TREATING BOYFRIEND AS EX

Chapter 7 Blacklist Removed

She picked up the clothes from the counter and hurried back into the fitting room. At that moment, Jiao Didi felt herself becoming flustered and a little out of sorts.

It was one of those cliché situations: encountering her ex with his new girlfriend. Her appearance, in this moment, could not afford to fall short.

She bitterly wished she had a boyfriend to flaunt before them, to prove she was better off, but it was too late to regret now. She just hoped they wouldn’t enter this shop.

But, as they say, fear brings what it dreads.

A gentle female voice rang through the store, "Could I try the new ML collection that came in yesterday, please?"

"Of course, Miss Cheng," the sales assistant answered quickly, rushing to serve her.

Cheng Shi, picking out a dress, said, "I’ll try this on. Wait for me here."

Lu Yan, releasing her hand, replied, "Alright."

The sight of the store's high-profile customer sent the sales assistants into a flurry of excitement. Tea was quickly served to Lu Yan, who accepted it with a polite "Thank you." He set the cup down on the glass table in front of him and opened his phone to attend to some work.

At that moment, Cheng Shi emerged from the fitting room, asking, "Yan, what do you think?"

She wore the same dress Jiao Didi had chosen—white, while Jiao Didi had opted for black. Cheng Shi's darker complexion was beautifully enhanced by the white dress.

Lu Yan raised his eyes, giving her a casual glance and responding indifferently, "It looks good."

Then, without missing a beat, he returned to his phone.

Cheng Shi, accustomed to his reserved manner, thought little of his disinterest, assuming it was just his normal cool demeanor when in a relationship.

The sales assistant, aware of Cheng Shi’s VIP status, knew she sometimes purchased multiple outfits when she liked something. As Cheng Shi admired herself in the mirror, the sales assistant, eager to please, said, “There’s also a black version of that dress. Shall I bring it for you?”

Cheng Shi nodded graciously.

The sales assistant tapped on the door of the adjacent fitting room and called, “Miss, may I take the dress you just tried on?”

Inside, Jiao Didi overheard the exchange and immediately realized it was Lu Yan and Cheng Shi. She mentally steeled herself before changing quickly and stepping out.

The black strapless dress she wore accentuated her fair skin, making it appear even more radiant. The skirt, falling just below the knee, revealed her long, slender legs.

Standing beside Cheng Shi, the contrast between them was undeniable.

Without the necessary beauty, one could only serve as a backdrop for the dress. But in this case, the dress made Jiao Didi's beauty all the more striking.

She smiled with satisfaction and handed her card to the sales assistant.

“I’ll pay,” she said.

Her familiar voice immediately caught Lu Yan’s attention, his gaze fixed on her reflection in the mirror, admiring her from afar.

Jiao Didi, noticing his look, mouthed, "Jerk."

Lu Yan, unfazed, gave a playful smile in return.

The sales assistant, unsure, asked, “The dress is 88,000?”

Jiao Didi, irritated, snapped, “Do I look like I can’t afford it?”

It was an answer that rang almost too defensive.

The sales assistant, recalling her simple attire upon entering, nearly blurted out, “Yes, you do.”

But she refrained, swiping the card at the register. It came up insufficient funds.

“Miss, it seems there’s not enough credit on your card.”

Jiao Didi’s heart sank as she realized she had already used this card for several hundred thousand yuan’s worth of expenses for her U.S. visa the day before.

Seeing the mocking look on Lu Yan's face made her want to throttle him.

Cheng Shi, standing nearby, pretended to offer help, “Use my card, let me pay for her.”

It was a move designed to show off her generosity in front of Lu Yan while putting Jiao Didi down.

After all, what use was a beautiful dress if it had been “gifted” by Cheng Shi herself?

Jiao Didi quickly declined, “No need, thank you.”

She handed another card to the assistant.

With a dismissive air, the assistant swiped it again, and the familiar “ding ding” of the UnionPay receipt sounded. The assistant gleefully handed her the receipt to sign.

Once Jiao Didi signed, she coolly said, “Please dispose of the dress inside.”

Then, with a haughty air, she left the store.

Lu Yan, comfortably lounging on the sofa, observed the exchange between the two women like an amused spectator.

Cheng Shi, noticing Jiao Didi’s arrogant demeanor, seethed with frustration.

“I don’t want the dress anymore,” she declared, tossing it aside before pulling Lu Yan by the arm and leaving.

The two sales assistants exchanged looks, disappointed that their hopes for a big sale had evaporated.

As Lu Yan and Cheng Shi exited the store, Cheng Shi’s phone rang. It was a work call, something that required her attention back at the office.

“I have to go back to the company,” Cheng Shi said, looking at Lu Yan with a helpless expression.

A considerate boyfriend would have offered to drive her, but it was clear Lu Yan was not that attentive.

He simply responded with a nonchalant “Mm,” before returning to his phone, leaving Cheng Shi to leave on her own.

Jiao Didi, having finished her shopping, was about to head home when she passed by a*****e selling maternity and baby products. The pregnancy report from yesterday flashed in her mind, prompting her to enter.

“Welcome! How can I assist you today?” A friendly saleswoman greeted her.

Jiao Didi smiled and shook her head, “I’m just browsing.”

The saleswoman, polite as ever, replied, “Of course.”

As Jiao Didi looked around, her attention was caught by an adorable baby stroller. She stopped to admire it, and the saleswoman eagerly began describing its features, from the materials to the design.

Meanwhile, Lu Yan, having ordered security to check the surveillance cameras, saw that Jiao Didi was in the store. He approached her, curious, and stood by her side, listening to the saleswoman’s explanation.

“That’s a good one,” he remarked, after evaluating the stroller.

Jiao Didi, irritated by his persistent presence, felt like her day was cursed. She didn’t want to deal with him, so she walked out of the store alone.

Lu Yan, quick to catch up, grabbed her by the arm, his eyes narrowing as he studied her belly, as if he could uncover some hidden truth.

Jiao Didi instinctively covered her stomach, shooting him a look that said ‘stay away’—her expression, one of clear discomfort.

Lu Yan misinterpreted her action and smugly asked, “Are you pregnant?”

Jiao Didi scoffed, “Dream on.”

Sensing his opportunity, Lu Yan gently tried to reason with her, “Jiao Jiao, even though we broke up, we can still be friends.”

Jiao Didi grumbled, "I don't make friends with ex-boyfriends, especially ones who dumped me."

“Didi, is that really you? I almost didn’t recognize you!” A tall, slender man walked up to her, greeting her warmly.

Jiao Didi, embarrassed, greeted him back awkwardly.

“Song Jun,” the man said, shaking Lu Yan’s hand, “I’m Didi’s ex.”

Jiao Didi, facepalming mentally, thought, "Why bring that up now?"

Before leaving, Song Jun reminded her, “Don’t forget the gathering next Monday. Be on time.”

Lu Yan glanced at her and asked, “Ex-boyfriend?”

The slap in the face came swiftly and unexpectedly.

Jiao Didi chuckled awkwardly, trying to gloss over it.

Then Lu Yan, sensing he had scored a point, added, “Jiao Jiao, if you don’t want to be friends with me, does that mean I’m special to you?”

He said it with a smug, knowing smile, as if he believed himself to be significant in her eyes.

Not wanting to give him the wrong idea, Jiao Didi made a decision. She would remove his number from her blacklist and set it to the top.

It was one thing to deal with his pestering, but another entirely to give him the satisfaction of thinking he mattered.

As she scrolled to unblock his number, she spotted two men standing on the lower floor of the mall, laughing and talking.

Quickly, she crouched down, hoping not to be noticed.