43: The biggest asset

The lights were bright inside the massive Villa, yet it was so quiet that one could hear the faint hum of the central air conditioning.

Meng Yu reclined lazily on the Italian leather sofa, scrolling through short videos with one hand while occasionally picking a grape from the fruit platter with the other.

The comedic plots on the screen made her chuckle from time to time. Her long legs were naturally crossed, and her fair ankles shimmered with a delicate luster under the lights.

In the evening, Chen Li had sent a message saying he wouldn't be back. She had obediently replied with a simple 'Okay' and didn't ask further... On the other side, Wei Jie, who was currently with friends, was distracted, his entire attention focused on his phone.

He wanted to message Meng Yu, but when the words reached his lips, he didn't know how to start.

He typed and deleted, then typed and deleted again in the input box. His finger hovered over the send button for a long time before he finally deleted everything once more.

But remembering Meng Yu's expensive attire, he took a deep breath and finally summoned the courage to send: "Hi, Meng Yu, do you still remember me?"

Just as Meng Yu was immersed in the drama, a message popped up at the top of her phone, making her startle slightly.

It was Wei Jie, the handsome guy she had met once at a gathering.

She hesitated for a moment but still replied politely: "I remember. What's up?"

"Haha, can't I just chat with you if there's nothing wrong? What are you doing?" The reply came quickly.

"Watching short dramas at home."

"You're so leisurely. Are you free to come out and play? We didn't get to know each other properly last time we met."

Meng Yu frowned. Glancing at her silk nightgown, she made an excuse: "Sorry, I just finished showering and don't want to go out."

"Wow [heart-eyes emoji], a beauty fresh from the bath. Just come out for a bit; we're all friends here. I'll send you back when we're done."

Seeing this reply, Meng Yu completely lost her patience.

This person was simply too tactless. Even after being clearly rejected, he was still being so persistent.

If it were Li Tingting asking, it would be one thing, but a grown man inviting her out at night was truly frivolous and uncomfortable.

Meng Yu didn't reply again, clicking back into the short drama to immerse herself in her own world.

To her, Wei Jie was just an insignificant interlude, far less interesting than the plot in front of her.

On the other side, Wei Jie stared at his phone for a full ten minutes, but the screen never lit up again.

Disappointed, he tossed his phone onto the table and took a large gulp from his wine glass.

This was practically the Waterloo of his dating career—relying on his handsome face and solid family background,

he had always been the one surrounded by girls like stars around the moon. When had he ever been given the cold shoulder like this?

Yet, it was precisely Meng Yu's indifferent attitude that felt like a feather lightly brushing against his heart,

arousing an unprecedented desire for conquest. He was truly moved by this girl—it wasn't the usual 'just for fun' mentality.

With Meng Yu's pleasant and pure face, the more he looked, the more he liked her, and the more he interacted, the harder it was to let go.

Whether he truly liked the person or the money, only he himself knew.

When chasing a girl, what's wrong with being a bit thick-skinned? Persistence is the key. Thinking of this, a determined smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Since he couldn't get her out directly, he would change tactics—ask Li Tingting and the others to help bridge the gap. He would eventually find an opportunity to get close to her.

With his conditions, so what if Meng Yu had a boyfriend now? There was no one Wei Jie set his sights on that he couldn't get.

Su Nian took in all his actions from the side. Seeing him staring at his phone with a depressed expression, she had already guessed most of it.

She teased with a knowing tone: "What's this? Which girl gave you the cold shoulder?"

"Heh, yeah," Wei Jie shrugged nonchalantly. "Asked someone out for the first time and got politely declined."

"Just what kind of goddess is she to captivate our Young Master Wei like this?" another friend leaned in to join the teasing.

"Forget it, drink, drink." Wei Jie raised his glass, skillfully changing the subject.

After several rounds of drinks, he took advantage of a gap while everyone was playing dice to quietly move next to Su Nian.

"Sister Su Nian," he lowered his voice, "you have to help me think of something. I really like Meng Yu."

Su Nian smiled, her eyes flashing with a shrewd light: "If you can't get her out directly, we'll just go to her house as guests.

I heard from Tingting that she's living on her own now. When the weekend comes, we'll get Tingting and the others to go to her place for a gathering—cook some food, have some drinks. Isn't that a great opportunity?"

Wei Jie's eyes lit up, and he slapped the table excitedly: "Brilliant! I'll make sure to perform well then. Sister Su Nian, your idea is fantastic."

...Chen Li had just parked his car in the Hotel parking lot when there was a light knock on the window.

He rolled down the window, and a woman with heavy makeup and revealing clothes leaned in, handing him a business card.

A strong scent of perfume wafted toward him, and her proud curves, exposed by her low-cut top, almost touched the window frame.

"Handsome, call me whenever you need something." Her voice had a professional sweetness, and her eyes stared straight at Chen Li.

This bold move and overly revealing attire instantly reminded him of Qin Xiaomeng—who was countless times more high-class than the woman before him.

Speaking of Qin Xiaomeng, ever since she lost her sugar daddy's support, her life seemed to have plummeted from the clouds to the ground.

The high-end restaurants she used to frequent were now places she could only glance at from afar. This huge gap left her depressed all day long.

"Xiaomeng, let's go to that new hotpot place tonight. I heard the taste is really authentic," her roommate said, taking her arm.

Another roommate leaned in and joked, "Exactly, our Dormitory's little rich girl should take us out to see the world."

Qin Xiaomeng forced a smile: "I'm feeling a bit unwell, you guys go ahead."

"Alright..." The roommates exchanged a meaningful look. "By the way, where's your car? We haven't seen you drive it in a long time."

"It's in the shop," Qin Xiaomeng replied softly, her voice filled with helplessness.

As the saying goes, it's easy to go from rags to riches, but hard to go from riches to rags. She was truly experiencing the meaning of those words.

She used to eat out all the time; she really couldn't get used to the ordinary food in the Cafeteria.

In the dead of night, she would always unconsciously think of Chen Li.

She walked to the mirror and gently touched her cheek—the marks from being hit a few days ago hadn't completely faded, and a faint swelling was still visible.

Staring into the mirror, her fingertips lightly traced the lingering bruise at the corner of her eye as she murmured to herself:

"Just two more days... When these marks on my face are completely gone, I'll go find him."

The Figure in the mirror was still slender and enchanting, her Figure's curves exquisite. Her meticulously maintained face, despite a bit of haggardness, was still beautiful enough to evoke pity.

She turned slightly, examining her proudest assets. A smile mixed with calculation and ambition spread silently across her lips—this was her greatest capital and her most powerful weapon.

She believed that as long as she took the initiative, very few men could truly resist her...