Chapter 74: You Are Happier Than Before

As Fan Bing spoke, she slowly rose to her feet, her enchanting figure accentuated by a custom-fitted qipao, outshining the very beauty of mountains and rivers. Especially when she turned around and the cool breeze lifted a few strands of her hair, her elegant aura and unmistakable femininity were enough to capture the heart of any man. No man could refuse the request of such a stunning woman, and Zeng Xiaofan was no exception. Lin Chunhua hurriedly seized the opportunity, saying, “Yes, yes, the game is all prepared!”

“Shall we take President Fan to try it now?”

“We can come back to deal with these two fools later, don’t you think?” Lin Chunhua looked at Zeng Xiaofan sincerely, and Fan Bing also gave him a look. Only then did Zeng Xiaofan smile faintly and say, “Alright—just don’t make random bets with people again in the future.” As he spoke, he casually set Zhou Tingting upright. Zhou Tingting let out a long breath; though she was spared further embarrassment, her carefully applied makeup was already ruined. Set against the refined presence of Fan Bing, that peerless rose, Zhou Tingting felt all the more like a battered morning glory.

“Humph! Despicable guy!” Zhou Tingting watched the backs of Zeng Xiaofan and Fan Bing as they walked side by side, a growing bitterness filling her heart. She looked down at her torn black stockings, then at Fan Bing’s gracefully swaying back. Seeing how perfectly the two complemented each other, Zhou Tingting felt a surge of sourness in her chest.

“Zeng Xiaofan... how did you get so lucky... to win the favor of a woman as outstanding as President Fan... How can you be happier than me after our breakup... How can you be happier than before...”

Her face pale, Zhou Tingting muttered to herself in a low voice, only dragging herself to the parking lot after everyone else had left. Xie Weifeng, afraid of drawing the mayor’s ire, didn’t dare walk with her. Alone, Zhou Tingting limped toward her car and twisted her ankle just as she neared it.

“Ow—” she gasped in pain, glancing down to see her high heel broken. This was a gift Xie Weifeng had given her not long ago, claiming it was a designer brand, but now it was clear it was a cheap fake! Zhou Tingting grew even angrier, slipping off her shoes and climbing into her car barefoot, her legs in sheer black stockings.

The engine purred to life, the car door closed, and the world fell into instant silence. Yet Zhou Tingting’s heart was far from calm. She instinctively turned on the radio to relax with some music. Flowing melodies filled the air—by chance, the voice from the radio was Jay Chou’s:

“Next, I’ll sing a song by Brother Hsien... It’s called ‘You’re Happier Than Before’…”

“I know you’re not sad after we broke up, you’re happier than you used to be!”

“How can I say all those words of blessing!”

“Have those past joys faded from your memory, I want to ask how you could bear to let go?”

“Don’t whisper in my ear again that you’ll… miss me… oh… oh…”

“Wow!!~~~~~”

Stubborn Zhou Tingting finally broke down and burst into tears. The moment the dam broke, her emotions flooded out in a torrent, her delicate chest heaving as she clung to the steering wheel, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Sob sob sob!!!”

“Zeng Xiaofan!!!”

“I hate you!!!!”

“Sob sob sob…”

“So what if you’re with a rich woman, it’s nothing special!”

“Living off a woman’s money isn’t real skill!”

“Humph, loser! Just wait till President Fan gets tired of you and kicks you to the curb!”

“You’ll end up just as worthless as you were before!”

“Sob sob sob… I hate you!!!”

Never in her life had Zhou Tingting cried so heartbreakingly. Though her mouth spewed angry words about Zeng Xiaofan, deep in her heart another voice kept surfacing. She found herself remembering all the good he had done for her in the past—even as a poor nobody, his devotion had been utterly sincere and selfless... He’d even lost his sight saving her from harm...

And yet she had turned around and abandoned him, even going out of her way to trash his reputation after the breakup to prove herself right. Guilt and regret slowly welled up inside her, but Zhou Tingting’s stubbornness forced those feelings back down.

“No! It’s all his fault!”

“He was useless, a loser…”

She didn’t know how much time had passed before she finally calmed down, wiping away her tears, though her makeup was completely ruined. Seeing herself in this state, Zhou Tingting decided to remove her makeup entirely, revealing a face dotted with faint freckles but still fair and delicate overall. With her makeup gone, her swollen eyes and pretty face took on a fragile, pitiable charm.

She stripped off her torn stockings, exposing her snow-white, tender legs. At first, she planned to attend the dinner in just her pencil skirt and bare legs, but with her high heels ruined, switching to her spare white sneakers didn’t match her outfit at all. With no other choice, Zhou Tingting took off her skirt as well. Her petite, perky figure filled the cramped car with a breath of spring. Fortunately, no one passed by outside, or they’d have caught a full view of her pink underwear.

Despite the confined space, Zhou Tingting managed to wriggle into a pair of dark straight-leg jeans. She tucked her blouse into her waistband and put on her white sneakers. Though she’d lost the sultry glamour of a city beauty, she now radiated the fresh charm of the girl next door, reminiscent of her student days. Glancing in the rearview mirror, Zhou Tingting was momentarily dazed, as if transported back to the time she’d dated Zeng Xiaofan at school.

By the time she had finished tidying up and hurried back to Victory Farm, the banquet was already underway. Mayor Lin Chunhua and the township officials were toasting Fan Bing, their eyes filled with respect. Fan Bing nodded politely each time, her lips barely touching the rim of her wineglass in acknowledgment. In contrast, Lin Chunhua and the others drained their glasses at each toast to show their esteem. After several rounds, everyone was flushed and more boisterous.

Though Fan Bing drank little with the others, she did clink glasses a few times with Zeng Xiaofan, her cheeks now tinged with a peach-blossom glow, her allure deepened.

“Oh, President Fan, I remember you’re not a local, are you?”

“How do you have a little brother like Xiaofan, then?”

Taking advantage of the wine’s effect, Lin Chunhua began to probe subtly at the relationship between Fan Bing and Zeng Xiaofan.