Shen Youjin rubbed her forehead. Bai Beichen always liked to use such easily seen - through tricks.
It seemed that he still didn't understand that she had indulged him before because she liked him, so she saw through his tricks but didn't expose them.
But now it was different. The identity of the child's father was about to be confirmed soon, and she couldn't end up on the hot - search again.
"No, thanks." She declined politely. "I'll be busy that day."
Bai Beichen refused to give up. He started to act cute and play the victim, but Shen Youjin turned a deaf ear to it all.
After hanging up the phone, Bai Beichen sent her the emoji of a bunny holding a carrot and crying.
"Sister, you've changed."
Shen Youjin replied calmly, "Don't make a fuss until you're back to normal."
Bai Beichen fell silent. Then he dialed a number.
"Have you found Xu Jiale? Send more men! Go look again!"
This was his only hope. Only by finding Xu Jiale could he be special in Shen Youjin's eyes!
"Master, Mr. Jiang's men are also looking for Xu Jiale. Should we interfere?"
Hearing the voice on the other end of the phone, Bai Beichen's eyes turned sharp.
"Of course. If Mr. Jiang Zeshen's men get the news first, you might as well resign and go home!"
The person on the other end quickly agreed several times before hanging up.
Bai Beichen sat on the balcony with his guitar in his arms, looking at the moon outside the window. He felt extremely annoyed.
Although he wasn't inexperienced in love, the contrast in Shen Youjin's attitude towards him after their breakup was like the difference between heaven and earth.
He regretted it deeply. If he had known this would happen, he would have beaten up those who said those things back then. He wouldn't have gone from her boyfriend to her ex - boyfriend, and even had to compete with four other ex - boyfriends.
Damn it! It was so annoying!
Soon, it was Li Beiyin's birthday.
Shen Youjin left the studio in Ling Qiuqiu's care and drove to the address on the invitation.
The Li family had rented out the venue for Li Beiyin's birthday. Almost all the prominent figures in Kyoto were present.
Shen Youjin didn't want to steal the limelight from the birthday girl. She wore a light - green long dress. Her long black hair was pulled up, revealing the green tourmaline stud earrings. She had no other accessories.
Even so, as soon as she showed up, everyone's eyes were immediately drawn to her. People looked at her in admiration and awe.
Shen Youjin didn't feel proud. Instead, she felt tired.
She gave her gift to the attendant and then found a quiet place to sit down.
She looked around but didn't see any familiar faces. Even Li Nanchuan was absent.
Not long after, Li Beiyin came over.
As the birthday girl, Li Beiyin was wearing a wine - red long dress of her own design. Her styling was perfect, showing off all her best features. She was really eye - catching.
Even Shen Youjin thought that if she had brought a camera, she would have taken a few pictures of her.
"Happy birthday." Shen Youjin said softly.
Seeing Shen Youjin so calm, Li Beiyin felt a bit embarrassed. "Come on! I promised to introduce clients to Zhuguang before."
Shen Youjin nodded. The banquet was about to start soon. It wasn't right to take up her time.
With the Li family's young lady, the birthday girl, as the go - between, many people were willing to give her face.
"Hey! Miss Shen doesn't rely on men anymore. Now you're relying on women?"
Just as Shen Youjin was about to turn around and leave, Ji Yueliang suddenly appeared beside her.
She looked at Ji Yueliang and was surprised to see that she was also here. Ji Yueliang was holding a glass of red wine, looking at her provocatively.
Shen Youjin didn't expect to see her ex - boyfriend's admirer before seeing her ex - boyfriend. She couldn't help but curl her lips. "Is there a third species in this world other than men and women?"
Ji Yueliang's hand holding the wine glass paused. Then she sneered, "Miss Shen doesn't think she can reach the top just by relying on others, does she? You're such a disgrace to women."
Here it came again. Why was she always so quick to play the gender card?
"In what way am I a disgrace to women?" Shen Youjin's tone was casual, but her eyes were serious. "Isn't your father a man? Aren't your teachers men? Isn't the person you like a man? By your logic, not only you but also your mother rely on men, right?"
"That's different!" Ji Yueliang immediately raised her voice. "Don't try to confuse the concept here!"
"In your eyes, an ordinary woman who marries a man with better material conditions and more resources is a gold - digger. Aren't you the one materializing women?" Shen Youjin scoffed. "It's so funny. Love and marriage both need two people to maintain the relationship, but in your eyes, it's just the woman relying on the man? If you two are still separate individuals after marriage, then what's the purpose of being together? Just for procreation?"
"Once you're married, you're a family." Ji Yueliang retorted reluctantly. "He's my man. Of course, I can rely on him."
Hearing this, Shen Youjin wanted to roll her eyes. Sure enough, sometimes a person's IQ had nothing to do with their education level.
"Do you think women are a vulnerable group? A woman who finds a better partner with her own abilities is herself excellent. Has the concept of gender equality not reached Miss Ji yet? Or do you think you're so weak that you can only rely on others to survive? If so, Miss Ji, you're the one who's a disgrace to women!"
These words made not only Ji Yueliang but also Li Beiyin look at Shen Youjin in a different light.
She suddenly thought that Shen Youjin seemed... really charming.
"— You!" Ji Yueliang was so speechless that she couldn't say a word. She could clearly feel the approving looks from the women around her towards Shen Youjin.
Just as she was about to splash the red wine in her glass on Shen Youjin's face, a lazy and smiling voice sounded from behind.
"Hey, it's already so lively even before the banquet starts?"
Ji Yueliang turned around and saw Jiang Zeshen with his coat on his shoulder. He was standing behind her, looking at her sharply.
He exuded an air of "just try to touch her" that was so intimidating that even the curve of his lips seemed like frost.
Ji Yueliang immediately cowered. The young master of the Jiang family, the future leader of one of the five major families, was not someone she could afford to provoke.
She forced a jealous smile and tightened her grip on the wine glass as if the glass of red wine was her new enemy. "Since Young Master Jiang is here, you guys can talk."
Ji Yueliang left in a hurry, leaving Shen Youjin and Li Beiyin standing there.
Li Beiyin wasn't afraid of Jiang Zeshen, but she had a bad impression of this playboy.
After all, everyone in her family was very loyal, and they didn't have much affection for someone like Jiang Zeshen.
Just as she was about to find an excuse to slip away, Bai Ningxi's figure appeared in her sight. Li Beiyin immediately waved and walked towards Bai Ningxi.
"Sister Ningxi, I thought you weren't coming!"