"I...I shouldn't have ruined your relationship with Qin Zheng, I'm sorry."

Her weak voice grew softer and softer as she spoke. Liu Wan lowered her head, not daring to look into Ye Yun's eyes, afraid that those clear eyes would only hold contempt and disgust for her.

She envied Ye Yun.

She envied Ye Yun for being untouched by the world, for having someone protect her purity, allowing her to remain so clean and untouched by the darkness.

The moment she bowed her head to Ye Yun, her envy reached its peak.

She was just envious.

One is Ye Yun, who is loved by her husband, supported by her friends, and has outstanding personal abilities.

One is someone who has never been protected or cared for, someone who walks on thin ice every day, dealing with others alone and being controlled by them.

At this moment, standing next to Ye Yun, she looked so inferior and weak.

"Oh."

Suddenly, a cold laugh rang out.

Tian Xiaohui broke the silence, wiping the counter as she sneered, "Do you think my sister-in-law doesn't know what you've done? Since you know to apologize, you're not too bad."

Liu Wan pursed her lips.

She didn't want to either.

Who wants to be a bad person?

Who doesn't... want to climb the ladder?

Ignoring Tian Xiaohui's sarcastic remarks, Liu Wan stared intently at Ye Yun, her tone becoming more determined: "Ye Yun, no matter how you see me, this 'I'm sorry' is what I truly want to say to you. Also, thank you."

"So, what exactly do you want?"

Ye Yun simply closed the ledger, sat down in the chair, crossed her arms, and looked at her leisurely.

Liu Wan was slightly taken aback.

What is she trying to do?

She didn't know what she wanted to do.

I simply wanted to apologize to Ye Yun for what happened before, and also thank her for what happened last night.

Seeing her expression, Ye Yun smiled.

"Oh, I see." Ye Yun rested her chin on her hand, tapping the counter with her pencil, and smiled sarcastically. "Secretary Liu, are you trying to use a self-inflicted injury ruse? Do you think I'll forgive your past actions with just a casual apology and a thank you? Ha, you're underestimating people."

No, that's not what I meant.

As if afraid she would misunderstand, Liu Wan quickly shook her head to explain, a clear look of panic appearing on her pale face.

Ye Yun only smiled and remained silent.

Her smile was cold and didn't reach her eyes; the slight upturn of her lips showed her attitude, indicating that she wouldn't believe Liu Wan's words.

Liu Wan sighed softly.

She shook her head and said with a bitter smile, "I know Miss Ye won't forgive me, never mind..."

After saying that, she walked outside.

Qin Zheng and Gu Jin, who had just finished selling breakfast, entered the room.

There are several breakfast stalls near the school, mostly selling steamed buns and fried dough sticks. There's one right next to Ye Yun's shop, so buying food is very convenient.

"You're leaving already?"

Gu Jin almost bumped into Liu Wan, who was about to leave. She casually waved the fried dough stick in her hand and asked, "Don't you want some?"

Liu Wan glanced at him and said, "Thanks."

It was just a polite remark. Ye Yun had already done more than enough by taking her in for one night. These people all hated her, so why would they really let her stay for breakfast?

"That's a real pity. I even made sure to serve the patient some plain porridge."

Gu Jin gave a cold sneer.

With a clatter, he threw the metal lunchbox on the counter. The lid was knocked open, and steam rose from the white porridge, releasing its sweet aroma.

Liu Wan stared in astonishment at the bowl of white porridge on the counter, unable to believe her eyes.

Because of Gu Jin's rough handling, some of the porridge spilled out, which looked rather unsightly. But it was this unsightly scene that she found hard to believe.

After a long while, she turned her head to look at Ye Yun, her eyes stinging with tears.

Gu Jin scoffed, "Ye Yun, you see, I listened to your request to serve porridge to certain people, but they don't seem to appreciate it."

Ye Yun glanced at him and said, "You're such a busybody."

Liu Wan's eyes lit up slightly when she heard her speak, "Miss Ye, you..."

"Finish your meal and leave quickly. You're Yang Qinglin's man, I wouldn't dare keep you here." Ye Yun didn't give her a chance to finish speaking, her tone quite cold.

Tian Xiaohui stepped forward, took a rag, wiped up the spilled porridge around the lunchbox, and then handed it to her.

But Tian Xiaohui harbored resentment.

With a clatter, Tian Xiaohui also put the lunchbox on the table next to Liu Wan.

Then, the porridge overflowed again.

"unlucky!

Tian Xiaohui threw the rag down heavily, rolled her eyes at Liu Wan, and turned to eat her breakfast.

The store was unusually silent.

Ye Yun doesn't run a breakfast business, so there are almost no customers in the shop in the morning, which makes the atmosphere even more awkward.

Qin Zheng poured the soy milk he had made from the glass bottle into a large bowl, added a spoonful of white sugar, and then soaked the fried dough sticks in it in small pieces. After doing all this, he served Ye Yun a bowl of hot soy milk with fried dough sticks.

"Wife, eat."

Ye Yun said thank you.

Qin Zheng smiled shyly, took his steamed bun, sat down next to Ye Yun, and quietly began to eat.

The group ate naturally.

Liu Wan stood motionless, glancing at Qin Zheng and Ye Yun eating quietly, then at Gu Jin and Tian Xiaohui, who were still exchanging glances while eating on the other side, before lowering her eyes.

"It'll get cold if you don't eat it."

Tian Xiaohui gave her a disgruntled look.

Liu Wan smiled and reached for the lunchbox containing white porridge and the dishcloth in front of her.

She carefully wiped the spilled porridge from the side of the lunchbox with a cloth before slowly sitting down and quietly drinking the porridge.

Perhaps the porridge was too hot, because as she drank it, her eyes unknowingly turned red from the heat.

One morning, Liu Wan didn't say another word. After quietly finishing her porridge, she put down her lunchbox and walked silently out the door with her weak back.

"Mr. Ye, I'm here to pick you up..."

Just then, Chen Zhenxing came to pick up Ye Yun to go to the garment factory. When he saw Liu Wan, his smile froze on his face.

Liu Wan also saw Chen Zhenxing, her thin lips parted slightly, and an awkward expression appeared on her face.

As she was pondering whether to explain, Chen Zhenxing nodded politely but distantly to her, then walked past her with a nonchalant smile into the room: "Boss Ye, have you finished eating? I've come to pick you up for work!"

Liu Wan was stunned again.

Chen Zhenxing, pick up Ye Yun for work?

Yes, she and Yang Qinglin met Chen Zhenxing here yesterday. They must have been bringing Ye Yun back, so it was a pick-up and drop-off service.

In a short time, Liu Wan understood.

No wonder Ye Yun chose the dying Chen Zhenxing instead of the rising star Yang Qinglin. Chen Zhenxing promised Ye Yun the position of deputy factory director and even provided transportation. On the other hand, their Qingshan Garment Factory didn't even want to meet the basic conditions Ye Yun offered. What did they have to compete with Chen Zhenxing?

"Ye Yun".

Ye Yun was exchanging pleasantries with Chen Zhenxing when she heard Liu Wan, who had reached the door, suddenly call out to her.

She raised an eyebrow. "Is there anything else?"

"Um……"

Liu Wan hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Ye Yun scoffed, "Liu Wan, just say what you have to say?"