TREATING BOYFRIEND AS EX

“What is this?” Lu Yan raised an eyebrow, signaling to Jiao Didi to open it. “Wow!” Jiao Didi gasped, covering her mouth in surprise. It was the sapphire necklace she and Lu Yan had seen at an auction last month. Rumor had it that it was a gift from a duke to his lover. The blue gems glistened like rare coral from the depths of the ocean, shining with an almost blinding radiance. Though she owned many gemstone necklaces, what woman didn't love jewelry? She had begged Lu Yan to bid on it for her, but Lu Yan, usually so accommodating, had refused. This had sparked a huge argument between them. Then, Lu Yan had gone on a business trip to Germany for a week, and neither of them reached out to the other, slipping into a cold war. They had fought before, but Jiao Didi had always deliberately created small accidents, like her car breaking down or a restaurant being hard to find, just so she could call Lu Yan for help and charm him back. But this time, she had vowed in front of her “plastic” friends that Lu Yan would be the one to come crawling back. A mischievous smile tugged at her lips as she thought of how she would flaunt her success tomorrow. “Didi, let’s break up.” Lu Yan’s voice was cold, his words as distant as a whisper. His words shattered her heart like broken glass, each shard cutting deeper than the last. She couldn’t believe it. They’d never even discussed breaking up during their biggest fights. She had always thought they would be together forever. She stared numbly at the diamond necklace in her hand, feeling its heat burn through her, wishing she could make it disappear. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Why?” she whispered, her voice breaking. Lu Yan pinched his sharp brow, the exhaustion from his trip overtaking him as he tried to speak. “Before you and I started dating, you knew exactly who I was. Why did you bother with me then?” Her eyes reddened as she choked on her words. “I liked you then because of the very thing you’re upset about. But now... I need a wife, a true matriarch of the Lu family. And you... you aren’t that.” Lu Yan’s gaze on her was cold and detached, as if she were just another discarded employee he had to let go. “I need a matriarch of the Lu family.” He was the heir of the Lu family, the wealthiest family in B city, and his demeanor was always indifferent and unapproachable. Jiao Didi, on the other hand, was the pampered daughter of a wealthy family, spoiled by her parents and brothers, with a life free from hardship. She could never shoulder the responsibilities of a family matriarch. “Before we started dating, you knew I was this way. Why did you even bother?” she asked, tears welling in her eyes. “I liked you then, but I need a wife. A marriage is more complicated than a relationship.” His words were final, as cold as his gaze. Jiao Didi’s heart sank as she wiped away her tears, her mind racing with disbelief. She had never imagined that things could end like this. The thought of striking him crossed her mind, but she stopped herself—she knew it wouldn't change anything. Lu Yan handed her a tissue. “Don’t cry.” “I don’t need your pity...” she snapped, swatting his hand away, her sobs deepening. Once a man becomes this cold, all the sweet words lose their meaning. “The driver will take you home later,” Lu Yan said dismissively as he loosened his tie and turned to leave, clearly uninterested in lingering any longer. The violinist continued to play softly, as though mocking her naivety. … Later that night, at the luxurious VIP room in the “City” nightclub, Lu Yan silently sipped his drink. Beside him, Pan Jue, the heir to the Pan family and Lu Yan’s close friend, looked at him with amusement. “Did you really break up with her?” Pan Jue asked, his smile mischievous. “She’s not suited for the Lu family,” Lu Yan answered flatly, downing another glass of wine. Pan Jue looked at the empty bottles on the table and shook his head in disbelief. "Never drink with someone who's heartbroken." “Her eyes are all swollen from crying,” Lu Yan commented nonchalantly as he opened another bottle of fine wine. Pan Jue realized that Lu Yan was talking about Jiao Didi. The poor girl, so delicate and fragile, had been discarded so easily. “She really cried that much?” Pan Jue said, his sympathy clear. But at this moment, Jiao Didi was at home, sleeping peacefully in her large bed, far from the world of broken promises. … Meanwhile, at the Spiral Restaurant on the 20th floor, Cheng Shi gazed out at the shimmering city lights. “Your secretary is quite impressive,” Cheng Shi said sweetly, her eyes full of interest as she gazed at Lu Yan, the city’s golden boy. In the past, she had watched him shower Jiao Didi with affection, thinking she had no chance. Now, as she looked at him, she thought, "Jiao Didi is nothing special." Lu Yan cracked a faint smile but said only, “Hmm.” Cheng Shi had dressed up deliberately tonight, determined to win his favor. The conversation flowed as they discussed politics and business—both of them successful in their respective fields. Jiao Didi, meanwhile, was with her plastic friends, constantly comparing their lives, their jewelry, and their boyfriends. Since Jiao Didi had been dating Lu Yan, she had always come out on top. Cheng Shi, eager to stir the pot, looked over at Jiao Didi and said, “Didi, isn’t that Lu Yan sitting across from that woman? Am I mistaken?” The group of friends eagerly awaited Jiao Didi’s reaction. “I'm single now,” she said, as if accepting an award. The others cheered, but Jiao Didi’s eyes were still locked on Lu Yan, watching him laugh with Cheng Shi. She couldn’t help but feel a pang in her chest. Seeing him so happy with someone else made her realize that they were truly over. The tears started to fall, each one like a final goodbye. As the night went on, she clung to her pride and sniffled, “Tonight, the ‘City’ is on me.” The plastic friends cheered louder. The music in the club blared, loud and unrelenting, as the gunshot echoed across the room...