45: Chapter 45 Wu Mengmeng Admits Her Mistake

On the way to the Supermarket.

Cao Kun asked Ji Guangli about her family's preferences.

Ji Guangli kept trying to persuade Cao Kun.

"You don't need to buy anything special. I've already bought everything. My parents are down-to-earth people. They'll just be happy you're coming."

"Besides... you've already helped me so much before and let me stay with you. I can't let you spend more money."

"What kind of talk is that? Showing up empty-handed for the first visit? That's not proper! It's called etiquette!"

Seeing he couldn't get any useful information, Cao Kun simply stopped asking.

"Forget it, I won't ask you. Just don't worry about it later. You just need to help me carry the things!"

They arrived at the Supermarket.

Cao Kun pushed the largest shopping cart available and strode in with great momentum.

Ji Guangli followed beside him, watching his serious profile. The feeling of being cherished and cared for grew stronger in her heart.

Cao Kun headed straight for the tobacco and alcohol section.

Skipping over the mid-range products, his gaze locked onto the high-end shelves. Pointing at the iconic white porcelain bottle and the red-and-blue packaging, he said to the sales assistant, "A case of Moutai! Two cartons of Huazi!"

He thought for a moment, then told the clerk to add two more cartons. "Neighbors and relatives might visit, need to have some to hand out. Can't have people saying we're stingy. Make it four cartons!"

Ji Guangli watched from the side, her eyelids twitching. She whispered a reminder, "Cao Kun, a whole case of Moutai... four cartons of Huazi... that's too expensive! And my dad really can't smoke or drink that much..."

"What's expensive about it? Buying it for your dad, it's worth any price! Even if he doesn't drink it all, having it there is a matter of face!" Cao Kun waved his hand grandly and directly told the clerk to write up the bill.

Ji Guangli looked at the staggering price, opened her mouth, but ultimately swallowed her words of persuasion. Yet, her heart felt a sour, swelling ache.

Next, the two went to the jewelry section, where Cao Kun spent twenty thousand on a gold bracelet for Ji Guangli's mother.

After that, they went to the digital products section.

He bought a Department One 17 Pro each for Ji Guangli's younger brother and sister.

Even after buying all this, Cao Kun wasn't finished.

He went straight to the health supplements, nutritional products, and food sections.

American ginseng, donkey-hide gelatin, protein powder, premium tea leaves, imported fruits, nut gift boxes, specialty pastries...

Cao Kun seemed tireless, pushing the increasingly full shopping cart between aisles, putting anything he deemed suitable and presentable into the cart.

Ji Guangli went from trying to dissuade him at first, to later feeling numb, until finally, she just silently followed beside him, helping him carry some scattered small items. Watching his broad back, her eyes grew slightly warm.

When it was time to check out, the long receipt printed out. The total of all the various items came close to sixty thousand yuan!

The balance on Cao Kun's CCB card instantly took a huge hit, nearly cut in half.

But he just glanced casually at the SMS notification, deleted it, not a trace of heartache on his face.

Now that he had a system, such a small amount of money was nothing to him.

After paying.

Cao Kun carried several of the largest shopping bags, with another hanging from his arm. Ji Guangli also helped carry two relatively lighter ones. The two of them, looking like they were moving house, walked towards the parking lot.

"Cao Kun... thank you."

Settling into the car, Ji Guangli looked at the gifts cramming the back seat and trunk, finally speaking softly.

"What's there to thank me for? It's what should be done."

Looking at Cao Kun, Ji Guangli's heart was filled to the brim with happiness.

Just as the two were about to set off.

Suddenly, someone blocked their way.

The person was none other than Cao Kun's ex-girlfriend, Wu Mengmeng.

After being publicly dumped by Zhao Kai a few days ago, Wu Mengmeng had been living in a daze.

Having lost Cao Kun, the demolition-compensation guy, and then the wealthy Zhao Kai, she felt like a joke.

Yet deep down, her suspicion about Cao Kun's 'demolition windfall' grew wildly like weeds.

After all, it was all too coincidental.

