C2 The Beginning of the Beginning(2)

“Zhan Ann... Zhan Ann!” Hearing this name snapped Ruan Shiyu out of her daze. Her voice turned cold and distant, “Oh, what about Zhan Ann?”

The person on the other end seemed to have been waiting for her to ask. Like spilling beans, she quickly recounted everything she had seen: “Wasn't it the weekend yesterday? My boyfriend and I went out shopping and planned to catch a movie. That film ‘Against All Odds’ just came out, so we bought tickets for it. You wouldn't believe it, the movie was pretty good...”

The woman had barely started when she veered off into talking about the latest films. Ruan Shiyu quickly interjected, steering the conversation back on track.

“Oh right, Zhan Ann, my memory is terrible. So, my boyfriend and I were at the movies, and we saw Zhan Ann with a girl. At first, I thought she was his sister because she was so short, but guess what I saw!”

Ruan Shiyu leaned back against her pillow, casually picked up her digital panel from the left, and asked while reviewing her sketches from yesterday, “What did you see?”

The voice on the other end grew more excited, “It was Chu Li! Those two were so cozy! You wouldn't believe it, right in front of everyone in the theater lobby, they kissed, and it was Chu Li who made the first move!”

Chu Li was Ruan Shiyu's least favorite person. Over the years, they never got along.

Hearing that name, Ruan Shiyu gripped her pen tightly, snapping it with a sharp crack. The jagged edge pierced her hand, drawing blood.

Ruan Shiyu seemed unfazed, tossing the pen aside and wiping her hand on the pillow without a word.

The person on the other end, not hearing a response for a while, began to worry she might have said something wrong. Fearing Ruan Shiyu might do something rash, she hurriedly asked over the phone, “Shiyu, Shiyu, are you okay? Don't worry, maybe I saw it wrong.”

Ruan Shiyu tossed the digital panel aside, closing her eyes as she responded, "Yeah, I'm fine."

Hearing Ruan Shiyu speak, the person on the other end finally breathed a sigh of relief and began to analyze the situation with her, "As long as you're okay, you scared me to death. Listen, even if Zhan Ann did something wrong, don't worry. Maybe it was Chu Li who made the first move. How could she compare to you? When he gets back, ask him about it. If he admits his mistake, just let it go and don't bring it up again..."

The woman continued to chatter on, and Ruan Shiyu, silent for a moment, finally recognized the voice. She interrupted, "Ma Ru."

"Huh?" Ma Ru was caught off guard and paused, a bit stunned.

"Don't bring up Zhan Ann with me again," Ruan Shiyu said calmly, but Ma Ru sensed a chill in her tone. She shivered and instinctively pulled a blanket from the drawer to wrap around her shoulders.

"But isn't he your boyfriend?" Ma Ru asked, puzzled.

Ruan Shiyu let out a soft laugh, dripping with sarcasm, "My boyfriend died two days ago."

With that, Ruan Shiyu hung up the phone, lying back on the bed and pulling the covers over her head once more.

Ma Ru was left bewildered, staring at her phone for a while before realizing the call had indeed ended. She put down her phone, feeling deflated.

She still couldn't quite understand. Zhan Ann was alive and well, so how could he be "dead"?

A coworker passing by noticed Ma Ru had hung up and, intrigued by the gossip, hurried over to ask, "What was that call about?"

Instead of answering, Ma Ru posed a question of her own, "What do you think it means when someone suddenly says their boyfriend is dead?"

The coworker let out a laugh, shrugging, and looked at Ma Ru as if she were missing the obvious, "Isn't it clear? They broke up. Haven't you ever wished your ex would just disappear? It's like saying the boyfriend is as good as dead."

"Oh... so that's what it means." Ma Ru suddenly understood, then remembered who said it and jumped up in surprise, exclaiming, "Shiyu broke up with Zhan Ann?!"

In her studio, two of her former classmates overheard and gathered around, stunned. "What did you say? Ruan Shiyu and Zhan Ann broke up? Are you sure?"

While Ruan Shiyu was unaware, the news of her breakup with Zhan Ann spread like wildfire among everyone who knew them. Meanwhile, she was busy meeting deadlines until a call from Moo Xiaoxiao pulled her away.

Compared to the morning, Ruan Shiyu looked a bit more presentable sitting in the café. At least now, when she stepped out, no one would stare at her for looking so downcast.

Ruan Shiyu sat at the table, idly playing with her fingers as she waited for Moo Xiaoxiao to arrive.

"I'm late!" The café door opened with a pleasant jingle, and Moo Xiaoxiao, juggling several bags, struggled to close the door before sitting across from Ruan Shiyu.

Ruan Shiyu couldn't help but yawn, looking up at Moo Xiaoxiao with a tired glance. "You're here."

Moo Xiaoxiao set down her bags, grabbed Ruan Shiyu's coffee, and finished it in a few gulps. She waved over a server to place an order, finally noticing Ruan Shiyu's state.

She frowned, concerned. "What's going on with you? Why did you suddenly break up with Zhan Ann?"

Hearing Zhan Ann's name, the expression on Ruan Shiyu's face vanished. She slumped over the table, burying her head in her arms, silent for a long time.

Sensing something was wrong, Moo Xiaoxiao moved to sit beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders with concern. "What happened? Did Zhan Ann treat you badly?"

Seeing that Ruan Shiyu still wasn't speaking, Moo Xiaoxiao grew more convinced of her suspicions. Anger surged through her, and she abruptly stood up, ready to storm out. "I'm going to have a word with Zhan Ann!"

Ruan Shiyu reached out and held her back.

Xiaoxiao was anxious but didn't dare to pull away too forcefully. Frustrated, she exclaimed, "Let go of me!"

Ruan Shiyu looked up, shaking her head, her eyes brimming with tears. She felt weary, unsure of how things had gotten to this point. "Don't go. There's nothing left to say."

"But!" Xiaoxiao was still furious. Zhan Ann had made such sweet promises when pursuing Shiyu, and now, just a few years later, it seemed like all those vows had been forgotten.

Ruan Shiyu gently pulled her back into her seat, just as the waiter brought over their iced coffee. She pushed the drink toward Xiaoxiao, and after Xiaoxiao took a couple of sips, Shiyu finally spoke. "It's over. Don't let it upset you anymore."