Chapter 111: The Conversation

On a Sunday holiday, Lu Yuxi received a call from a strange woman. The caller arranged to meet her at a coffee shop, primarily to discuss matters concerning Yang Fan. Having finally obtained news about him, Lu Yuxi brought Zhang Meng along to the designated location that day.

Upon meeting, she discovered the woman was remarkably beautiful, appearing to be in her early twenties. Once they were seated, Lu Yuxi asked urgently, "Do you know where Yang Fan is?"

"I do. My main purpose in coming today is to talk to you about him," Yu Qian replied with a smile. Observing Lu Yuxi, Yu Qian mused to herself, "This girl is beautiful; why on earth did that guy get a divorce?"

Lu Yuxi was dressed elegantly, her features pure and possessing a vintage, classic beauty. Any man would have been captivated by her. However, as Lu Yuxi gazed at Yu Qian, she suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of unease. She could not fathom the source of her anxiety.

"What is it about?" Lu Yuxi asked.

"I wanted to ask: why did you and Yang Fan get divorced?" Yu Qian countered, ignoring the question.

"We divorced because we felt we weren't right for each other," Lu Yuxi said with a bitter smile. Looking back now, she felt foolish. In her heart, she believed it was she who had been unworthy of Yang Fan.

"So, it was an amicable divorce?" Yu Qian pressed.

"You could say that," Lu Yuxi nodded.

Learning that the divorce had been amicable, Yu Qian felt relieved. Knowing that Yang Fan was not a "bad man" eased her worries. At the very least, he was a man worthy of her lifelong commitment.

"Where is Yang Fan?" Lu Yuxi stared at Yu Qian, pressing her demand. "I want to see him now. I hope you can take me to him."

Yu Qian frowned, puzzled by Lu Yuxi's intense desire to see him. "Why do you want to find him?"

"I misunderstood him. I want to apologize in person. I hope he can come back; I don't want the divorce anymore," Lu Yuxi said, her emotions rising.

Hearing that Lu Yuxi wanted a reconciliation made Yu Qian uncomfortable. She loved Yang Fan and did not want another woman in his life. People are inherently selfish, especially regarding those they love, and Yu Qian had no desire to share him.

After a moment of thought, she looked at Lu Yuxi with a serious expression. "I hope you will stop looking for Yang Fan."

"Why?" Lu Yuxi’s voice rose in shock.

"Because Yang Fan and I are together now. I hope you won't disturb us anymore," Yu Qian replied. As she spoke, she felt a pang of guilt; she hadn't actually declared anything to Yang Fan yet, and saying this to Lu Yuxi felt shameless. But she was selfish when it came to the man she loved, and she was determined to seize her own happiness.

Upon hearing that Yu Qian and Yang Fan were together, Lu Yuxi froze. For some reason, the realization caused her immense pain, and she was left speechless for a moment.

"How can he be with you?" Lu Yuxi stared at her, tears welling in her eyes. She refused to accept that Yang Fan was with someone else.

"We have been together for a while, and we are planning to get married soon," Yu Qian dropped another bombshell. She wanted to crush Lu Yuxi’s hope entirely. Though she knew it was cruel, she felt no regret.

"No, you can't get married! I won't allow it! I don't agree!" Lu Yuxi cried out in agitation. The thought of them marrying was heartbreaking. She could not accept it; Yang Fan was already etched into her heart, and she could not erase him. No matter what, she would not accept him with another woman.

"You must be lying to me. I don't believe you. I won't believe it," Lu Yuxi sobbed, shaking her head incessantly.

Seeing her cousin so heartbroken, Zhang Meng felt a deep ache. "Cousin, please, don't do this," she whispered, trying to comfort her.

"Believe it or not, I’ve said what I came to say," Yu Qian stood up. "We have already registered our marriage and will be wed next month. I hope you will not look for him again or interfere in our lives."

"I don't believe you! Please, tell me where Yang Fan is!" Seeing Yu Qian prepare to leave, Lu Yuxi jumped up and pleaded desperately.

"I won't tell you. Give it up," Yu Qian said, walking out of the coffee shop.

Lu Yuxi scrambled to follow. "I beg you, tell me where he is! I want him to tell me himself!"

Yu Qian ignored her, hailed a taxi, and departed. "Why? Why are you stealing my husband?" Lu Yuxi screamed toward the departing car.

She could not accept it. Standing there, tears streamed down her face, blurring her vision. Her heart was heavy, and she refused to believe that Yang Fan would marry Yu Qian.

"Cousin, stop it. Yang Fan doesn't want to see you anymore. Just forget him," Zhang Meng said, weeping as she approached. She, too, believed Yang Fan had moved on, given how beautiful the other woman was.

"She’s lying. I don't believe Yang Fan would marry her," Lu Yuxi wiped her tears, her tone firm.

"How do you know she's lying?" Zhang Meng asked, bewildered.

"She claimed they already registered their marriage—that’s a complete lie," Lu Yuxi stated with certainty. "I haven't even signed the divorce papers yet. Yang Fan and I are still legally married; they couldn't have registered a marriage."

Hearing this, realization dawned on Zhang Meng. "Then why would she come here and tell you all that?"

"I don't know, but Yang Fan definitely didn't send her," Lu Yuxi said, her expression hardening. "She must know where he is, and he’s still here in Jiangcheng. I will find him."

Nearby, a young man who had been observing them for some time approached. "Are you looking for Yang Fan?" he asked.

Startled, Lu Yuxi looked at the stranger with guarded excitement. "Do you know where he is?"

"Heh, of course I do. If you want to know, I can take you to him," the young man smiled.

Lu Yuxi hesitated, wary of whether to trust him. The man seemed to read her concerns. "I know the woman you were just talking to. She lives with Yang Fan."

"You know her?" Lu Yuxi asked, surprised.

"She’s my girlfriend," the young man said with a bitter smile, "but ever since Yang Fan showed up, our relationship has fallen apart."

Hearing this, Lu Yuxi felt her trust waver slightly. "I'll go with you," she decided. She was desperate to see Yang Fan, and so she agreed to follow the stranger.