Chapter 3: Smoky Eyes and the Heartless Perm

Liang Jinshang arrived at school late, just as she had expected, and was promptly scolded by her professor. After handing in her paper, she realized she had left her bag behind. She called Uncle Li, who informed her that her bag was with Shang Yucheng.

Liang Jinshang had already resolved to use Shang Yucheng as a tool to get back at Gong Xueyuan, so she naturally wouldn’t let this chance to see him slip by. After a nap in the dorm to regain her strength, she headed to the Shang Group building.

Unexpectedly, she was stopped at the reception desk. “I’m sorry, miss, but our President Shang isn’t in the office,” the receptionist told her.

Shang Yucheng had already blocked her on every social media platform, leaving her with no way to contact him. With no other choice, she sat in the lobby to wait.

She waited for over two hours. Shang Yucheng didn’t appear, but Gong Xueyuan did.

Watching Gong Xueyuan stride in, surrounded by assistants, Liang Jinshang asked the receptionist, “If President Shang isn’t here, why did you let her go in?”

“That’s our future president’s wife. She can go in whenever she pleases… Ordinary people without appointments won’t be received by President Shang.” The receptionist’s gaze swept over Liang Jinshang’s modest clothes, conveying a silent message: “Who are you to compare with her?”

Liang Jinshang hadn’t come to the Shang building often before, but she didn’t believe the receptionist could have forgotten her after just half a year. This cold treatment must have been ordered by Shang Yucheng himself.

Watching Gong Xueyuan’s departing figure, Liang Jinshang spoke with a seemingly casual air, “That’s odd. I heard President Shang’s sweetheart isn’t her.”

Gong Xueyuan hadn’t gone far, and Liang Jinshang hadn’t bothered to lower her voice. She wanted her to hear.

Gong Xueyuan whirled around, her eyes narrowing as she recognized Liang Jinshang’s face. She remembered seeing her for the first time at the Shang house yesterday—she was Shang Ao’er’s tutor. Instinctively, Gong Xueyuan regarded any beautiful woman near Shang Yucheng as a natural enemy.

“What do you mean by that?” Gong Xueyuan asked coldly.

Liang Jinshang changed her expression instantly, feigning embarrassment. “I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?”

It was as insincere as could be.

Gong Xueyuan’s face darkened, and she turned away abruptly, her high heels clacking loudly as she presumably went to complain to a certain someone.

Liang Jinshang watched her retreating silhouette and laughed quietly at the absurdity. She’d deliberately provoked Gong Xueyuan to see if her old rival would recognize her. She hadn’t expected that after all these years, Gong Xueyuan could have forgotten her so thoroughly.

Of course, she couldn’t blame her.

Today, Liang Jinshang wore her hair in a neat, shoulder-length style. Her skin was snow-pale, her eyes black as ink, and she was dressed in a slender, pure white dress—the picture of a first love straight from a textbook.

Compared to the delinquent from eight years ago, with permed hair, heavy smoky makeup, and a foot pressed against Gong Xueyuan’s face—who would ever guess they were the same person?

…

Night fell quickly outside, the sky threatening more rain.

At last, Shang Yucheng descended, Gong Xueyuan’s arm hooked through his. She looked radiant and bold, obviously well-pleased by whatever he had whispered to her. A handsome man and a beautiful woman—they looked every bit the perfect couple.

Liang Jinshang called out, “Mr. Shang.”

Shang Yucheng glanced at her without a ripple of emotion.

During the long wait, Liang Jinshang had rehearsed countless openings for a conversation that could move things forward. But with Gong Xueyuan’s unblinking gaze fixed on her, she could only say stiffly, “Mr. Shang, I’m here for my bag… I’ve been waiting for you for three hours.”

Before Shang Yucheng could reply, Gong Xueyuan spoke first. “Yucheng, why was this woman’s bag with you?”