After she finished crying, she looked up and saw Xiao Dai standing opposite her, coldly watching her. Qi Zhifang wiped away her tears, feeling utterly heartbroken and desperate. She hadn't felt this sad even when her mother died. Her voice, thick with emotion, was like a sob as she cried, "Xiao Dai, I just wanted to be good to you, but now I realize you don't need it at all. I was just being presumptuous. I'll stay far away from you from now on! I'll never see you again!"

After she finished speaking, Xiao Dai's expressionless face broke down, revealing an indulgent smile as she sat down beside her. "It's been twenty years since we last met, and you're still the same as before, never growing up. Why are you so sensitive?" She took out a handkerchief from her pocket and gave it to Qi Zhifang. "Wipe your tears! It's so embarrassing if others see!"

Qi Zhifang wanted to remain reserved, but considering her age, she slowly raised her hand, took the gift, wiped away her tears, and waited for her to calm down before Xiao Dai said, "Don't overthink it, nothing's wrong."

Qi Zhifang stared intently at him, as if trying to determine whether he was telling the truth or lying. Seeing Xiao Dai's honesty, Qi Zhifang broke into a smile through her tears, "I'm not afraid! I wasn't brave back then, but now I will..."

"President Dai..." The sound of a door opening accompanied by Sun Yan's voice interrupted Qi Zhifang's words. Xiao Dai sat back in his boss's chair and said, "You're too punctual, it's only 11:40!"

Sun Yan held a tray neatly in her hands, on which was an exquisite plate with several pieces of beef, several pieces of chicken, carrots, wood ear mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms stir-fried together, as well as celery, lily bulbs and yam. There were four dishes, each of which was very delicate and the colors were well matched, but the portions were very small. There was only a small half bowl of rice. Sun Yan put the rice on the coffee table and said with a smile, "President Dai, it's time for you to eat!"

As he spoke, he pulled a pillbox from his pocket and said, "Take your medicine on time, half an hour after you finish eating. I'll come and collect the box in a bit, so don't you dare throw it away secretly. If I find out again, you'll be eating nothing but carrots for your next work meal!"

She finished speaking and gave Xiao Dai a playful glare, but Xiao Dai didn't seem to care. "Alright! You're so young and already acting like a nagging mother-in-law. In a few years, you'll look like a fifty-something-year-old auntie..."

Perhaps the speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart! Qi Zhifang instantly felt her blood pressure rise. Was Xiao Dai doing this intentionally or unintentionally? How could he say such a thing? Did he think she was too old?

Looking at Sun Yan, isn't a thirty-year-old woman like a ripe peach? Who wouldn't want to take a bite? And looking at Xiao Dai and Sun Yan's appearance and their interactions, it seems they actually have a certain compatibility!

Sun Yan glanced at Qi Zhifang discreetly, then said, "What kind of life have you been living in the Northwest? Your health has long been ruined. If you don't take better care of yourself, you'll suffer a lot when you get old!"

Upon hearing the word "Northwest," Xiao Dai's face darkened. Sun Yan, unfazed, said, "Eat your food properly. It's lunch break now. You're not the boss! You can't tell me what to do!" and then turned and left.

The matter in Northwest China was an insurmountable chasm between Qi Zhifang and Xiao Dai! Qi Zhifang could sense that the two of them were deliberately maintaining a tacit understanding, not mentioning the matter in Northwest China, using a fig leaf to at least allow them to get along like friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time. But Sun Yan's arrival had ripped off that fig leaf.

Seeing the deep desolation emanating from Xiao Dai filled Qi Zhifang with a profound sense of fear! She was at a loss for words; how could she ask? How could she say it?

Tears streamed down her face as she thought about it. "I'm sorry! I was so naive. I thought you were like me, that you had forgotten each other. And you're right! We're no longer a good match! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" This time, she really turned and left. She couldn't bear to stay any longer. She ran all the way home, and even when she got there, Xiao Dai didn't chase after her!

Fireworks fade quickly, and hearts grow cold easily! The past is the past, and we can't deny growing old. But deep down, there's a profound sense of resentment!

Meanwhile, Liu Man and Hu Xiaoling arrived at school one after the other. Their friendship progressed rapidly in the last few days of the semester. On the day before school started, Li Qianqian arrived in a hurry, carrying several large bags and no longer maintaining her goddess image. She was quite unhappy to see Liu Man and Hu Xiaoling eating canned peaches in the dormitory.

"Xiaoman, why did you come back so early! I had to take a hard-seat train back alone, I was too scared to sleep or even go to the toilet. Honestly, and I was carrying so much stuff, you were going to kill me!"

Hu Xiaoling swallowed what was in her mouth and said, "What? You're expecting Xiaoman to help you carry things? Is Xiaoman your personal nanny?"

Liu Man is actually the kind of girl with a good personality but a bit timid, who doesn't mind suffering a little loss. To put it simply, she's been overprotected by her family and is a bit cowardly. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been friends with Li Qianqian for so long. But dragons have scales that must be touched to die, and phoenixes have thin necks that must be violated to perish. Zhao Aiguo is her taboo. Li Qianqian has challenged her time and time again, forcing this little coward to stand up for herself.

Liu Man said softly, "We two weren't supposed to sit together anyway." The last two times, Li Qianqian offered to exchange her hard seat for a sleeper berth, and she agreed. After getting off the train, she had to carry her own luggage and Li Qianqian's, which was exhausting! She had never done so much work at home!

But she has always been afraid of being alone, and this is her only friend, so she cherishes her dearly. Even if she suffers some losses or gets upset, even if the girl lashes out at the boy who is pursuing her and causes her such a serious impact, she is only angry inside and hasn't done anything to her yet.

"Liu Man, what do you mean? You don't want to be friends with me anymore, right? Just because of that Zhao Aiguo? Wasn't I trying to help you? Even if he has a good job and is good-looking, so what? Will he ever reach your family's level? Women should marry up! How many rich girls who marry poor scholars are happy? Have you lost your mind?..." Hu Xiaoling couldn't listen anymore. What kind of insane asylum forgot to close the door and let her out?

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