A Spray of Plum Blossoms

Su Muzhi's words hit the nail on the head. Wang Bo's face flushed red, and though he stubbornly held his ground, he couldn't come up with a retort.

Liu Tingting reacted quickly. After letting out a few soft sobs, she said gently:

"It's my fault. I've made a spectacle of myself in front of everyone."

As she spoke, she grumbled inwardly.

Is Su Muzhi deliberately picking a fight with me? Why does she have to butt in everywhere?

Seeing how understanding Liu Tingting was, Wang Bo hurried to comfort her.

What a useless guy. He doesn't even have the nerve to stand up to Zhuang Yan.

Liu Tingting cast Wang Bo a disdainful glance, then quickly put on a sweet voice and said she was fine.

Seeing this, Zhuang Yan snorted.

"Green tea bitch."

Liu Tingting's expression darkened at that.

No way. I'm not swallowing this insult today!

Her gaze shifted to Jiang Linyuan. She walked over and deliberately wiped away her tears.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, junior. If you hadn't tried to talk me down just now, I wouldn't have known what to do."

See? The green tea girl was something else. Jiang Linyuan had been taking Zhuang Yan's side, but after Liu Tingting said that, it made it sound as though he'd been worried about her getting hurt.

Looking at Liu Tingting's reddened eyes, Jiang Linyuan instantly put on a heartbroken expression.

"Senior, what exactly happened? Tell me about it."

At that, Liu Tingting glanced at Zhuang Yan, who looked down her nose at everyone, then at Su Muzhi, smiling brightly. She shook her head and forced a smile.

"...It's fine. Since nobody has a problem with it, I'm fine too... I'm fine."

She said she was fine, but her voice unconsciously took on a bitter, wounded tone. As she went on, she began to sob quietly and deliberately threw herself into Jiang Linyuan's arms.

Sis, you can talk without leaning on me! Your snot! It's going to get on my clothes!

Suppressing his disgust, Jiang Linyuan gently pushed Liu Tingting away and put on the air of a domineering CEO.

"Don't say another word, senior. I'll handle this!"

With that, he turned and walked toward Zhuang Yan.

"Ah, you don't have to..."

Liu Tingting gave a half-hearted attempt to stop him.

"Since you put it that way, senior, I'll let it go."

Jiang Linyuan stopped in his tracks again.

Liu Tingting's mouth twitched.

I was just saying that! You're actually going to listen to me?!

"Tingting, who is this...?"

Beside them, Wang Bo's lips quivered. He looked completely lost.

When he saw the goddess he'd pursued so desperately throw herself into someone else's arms, he felt as if he'd been struck by lightning. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

It took him a long while to come back to his senses. Trembling, he asked who Jiang Linyuan was.

Liu Tingting gave Wang Bo a sidelong glance.

This man is useless to me now.

He's barely qualified to run errands for me. If I didn't have a boyfriend, I'd never bother stringing along someone like him.

Liu Tingting didn't answer Wang Bo. Instead, she shyly turned to Jiang Linyuan and asked:

"Junior, tell me—what am I to you?"

I'm your dad.

Jiang Linyuan rolled his eyes.

She's still trying to test the waters and reel me in at a time like this.

That was what he thought, but he said, "What do you think, senior? Whatever you say we are, that's what we are."

"You're so mean."

Liu Tingting bashfully tapped his chest.

Watching the two of them flirt, Wang Bo felt as though a blizzard had sprung up around him. He stood there, utterly lost.

Snowflakes drifted, the north wind howled—a rendition of A Spray of Plum Blossoms for this poor guy.

Bro, Liu Tingting is way out of your league. Getting out while you can is the smart move!

Seeing all this should have finally opened your eyes, right?

"So that's how it is."

Wang Bo's expression turned vacant. He slowly closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them and said, "It's okay, Tingting. I'll wait for you."

This guy's a lost cause.

Jiang Linyuan truly couldn't fathom how this man's brain worked.

"Are you fucking stupid? Liu Tingting was never interested in you. She's been stringing you along like a fool!"

Zhuang Yan stared at Wang Bo in disbelief.

"Then why doesn't she string anyone else along? Why me, of all people? That means I still have a chance!"

The more Wang Bo spoke, the more fired up he became. He looked as energized as if he'd just been given a shot of adrenaline.

"Tingting, don't worry. I'll wait for you forever!"

When he finished, the whole room fell silent.

This guy's the undisputed king of licking boots—even among simps. The ultimate backup boyfriend!

"Thank you..."

Even Liu Tingting, who was experienced at this sort of thing, was stunned by Wang Bo's words. She stiffly managed a reply.

Look! Tingting didn't reject me! I still have a chance!

Hearing Liu Tingting's reply, Wang Bo was instantly overjoyed.

"Are you an idiot, Wang Bo? How did I never realize you were this brain-dead?"

Zhuang Yan was as sharp-tongued as ever.

Wang Bo scoffed.

Watching this farce, Su Muzhi laughed and stared at Liu Tingting.

"You sure are popular, senior."

Liu Tingting gave a stiff smile.

"She's just a green tea bitch, sis. There's nothing to envy."

Zhuang Yan looked at Liu Tingting with a cold laugh, then glanced at Jiang Linyuan.

"And this pretty-boy over here is a rare specimen too. What a waste of a handsome face—his brain's defective, and he's paired up with Liu Tingting."

Who are you calling a rare specimen?

Jiang Linyuan's expression stiffened.

Zhuang Yan's indiscriminate insults even hit her allies.

Seeing Jiang Linyuan take a verbal hit, Su Muzhi smiled even more brightly, though she still said, "Actually, Jiang is pretty smart. He's not as bad as you make him sound."

At that, Zhuang Yan looked from Su Muzhi to Jiang Linyuan and back.

I get it now! I've figured everything out!

This girl knows that pretty-boy, and they're on good terms!

I just don't know what that green tea Liu Tingting did to trick the pretty-boy.

This girl must be helping me because she can't stand Liu Tingting either!

Thinking this, Zhuang Yan felt as if everything had suddenly clicked. The power of wisdom surged through her mind.

A drop of kindness deserved a spring in return.

Sis! I'll protect your man for you!

"Smart? If he were really smart, wouldn't he have seen that Liu Tingting is a green tea bitch?"

Zhuang Yan scoffed and raised her chin at Jiang Linyuan.

"I'll tell you straight. Liu Tingting has several other guys just like you!"

"What?!"

Jiang Linyuan was shocked.

There are several other guys as handsome as me?!

Seeing his astonished expression, Zhuang Yan smugly raised her phone.

"I looked into it. There's one in the Finance Department and another in the Business School. I have their contact info. Want me to call them over so we can settle this right now?"

Liu Tingting's expression froze at those words.

Where did this little punk dig up that information? How can she be so clever?!

"Don't make things up! Tingting told me they're just good friends!"

Wang Bo stepped forward, defending Liu Tingting.

Liu Tingting saw black.

So it was this idiot simp.

I never took a moron like Wang Bo seriously, so I didn't bother covering up certain things. If he saw me going out with one of the guys in my fishpond, I'd just make up an excuse and leave it at that.

Zhuang Yan must have gotten the information from him.

No, don't panic!

Liu Tingting steadied herself and looked up at Jiang Linyuan. Her fine brows lifted, her face full of irrepressible hurt, and tears welled in her eyes.

"Do you believe me, junior?"

"Of course I believe you, senior."

Jiang Linyuan nodded earnestly and replied at once.

Hesitating for even a second would be an insult to my own character design.

Of course he didn't believe Zhuang Yan's nonsense.

What did she mean, there were several guys like him?

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!