Now she truly understood what it meant to be the mute who eats bitter herbs—unable to voice their suffering.
Why did Chen Liuyue's mouth have the power to distort black and white? And what was even more infuriating was why Wei Miao was also helping her tell such barefaced lies.
Even her own fiancé, Qin Xuanye, had clearly shown a preference for Chen Liuyue just moments ago with his attitude.
Chen Ruanruan felt betrayed by the whole world!
But her only supporter, her brother Chen Haotian, had been banished to the borderlands by their father. Overwhelmed with grievance, she could only cover her face and run away for the moment.
If she stayed any longer,
she was afraid she'd lose even more face.
"See, I told you my sister gets emotional easily. She's about to cry again."
"Brother-in-law, you should hurry after her!"
Chen Liuyue pointed at her retreating back, never one to shy away from stirring the pot, even egging Qin Xuanye on.
With Wei Miao still present, Qin Xuanye gave Chen Liuyue a deep look.
He left with a single sentence.
"I'll be waiting for your explanation."
Only then did he stride away.
A hint of a teasing smile played on Chen Liuyue's lips as she muttered under her breath:
"Explanation for what? Since when do I, Chen Liuyue, need to explain myself to anyone for putting someone in their place?"
Her domineering and arrogant little demeanor was completely different from the pitiful act she had just put on.
A light chuckle escaped Wei Miao's throat.
"You're not even going to hide it? I'm still right here."
Chen Liuyue finally turned her head to look at him.
Still calling out sweetly: "Brother Wei, you're such a good person. Let me buy you a drink."
She took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and offered it to him.
"Let me introduce myself, I'm—"
Before she could finish, Wei Miao smoothly interjected, "I know. Chen Liuyue."
Chen Liuyue's lips curved upwards, her gaze fixed on him with a knowing, half-smile.
"How do you know my name? Could it be you've been secretly crushing on me?"
Wei Miao wasn't angered by this; instead, he chuckled again.
"Are all the young ladies of the Chen family as narcissistic as you?"
Chen Liuyue shook her head, answering with utmost seriousness: "No, there's another one who cries a lot. You just saw her, didn't you?"
Wei Miao couldn't help but let out another soft laugh.
A glint of amusement swirled in his narrow, phoenix eyes.
"You're quite interesting."
Chen Liuyue laughed along, raising a finger and wagging it in front of him.
With a perfectly straight face, she said: "No, no, no. You mustn't find me interesting."
Wei Miao: "Why not?"
Chen Liuyue blinked, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "When a man becomes interested in a woman, that's the beginning of his downfall."
Wei Miao's smile faltered for a moment.
He made to walk away.
"Hey—Brother Wei, I was just joking! Look at you, getting all worked up."
Chen Liuyue hurried after him with quick, small steps.
Wei Miao abruptly stopped.
She crashed into his back, caught completely off guard, and yelped in pain, clutching her nose.
The next second, a soft sigh was heard.
Wei Miao pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it over.
"Wipe it."
"You didn't seem this clumsy earlier."
Chen Liuyue unceremoniously took the handkerchief and rubbed her sore nose.
With an expression of utter disbelief, she said:
"You're calling me clumsy?!"
"I forgot to mention earlier, I'm a little girl who can't handle criticism."
"I'm about to cry. You'd better think of a way to make it up to me, or I'll cry all over your suit jacket and wipe my snot on your sleeve."
"Well? Are you scared?"
Wei Miao found, to his surprise, that he was unexpectedly taken by this act.
Not only did he pause his steps, he even watched her performance with keen interest.
Even though he knew it was all an act by Chen Liuyue, it was somehow impossible to look away.
She was far more interesting than that clay doll, Chen Ruanruan.
And not as stupid as that idiot Chen Haotian either!
Wei Miao replied, "Then what should I do?"
Chen Liuyue stated matter-of-factly:
"From now on, whenever we meet, you're not allowed to criticize me. You have to praise me and indulge me."
Wei Miao: "Why?"
This was, after all, their first meeting.
How could Chen Liuyue be so familiar?
Since when did he owe her anything?
Chen Liuyue's lips curled into a carefree smile.
"Because we're both bad eggs."
Wei Miao: "...?"
Chen Liuyue started counting on her fingers.
"You helped me lie just now, so we're allies. Isn't that an unbreakable bond?"
"Plus, I called you Brother Wei, and you answered, so you have to treat me like your most cherished little sister."
"And also, you criticized me just now. Luckily, I'm strong and didn't cry. Otherwise, everyone would think you bullied a little girl. Shouldn't you thank me for that?"
If not for Wei Miao's clear logical thinking,
he might have gotten tangled in her web.
Somehow, everything that came out of Chen Liuyue's mouth was right according to her.
She even had her own set of logic.
If you followed her train of thought, you were done for.
In the past, Wei Miao would have considered this sheer pestering. But looking at Chen Liuyue now, in her vibrant red evening gown, radiant and full of spirit,
for some reason, he couldn't muster a single shred of dislike.
He even found her pestering rather amusing.
Much more interesting than all those hypocritical, masked socialites in their circle!
Wei Miao thought for a moment and added,
"But there seems to be one thing you don't know."
"My relationship with your brother, Chen Haotian, isn't very good. If you associate with me, he probably won't be happy."
The corners of Chen Liuyue's mouth slowly lifted into a brilliant smile.
"Brother Wei, there seems to be one thing you don't know either."
"My relationship with my idiot brother, Chen Haotian, is even worse. If associating with you can annoy him..."
"That would be absolutely fantastic!"
Their gazes met in mid-air.
Then, almost involuntarily, they both laughed.
Chen Liuyue raised her champagne glass, gesturing for him to clink glasses.
"So, shouldn't we celebrate this?"
Wei Miao raised his glass as well.
Their glasses met briefly in the air. Chen Liuyue's warm fingertips brushed lightly against his knuckles, sending a faint, tingling sensation through him.
Wei Miao raised a brow.
"Cheers, Brother Wei."
Chen Liuyue blinked at him innocently, then threw her head back and drained her glass.
Wei Miao gave her another sidelong glance before leisurely finishing his own drink.
Looking at the empty glass in his hand,
his voice was magnetic and pleasant.
"Earlier you said, 'When a man becomes interested in a woman, that's the beginning of his downfall.'"
"Do you think I'll fall?"
Chen Liuyue lifted the corners of her mouth and shook her phone.
"Who knows? How about we add each other on WeChat first?"
