Top-Tier Ex-Girlfriend - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: The Future

Pei You was good at reading people, especially those who weren’t being sincere.

Ding Tang's "affection" seemed fake; the smile didn't reach her eyes, a stark contrast to Huo Yichi's genuine warmth.

Pei You pursed her lips, unconvinced. "Really?” she asked.

"Xiao You-jie, you’ve helped me so much; I’m really grateful," Ding Tang blinked, her voice sweet. "I haven’t met anyone I clicked with this well in a long time, so I really like you. And you’re so kind…”

Pei You, irritated, interrupted her. "Okay, enough.”

"Did I do something wrong?" Ding Tang asked, her expression confused.

Pei You shook her head. "No, just… let’s eat.”

After a couple of minutes, Pei You excused herself to go to the restroom. When she returned, Ding Tang was chatting and laughing with Jin-jie and the others.

Huo Yichi, at the next table, frowned at her, then held up her phone.

Pei You opened WeChat: 【That colleague of yours just poured some sparkling wine into your water.】

Pei You: 【...】

Just then, Ding Tang raised her glass, clinking it against Pei You's. "Xiao You-jie, happy New Year in advance!"

"Happy New Year," Pei You said, taking her glass but not drinking it.

Other colleagues also stood up, raising their glasses for a toast.

Pei You stood up as well, holding her glass, smiling at everyone, then discreetly sniffed it. A faint scent of alcohol lingered.

It was subtle; if she hadn't been paying attention, she might not have noticed.

Pei You couldn't drink and was sensitive to the smell of alcohol, even the faintest trace. When Pei Junsheng had tried to sneak a drink and been caught by her, he'd jokingly called her a bloodhound.

But this, someone deliberately trying to sabotage her… this was a first. If Huo Yichi hadn’t warned her, she might have actually drunk it.

Everyone at the table was drinking. Pei You wrinkled her nose, touching her glass to her lips, pretending to take a sip.

But Ding Tang exclaimed, "Xiao You-jie, you didn’t drink!”

Jin-jie, hearing this, looked over. "Xiao Pei, that’s just water in your glass.”

"Jin-jie," Pei You smiled apologetically, "I’m not feeling too well; I can’t have anything cold. Even a sip will make me feel sick," she didn't mention the alcohol in her water.

Jin-jie sighed. "Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

"It's fine," Pei You said, turning to Ding Tang. "Tangtang, come with me to buy some medicine.”

"Sure, Xiao You-jie," Ding Tang smiled and nodded.

Once they left the table, Huo Yichi followed.

She knew she had to come back, so she just told the waiter she was stepping out for a moment.

The air outside was fresh and crisp, free from the smells of food.

Pei You took a deep breath, then turned to Ding Tang. "Were you really that eager to see my reaction to alcohol?”

"Xiao You-jie…," Ding Tang put on an innocent expression, "I don't know what you’re talking about.”

"Oh, really? You don't know you spiked my drink? You don’t know you poured alcohol into my water while I was in the restroom?" Pei You scoffed, stopping. "I really don't understand. Did I offend you somehow? Your strange attentiveness from the start, and now this… I’m confused. I don’t think we’ve even met before, have we, Ding Tang?”

People passed by as they stood there, their expressions calm.

Pei You was utterly baffled.

She'd been the only young person at the company for two years, and her older colleagues had always been kind and caring. She'd never experienced office politics.

But today, she'd almost been… sabotaged.

She was sensitive to the smell of alcohol, and even more so to alcohol itself.

She'd accidentally consumed a small amount of alcohol once as a child and had ended up in the hospital with a high fever, her skin covered in a red rash. It had terrified her family, and she'd known ever since then that she couldn’t drink.

Ding Tang had essentially been playing with her life.

"Xiao You-jie, I…," Ding Tang began, "I was just curious. I’ve never seen anyone have an allergic reaction to alcohol before.”

What a brazen excuse.

Pei You was speechless.

She rubbed her forehead, about to say something, when Huo Yichi appeared beside her, turning to Ding Tang. "I recorded everything you did in the restaurant," she said, her voice cold. "You knew she was allergic to alcohol, and yet you still spiked her drink.”

Ding Tang frowned. "Who are you? Why do you even care?”

"You don't deserve to know," Huo Yichi said, taking Pei You’s arm, leading her back to the restaurant.

She had forgotten her bag inside; she needed to retrieve it.

After a few steps, Ding Tang’s voice rang out behind them. "I just hate you," she said.

Pei You turned around. "Why?”

"Why does there need to be a reason?" Ding Tang retorted, her face flushed with anger. "Go ahead and show the video to Jin-jie. I don’t even need this stupid job anyway!”

She hailed a taxi and left without saying goodbye to her colleagues.

"..."

"Unbelievable," Pei You muttered.

Huo Yichi, watching the taxi disappear, turned to Pei You, concerned. "Are you okay?”

"I’m fine," Pei You shook her head, forcing a smile, "I feel safe with you here.”

Huo Yichi pursed her lips. "I wanted to stop her when she poured the alcohol into your glass, to catch her in the act, but it’s your company, your colleagues; I didn't want to interfere, especially since I didn't know the full story.”

"I know," Pei You said, looking at Huo Yichi, "I know you were thinking that. I wasn't expecting you to help me, anyway; I could have handled it myself. But I'm still grateful you told me. If I hadn't noticed the alcohol, I might have actually drunk it.”

She hadn't expected Ding Tang to pull such a stunt.

Pei You and Huo Yichi returned to the restaurant, making an excuse to leave shortly after.

Before they left, Jin-jie, holding her phone, said, sounding a little exasperated, "Xiao Tang said she had an emergency and had to leave. Honestly, you young people and your impulsive decisions…”

Pei You smiled apologetically.

What else could she say?

Once they were in Huo Yichi's car, Pei You fastened her seatbelt, exhaling slowly. "I still don’t understand. Why does she hate me so much? There has to be a reason, right? People don't just hate others for no reason.”

Huo Yichi, gripping the steering wheel, nodded in agreement. "There’s always a reason.”

"I can’t figure it out," Pei You said, looking out the window.

"Then don’t think about it," Huo Yichi said, patting Pei You's hand before starting the car.

"You’re right. I'm resigning after the holidays anyway," Pei You said.

"Have you decided what you're going to do next?" Huo Yichi asked with a smile.

"Not yet, but I definitely don’t want to stay in this job any longer.”

As Huo Yichi drove, Pei You felt the cool night air against her face, her mood lifting slightly.

After a while, Huo Yichi said hesitantly, "I’m… also facing a dilemma at work.”

"What is it?" Pei You asked. "Are you out of ideas for your videos?”

Huo Yichi shook her head. "Not exactly. I have an idea, but I’m not sure if I should pursue it. And if I do, I’m worried about how it might affect the person involved.”

Pei You’s eyes widened. "Is there anything I can do to help?”

The traffic light ahead turned red, and Huo Yichi stopped the car.

She turned to Pei You, her eyes sparkling. "As a matter of fact, there is, because… you’re the person involved.”

Pei You's mind went blank.

It took her a moment to reboot.

"Oh, is that so? I don't think it would be a big deal. I wouldn’t mind,” she finally said.

Huo Yichi looked away, her throat tightening. "Okay," she said softly.

This was something she'd always wanted to do.

Make a video about her and Pei You.

Not for views or clicks, but simply to… tell the world.

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