You Coward

Lin Li walked up to Feng Yaya and spoke coldly.

Feng Yaya had once loved Lin Li, so she recognized his voice immediately.

"Are you Lin Li?" Feng Yaya frowned as she asked.

"That's right, it's me," Lin Li nodded.

Feng Yaya's brows furrowed tightly.

She remembered that the Starlight Group had gone bankrupt. Even if it hadn't, given the Lin family's standing in high society, they wouldn’t have been qualified to attend the Jiang Family's banquet.

So how did Lin Li end up here?

Lin Li smirked smugly. "Feng Yaya, I bet you're wondering how I got here."

"Then let me tell you," he said, his lips curling in satisfaction. "Aside from being a Lin, I’m also the grandson the Jiang Family is recognizing today."

Feng Yaya’s frown deepened.

A man like Lin Li, with his terrible character, was actually the Jiang Family’s grandson?

"Feng Yaya," Lin Li tilted his chin up arrogantly, "you still haven’t found a boyfriend willing to be with you, have you?"

Feng Yaya pressed her lips together.

Since breaking off her engagement with Lin Li, she hadn’t been in a relationship—but that was because she was waiting for Lin Xuan.

Once she lost weight, she would confess to him.

She knew that with her current appearance, someone as handsome, capable, and outstanding as Lin Xuan would never like her.

She had to wait until she was thinner.

Lin Li sneered. "Feng Yaya, let me tell you—no one else would ever want you. If you had married me back then, you’d have been connected to the Jiang Family by now."

"Lin Li, don’t flatter yourself," Feng Yaya retorted coldly. "Even if every other man in the world died, I’d never be with you."

With that, she walked past him.

Lin Li glared at her retreating figure, his expression darkening.

One day, he’d make her regret calling off their engagement.

Lin Xuan stepped into the banquet.

Many women in the room immediately noticed him.

"Oh my god, that man is so incredibly handsome! Who is he?"

"You don’t know? That’s Lin Xuan, a senior at Shangqing University. He’s a famous computer genius and the young founder of Skyline Group."

"Skyline Group is his?" A well-dressed woman gasped in shock.

Many of the hottest celebrities were signed under Skyline Group, and their app, TigerVoice, had over 300 million users.

Who in Xia Country hadn’t heard of Skyline Group?

She never expected its founder to be this young.

Lin Li, surrounded by CEOs and basking in their flattery, was too absorbed in conversation to notice Lin Xuan’s arrival.

"Mr. Lin, since you’re graduating soon, what are your plans?" the CEO of Oceanic Group asked.

Lin Li replied, "I plan to start my own business."

"Entrepreneurship is great! Young people like you have vision and drive," the CEO praised.

"If you ever need investors or assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to me."

"Same here, Mr. Lin. Feel free to contact me anytime."

The other CEOs eagerly curried favor with Lin Li.

Since it was hard to get close to the Jiang Family, befriending Lin Li was the next best thing.

Lin Li smiled. "Then I’ll trouble you all in the future."

Meanwhile, the socialites couldn’t take their eyes off Lin Xuan.

They couldn’t help but think—

A man this talented and handsome… if only they could marry him.

With that thought, they flocked toward him.

"Mr. Lin, hello! I’m Chen Mengmeng, heiress of the Chen Group. I’ve read your novels—I’m a huge fan! Could I add you on WeChat?" Chen Mengmeng blushed as she lowered her head.

"Yaya!" He Jialing spotted Lin Xuan and gasped. "Look, isn’t that your crush, Lin Xuan?"

Feng Yaya quickly turned.

It really was him!

Her heart pounded wildly the moment she saw him.

She hadn’t expected Lin Xuan to be at the banquet.

After not seeing him for a while, he was just as breathtakingly handsome as she remembered.

Especially his eyes—just looking into them made her pulse race.

"Yaya, this is your chance! Go talk to him!" He Jialing nudged her.

Feng Yaya desperately wanted to approach him.

But seeing him surrounded by so many beautiful, slender women from prestigious families made her hesitate.

She clenched her fists.

Lin Xuan was extraordinary—of course he’d have admirers. Compared to them, she was just an ugly, overweight nobody.

If she went up to him now, he wouldn’t even glance her way. Worse, she’d leave a terrible impression.

No.

She couldn’t face him yet.

"Yaya, what are you waiting for? Go!" He Jialing urged.

"Jialing, I want to lose weight first before talking to him," Feng Yaya murmured.

"That’ll take forever! What if he starts dating someone else by then?" He Jialing argued.

Feng Yaya’s grip tightened.

Of course she was afraid of that.

But if she approached him now, looking like this, she’d ruin any chance she had with him.

"I still think it’s better to wait," she insisted.

The banquet hall wasn’t that big—if she stayed, she might bump into him.

She needed an excuse to leave.

"Jialing, I have something urgent at home. I need to go." She hurried toward the exit.

He Jialing knew she was running away again.

Watching her flee, she stomped her foot.

"Feng Yaya, you coward!"

He Jialing chased after her.

Feng Yaya glanced back at Lin Xuan one last time, her heart aching.

Lin Xuan, wait for me.

I’ll come back as the best version of myself.

Jiang Yutong stepped out of the restroom and saw the crowd of women around Lin Xuan.

Thanks to Yanlin Zhichen, Timid Girl, Little Panda06, Cloud Code, and other sweethearts for the gifts.

Goodnight, everyone!

(Note: The last few lines appear to be unrelated author notes and have been translated as-is.)