She hadn't heard a single whisper about it before, how could it suddenly happen?

She kept comforting herself: Cao Kun must have rented the car, maybe the house story was a boast too. Everything was just an act put on for her benefit.

Today, feeling depressed, she came to the Supermarket to wander around. Unexpectedly, she spotted Cao Kun from a distance!

She immediately shrank behind a shelf like a mouse, secretly observing.

She saw Cao Kun buying so many good things.

Especially the utterly nonchalant expression on Cao Kun's face when he paid.

It completely crushed the pitiful shreds of doubt and wishful thinking in her heart.

Cao Kun... he had really struck it rich!

Immense regret, like a venomous snake, instantly bit into Wu Mengmeng's heart!

She wished she could travel back in time and slap herself hard several times!

Seeing Cao Kun and Ji Guangli heading to the parking lot with their many bags, Wu Mengmeng could no longer hold back.

A crazy thought surged up.

Beg him! Beg him to get back together!

He's so rich now, maybe... maybe he still remembers their old feelings?

After all, she had been with him for over two years, given him the best years of her youth!

Cao Kun was just about to start the car and leave.

Seeing it was Wu Mengmeng, his brows immediately furrowed, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust. He rolled down the window and asked, "What do you want?"

Ji Guangli also recognized this ex-girlfriend she had briefly encountered in the City of Luo, the one with the sharp tongue. She didn't speak, just stood quietly watching Cao Kun, her expression calm.

Wu Mengmeng was stung by Cao Kun's cold gaze. But remembering Cao Kun's newfound wealth and her purpose of seeking reconciliation, she steeled herself and approached the window, making her voice soft and plaintive.

"Cao Kun, can we talk alone? I... I have something I want to say to you."

"Say whatever you have to say right here. My girlfriend is not an outsider." Cao Kun interrupted bluntly, his hand naturally taking hold of Ji Guangli's.

Ji Guangli cooperated perfectly.

The words "my girlfriend" pierced Wu Mengmeng's heart like needles.

Her face paled slightly. Looking at Ji Guangli's flawless face and composed demeanor, her feelings of inferiority and jealousy intensified.

But she still forced herself to continue, her eyes quickly reddening, her voice taking on a sob.

"Cao Kun, I know I was wrong... I really know I was wrong!"

"Before, I was blinded, it was my fault... I shouldn't have said those things to you, shouldn't have left you..."

"I've been regretting it all this time. I've realized the one I've always liked in my heart is actually you!"

"We were together for over two years, we have so many beautiful memories. You must still love me..."

"Can you give me another chance? Can we start over?"

"I promise I'll treat you well from now on, I'll never hurt you again..."

As she spoke, she even managed to squeeze out real tears, looking pitiful and delicate, like a rain-drenched pear blossom.

If it were the old Cao Kun, he might have softened, might have hesitated.

But the current Cao Kun, accustomed to delicacies, how could he turn back to coarse fare?

Especially coarse fare that had no sense of shame.

Looking at Wu Mengmeng's put-on act, he found it utterly disgusting and laughable.

"Finished?" Cao Kun's tone was icy, without a ripple. "If you're finished, then get lost."

"Wu Mengmeng, stop acting here. It makes me sick to watch."

"You like me? You like money, don't you? Seeing I have money now, you come clinging back? You look absolutely repulsive like this."

His words were sharp as knives, mercilessly tearing open Wu Mengmeng's pretense.

Wu Mengmeng's face instantly flushed crimson with shame and anger. "Cao Kun! How can you say that to me! I'm genuinely remorseful!"

"Your 'genuine' isn't worth a single cent." Cao Kun couldn't be bothered to waste more words on her.

"Don't appear in front of me again, and don't disturb my life. Otherwise, I won't mind making you look even worse. Get lost, the farther the better."

With that, ignoring Wu Mengmeng's furious shouts and weeping, he started the car and drove out of the parking lot.

Leaving behind only Wu Mengmeng, trembling with rage on the spot, her face streaked with tears, twisted with regret and hatred.