Chapter 18 “I Forgive You.”…

Song Ya-yun returned to her own classroom after crying her fill. Xu Lian Yi, feeling encouraged, went back to her seat.

At this time, Xia Mi La finally had a moment to insert her SIM card into her new phone.

When the phone powered on, the first message that popped up was from Zhao Taihe.

Zhao Taihe: Would I have the honor of dining with you tonight?

Xia Mi La thought for two seconds before replying: Sure.

*

The afternoon consisted of elective interest classes.

Xia Mi La and Jin He had different electives and didn’t run into each other until after school.

She came out of the music hall and went to her locker to get her things before preparing to go home.

Jin He was waiting for her in front of her locker, holding a large bouquet of pink roses.

He had come to apologize to her, and his attitude seemed quite sincere.

“Mira.” His tone could also be considered earnest, “I’m sorry, I misunderstood you today. I was wrong.”

There were other classmates around, all watching this scene with anticipation, covering their mouths.

Flowers, a handsome guy, a beautiful girl – an engaged golden couple. It was truly romantic.

Some even took out their phones to live-stream.

“Aww, young couples have arguments, but they always make up by bedtime.”

“A He really does care about Mira after all!”

“Of course, he just has a quick temper. They’ve grown up together since childhood, how could he not care?”

“Exactly. What does Pei Duo Xing have that can compare to Mira!”

“These two really do look most compatible standing together.”

“Oh no.” Only Song Ya-yun, standing beside Xia Mi La, felt this wasn’t good.

She had finished practicing piano and came out of the music hall with Xia Mi La.

Looking at Jin He standing not far away holding flowers, she wondered if this counted as using his handsome looks as a tactic. Because even she thought Jin He looked very handsome right now, and she didn’t know if Xia Mi La would be charmed by him, accept his apology, and then start revolving around him again.

Actually, Xia Mi La had been like this before, and at that time she hadn’t thought anything was wrong with it. But now, now she didn’t want that to happen… though Song Ya-yun couldn’t quite articulate the specific reason.

Under everyone’s gaze, Xia Mi La slowly walked forward. She accepted the bouquet Jin He offered her.

“It’s fine.” She said, “I forgive you.”

Her expression was the same as at noon – aside from calmness and indifference, there were no other emotions.

Jin He had had disagreements with Xia Mi La before.

Xia Mi La wasn’t the type to argue with people. When wronged, she would only cry. Cry sadly, continuously. Until eventually, regardless of how it started, it would become his fault. And he could only keep comforting her, over and over.

Jin He knew today’s incident was his mistake, a big mistake. So he had mentally prepared himself to comfort Xia Mi La for a long time.

But Xia Mi La didn’t cry. She ended everything that happened today with one sentence, so decisively that Jin He didn’t know what to say.

“You.” He looked at her for a long time, “Don’t you have anything else you want to say to me?”

Xia Mi La: “No.”

Generally, when someone apologizes, they reflect on their actions to avoid repeating them in the future.

But Jin He was different.

Throughout the entire comic, he kept repeating the same mistake over and over again because of Pei Duo Xing.

He would misunderstand her, realize his error, apologize, and then misunderstand her again.

Given this, Xia Mi La saw no need to waste words on him.

“Really?” Jin He asked.

“Really.”

“I…” Jin He said, “Let me accompany you to buy a new phone.”

“No need,” Xia Mi La replied. “I already have a new phone.”

“Let’s have dinner together tonight,” Jin He said. “At that Japanese restaurant you like.”

“Next time,” Xia Mi La said. “I already have plans today.”

Jin He nodded.

He carefully observed Xia Mi La’s expression – she truly didn’t seem to be holding any resentment.

All his prepared explanations went unused.

While not having to constantly appease her saved him trouble, Jin He couldn’t help feeling somewhat strange about it.

*

Xia Mi La left first, and Bai You Na missed her ride again, stomping her feet angrily at the school gate.

Her gaze swept around and spotted Jin Can walking out of school with his backpack, hands in his pockets.

Her eyes lit up as she remembered her mother’s advice, thinking this was a perfect opportunity to get closer to Jin Can.

She approached him and struck up a conversation: “Acan, do you remember me? I’m Xia Mi La’s sister. Our family car already left. Could you give me a ride home?”

Jin Can glanced at her.

Of course he remembered – that crazy sister who tried to lay hands on Xia Mi La at the banquet, now speaking to him in a meek, quail-like voice.

Jin Can withdrew his gaze and continued walking without stopping.

When he reached his car, the driver had already opened the door for him.

He got in, slammed the door shut with a bang, completely ignoring her.

Bai You Na: “…”

This bastard from the Busan orphanage actually dared to look down on her like this.

After all, Bai You Na was a member of Azure Dragon Hall. With the Azure Dragon Hall badge pinned to her chest, she could easily find a way home.

When she returned home, Xia Mi La had already changed into casual clothes and was doing her makeup, apparently preparing to go out.

“Xia Mi La, don’t go too far,” Bai You Na rushed up to her. “How could you just come back alone and leave me behind!”

“There are so many cars at home, just pick another one,” Xia Mi La couldn’t even be bothered to look at her. “Do I have to spell it out that clearly that I don’t want to ride to school with you?”

