Chapter 26: “I Am Already Married, A Married Person”

Xia Wanwan glanced at Lu Beichen.

Sure enough, Lu Beichen was lost in his memories of the past, looking a bit dazed.

Xia Wanwan bit her lip, “Beichen…”

Lu Beichen finally snapped out of it and coldly responded with a “Hmm.”

Xia Wanwan’s feelings were very complicated now: “Beichen, today is your birthday, and Wanwan didn’t even dress up when she came. It seems she doesn’t value this occasion very much.”

Hearing this, Lu Beichen suddenly remembered.

Since returning to the country, Mu Ruo’s style had become very luxurious, exuding a socialite vibe that ordinary men found unattainable.

His deepest impression of Mu Ruo, however, was from high school, when everyone was simple and unadorned.

Mu Ruo had lost that simplicity, and in comparison, a girl like Xia Wanwan seemed purer and simpler.

Today, Mu Ruo came without dressing up—was she trying to evoke memories of the past?

Lu Beichen led Xia Wanwan over to Mu Ruo.

Mu Ruo was eating a blueberry mille-feuille when she suddenly saw the male and female leads approaching, feeling complicated.

She had already told Lu Beichen and Xia Wanwan that she loved her husband the most and no longer intended to compete with the female lead. Why were they still coming over?

Xia Wanwan assumed a hostess-like posture: “Ruo Ruo, you came and haven’t spoken to Beichen yet. You’ve just been eating here. Are you in a bad mood? You can tell me if you’re feeling down.”

Du Haili folded her arms, fully assuming the role of the evil sidekick: “Our Ruo Ruo isn’t unhappy; you should know why the best.”

Xia Wanwan’s face turned pale, and she looked pitifully at Lu Beichen: “Beichen, did I say something wrong again?”

Lu Beichen glanced at Du Haili with disgust. Out of respect for Mu Ruo, he didn’t say anything to Du Haili, and his gaze shifted back to Mu Ruo.

Mu Ruo: “Uh, happy birthday. The desserts here are delicious.”

For some reason, Lu Beichen felt a bit disappointed.

“Is that all?”

Mu Ruo: “Yes, time was short, and I forgot to prepare a birthday gift for you. But you didn’t seem to prepare anything for my birthday last time either. Haha, let’s call it even.”

Lu Beichen’s expression changed several times.

Previously, when he was angry with Mu Ruo, he had only brought Xia Wanwan to her birthday party without preparing any gifts, because Xia Wanwan was jealous.

But—could Mu Ruo compare with him?

In the past, on Lu Beichen’s birthdays, even if she was abroad, she would always send a lavish gift.

Xia Wanwan felt even more complicated.

She hadn’t expected Mu Ruo to become smarter, using a retreat to advance and capture Lu Beichen’s attention.

Lu Beichen snorted coldly: “Fine, if you didn’t prepare, you didn’t prepare.”

Zhou Jian stared at Xia Wanwan’s dress and suddenly said, “Xia Wanwan, your dress looks a lot like the one Ruo Ruo wore when she graduated high school.”

Several of Xia Wanwan’s roommates happened to come over and, hearing Zhou Jian’s comment, frowned: “How does it look alike? Wanwan’s dress is the latest from D-brand; how could it be similar to an outdated dress from years ago?”

When Zhou Jian said this, Du Haili also felt that Xia Wanwan’s outfit looked very familiar: “Yeah, that’s why it seemed so strange. It really does look similar. Ruo Ruo looked amazing in it, but Xia Wanwan just looks average, so I didn’t make the connection.”

Xia Wanwan looked at Lu Beichen in a panic: “Really? Beichen, it seems my taste is quite similar to Ruo Ruo’s.”

Lu Beichen had mixed feelings.

He still remembered how stunning Mu Ruo looked back then.

Xia Wanwan indeed bore some resemblance to Mu Ruo when she wore that dress.

Back then, Lu Beichen had planned to confess his feelings to Mu Ruo and ask her to be his girlfriend.

But then he heard the news that she was going abroad.

The more anticipation there was in the beginning, the more disappointment there was in the end.

Lu Beichen coldly said: “Ignore what they say, Wanwan. You look better in it.”

Hearing Lu Beichen’s words, Xia Wanwan’s roommates instantly became arrogant: “Did you hear that? Our Wanwan looks better in it.”

“Whoever looks bad in the same outfit is the one who’s embarrassed.”

“…”

Many of the people who came to celebrate Lu Beichen’s birthday were high school classmates.

Hearing the commotion, they quickly gathered around.

One of the girls, hearing the taunts from Xia Wanwan’s roommates, was a bit surprised: “Is that Xia Wanwan? I haven’t seen you in years, and your eyes have gotten much bigger, and your nose looks sharper. It’s true that girls change a lot as they grow up. You do look a bit like Mu Ruo now.”

Xia Wanwan’s roommates knew the truth but, not wanting Lu Beichen to misunderstand, quickly added: “Girls look prettier as they grow up.”

Zhou Jian sneered.

The others started talking among themselves.

“Xia Wanwan has changed so much. I can’t believe she’s with Beichen now.”

“Look closely, Xia Wanwan’s dress looks a lot like the one Mu Ruo wore at high school graduation. I still think Mu Ruo looks better; a goddess is a goddess. She hasn’t changed at all.”

“Yeah, but since Beichen chose Xia Wanwan, she must have some good qualities, right?”

“…”

Listening to the discussions, Lu Beichen felt embarrassed.

One of Xia Wanwan’s roommates spoke up: “Of course, our Wanwan has good qualities, which is why Beichen likes her so much. Unlike some people who shamelessly try to be the third wheel.”

Du Haili instantly got angry and shoved Xia Wanwan’s roommate: “Who are you calling the third wheel? Xia Wanwan is the one deliberately imitating Ruo Ruo to move up.”

Mu Ruo: “…”

Mu Ruo gently pulled on Du Haili’s arm: “Haili, don’t argue with her.”

The other side didn’t name names, so confronting them directly was too impulsive.

Du Haili’s face turned red with anger as she glared fiercely at Xia Wanwan.

Mu Ruo’s voice was calm: “I don’t know who you’re talking about, but to avoid any misunderstandings, I’ll just say it—I am married. I’m a married person.”

Previously, Mu Ruo had kept her marriage well-hidden, so none of her classmates knew.

They had all thought she was still pining for Lu Beichen.

Hearing this news suddenly, everyone was shocked.

Lu Beichen was even more shocked.

He never expected that one day, Mu Ruo would publicly announce her married status.

Facing everyone’s confusion, Mu Ruo coolly said: “My husband is excellent in every way, and we are very much in love. I’m here today to attend Beichen’s birthday party because we are just ordinary high school classmates, like everyone else.”

She emphasized the words “high school classmates.”

Lu Beichen’s face turned dark and grim.

He pulled Xia Wanwan close, trying to reassure himself that Xia Wanwan was the most important woman to him.