritably, "I'm just stating a principle."

Xu Yan shook his head. "Anyone can talk about grand principles, but it's hard to control small emotions. Everyone is good at talking about principles, but you only remember some things when you actually experience them yourself."

"So, does he really have to learn a lesson?"

Shu Ying was genuinely annoyed, so she drank the wine exceptionally fiercely, finishing the entire bottle in less than ten minutes.

Xu Yan replied nonchalantly, "No one is perfect, everyone has to suffer some hardships. It's not like anyone has never been cheated or taken advantage of in their life."

Looking at the other person's nonchalant attitude, Shu Ying didn't know why she felt somewhat dissatisfied.

It's clearly his own business. I've only known him for a few days, so I have no right to interfere.

But she couldn't help saying, "Anyway, we're still young, we have plenty of opportunities to try and fail, right?"

Xu Yan looked over, but Shu Ying didn't wait for his reply and continued, "But you don't know that some mistakes, once made, can last a lifetime, and may even be so serious that they can't be undone, with no chance of redemption."

Xu Yan didn't actually know why she suddenly became agitated and her words became intense.

But after finishing the last sip, he said softly.

"Perhaps I was young and impetuous; I'll be more careful."

'

'

Shu Ying gripped the bottle, pressing a shallow handprint onto the can.

A gentle breeze will blow into every tiny pore, then create a hollow sound in your chest.

She suddenly turned to look at Xu Yan, "Have you ever been in a relationship?"

Xu Yan paused for a moment, then replied, "I really don't have that."

"Suddenly."

Shu Ying moved all the beer bottles that formed a chasm between the two of them to the other side, adjusted her position, and sat down next to Xu Yan.

The fragrance filled the air, the body temperature was close, and even the cool breeze from Liangjiang could not take away the warmth.

"Would you mind if I leaned on your shoulder?"

"..." Xu Yan glanced at the beer in his hand, then laughed, "Then it'll have to be more expensive..."

Add as you like.

She turned to the side and leaned against Xu Yan's shoulder, starting cautiously but eventually pressing down on him as if she had given up entirely.

Xu Yan raised his right hand, which was hanging in the air, and took another sip from the new bottle of wine.

This woman is really something... she just adds up the price without even mentioning the compensation.

What if they meant having a baby? Then we'd have triplets!

Shu Ying naturally had no idea what Xu Yan was thinking. She just thought this angle was great; she could lean on his strong, powerful shoulder without it affecting her drinking.

Her gaze could still lazily drift to the surface of the river, where the water shimmered and reflected the light.

The streetlights on both banks, and the LEDs and neon lights of the high-rise buildings make the water surface dazzling, but she never felt that this river was particularly beautiful.

I've felt this way ever since the day she disappeared into the river.

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