But that restaurant they went to last time was really expensive, and he looked like he was there to eat—if he had no money, why would he show up there?
Dong Jiaoyan was tangled in indecision.
Assistant Suifeng had already said with a smile, "It's almost time. Let's head into the screening hall first."
Qiao Liuyue nodded.
As soon as the four of them sat down, Assistant Suifeng suddenly said, "I was in such a hurry to get in that I forgot to buy drinks and snacks. Do you want popcorn?"
Qiao Liuyue didn't care either way.
Dong Jiaoyan, thinking of how to get Suifeng out of the way, raised her hand immediately.
"I want popcorn and cola!"
After Suifeng left, she subtly nudged Qiao Liuyue's arm and said,
"Why don't you go to the restroom first? This movie is pretty long."
Qiao Liuyue knew exactly what she meant and deliberately asked back, "What about you?"
"Oh, I didn't drink any water before I left. You go ahead." Her tone carried a hint of urging.
Only when the two of them were gone would Dong Jiaoyan have the chance to be alone with her Neighbor Brother.
At the counter outside the theater.
Assistant Suifeng was carrying four cups of cola and struggling to hold a large bucket of popcorn in his arms, looking a bit disheveled.
Qiao Liuyue chimed in first, "Let me help you with that."
Assistant Suifeng smiled gratefully. "Thanks."
Qiao Liuyue took the popcorn bucket.
The two of them started walking back.
Assistant Suifeng said, "Classmate Liuyue, aren't you curious?"
Qiao Liuyue asked, "Curious about what?"
Assistant Suifeng replied, "About today's movie outing."
Qiao Liuyue shook her head.
"This is between Dong Jiaoyan and your boss, and..." She paused, then looked at Assistant Suifeng, and said, "Keeping secrets is important, isn't it?"
......
Dong Jiaoyan giggled flirtatiously. "Neighbor Brother, what's your name?"
Zheng Qingyuan stared blankly at the girl before him, lost in thought.
His eyes were slightly unfocused.
Dong Jiaoyan felt his gaze on her face and bashfully turned her head away a little.
She was a bit embarrassed.
She knew it.
With her being this pretty, how could the man before her remain unmoved?
"Brother." Her voice was sweet and coquettish.
Since Qiao Liuyue and Suifeng weren't there, she said it without hesitation.
Zheng Qingyuan was jolted back to reality by her words.
Goosebumps crept all over his body.
He asked a very strange question.
"Is my name really that important?"
Dong Jiaoyan didn't catch his meaning and kept smiling warmly. "This is our second meeting, so we're practically friends now. It feels too distant not even knowing each other's names."
"Zheng Qingyuan," he said.
Dong Jiaoyan replied, "Nice name—it sounds refined, like from a scholarly family."
Zheng Qingyuan adjusted his sunglasses and said with a straight face,
"Not refined at all, and not from a scholarly family either. My dad was just a nouveau riche, made some money mining years ago."
Dong Jiaoyan's eyes lit up instantly.
A nouveau riche. That must mean he's loaded!
She knew it! Her instincts were spot-on!
A handsome, wealthy man—she'd finally found one!
But his next sentence shattered her fantasy.
Zheng Qingyuan said, "You know why I take the subway here? Because our family went bankrupt about four or five years ago. All the houses and savings were taken by the bank..."
As he spoke, he let out a sigh.
The smile on Dong Jiaoyan's face froze.
What? Bankrupt?
A flicker of regret crossed her eyes.
Still, she offered insincere comfort. "It's okay. Since your dad was so capable, there's definitely a chance for a comeback."
Zheng Qingyuan replied calmly, "No chance. He jumped off a building and died."
Dong Jiaoyan's smile completely stiffened.
Zheng Qingyuan continued matter-of-factly, "Plus, our family still owes a ton of debt that hasn't been paid off."
Dong Jiaoyan's smile vanished entirely.
Zheng Qingyuan said seriously, "Thanks for inviting me to the movies. If you hadn't asked, I wouldn't have joined any activity that costs more than thirty bucks per person."
Dong Jiaoyan was incredulous. "But last time, that restaurant where we met—you..."
Zheng Qingyuan cut her off. "That restaurant owner is also one of my creditors. I work there to pay off the debt."
Then he added,
"Oh, and Liuyue still doesn't know about this. Don't tell her."
"I don't want her finding out that her Neighbor Brother is living such a miserable life now."
As he spoke, he let out another very natural sigh.
He played the role of a down-and-out former rich kid to perfection.
Dong Jiaoyan no longer felt like smiling.
Just then, Qiao Liuyue and Assistant Suifeng came back in.
"Jiaojiao, here's your popcorn."
Qiao Liuyue handed over the popcorn bucket, and Dong Jiaoyan took it absentmindedly.
As for what movie was playing and what the plot was,
Dong Jiaoyan had no idea.
She was completely consumed by her gloomy mood.
Her disloyal online boyfriend—she'd kind of wanted to dump him anyway, but she couldn't bear to let go of his good looks.
As for the netizen Suifeng she'd met in person, he was average-looking, but she didn't want to let him go either, since he was rich.
And the one she thought combined both qualities, Zheng Qingyuan,
Turned out to be a bankrupt trust-fund kid.
Dong Jiaoyan felt that fate was way too unfair to her! Ah! She couldn't help but let out another quiet sigh.
As for Qiao Liuyue, she really enjoyed the movie.
It was a cheerful family comedy.
The best part was that she could already foresee Dong Jiaoyan losing both the sesame seeds and the watermelon.
The lights in the theater gradually came on.
People filed out in twos and threes.
Assistant Suifeng had just received an order from his boss and suddenly spoke up. "Jiaojiao, there's something I need to tell you in person via phone call, I..."
Before he could finish,
Dong Jiaoyan cut him off quickly. "Brother Suifeng, there's something I need to tell you too."
Qiao Liuyue instinctively wanted to step away.
But Dong Jiaoyan said, "It's fine, Liuyue, you don't have to leave."
She had already made up her mind.
The handsome-but-poor Zheng Qingyuan was no good.
The average-looking-but-wealthy Suifeng was no good either.
As for her online boyfriend, she'd just keep stringing him along. After all, it wouldn't stop her from hunting down the next suitable target in real life.
So, in a soft voice, she began,
"Brother Suifeng, there's something I've been struggling to tell you."
"The truth is... I have a boyfriend."
"Even though it's an online relationship, he's a college student like me. We have common interests, and truly, I see you only as a brother."
These words came out, and Assistant Suifeng didn't react much.
But Zheng Qingyuan, standing nearby, shot up from his seat.
Dong Jiaoyan asked in confusion, "Neighbor Brother, what's wrong?"
Zheng Qingyuan barely suppressed his anger.
In that moment,
He felt like a complete fool, toyed with in circles.
Still, he held himself together.
"It's nothing. I just remembered I have some urgent business."
After taking two steps, he turned back to look at Qiao Liuyue and said in a natural tone, "Liuyue, come with me."
It would never cross Dong Jiaoyan's mind that Suifeng was actually Zheng Qingyuan.
She even waved him off willingly, saying, "Since it's urgent, Liuyue, go ahead with him."
"Okay."
Qiao Liuyue got up and looked at Zheng Qingyuan with an expression of faint pity.
Once they were alone in an empty spot,
Zheng Qingyuan roared, "AARGH! I'M AN IDIOT! I'M AN IDIOT!"
