The night was cold, the streets dimly lit, but Qin Lian's heart was warm with excitement.
After days of endless work, she hadn't rested and took the first flight back to surprise her boyfriend on his birthday. Her body was exhausted, but her heart was full.
She wanted to see his smile, to make up for not being there on his special day.
As she stepped into the elevator, clutching a cake, a neatly wrapped gift, and a bouquet of fresh roses, she couldn't help but smile.
"He must be so happy to see me, right?"
When the elevator doors opened on the third floor, she hurried out, still in her formal work attire—a crisp white shirt tucked into a black skirt, a formal coat hugging her figure, and black heels clicking softly against the floor.
He should still be at home.
Even though it was his birthday, he had told her he canceled his plans with his friends since she wasn't there and was away for a business trip.
He was waiting for her. He wanted to spend his special day with her only.
Standing outside his apartment, she felt a surge of warmth. Three years together, and he still loved her this much.
With a soft chuckle, she whispered, "Silly man, acting all lonely when I'm not around."
Wanting to surprise him, she didn't ring the bell or enter the passcode. Instead, she reached into the potted plant outside the door and pulled out the spare key.
The moment she stepped inside, something felt off.
The living room was dark.
She carefully set the cake and gifts on the glass table in front of the sofa, frowning slightly. "Did he already go to bed?"
Then, she heard it.
A sound that made her body freeze.
Low moans. Breathy gasps. The unmistakable sound of bodies tangled in pleasure.
Qin Lian's heart stopped.
"Brother Chen, faster… Ahhh… Yes…"
Her stomach twisted into knots. That voice.
It was Tang Lin. Her best friend.
Her knees nearly buckled, her breath stuck in her throat. This… this can't be…
"Tang Lin, I love you. Let's get married."
Qin Lian's eyes widened. Married?
A suffocating silence followed. Then, Tang Lin's soft, panting voice was heard.
"Brother Chen, what are you saying? What about Lian Lian?"
'Lian Lian?'
They were talking about her. While lying in bed together. Disgusting!
Her hands trembled as she grabbed the wall for support.
"Why the hell are you bringing her up? What does she have to do with this?" Chen Zhihao's voice was irritated, as if her existence itself was an inconvenience.
"Aren't you going to marry her? She always says how much you love her, that you guys were planning to get married soon."
After a pause, a cold and mocking laugh was heard.
"Marry her? I just played around with her in college. Do you think I'd marry her? She's just an orphan."
Qin Lian felt her soul leave her body.
"An orphan like her, does she even deserve to be the daughter-in-law of the Chen family? My mom will never agree to a girl like her."
Three years of love, trust, and devotion. And this was what he thought of her?
Tang Lin giggled. "You're right. Your family is rich and sophisticated. There is no way they would accept an orphan as their daughter-in-law. But then, why are you still with her?"
Chen Zhihao sighed lazily. "She is just annoying. She's just too pitiful to break up with. I couldn't break up with her because I felt bad for her. However, if you ask me to, I'll leave her right away. After all, how can she ever compare to you?"
Tang Lin let out a fake sigh. "No, please, Brother Chen. If you break up with her, won't she be too lonely? She doesn't have parents, nor have any friends other than me. If you also break up with her, then she'll have no one."
No one.
Her vision blurred.
Qin Lian's hands curled into fists so tight that her nails dug into her skin. She treated them like her family, and now, they were mocking her together?
Chen Zhihao chuckled deeply. "Tang Lin, you're so kind. Always thinking about others. On that note… why don't we go for another round?"
The room was filled with lewd noises once again.
....
The bedroom door creaked open as Tang Lin stepped out. Stretching her arms, she lazily walked toward the kitchen to drink some water.
She yawned and turned toward the fridge, only to freeze mid-step.
Qin Lian was sitting on the sofa in complete darkness, silent, unmoving, like a specter of the dead.
