Chapter 9: You and I, Meeting for the First Time—No Grudges, Right?

Xia Huajiao immediately agreed with this comment. The "childhood sweetheart" was quite possessive; seeing that the handsome man had chosen the same car model as her, she wanted him to change it. However, Xia Huajiao didn't care. After all, the handsome man was nothing to her! Besides, the total donation from the comments had already surpassed 3,000 yuan!

"Keep playing your games, little sweetheart," Xia Huajiao thought to herself while looking at Gu Zhaojing. "Let the viewers keep sending comments and help me make money!"

She listened as Gu Zhaojing stared at Mo Yanyu coldly for a long moment, making Mo Yanyu’s smile stiffen once again, before he finally spoke in an icy tone: "Why? Do you not like this car?"

Xia Huajiao was not surprised. This handsome man had always been aloof; he was relatively polite to those of his own gender but quite cold toward the opposite sex. He hadn't even stood up to greet the childhood sweetheart earlier, so it was perfectly normal for him not to indulge her now.

Xia Huajiao glanced at the other young man, Jiang Heming. Uh, was she seeing things? Jiang Heming was looking at Mo Yanyu, and his thick brows seemed to knit together almost imperceptibly. So, even Jiang Heming didn't care for this childhood sweetheart?

Xia Huajiao looked back at Mo Yanyu, who immediately flashed a smile at Gu Zhaojing that was both joyful and uneasy: "As long as it's something Brother Zhaojing chose, I’m sure I’ll like it. It’s just that, since Ms. Xia also wants to buy this model, then..." She hesitated, glancing shyly at Xia Huajiao before murmuring, "It’s only a birthday gift; I... I can choose something cheaper."

Huh? This girl...

Xia Huajiao raised an eyebrow with amusement. If the childhood sweetheart just wanted to choose something cheaper to save her "Brother Zhaojing" money, why did she have to bring her—Sister Jiao—into it? That remark was quite suggestive!

Seeing Jiang Heming across the table curl his lip in disapproval, evidently having caught the implication in Mo Yanyu’s words as well, Xia Huajiao checked the comments in her livestream.

[Wow, that style shift was a bit fast, wasn't it?]
[Agreed! When she first appeared, she carried the air of a wealthy socialite, but now she's hesitating over a million yuan? It’s a bit disjointed!]
[Is that Chanel bag of hers a knockoff?]
[This girl is a bit... you know! Sister Jiao is buying a car, what does that have to do with her? Why did she have to bring it up for comparison?]

Then, "Meilili" sent another message: [Sister Jiao, you've been subtly targeted; aren't you angry? Shouldn't you show off your usual boss-lady aura?]
"Taojinjia" quickly chimed in: [Sister Jiao, you're going to put up with this little sweetheart? Don't let us look down on you! Hurry up and snap back; I’ve got a reward ready for you!]

Dozens of similar comments made Xia Huajiao arch her eyebrows with delight.

The vast majority of netizens had sharp eyes! The donation total had crossed 4,000 yuan, and clearly, many female viewers were annoyed. Furthermore, she, Sister Jiao, certainly didn't intend to let this slide.

After a few seconds of thought, Xia Huajiao smiled and spoke up: "Ms. Mo, I believe this is our first time meeting today, right? We have no bad blood, do we?"

Mo Yanyu, who was busy playing the victim, froze instantly. Gu Zhaojing and Jiang Heming also shifted, looking at Xia Huajiao with surprise. Soon, Mo Yanyu put on a guarded and awkward smile, with a hint of caution: "No, of course not!"

Xia Huajiao leaned one arm on the table, resting her body against the chair, and nonchalantly raised an eyebrow. "Then I find it very strange. I’m buying my own car—what does that have to do with your birthday gift?"

Seeing Mo Yanyu stunned, Xia Huajiao asked even more directly: "Why did you have to mention me before suggesting you buy a cheaper car?"

At this point, Xia Huajiao glanced at Gu Zhaojing and Jiang Heming. As expected, she saw surprise in their eyes, followed by a look of rising admiration. Feeling much better, she turned back to the bewildered Mo Yanyu, her gaze sharp: "Ms. Mo, is my buying this car the reason you suddenly want a cheaper one?"

"Do you think I'm being reckless, spending so much money on a car, and you want to show off your thriftiness in front of your friends?"

As soon as the words left her lips, oh yes, the total in the holographic panel soared past 6,000 yuan! Those few sentences had netted her an extra 2,000 yuan! No need to ask—the comments in the livestream must have exploded!

"Ah?" Perhaps not expecting Xia Huajiao to confront her so bluntly in public, Mo Yanyu’s face changed abruptly, showing panic, nervousness, and resentment. A few seconds later, she finally reacted, shaking her head in shame: "No, no... I misspoke... I'm sorry!"

Xia Huajiao gave a faint smile, shrugged, and looked at Gu Zhaojing with amusement. His childhood sweetheart had voluntarily offered to downgrade her birthday gift—what would he do now? Turn into a doting "boss" figure?

As she watched Gu Zhaojing, she failed to notice that the look of appreciation in Jiang Heming’s eyes had suddenly gained an unusual spark.

Gu Zhaojing, however, knit his sword-like brows and hardened his handsome face, looking at Mo Yanyu with impatience: "Mo Yanyu, you’ve got it wrong! This car is a birthday gift your brother entrusted me to order for you."

Gu Zhaojing then gestured indifferently toward a table a little further away: "That phone over there is the actual birthday gift I prepared for you. If you want to save your brother money, go tell him yourself!"

His voice was cold—at least ten degrees colder than it had been when he was speaking to her earlier! Xia Huajiao couldn't help but widen her apricot-shaped eyes in shock. My god, what kind of brutally heartless response was that? Handsome, you... you’re amazing!

On one hand, he helped his classmate order a car as a gift for the childhood sweetheart. On the other, he so ruthlessly struck her down in public? Xia Huajiao felt as if she could see the childhood sweetheart’s heart being torn to shreds by those words!

But... honestly, that response was satisfying! No questions asked—it was just satisfying! It sounded incredible! It seemed not every man was easily fooled by a "white lotus" type of woman! The handsome man was not only good-looking but also extremely clear-headed!

She looked at the livestream again, and once more, she wanted to laugh.

[Witnessing a fake white lotus get slapped down by a handsome guy in real-time!]

The comments were flooding the screen! Hundreds of them, all in a row! It seemed the handsome man’s reply deeply resonated with many female viewers! She glanced at the donation total in the top right corner. Ha, it exploded! Again! It had jumped from over 6,000 yuan to over 8,500 yuan! She was even happier now! The handsome man slapped down the fake white lotus, and she made a little money thanks to the netizens' collective sentiments!

Xia Huajiao looked with a mix of amusement and irony at Mo Yanyu, who was so shocked that her face had turned a flushed red. It was clear: the flower had the intention, but the water had no passion! Ha... this... she really couldn't be blamed for this! Haha... She really wanted to burst into laughter. But for the sake of poise, Xia Huajiao held it in.

Dozens of seconds later, Mo Yanyu bit her lip, her eyes reddening, and she whispered with extreme grievance: "Uh... sorry, Brother Zhaojing, I... I really don't want the car anymore."

After murmuring that, she cast a final, hate-filled glance at Xia Huajiao.