After being kicked out of the wealthy family along with her yandere childhood friend

"What time is it? Still eating breakfast!"

Bai Tao's voice carried a sense of self-righteous dissatisfaction.

Her tone sounded angry, but the last syllable was soft and not very offensive, like a kitten baring its teeth but not actually sticking out its claws.

Pei Jin realized it was his fault.

He cleared his throat. "My bad. I won't turn off the alarm clock again."

He changed his question, softening his tone, "What would you like to eat for lunch today?"

Bai Tao saw that Pei Jin had already given her a way out.

She sat up, the blanket slipping off her shoulders, revealing a glimpse of her fair collarbone and the thin straps of her slip dress.

Her eyes lit up. "How about hot pot?"

Her voice carried a hint of expectant excitement, with a slight upward inflection at the end, "It's been so long since I've had hot pot."

Pei Jin hesitated.

He worked for several days and only managed to save up a thousand yuan.

Yesterday, the whole process at the hospital—registering, examination, bandaging, and getting medication—cost a total of 2,400 yuan.

It was all paid by those older brothers who pooled their money. Pei Jin originally planned to save up some more and pay them back, but he didn't expect to have to spend money so soon.

Ultimately, it's because he's not capable enough right now.

Oh well, a little longer won't make a difference.

Pei Jin did a quick mental calculation and decided that he could afford to pay the money for the time being.

He nodded and said softly, "Okay."

"Then I'll buy a coupon!"

"Can I wait until I finish my makeup before we go out?"

Bai Tao squatted on the ground, looking at Pei Jin with a cute expression, while her hands kept rummaging through her clothes and cosmetics in her suitcase.

Pei Jin nodded and pulled out a stool to sit down.

He took out his phone from his pocket and opened the various documents sent by Chi Shibao.

Chi Shibao was probably really in a hurry for this paper. The materials he sent were complete but disorganized. The compressed file was a string of gibberish, and when you opened it, you found a bunch of unorganized references and a few blurry, illegible charts.

Pei Jin opened and closed the files one by one, trying to build a rough framework in his mind.

He had a hard time reading it. The phone screen was too small, and he had to swipe his finger several times to switch windows. The text in the documents was also small, and he had to zoom in to see it clearly, but even then, he couldn't see the whole text.

If only we had a computer.

His time is very precious right now. Chi Shibao's paper requires consulting a lot of literature. Relying on his phone to read it is too inefficient. Switching back and forth is too time-consuming, and the text is too small, which will hurt his eyes after reading for a long time.

He wanted to ask Bai Tao to lend him some more money.

But it seems that after confirming his feelings, he just couldn't bring himself to say it.

Bai Tao was in the bathroom, fiddling with something on her face in front of the mirror.

He listened to those voices and opened the chat window with Chi Shibao.

Could I get an advance of $1000?

The other party replied instantly. Pei Jin frowned. What did it matter to him whether other people were sleeping or not?

【What's wrong, bro?】

[Buy a computer.]

Chi Shibao raised an eyebrow as he looked at the message.

He had heard people say that the eldest son of the Pei family had been kicked out and was so poor that he had to rely on others for food, but he didn't believe it.

It appears to be true.

Give me your address.

【? 】

I'll have someone deliver a computer to you; that will be faster.

Before Pei Jin could refuse, Chi Shibao's next message popped up.

[If you're working for me, I'll clear away anything that gets in your way.]

Then Chi Shibao sent another voice message, which Pei Jin didn't open but instead converted to text.

I feel your pain and want to help you.

Pei Jin stared at the screen, remaining silent for about five seconds.

With this kind of brain, is the Chi family doomed by this generation?

Then Pei Jin sent the address of the supermarket at the entrance of the community to Chi Shibo.

"Let's go, Pei Jin, I'm all better!"

Pei Jin raised his head.

When Bai Tao came out of the toilet, the basement seemed to brighten a bit.

Pei Jin then realized just how true the title of "the most spoiled girl in Beijing's social circle" really was.

Bai Tao wore a pink, fitted fishtail dress with a rose pattern. The hem of the dress flared out slightly from the knees, like a rose slowly blooming.

Her makeup was exquisite but not heavy, with her eyeliner slightly upturned at the outer corner of her eyes, like a lazy cat that had just woken up.

She looked at Pei Jin, spun around, and her skirt billowed with the movement, like a pink ripple.

"Is it good-looking, Pei Jin?"

Bai Tao stood in front of him, tilting her head, waiting for his evaluation.

Pei Jin realized that this beautiful white peach was about to be seen by many people. His eyes darkened for a moment, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "Hmm, not bad."

good?

Bai Tao was so angry she almost punched Pei Jin on the head.

She rolled her eyes, then followed Pei Jin out the door one after the other.

Just as she opened the door, she bumped into He Fan and He Yilong, who were also holding hands and had just opened the door.

Bai Tao's gaze was fixed on He Fan and He Yilong's hands, which were tightly clasped together.