Tang Lin screamed, dropping the glass of water in her hand. "Are you crazy? What…What are you doing here?!"
Chen Zhihao rushed out in a panic, only to halt at the sight of Qin Lian's shadowed figure.
Qin Lian slowly lifted her gaze, her voice eerily calm. "What am I doing here? That's what you're asking me?"
A shiver ran down Tang Lin's spine. "Lian Lian, I—"
"Shut up." Qin Lian's voice cut through the air like a blade. "I want to hear what he has to say."
Chen Zhihao froze. He had never seen Qin Lian like this before, her arms crossed, her posture composed, her eyes sharp as knives.
His gaze flickered to Tang Lin, who had grabbed a curtain to cover herself, her nearly transparent nightgown barely concealing anything.
He himself stood in nothing but boxers, his skin covered with Tang Lin's nail scratches and hickeys.
It's over. There was no way to cover it up.
Straightening his back, he sneered. "Qjn Lian, since you're here, let's end this. I'll be honest. I can't stay in this loveless relationship anymore."
"I thought being with you would change you. But no, you're still the same. Working yourself to the bone day and night... for what? Pennies? Did you really think any man would fall for a girl like that?"
"Just look at you—calloused hands, a tired face, always running around like some overworked mule. Honestly, who would want a woman like that?"
Qin Lian raised a brow and let out a cold chuckle. "Chen Zhihao, you're really something. We're in this situation, and you're still trying to act like a victim? I thought you had a shred of dignity before."
"But, I was wrong."
Chen Zhihao frowned, irritated by her composure. "Qin Lian, I know you still like me. You're just saying all this to vent your frustration. But what you see is the truth. I like Tang Lin. Since it has come to this, let's end this peacefully."
"Peacefully?" Qin Lian scoffed. "You think you're some golden prize that I'd cry over losing? Oh, Please!"
She took a step forward, her presence suffocating. "You're nothing but a spineless coward. A pathetic excuse for a man who needs to degrade someone else to feel important. You have no loyalty, no morals, and certainly no shame."
Chen Zhihao's face darkened. "Qin Lian, you're going too far. Let's not make this uglier than it needs to be."
"Ugly?" Qin Lian tilted her head, mockingly. "You should be grateful I'm still speaking to you instead of throwing you out the window."
Her voice sharpened. "You said I don't deserve to be the Chen family's daughter-in-law?"
"Have you forgotten? I was the one who supported you when your precious family threw you out like garbage. When you were running around chasing your ridiculous dream of becoming an actor, who paid for your rent? Your food? Your fancy acting classes?"
She stepped closer, her tone ruthless. "And when you failed? When you came crawling back to your family like a stray dog, you didn't even return a single cent of the money I spent on you. Who's the real beggar here, Zhihao?"
Chen Zhihao's jaw tightened, his confidence crumbling under the weight of her words.
Qin Lian then turned to Tang Lin, her eyes glacial. "And you. My best friend."
Tang Lin flinched.
"You pretend to be so innocent, but does he know about your other boyfriends? Did you even break up with your last one before jumping into his bed?"
Chen Zhihao's head snapped toward Tang Lin, his expression twisting. "What?"
Tang Lin went pale. "Lian Lian, I—"
"No need!" Qin Lian laughed coldly. "Seeing your face tells me everything I need to know. Congratulations, Zhihao. You two are made for each other."
Her gaze flickered down to Chen Zhihao's barely covered form.
A sudden wave of amusement flickered across her face, and she let out a mocking chuckle. "I used to think you were just a bad kisser, but wow… You really have nothing to be proud of, do you?"
Chen Zhihao's face turned crimson, fury, and humiliation flashing in his eyes.
"QIN LIAN!! You're going too far." He roared at her, trying to protect his remaining dignity.
Qin Lian smirked and turned to Tang Lin. "Tang Lin, thanks for taking out the garbage for me. I owe you for that."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked out of the apartment, leaving the stunned silence behind her.