After Breaking Off the Engagement, The Young Lady Deeply Regretted It - Chapter 53

Since the last time they parted, Jing Xiao and Fan Qingyu had only kept in touch through casual greetings. Jing Xiao never mentioned anything about the blind dates, and Fan Qingyu had several times wanted to bring it up, but thinking of their current relationship, she ultimately decided against it.

Perhaps Jing Xiao hadn’t gone to the blind dates at all, which was why she didn’t mention them. Or maybe she had gone but had already started seeing someone she liked.

Fan Qingyu’s thoughts oscillated between these possibilities until Jing Xiao recently appeared at a charity gala with an unfamiliar companion. Fan Qingyu realized that Jing Xiao most likely had given up on their four-year relationship.

Was that the blind date?

The companion was about the same height and build as Jing Xiao and even bore some resemblance. Throughout the event, they whispered to each other, and Jing Xiao—who usually kept her distance—didn’t seem to mind the occasional deliberate touch. They appeared very compatible.

Fan Qingyu didn’t bother checking the guest list, nor did she have the courage to look again at the girl beside Jing Xiao. She turned off her phone and tried to focus on the present.

The neon lights of the bar flashed inside, colored beams cutting through the darkness and creating a Tyndall effect, making it hard to keep one’s eyes open. Fan Qingyu sat in a semi-open private room on the second floor, drinking until the world blurred. She admitted she didn’t have a friend close enough to endure hardships with her.

Fallen to such a state, she could only drown her sorrows alone.

The huge private room was quiet except for the occasional spill of music from outside. Fan Qingyu struggled to swallow the spicy drink, half-leaning against the sofa in a daze.

The door to the room opened slowly. Fan Qingyu assumed it was a waiter and waved dismissively: “Go away.”

The person didn’t leave but kept approaching.

Fan Qingyu, in a daze, said, “Xiao Xiao, did you cut your hair short?”

She had a shoulder-length blunt cut, resembling Jing Xiao in contour. But as she drew closer into Fan Qingyu’s expectant gaze, Fan Qingyu realized her features were very different from Jing Xiao’s.

A standard, playful yet world-weary face stared at her. Her style was completely different from Jing Xiao’s: a tight top, dark jeans, and long boots.

Jing Lan squatted on the floor, looked up at Fan Qingyu, and smiled: “Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Jing Lan; you should have heard of me.”

Fan Qingyu, mostly sober now, set down her glass unhappily. She didn’t want anyone familiar seeing her in such a sorry state, especially someone she’d never met—Jing Lan.

Jing Lan’s sudden appearance meant she must have been watching Fan Qingyu for a while. Fan Qingyu straightened her posture and tried to sound serious and calm: “What do you want?”

“Nothing.” Jing Lan sighed and lightly traced circles on the back of her hand. “Why don’t you go ask Jing Xiao directly?”

Fan Qingyu frowned: “What do you mean?”

“Refusing a marriage alliance with the Qin family is harmful and benefits no one.” Elder Jing’s cane slammed heavily to the floor, his deep voice echoing in the office.

Jing Xiao lowered her eyes, not daring to look up for a long while: “Grandfather is right, but I…”

“I only had time to come today.” Elder Jing rubbed his temple, his anger subdued in his eyes. “Actually, you could just meet Miss Qin once and politely decline; it would avoid insulting the Qin family too much.”

Jing Xiao’s hands clenched tightly, as if venting frustration. Her tone remained gentle: “Grandfather, I would feel guilty.”

In the end, Elder Jing didn’t scold her further, only requiring that next time she go with him to apologize. Before leaving, he asked affirmatively: “Do you still like the girl from the Fan family?”

Jing Xiao knew her position was unstable and shook her head in denial.

Elder Jing understood Jing Xiao well and had already noticed the signs, but he said nothing more and sighed as he left.

After years of stubbornness, he even wondered if his own conservatism was excessive.

He believed Jing Xiao needed a considerate, gentle, understanding partner, not someone strong-willed and ambitious.

Yet during the four years Jing Xiao had been away from the Jing family, he had suffered every day as if cut by a thousand knives.

Recently, Jing Xiao had been extremely busy. Under her leadership, the VR headset project had made significant progress. If the upcoming negotiations with Mr. Brown went smoothly, it would greatly advance the project.

Jing Xiao was confident she could secure the rights from Mr. Brown. Even if negotiations failed, collaborating with other mobile games was still an option. The only difference would be the age range and spending level of users, requiring more careful screening. With core technology in hand, she wasn’t worried about external factors.