Bai You Na fumed: “You…”

Xia Mi La cast her a light glance: “What, do you want to walk to school?”

Bai You Na: “…”

She almost forgot that Xia Mi La had leverage over her.

She stood there for a long time, not daring to say anything threatening, and finally just snorted heavily before leaving Xia Mi La’s room.

Damn Xia Mi La, she thought to herself, only brave enough to show off in front of her. Why doesn’t she dare to act so arrogantly in front of Jin He and Pei Duo Xing?

*

Xu Lian Yi’s family had a family banquet tonight. The venue was booked at one of Xia Hong’s hotels.

After school, Xu Lian Yi went to pick up her brother Xu Zai Hao, and they went to the hotel together.

The Xu family wasn’t particularly wealthy – they weren’t rich enough to provide cars for every child. Normally, only their daughter got chauffeur service while their son didn’t receive such treatment.

This was solely because their son attended an ordinary high school while their daughter had entered Tanmyung High School and had become an important companion to Xia Mi La.

The phenomenon of favoring sons over daughters, which is quite common in South Korea, did not exist in the Xu family. Or to be more precise, it disappeared after Xu Lian Yi became friends with Xia Mi La.

Xia Mi La valued this friend of hers immensely. Consequently, Xu Lian Yi’s father, who had originally been just a minor section chief at Xia Hong’s company, was able to get promoted repeatedly over the years, gradually rising to more important management positions. It was a classic case of “when one man attains the Dao, even his pets ascend to heaven.” As a result, Xu Lian Yi held an exceptional status within the Xu family.

Every member of the Xu family, including the patriarch Xu Lian Yi’s grandfather highly valued Xu Lian Yi and paid great attention to her feelings and opinions.

This was evident even during meals. Xu Lian Yi sat beside her grandfather, while her father had to take a seat further down the table. Most of the dishes ordered were Xu Lian Yi’s favorites.

It was a harmonious and joyful meal.

As the meal was nearing its end, the hotel manager entered and presented a fruit platter and desserts. “This meal has been put on Miss Mira’s account. We hope you all enjoyed your dining experience.”

“Ah?” Grandfather Xu looked pleasantly surprised.

Xu Lian Yi, however, was astonished. “I didn’t tell Mira I would be dining here.”

“Miss Lian Yi, you’ve visited here a few times before with Miss Mira, haven’t you?” the manager said with a smile. “You are Miss Mira’s best friend. She has instructed us to take good care of you.”

“Miss Mira is truly considerate,” Mrs. Xu said, deeply moved.

Yes, Xu Lian Yi recalled what Xia Mi La had said to her during the day… Mira was just that kind of heartwarming person.

After the manager left, Mr. Xu once again repeated his usual advice to Xu Lian Yi: “You must stay by Miss Mira’s side and take good care of her. No matter what, listen to her and always prioritize her in everything.”

This was the entirety of Xu Lian Yi’s life value from the moment she became Xia Mi La’s friend before that, she had been considered virtually worthless.

“Yes,” Xu Lian Yi obediently lowered her head. “I will, Dad.”

She had always been very clear about her position.

Her obedience pleased Mr. Xu. “Our Lian Yi is truly the family’s lucky star!”

Throughout the meal, Xu Zai Hao had been largely invisible, basically ignored by everyone.

His academic results weren’t as good as Xu Lian Yi’s, and he didn’t have a prestigious friend like Xia Mi La.

But it hadn’t always been this way. Before Xu Lian Yi approached Xia Mi La, he had been the one the Xu family placed their high hopes on.

He was the eldest son; he should have been the most valued in the family. Yet now he was being overshadowed by a mere girl it would be laughable if people found out.

After the meal, the two of them still took the same car home.

Xu Zai Hao sat down and noticed the dazzling glint reflected from the diamond watch on Xu Lian Yi’s wrist.

His sister owned a few designer bags, but a diamond luxury watch like that was definitely beyond what she could afford. Clearly, it was another gift from the young lady.

“Nice watch,” he said. “Let me borrow it for a while.”

Xu Lian Yi rolled her eyes at him. “No.”

“What are you being so arrogant about?” Xu Zai Hao snorted coldly. “It’s just that Grandpa and the others don’t browse the internet much and don’t know that Xia Mi La is nothing but a pretty vase she only looks good on the surface.”

Xu Lian Yi frowned. “What kind of websites have you been on? What nonsense have you been listening to from others?”

“Baseless rumors?” Xu Zai Hao laughed. “How could the video circulating from your school be fake? Jin He lost his temper at Xia Mi La over a scholarship student, and she didn’t even dare talk back to him. With such a weak personality, do you really think she’ll be capable of managing Xia Hong in the future?”

“Your information is outdated,” Xu Lian Yi said. “Haven’t you seen Jin He already apologizing to Mira with flowers?”

“That makes it even more ridiculous. She got lectured by Jin He in front of so many people, then was easily appeased by him with a bouquet. I never knew chaebols could have so little self-respect.”

Xu Lian Yi was left speechless.

Damn Jin He’s apology there was nothing to be proud of in that.

Having gained the upper hand in the argument, Xu Zai Hao sneered and lowered his head to fiddle with his phone.

However, a photo that appeared in the group chat immediately made him freeze on the spot.

———————–

Author’s note: No update tomorrow~ [hugs]