Successful People Are Lonely

“Drinking hurts the stomach, but not the heart!” Ye Liangchen’s eyes were bloodshot, his expression listless, and even his usually meticulously styled hair was now disheveled.

Faced with Gao Quan’s attempts to console him, Ye Liangchen simply smiled faintly and shook his head. He thought Gao Quan would never understand how he felt right now.

It didn’t matter. No one in this world truly understood him.

He was like a butterfly, flapping its wings and changing the fate of the world, setting everything into motion!

Who could truly comprehend his helplessness?

Thinking this, Ye Liangchen let out a self-deprecating laugh: “Indeed, the successful are always lonely!”

“That line has some depth to it.”

He hurriedly took out his phone and started typing a message.

“Brother Liangchen, stop posting. You’ve already shared so many updates today. Your social media feed is filled with your posts.”

“Hmph!” Ye Liangchen took a deep breath. “What do you know?”

“The more I post now, the more regret certain people will feel later. They’ll realize just how deeply they hurt me.”

“These posts aren’t just posts. They’re my emotions, my most innocent and sincere feelings that ended before they even began.”

Gao Quan pursed his lips. Earlier, Ye Liangchen had claimed that after the college entrance exams, Hu Yuying would become his girlfriend, and Li Qingxue would chase after him.

He had sounded so confident back then that Gao Quan almost believed him and even agreed to a bet.

But now? All he could do was hide in a dark corner, posting nonsensical updates.

Sigh! At least he was treating Gao Quan to some barbecue. Better not say too much, lest he hurt Brother Liangchen’s feelings further.

Ye Liangchen slowly stood up, picked up a bottle of alcohol, aimed it at the moon, and took a photo.

“I’m leaving now. A lonely night, a desolate heart—who could possibly understand? Heh...”

As Ye Liangchen left, Gao Quan focused on finishing the food on the table.

After eating his fill, Gao Quan patted his stomach and prepared to leave as well.

Just as he stood up, the waiter approached: “Your total is 103 yuan.”

Gao Quan was stunned. “Didn’t Brother Liangchen already pay?”

“Sorry, no, he didn’t.”

Hearing this, Gao Quan’s face turned red. The night market was crowded, especially during summer evenings. With so many people watching, he fumbled through his pockets and forced out a smile that looked more like a grimace.

“Just... just give me a moment.”

He took out his phone and called Ye Liangchen. The call wasn’t declined, but no one answered.

After several attempts with no response, Gao Quan had no choice but to call other friends.

Summer was already halfway over, and Gao Quan had spent all his allowance, not to mention his friends who often hung out at internet cafes with him.

Under the waiter’s scrutinizing gaze, Gao Quan called Wang Rui.

“Sister Rui, you’ve got to help me this time...” He explained the situation and promised repeatedly to pay her back the next day, finally settling the bill.

Overwhelmed with embarrassment, he fled the scene.

In his heart, he cursed Ye Liangchen to no end.

......

Early the next morning, Li Qingxue’s phone rang.

She glanced at it curiously. Since she knew Long Aotian wouldn’t be at the riverside until the afternoon, she hadn’t planned to go out in the morning.

“Rui, why are you calling so early?”

“Gao Quan almost got stuck washing dishes at the barbecue place last night, blah blah...”

“Can you believe someone would invite others for barbecue, then run off halfway? Gao Quan, that fool, got held hostage there like a dummy.”

After listening to Wang Rui, Li Qingxue twitched her lips. She had thought Ye Liangchen was shameless, but she never expected him to stoop this low. Gao Quan had been his childhood friend!

But the next second, she let it go. She had known Ye Liangchen for nine years, and yet he had tried to convince her to give up on the college entrance exams.

Compared to that, how he treated Gao Quan was almost insignificant.

“Alright, Qingxue, I’m telling you this so you can see Ye Liangchen in a new light. I’m going to find Gao Quan now and get my money back.”

“Okay, I understand.” After hanging up, Li Qingxue sighed helplessly.

Truthfully, Ye Liangchen used to be a decent person. She had no idea what could have caused such a drastic change in him.

At least she no longer had any ties with him.

She pulled herself together and prepared to face the new day.

She dressed in the outfit she had prepared the night before and opened the curtains to look outside.

Seeing the rising sun, Li Qingxue took a deep breath and decided to stay in for the morning. She’d enjoy the air conditioning, watch some TV, and head out in the afternoon.

Thinking this, she glanced at the handmade cookies on her bedside table and smiled sweetly.

Father Li was at work, and Li’s Mother was managing her shop.

Li Qingxue was alone at home.

Humming a tune, she opened the fridge, checked the fruits inside, and happily jumped barefoot onto the couch to watch TV.

She alternated between watching TV and checking her phone, occasionally glancing at the handmade cookies.

Unconsciously, her smile never faded.

Perhaps because she had put effort into making those cookies, she was eager to share them and receive the recognition she desired.

Time passed slowly.

Li Qingxue turned off the TV.

She stood up, opened the fridge, took out the fruits, and happily brought them to the kitchen to cut into a fruit platter.

With the fruit platter, snacks, handmade cookies, and drinks packed into a basket, she decided to ride her bicycle this time because the load was too heavy.

Under the sunlight, the girl rode her bicycle with a radiant smile that was impossible to look away from.

Parking her bike, she spotted the familiar figure of a boy in the distance.

She grabbed her basket and ran over. “Long Aotian!”

“Aren’t you hot?” Long Aotian asked, eyeing Li Qingxue’s jeans.

Li Qingxue’s legs were shapely, and the jeans accentuated the curves of her hips and thighs, especially the perfect lines between them.

“Not really. These jeans are breathable,” Li Qingxue replied, unpacking the items from her basket.

She arranged everything between herself and Long Aotian, creating a cozy little setup.

“Here, these are the cookies you wanted to try.”

“Thanks. And here, you left this behind last time,” Long Aotian said, handing her a hair tie.

Taking the hair tie, Li Qingxue stole glances at Long Aotian. “You should try them. Let me know if they’re good.”

Long Aotian opened the container, took a cookie, and ate it.

The cookie wasn’t overly sweet, with a crispy texture that became more fragrant as he chewed. It was quite delicious.

“Hmm, this one’s pretty unique,” he remarked.

Hearing this, Li Qingxue bit her lip, trying to stay composed, though she could barely contain her smile.

“Is this one shaped like a pig?”