He Yilong's hands were a size larger than He Fan's, and his well-defined fingers were intertwined with He Fan's, the two hands clasped together naturally and closely.

Bai Tao's gaze lingered on those two hands for about two seconds before shifting away.

Although he knew that Bai Tao probably already guessed what was going on, He Fan still subconsciously tried to shake off He Yilong's hand the moment he saw someone.

His fingers twitched in He Yilong's palm, trying to pull away, but the next second they were gripped even tighter.

He Yilong's fingers tightened, pulling him slightly in his direction, as if silently declaring something.

He Fan's ears turned red for a moment, and he stopped struggling.

"Hi."

Bai Tao raised her hand to greet He Fan, her voice light and cheerful as if she hadn't seen anything at all.

"hello?"

He Fan smiled, but his gaze drifted towards the entrance of the corridor.

Sure enough, Pei Jin was standing there waiting for Bai Tao.

Hearing Bai Tao greeting someone, he turned around, his gaze falling on He Fan and He Yilong, then moving down to their clasped hands.

His gaze lingered there for a moment, and he nodded slightly as a greeting.

Then his gaze shifted from He Fan and He Yilong back to Bai Tao.

"Are you also going out to eat?"

"right,"

He Fan glanced at He Yilong beside him, "We're planning to go out for hot pot."

"What a coincidence!"

Bai Tao's eyes lit up. "Let's go eat hot pot too! Want to come?"

Just as He Fan was about to say "okay," two voices rang out almost simultaneously.

"No." Pei Jin's voice came from where he was standing.

"No." He Yilong's voice came from beside He Fan.

Pei Jin and He Yilong glanced at each other, their eyes meeting briefly in the air before simultaneously looking away.

Just as He Fan was about to turn around and ask He Yilong why it wasn't okay, He Yilong subtly nudged He Fan while Bai Tao was looking at Pei Jin.

He Fan's body shrank abruptly, making him immediately understand He Yilong's implication. The question he wanted to ask lingered on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it back.

"Excuse me,"

He Fan's voice carried a hint of apology, and sounded very sincere.

"I forgot we both had things to do this afternoon."

Bai Tao chuckled twice, realizing her invitation had been a bit presumptuous. She had only meant that more people would allow her to try more varieties, and quickly waved her hand.

"It's okay, it's okay, let's get together again next time."

Bai Tao and He Fan said goodbye to each other, and the two couples parted ways at the stairwell.

Bai Tao took a few steps and looked back. He Fan's back was half-embraced by He Yilong, and his steps were slower than usual.

Then, the four of them met in front of a hot pot restaurant in Wangfujing.

Bai Tao and He Fan saw each other across several rows of people waiting for a table. They were stunned for a moment, and then laughed at the same time.

Bai Tao and He Fan discussed it and decided that sharing a table would allow them to get in faster, and they would only have to wait about ten minutes.

After waiting for about ten minutes, the waiter called their number, and the four of them were led to a four-person table by the window.

The table wasn't big. Pei Jin and He Yilong exchanged a glance and almost simultaneously took a step back in their respective directions, giving the two seats by the window to Bai Tao and He Fan.

The two people huddled together, pointing at the menu, laughing so hard their shoulders shook.

Pei Jin and He Yilong sat on the aisle side, both leaning back in their seats with blank expressions, neither of them speaking.

Pei Jin looked at the back of Bai Tao's head, while He Yilong looked at He Fan's profile.

It wasn't until Bai Tao handed them the menu, saying, "Take a look and see what else you want to add," that Pei Jin and He Yilong reached out to take it at the same time. Their fingertips touched the edge of the menu for a moment before they each withdrew their hands.

He Yilong cleared his throat, took the menu, glanced at it, and said, "That'll do for now. We can add more if needed."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Pei Jin, who nodded.

Bai Tao took a sip of the complimentary plum juice. The cool liquid slid down her throat, sweet and sour with a subtle plum aroma.

She put down her cup and suddenly remembered her important matter.

She turned to Pei Jin and said, "By the way, Pei Jin, He Fan's friend is very capable; he works in IT!"

"Oh? Really? That's impressive."

Pei Jin completely failed to grasp Bai Tao's subtle meaning, and glanced at He Yilong with a hint of jealousy. "So what if you know IT?"

He can too.

While he was at MIT, although his main focus was finance and management, he also dabbled in a lot of technical things.

He can do it too, so why hasn't Bai Tao ever praised him for being so good?

The more Pei Jin thought about it, the more something seemed off. He turned to look at Bai Tao, his dark eyes filled with an almost obsessive curiosity.

"You like working in IT?"

Pei Jin's voice wasn't loud, but his question left the three people present speechless.

Bai Tao froze, still holding the glass of plum juice, about to bring it to her lips, but it hung motionless in mid-air.

He Fan's chopsticks also stopped in the pot, holding a piece of freshly blanched tripe, hovering above the sauce dish.

He Yilong's expression didn't change much, but he glanced at Pei Jin with a thoughtful and amused look in his eyes.

