Chapter 32 “Before Pitying Men…”

Bai You Na remained completely unaware of this.

She was trailing behind Xia Mi La, following her all the way into the room.

“The invitation,” she asked, “why didn’t you give it to me?”

“What invitation?” Xia Mi La asked leisurely.

“The Vermilion Bird Hall’s invitation,” Bai You Na gritted her teeth, staring at her. “You’re not planning to invite me, are you?”

“Ah, that.” Xia Mi La raised her hand and gently rubbed her eyes. “As you said, it’s our Vermilion Bird Hall’s party. I don’t necessarily have to invite someone from the Azure Dragon Hall, do I?”

When she had returned earlier, the corners of her eyes were still slightly red, complementing her delicate temperament with a pitiful charm.

But now back in the room, facing Bai You Na, that delicacy and pitifulness completely vanished, leaving only casual indifference and weariness.

Bai You Na knew she was right, but she didn’t really count as a member of the Azure Dragon Hall. This time, being excluded by the Vermilion Bird Hall made her a complete joke.

“Aren’t you afraid people will laugh at you?” she said to Xia Mi La. “We live together. When people mock me, do you think you’ll fare any better?”

“Oh,” Xia Mi La said casually. “Then let them laugh.”

Bai You Na knew she wasn’t bluffing. The current Xia Mi La truly didn’t care much about others’ opinions or views.

This state of hers made Bai You Na both somewhat jealous and disdainful.

After thinking for a moment, she deliberately asked her, “I heard A He had reserved a restaurant to have dinner with you today. Why didn’t it happen in the end?”

“Seems like something happened in your Azure Dragon Hall,” Xia Mi La looked at her. “You’re from the Azure Dragon Hall too, don’t you know?”

Bai You Na’s face flushed bright red.

She really hated talking to Xia Mi La now; she couldn’t gain any upper hand at all.

She had just mocked her for not being able to keep Jin He’s heart, and immediately, Xia Mi La mocked her for being an external member of the Azure Dragon Hall.

Furious but not daring to confront her directly, she finally shot her a hateful glare and ran out of the room.

Today, Bai You Na was undoubtedly the biggest loser.

Not long after she returned to her room, Jiang Xiu Zhu came over and gave her a severe scolding. She berated her for being short-sighted and forgetting her own position when things went wrong.

No matter how much she and her mother looked down on Xia Mi La, Bai You Na was still the most valuable person by Xia Mi La’s side.

“Does Jin He value you that much?” Jiang Xiu Zhu yelled at her daughter. “Before pitying a man, don’t you know to think of yourself first?”

Bai You Na didn’t dare say a word.

She was feeling some regret now because Jin He indeed didn’t value her that much. From the beginning until now, he rarely even looked at her properly.

She wasn’t used to surviving in the cracks; she felt she needed to find an ally soon.

*

The next morning, Jin He arrived at school very early. But he didn’t go straight through the school gates; instead, he leaned against his car, waiting for someone.

Early in the morning, someone posted his photo in the group chat with the caption: Who is Jin He waiting for?

When Xia Mi La appeared, the question was immediately answered.

Seeing Xia Mi La get out of her car, Jin He took out a large Chanel box from his car.

He carried the box over to her inside was the latest designer handbag.

Xia Mi La didn’t even open it to look, simply instructing the driver to take it and place it in the car.

It was Jin He’s apology gift.

“I’m sorry for standing you up yesterday,” Jin He said. “Something urgent came up suddenly.”

Xia Mi La shook her head lightly. “It’s fine.”

Jin He hummed in acknowledgment, studying her. “You’re not angry, are you?”

Xia Mi La smiled. “Everyone runs into emergencies now and then. Why would I be upset over something like that?”

At times like this, Jin He felt Xia Mi La was just as she had always been gentle, considerate, and understanding.

He felt a little more at ease, thinking his apology today had been sincere and well-handled.

“So, when are you free recently? Let me make it up to you,” he said casually, with an easygoing posture. “How about Sunday?”

“That won’t be necessary,” Xia Mi La replied.

“What? Are you busy on Sunday too, after your Saturday party?”

“No,” Xia Mi La said, her tone as gentle as before. “I’ve already gotten what I wanted, so there’s no need to continue our arrangement.”

Jin He’s brow furrowed instantly.

Xia Mi La thought that, especially with Jin Can as a contrast, Jin He seemed less and less handsome lately. He always wore his emotions on his face that gloom, dissatisfaction, and irritation she could always read it clearly.

Right now was no exception; he was visibly agitated and displeased.

Jin He truly had a bad temper.

Born into privilege and accustomed to a life of ease, he had been spoiled. He was used to being the top priority, especially in front of Xia Mi La. Who would dare to snatch what was his?

But as that question surfaced, two answers arose in his mind:

Zhao Taihe? Or Jin Can?

