Ex-Girlfriend

The girl slowly took off her sunglasses, revealing a face all too familiar to Ye Shuang.

"Ye Shuang, long time no see..." Zhao Mengyao said.

Ye Shuang didn’t respond, keeping his eyes fixed on the movie screen as if the animated characters held far more appeal than she did.

"What’s your problem, Zhao Mengyao? Haven’t you hurt Ye Shuang enough already?"

Chen Qin’s aura instantly sharpened, like a protective beast baring its claws as she glared coldly at Zhao Mengyao.

Ignored by Ye Shuang, Zhao Mengyao looked awkward, and Chen Qin’s words only darkened her expression further. "Chen Qin, what, are you two together now?"

Chen Qin snorted. "Obviously. If you don’t cherish him, someone else will."

With that, she wrapped her arms around Ye Shuang’s and sweetly added, "Right, hubby?"

Only Ye Shuang could feel the slight tremble in Chen Qin’s warm body—she was terrified he might deny it. If he did, she’d feel utterly humiliated. Yet she also knew how deeply Ye Shuang had once loved the girl standing before them, how he’d never lied to her.

But Ye Shuang would never let Chen Qin down. He patted her head gently and smiled. "Let’s move seats. Don’t let anyone dirty our view."

Chen Qin froze for a second before breaking into a radiant grin.

"Mind stepping aside?" Ye Shuang’s gaze shifted to the man nearby.

The man’s expression twisted with conflict. "Brother Ye..."

"President Tang, I don’t deserve that title. You’re the CEO of a major corporation now, while I’m just a regular employee," Ye Shuang replied flatly.

Tang Hao caught the sarcasm in his tone and frowned but didn’t argue.

"Move," Ye Shuang said.

Memories of working under Ye Shuang flooded Tang Hao’s mind. Unable to defy him, he instinctively stepped aside. "Right."

But then, Zhao Mengyao suddenly spoke up, her face dark. "Ye Shuang, you can’t be with Chen Qin!"

Ye Shuang gave her a puzzled look.

Chen Qin arched a brow. "Zhao Mengyao, who the hell do you think you are? Since when do you get a say in my life?"

Zhao Mengyao ignored her, turning to Ye Shuang instead. "Ye Shuang, you know I can’t stand Chen Qin. Why are you with her?"

Ye Shuang almost laughed. "What right does a cheater have to say that?"

"Put that aside!" Zhao Mengyao pointed at Chen Qin. "Even if I don’t want you, I won’t let her have you!"

Chen Qin scoffed and rolled up her sleeves. "Are you stupid? Let me teach you the true meaning of ‘education for all’—Confucian-style!"

Zhao Mengyao paled as Chen Qin advanced. "W-what are you doing?"

"Oh, ‘education for all’ means teaching you a lesson regardless of who you are," Ye Shuang translated dryly.

Still, he stopped Chen Qin. "Enough. No fighting."

Chen Qin pouted. "But—"

Seeing Ye Shuang rein her in, Zhao Mengyao shot Chen Qin a smug look. She’d expected this.

"Next time, pick a spot without cameras before throwing hands," Ye Shuang said, freezing her expression mid-smirk.

"Good point," Chen Qin nodded.

Their back-and-forth left Zhao Mengyao seething. She turned to Tang Hao and glared. "Your fiancée’s about to get hit, and you’re just standing there?"

Tang Hao frowned at Ye Shuang. "Ye Shuang, give me some face here..."

"Get lost," Ye Shuang said coolly.

Tang Hao immediately shut up.

Ye Shuang had been his mentor for years—that hierarchical instinct ran deep. Even as Tang Hao took over Ye Shuang’s old position, he couldn’t shake that deference so quickly.

Ye Shuang and Chen Qin moved to a corner seat, their expressions now relaxed, as if settling in to enjoy the drama.

Zhao Mengyao stomped her foot, shoved her sunglasses back on, and stormed out, Tang Hao scrambling after her.

The theater fell silent again, save for the distant hum of the movie.

"Miss Chen, how long are you planning to cling to me?" Ye Shuang asked after a few minutes, glancing at Chen Qin still wrapped around his arm.

"Just a little longer~" Chen Qin seized the rare opportunity, pressing even closer, her softness molding against him.

Ye Shuang fished out some gum, popping a few pieces into his mouth. Truthfully, he wasn’t as composed as he seemed—nostalgia always lingered. But seeing Zhao Mengyao in person hadn’t stirred him half as much as that old aquarium photo.

The memory of a moment outshone the person.

He smirked wryly, realizing this whole mess had led to Bai Yuyou hugging him earlier and now Chen Qin clinging to him.

Yet he felt lighter, especially after seeing Zhao Mengyao again. That last wisp of emotion inside him seemed to dissolve.

Ye Shuang returned his attention to the movie as time slipped by.

Chen Qin, noting his lack of gloom, smiled to herself, savoring the warmth of his arm.

After leaving the theater, they chatted idly about the film until Chen Qin’s phone rang again.

"Hey, Dad..."

"Yeah, still together. We grabbed dinner and caught a movie."

"What? Oh, hold on—for him?"

She handed the phone to Ye Shuang, whispering, "Ye Shuang... my dad."

He took it, eyeing her before answering. "Yeah?"

"You brat, where’ve you been hiding?"

"Uncle Chen, sorry for worrying you," Ye Shuang said, wincing at the booming voice.

"Enough of that. Dinner at our place tonight—your aunt’s cooking for your birthday. She’s already bought the groceries. Got it?"

"Uh..." Ye Shuang thought of Bai Yuyou waiting at home. "I might be busy tonight."

The line went dead before he could finish.

"Same old Uncle Chen," Ye Shuang muttered, handing the phone back to Chen Qin, who was watching him expectantly. "What?"

"What’d he say?"

"Just that your mom’s cooking and I should come over."

"Oh." Chen Qin had hoped for more, but she tugged his arm. "Then let’s go. Everyone’s waiting."