Bai Tao glanced awkwardly at He Fan, then at He Yilong, and then at Pei Jin, feeling like she was being roasted over a fire.

Dude, I didn't mean to steal your boyfriend!

She pinched Pei Jin's thigh hard under the table, her fingers squeezing a small patch of soft flesh on the inside of his thigh, twisting it forcefully, and then letting go.

She was still smiling, but the smile looked forced no matter how you looked at it.

"Who said I like it?"

"I'm just telling you that you can contact him if you need anything in the future."

Pei Jin completely ignored Bai Tao's subsequent explanation.

I don't like working in IT.

Fortunately, Bai Tao probably doesn't know that he would.

He Fan took the initiative to smooth things over.

He glanced at He Yilong, then at Pei Jin, a gentle smile playing on his lips, as if he were preparing to ease the tension.

"Yes, He Yilong is very capable; he is currently starting his own business."

He Fan's voice wasn't loud, but there was a natural, unadorned pride in his tone.

He Yilong's mood clearly improved.

When He Fan praised him, his expression remained unchanged.

He began to explain what he mainly did.

Pei Jin listened attentively this time.

As he was analyzing He Yilong's future prospects in the industry, Bai Tao glanced at Pei Jin's serious profile, then at He Yilong, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Are you still hiring?

"My friend is very talented; he graduated from MIT."

He Yilong glanced at Pei Jin without making a sound.

No wonder.

Bai Tao looks like a pampered young lady, so why would she fall for this man who seems to have nothing to offer except for his looks and figure? Turns out he's got some skills.

But how could someone who graduated from MIT live in a basement?

"elder sister?"

All four of them turned their heads at the same time.

Bai Zhenzhen stood less than two steps away from their table, with a girl who looked to be about the same age as her by her side.

Sun Xiaoxiao was wearing a light green dress, her hair was tied in a low ponytail, and her face showed a shyness and curiosity that came from someone who had just arrived in a big city and had not yet fully adapted.

Bai Zhenzhen has now fallen in love with the feeling of being a self-media creator, and with the feeling of being fawned over and the center of attention wherever she goes.

She desperately wanted everyone to know she was rich, especially those who had previously looked down on her.

She wore a white silk top with an exquisite pearl brooch at the neckline, and her hair was styled into elegant waves. She looked like she stepped right out of a magazine.

This girl is Bai Zhenzhen's friend from her hometown. Her name is Sun Xiaoxiao. She is a very innocent person and can't find a job in her hometown. Bai Zhenzhen took the initiative to find her and asked her if she would like to come and keep her company.

Sun Xiaoxiao never expected that such a good thing, where one person's success brings prosperity to their entire family, would happen to her, so she nodded without even thinking about it.

Bai Zhenzhen was very generous, buying her a plane ticket and even renting her a luxury apartment.

Upon hearing the word "sister," Bai Tao's previously happy expression instantly vanished.

She held the glass of plum juice, her fingers tightening slightly, her knuckles turning slightly white.

Bai Zhenzhen walked over arm in arm with Sun Xiaoxiao, wearing high heels, a sweet and flawless smile on her face.

"Xiaoxiao,"

Bai Zhenzhen turned her head to Sun Xiaoxiao and introduced, "This is my ex-mother's biological daughter."

Sun Xiaoxiao's gaze fell on Bai Tao's face, and she was stunned for several seconds.

Okay, so beautiful.

Bai Tao's appearance is completely out of sync with everyone else here.

That kind of bright, passionate, spotlight-like beauty is like a rose that suddenly blooms in a dimly lit alley.

Sun Xiaoxiao had never seen such a stunningly beautiful woman with red lips, white teeth, and a captivating charm.

Seeing her best friend's attitude towards her, she thought the two had a good relationship.

"Wow, so beautiful."

Sun Xiaoxiao's voice carried a heartfelt and pure emotion.

Bai Zhenzhen almost lost face.

Sun Xiaoxiao's frank and sincere praise sounded like a thorn in her ear.

She gripped Sun Xiaoxiao's arm tightly, her fingernails lightly pinching Sun Xiaoxiao's forearm through her clothes, as if giving a silent reminder.

"Hehe, yeah, isn't it beautiful?"

Bai Zhenzhen's voice carried a sweetness that seemed about to burst forth.

She released Sun Xiaoxiao, quickly took out her phone from her pocket, as if afraid of missing something.

She switched to selfie mode, turned around, and Bai Tao and her bewildered face appeared in the camera's view.

"Sister, look at the camera."

Bai Zhenzhen's voice is sweet, with a rising tone that she only has in front of the camera.

You have no idea how much my fans want to know what you look like.

I always tell them you're a great beauty, but they never believe me.

Bai Tao subconsciously reached out to cover her face, her fingers spread out in front of her face, blocking half of the camera lens.

But it was too late.

He Fan stood up the next second.

His movements were so fast that He Yilong didn't even have time to stop him.

He put down his chopsticks, his voice not loud, but carrying a coldness rarely seen in him.

"Which lady are you? Did you ask my friend if they were willing to take the photo?"