Either one only worsened his mood.

His expression darkened as he demanded, “Just because I missed one dinner, you couldn’t wait to make a deal with someone else?”

Xia Mi La remained entirely unaffected by his tone. She explained softly, “Yesterday, before school ended, I had already obtained what I wanted. At that point, our arrangement became unnecessary. Still, I honor my promises since I agreed with you first, I was willing to follow through. It’s just a pity you were the one who canceled. So, I’ll accept your apology gift.”

Jin He naturally didn’t care about a mere gift. What bothered him was who she had ultimately made the deal with.

“Who was it?” he pressed. “Who did you agree to meet?”

But Xia Mi La didn’t answer his question. Instead, she asked one of her own, seemingly unrelated: “Pei Duo Xing was she alright yesterday?”

Jin He grew guarded, his frown deepening. “She… was fine.”

When Pei Duo Xing had suddenly fainted, he had been terribly worried and rushed her to the hospital.

But on the way there, she had woken up. She didn’t speak, only wept silently in his arms.

Eventually, Jin He understood: she wasn’t really unwell she just hadn’t wanted him to meet with Mira.

He didn’t blame her. In fact, he could empathize. Given the vast gap in their social status, it was only natural she’d feel insecure about his actions.

So, they never made it to the hospital. He stayed with her, comforting her.

He thought Xia Mila would make a big deal out of this, but she simply nodded upon hearing his words.

“Mm,” she said. “It’s fine as long as you’re okay.”

With that, their conversation came to an end.

“Let’s go,” she turned and led the way into the campus.

Jin He watched her retreating figure, his mood still gloomy.

At this moment, he once again felt that Xia Mila was indeed different from before. She wouldn’t have been so coldly pragmatic in the past.

Yet he couldn’t bring himself to voice any accusations. It was his own choice to stay by his beloved’s side, setting aside the agreement matters.

But even so, the old Xia Mila would have waited for him and forgiven him.

He stood there brooding for a while before finally catching up to walk beside Xia Mila.

“Hey,” he asked, “Are you really not going to tell me who it is?”

Xia Mila chuckled softly: “You’ll find out soon enough.”

*

A week passed quickly, and Saturday arrived again.

Xia Mila’s schedule was similar to last week’s – breakfast with her grandmother in the morning, then accompanying her to the company where she stayed until noon, before leaving in the afternoon to prepare for the party.

Being the host this week, she was more invested than last time.

The venue was a private club under their conglomerate. This club was trendy and youth-oriented, with their floor featuring various card games and tabletop games perfect for gatherings of their age group.

Everyone was having a good time.

Jin He never received an invitation in the end, but he really wanted to see what was inside.

After all, this was the Vermilion Bird Hall’s first event. Xia Mila had invited Zhao Taihe and several members from the Azure Dragon Hall, yet she hadn’t sent him an invitation – how unreasonable.

So he had Cui Zhe bring him along.

The manager on duty at the club entrance recognized him, knowing he was Han Lin’s son and the young mistress’s fiance. But how could the fiance not have an invitation? Not daring to casually let him in nor having the nerve to turn him away, the manager went inside to find the young mistress and ask for her instructions.

Xu Lianyi, standing beside Xia Mila, found it ridiculous: “If only you’d just agreed to invite him properly back then instead of putting on airs.”

Xia Mila smiled: “That’s just how he is.”

Jin He wasn’t in a good mood today either. Although he eventually got into the club, he wore a sullen expression, clearly not blending into the cheerful atmosphere.

But not blending in was fine – not many people present particularly cared about him anyway.

Apart from a few Azure Dragon Hall members who came to greet him, most of the Vermilion Bird Hall and White Tiger Hall members treated him as air, completely ignoring him.

They didn’t need to curry favor with Jin He to get by at school anyway.

Only Cui Zhe, after making rounds to greet people, returned to keep Jin He company.

He wasn’t just socializing – during his rounds he had gathered considerable information.

For instance, the question Jin He had previously asked Xia Mila now had an answer.

“Acan helped the Vermilion Bird Hall secure benefits,” he told Jin He. “Now the Vermilion Bird Hall also has VIP access to some of Han Lin’s projects and businesses.”

This was exactly what Xia Mila had wanted before.

Jin He snorted coldly: “It’s Jin Can after all.”

Jin Can wasn’t the type to lose himself in revelry at parties, yet the people from White Tiger Hall bore no grudge against him, while those from Vermilion Bird Hall treated him with even more courtesy and warmth. He sat drinking at a small table, surrounded by quite a few people.

Cui Zhe couldn’t help but sigh in admiration: “Acan may seem quiet and unassuming, but he’s blending in perfectly.”

Knowing what he possessed, what he ought to do, and what he could command as a newcomer arriving in a new world, he had grasped these things with remarkable precision.