As the workday neared its end, she set aside concerns and considered what to bring back for Fan Qingyu from abroad.

Her secretary rushed in: “Ms. Jing, the task you assigned last time has been completed, and it went surprisingly smoothly.”

Jing Xiao smiled happily: “Good work. Next time I’ll give you a big red envelope.”

“Thank you, Ms. Jing.”

“What’s her father’s attitude now?”

The secretary bent slightly and efficiently reported: “Miss Xu has already left.”

“Understood. You may go.”

Jing Xiao’s mood was high. With today’s tasks completed, she decided to go home early. Before reaching the underground parking, she eagerly called Fan Qingyu.

“Beep… beep…”

A muffled voice came through the receiver: “Hello, who is this?”

Jing Xiao froze, almost not recognizing Fan Qingyu’s voice. She thought she’d dialed the wrong number and double-checked her contacts before confirming it was Fan Qingyu.

“Have you been drinking?” she asked.

“No, I’m sleeping.” Fan Qingyu snorted and hung up.

Memory is fleeting; Jing Xiao had completely forgotten Fan Qingyu’s tone just now. She frowned, tapped her temple, and tried calling again.

This time, all she heard was a busy signal.

After repeatedly dialing, Jing Xiao noticed two hours had passed. Her phone was nearly dead, and Fan Qingyu hadn’t responded.

Worried, she decided to visit Fan Qingyu’s home. She quickly grabbed her coat and car keys and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Jing Xiao opened it, irritated: “Who is it? I’m busy right now.”

Outside was a person in a matching suit. Her hair was messy, makeup smudged, mascara and eyeliner running black.

The strong scent of alcohol hit her immediately. Jing Xiao coughed repeatedly, relieved that her heart finally settled. She didn’t know what Fan Qingyu had gone through today to end up in such a sorry state.

Jing Xiao asked cautiously: “Nobody bullied you, right?”

Hearing her voice, Fan Qingyu couldn’t help crying again, eyes wide: “Yes, someone did.”

Jing Xiao chuckled: “Who bullied you? I’ll go beat them up.”

Fan Qingyu, seemingly intoxicated, blushed. She hesitated, lightly biting her lip.

Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Jing Xiao’s smile faded, and she asked with concern: “Who exactly bullied you?”

Fan Qingyu raised her arm: “You did.”

Jing Xiao breathed a sigh of relief: “I did? How did I bully you?”

Fan Qingyu said nothing, only soft sobs. Jing Xiao panicked slightly and grabbed her wrist: “Come inside first; it’s cold out here.”

Fan Qingyu’s eyes glistened with tears. She pressed her hands against Jing Xiao, heart beating strongly through her chest.

“I see you, and my heart races,” she said. No words followed; she slowed her breathing, wanting Jing Xiao to feel her heartbeat clearly.

Jing Xiao’s hands rested on Fan Qingyu’s chest. Her warmth and love expressed themselves vividly. She spoke gently: “Are you trying to say you like me?”

“No, I love you.” Fan Qingyu nuzzled Jing Xiao’s hand, tears wetting her palm. “Please, keep loving me.”

Jing Xiao’s long-held defenses crumbled. She cupped Fan Qingyu’s face: “Don’t ask for anything; I can’t let go of you.”

“Then… will you be with me?” Fan Qingyu asked softly, uncertain. “What about your blind date?”

“I didn’t go.” Jing Xiao led her inside patiently. “That was Miss Qin, the second daughter of the Qin family. I don’t like that kind of personality, and I don’t want to waste our time. So I never went.”

Fan Qingyu immediately trusted her and wrapped her arms around Jing Xiao’s waist, burying her head in her neck: “Then what kind of person do you like?”

“I like someone capable, ambitious, and a little willful.” Jing Xiao tucked Fan Qingyu’s hair behind her ear. Her face was wet and warm, sticky from the remnants of makeup.

Fan Qingyu didn’t speak much, just held her steadily: “Won’t it matter that you didn’t go to the blind date?”

Jing Xiao’s fingers twisted in her hair: “Next time, we’ll go apologize. Other than that, it’s fine.”

Fan Qingyu, unsteady on her feet, took it upon herself to go to the kitchen and grab two bottles of beer: “Drink with me.”

“Just one?” Jing Xiao asked, opening the bottles with ease. “This is beer, not your favorite fruit wine.”

Fan Qingyu pressed her thin lips to the bottle, drinking heartily.

Support After Breaking Off the Engagement, The Young Lady Deeply Regretted It