Miss Beautiful C.E.O and her system

Chapter 765: Xiao Yue guessed it

It wasn't that such drama mattered anymore, but Ling Qingyu felt embarrassed at the thought of others discovering the subtle relationship from the past.

Although Xiao Yue and Tang Ziyi knew that wasn't the real her, that wouldn't stop them from teasing and suppressing her in the future.

Imagining the sight of herself being mocked and bullied during an argument because the opposite side held on the nuclear leeway, she hissed and inhaled a sharp breath.

No, she'd never hand a knife to these two, especially these two.

Now that the invitation had been sent, Ling Qingyu had no more excuses. Not to mention, continued refusal and dodging would make her seem as though she had a guilty conscience.

Coincidence or not, the reunion gathering was near the state where she was currently staying—only a five-hour drive away.

But her worst prediction came true: that guy was also in the same city as her. Quite understandable, since the city was one of the most prosperous in the world, boasting one of the highest GDPs per capita, far surpassing many nations.

The elite circle and major businesses clustered in this city. As a lawyer, it was no surprise that he remained in such a networking hub.

Delay was out of the question.

Inside her king suite,

Ling Qingyu rubbed her temples after placing her phone on the short table. Opposite her, Xiao Yue noticed her unusual reaction and asked,

"What's the matter? Has the cat got your tongue?"

"Quit it, shortie. Even you can't solve the mess I'm dreading right now."

"Oh…" Xiao Yue elongated her tone and leaned forward.

"Don't even bother trying. I'm not saying anything." Ling Qingyu shook her head and paced back and forth.

In fact, Ling Qingyu shouldn't have been affected by such drama. The situation and the script were almost laughable—if only she weren't the main protagonist.

She had already resolved the divorce plot, and now she was facing the 'first love' arc. Crap, give her a break. Please.

Some might say the solution was simple: act natural, don't pursue anything, stay at ease, and let things flow.

Heck, if only it were that simple.

Actually, the current Ling Qingyu wasn't troubled at all. Based on her usual demeanor, she would have acted cold and ruthless, nipping the issue in the bud. Short-term pain was better than long-term suffering.

Nevertheless, she knew her predecessor's favorable impression had almost escalated into something ambiguous. To clarify her stance without hurting him made her brain buzz.

She couldn't outright declare, "We should stop and focus on ourselves," could she? Neither side had ever expressed anything explicitly—only through actions and subtle behaviors.

As for why she had sought his help regarding legal matters—please, maintaining relationships was the most difficult part of dealing with people. Even if she had already become acquainted with renowned lawyers in her own country, certain steps were essential for etiquette and courtesy.

As long as it didn't drain her too much or affect her work, Ling Qingyu was willing to abide by the bare minimum.

She possessed the power and prestige to disregard certain rules, but when it came to her former classmate, she couldn't behave tyrannically or feign ignorance.

Besides, her main concern didn't stem from the man at all—but from her close female friend during university.

Due to her high IQ—apparently inversely proportional to her EQ :D—and her inability to mingle easily, Ling Qingyu had often been ostracized. Her distant demeanor pushed away many who might otherwise have befriended her.

It was that female friend who stood out and remained by her side despite her odd behavior. She had helped Ling Qingyu immensely during the early stages.

Yet fate seemed to mock them. Her friend liked that man and had confided in her. So when the man later showed interest in Ling Qingyu, her friend likely felt betrayed, suspecting that Ling Qingyu had done something behind her back.

And Ling Qingyu had never been skilled at explaining herself. Unsurprisingly, a misunderstanding formed. From a small misunderstanding, it grew into something fabricated and distorted. Finally, grievance.

That had been the best friend who helped her the most.

Perhaps… but the current Ling Qingyu didn't dwell on what her predecessor had felt back then.

She only cared that she must tread carefully now, so as not to further offend that friend. Consider it a gesture of gratitude for having taken care of her former self.

A ridiculous love triangle—and her only complaint was this: why was one woman making things difficult for another?

It wasn't even that complicated. One simply had to ask directly.

Honestly, Ling Qingyu would rather not meet any of them or participate in this drama at all. Looking back at the timeline, she wondered how on earth she had agreed to attend the reunion.

"Stop pacing around. I know you've got a pair of big ones—you don't need to brag," Xiao Yue said, rolling her eyes.

"Woah, woah. I never expected envy to come out of your mouth." Ling Qingyu chuckled in exasperation, glancing downward before patting her chest lightly. "Those who've never experienced it will never understand the difficulty of carrying such weight."

Xiao Yue puffed her cheeks in annoyance, glaring up and down at her. "Get lost. I've had enough of your so-called jiggle physics."

"Please stop exaggerating." Ling Qingyu gave up and sat opposite her. "I apologize if I've created an inferiority complex in you."

She knew Xiao Yue was merely redirecting her irritation. Perhaps this warlord was lowering her guard, preparing to swoop in for answers.

"Are you sure you're not going to confide in me? It's not healthy to keep everything bottled up," Xiao Yue advised.

As expected, Ling Qingyu smirked at her own accurate guess. "It's better if you don't know the truth. Otherwise, my future life may never be peaceful."

Xiao Yue narrowed her eyes, curiosity intensifying. "You do realize I can just ask Athena what this fuss is about."

"I knew you'd say that. I've already ordered my daughter to hide it from everyone except me."

"So long as you understand that your actions aren't affecting our family in any way, then it's your decision."

"I promise," Ling Qingyu replied.

Xiao Yue nodded and stopped pressing. It seemed Ling Qingyu's concern wasn't related to their affairs—more personal than anything else.

By elimination, Xiao Yue guessed it involved her former classmates. Continuing the line of thought, Ling Qingyu usually didn't care much about interpersonal relationships.

Wait—that was the current one, not the former.

Realization struck Xiao Yue suddenly. The final answer had to be some sort of romantic debt—or something of similar gravity like unrequited awkwardness. She believed the former was more likely. Her pupils widened as she clutched her stomach and burst into laughter.

"Oh my dear! Qingyu, you actually have a day like this… Bring back my manipulative queen!"

Ling Qingyu's expression darkened as she tried to ignore the ringing mockery. She sighed heavily.

Alas, what she had tried to conceal had still been noticed by this infuriating bastard. Yet, Ling Qingyu's reaction just confirmed Xiao Yue's conjecture—at first the probability barely hang around 60 percent. Now it switched to 90.

"Holy shit, I guess it spot on. Come on, meet your old flame soon." The warlord who pretended to laugh hard earlier soon giggled and hiccuped hard. The humorous melodic signature from her lips didn't sound pleasant to Ling Qingyu's ears.