130: The mutual sympathy between women has resolved the Shura situation?

Lu Chen sat in the front row, center, at the concert venue, his expression indifferent.

He stared straight ahead, his face devoid of emotion, making it difficult to discern his inner thoughts.

Gao Xuewei sat beside him, her hand seemingly casually resting on Xiao Xi’s shoulder, but her gaze was unfocused, sometimes looking at the stage, sometimes lost in thought.

She was still thinking about all of Lu Chen’s kindness towards her and Xiao Xi, and then she thought of all the young, beautiful girls surrounding him, her heart a jumble of mixed emotions.

She frowned slightly, a hint of confusion and helplessness in her eyes, trying to find some answers from Lu Chen’s expression.

But Lu Chen’s coldness made her feel somewhat disheartened.

Chen Mengyao, like a startled little rabbit, kept her head bowed, her hands tightly clutching her skirt hem, as if it were her only source of security.

She was slightly curled up, occasionally stealing a quick glance around, her eyes filled with timidity and unease.

When her gaze met Lu Chen’s, she quickly lowered her head as if shocked, not daring to make eye contact with him.

Her heart pounded, afraid her actions would draw attention, and worried she was at a disadvantage in this inexplicable “competition.”

Her mind was filled with tension and helplessness.

Gu Xiaoxiao sat on Liu Ruyan’s other side, her eyes still dull, her lips slightly pursed, and her face still a little flushed.

That was the lingering trace of embarrassment from being rejected by Lu Chen earlier.

Her hands were clasped on her lap, her fingers unconsciously twisting together.

She quietly watched the stage, but her thoughts had long drifted, the scene of Lu Chen telling her to sit next to him replaying in her mind.

Her heart was filled with grievance, unwillingness, and complex emotions.

Gu Xiaoxiao thought about her past with Lu Chen, not understanding why things had turned out this way... Among the four women present, only Liu Ruyan was still steadfastly executing her plan.

She sat there, her posture alluring, her eyes exuding a charming allure, a faint smile playing on her lips, seemingly full of self-confidence.

From time to time, she would raise a hand, her fingers running through her smooth, waterfall-like long hair, gently flicking it, causing her hair to draw a graceful arc in the air, the ends brushing her fair cheek, emitting a faint scent of perfume.

Before long, she changed her sitting posture, crossing and uncrossing her legs, the cheongsam’s high slit design revealing glimpses of her fair, jade-like thighs, encased in shimmering sheer stockings, sparkling with an alluring luster.

She would also intentionally or unintentionally caress the exposed stocking with her hand, her fingers slowly tracing the curve of her leg, secretly glancing at Lu Chen, observing the changes in his expression and his every move.

She thought to herself, “Lu Chen, you will fall for me sooner or later. Once I get the video back and control the Lu family, let’s see how long you can be so smug.”

Gu Xiaoxiao’s eyes were slightly red, and she fought back tears, only distractedly glancing at Liu Ruyan’s small gestures before sinking back into her own emotions.

She now felt that everything was so powerless and ridiculous.

The entire scene fell into an eerie silence; no one spoke first to break the deadlock.

Only Liu Ruyan continued to subtly display her intentions, while the other three were preoccupied, each immersed in their own emotions and thoughts.

It was as if everything around them was irrelevant, with only the silent air flowing between them, telling of their respective thoughts and feelings.

Lu Chen saw Liu Ruyan’s various actions and the different states of the others, and he smiled faintly.

Suddenly, he stood up and said calmly, “I’m going to the restroom. You all wait here for now.”

His words were brief and indifferent, and having spoken, he strode away without a care for the reactions of those behind him.

The women were immediately stunned; Gao Xuewei’s mouth was slightly agape, as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed it back, a hint of helplessness in her eyes.

Chen Mengyao seemed to have been startled, her body trembling slightly, her hands unconsciously clutching her skirt hem tighter, her eyes wide with fright and bewilderment, only timidly watching Lu Chen’s retreating figure.

Liu Ruyan and Gu Xiaoxiao were also surprised by this sudden action; both froze in place, their faces still holding their previous expressions.

After a moment, they collected themselves, watching Lu Chen leave until his figure disappeared from sight.

After Lu Chen left, the previously solidified air seemed to loosen a bit.

Liu Ruyan turned to look at Gu Xiaoxiao.

Gu Xiaoxiao stared blankly ahead, looking distraught, her eyes filled with sadness and desolation; the stubbornness she usually showed when bickering with Liu Ruyan was gone, replaced by endless sorrow.

A sudden wave of compassion surged in Liu Ruyan’s heart; she sighed softly, slowly extended her hand, and gently patted Gu Xiaoxiao’s shoulder, her movements tender and slow.

After a moment of hesitation, she was the first to break the silence.

“Don’t be too sad, Lu Chen is...” Liu Ruyan began, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, and a hint of unspeakable helplessness.

“He’s a scumbag, he loves to toy with people’s hearts like this. Actually, I wasn’t trying to target you, it’s just... sigh, never mind, there’s no point in saying all this.”

Her voice gradually softened, almost inaudible by the last few words.

Liu Ruyan bit her lip slightly, seemingly hesitating whether to continue, her expression conflicted, partly out of sympathy for Gu Xiaoxiao, and partly not wanting to reveal too much of her inner thoughts.

Gu Xiaoxiao was pulled back from her thoughts by Liu Ruyan’s words.

She looked up in surprise, a hint of confusion and bewilderment in her eyes, as if she couldn’t believe these words were coming from Liu Ruyan.

Her eyes were slightly red and swollen, a trace of tears still on her cheeks, her lips trembling slightly, wanting to say something, but momentarily speechless.

After a moment, she asked softly, “You... don’t like Lu Chen?”

Liu Ruyan turned her head slightly, avoiding Gu Xiaoxiao’s gaze, a flicker of panic in her eyes; she seemed not to have expected Gu Xiaoxiao to retort.

She was silent for a while, then took a deep breath, as if making up her mind, turned back to Gu Xiaoxiao, her eyes now more sincere, and said,

“Does liking or not liking him really matter? We’re all being played by him, aren’t we? I admit I have my own motives, but seeing you like this now, I can’t bear it.”

As Gu Xiaoxiao listened to Liu Ruyan’s words, a hint of realization gradually appeared in her eyes.

She nodded slightly, still a little confused, but seemed to be starting to understand Liu Ruyan’s meaning.

Her lips moved, wanting to say words of thanks, but her throat felt as if it were blocked, unable to make a sound.

She merely patted Liu Ruyan’s hand on her shoulder, an action that conveyed a silent understanding and gratitude.

The atmosphere between the two also became somewhat subtle at this moment, no longer filled with the previous hostility and estrangement, but rather a sense of shared misfortune.

Meanwhile,

Lu Chen had already arrived outside the restroom backstage at the concert.