Name: My father is Zhao Dehan, and I hope he will become a dragon!

Zhao Xiaoya stared at Zhou Xiaoyu's face for several seconds, as if to confirm whether she was joking.

Zhou Xiaoyu's expression was very natural, with the corners of her mouth curved and her eyes bright, showing no sign of guilt.

"What did you say?"

I said, "I earn 50,000 a month and I also own a house."

Zhou Xiaoyu leaned back in her chair, her tone as if she had just said something very ordinary, "You don't need to envy me. Not everyone can walk this path. But Xiaoya, you're marrying Chen Qiang, the dowry is 188,000 yuan, plus 50,000, that's only a little over 200,000 yuan. You marry him, and that's all you're worth for your whole life?"

Zhao Xiaoya didn't say anything.

She looked down at the milk tea cup in her hand, her fingers tightening slightly.

She remembered Chen Qiang saying on the phone, "My sister earns tens of thousands a month," and her mother saying, "If they can afford to spend that much, what's another 50,000?" She also remembered that her brother's dowry was still short. She recalled the message Chen Qiang sent her last night, saying, "My mom agreed, 50,000 it is, I'll go talk to my sister."

She suddenly felt a tightness in her throat.

"Light rain."

Her voice was a little hoarse: "Does your boss...do he still have friends?"

Zhou Xiaoyu looked at her and smiled. There was no mockery or pity in that smile; she just looked at her calmly, as if she had known all along that she would ask this question.

"Why don't you call off the engagement first?"

Zhou Xiaoyu picked up her milk tea and took a sip: "You can't keep Chen Qiang's dowry on one hand and think about someone else on the other. You can't have your cake and eat it too."

Zhao Xiaoya lowered her head and said nothing more.

The mall was bustling with people, and upbeat music played from the bubble tea shop. Outside the window was the street scene of Jingzhou, with its towering buildings and endless stream of cars. Looking out through the glass, Zhao Xiaoya felt for the first time how far away she was from this city.

Zhou Xiaoyu reached out and patted her shoulder: "Alright, stop thinking about it. I'll take you out for something delicious tonight."

Zhao Xiaoya nodded and stood up with her.

As she walked out of the milk tea shop, she glanced back at Zhou Xiaoyu's retreating figure.

The girl who used to chat with her in the milk tea shop in the county town now walks differently.

He stood tall with his back straight and took long strides, as if he were standing on something solid.

The white Audi was parked downstairs.

When Zhao Xiaoya sat in the passenger seat, she placed her hand on the door armrest and gently squeezed it.

Jingzhou, in the east of the city, a hot pot restaurant.

The private room was steaming hot, with red oil bubbling in the pot, and the table was piled high with tripe, duck intestines, beef aorta, and tender beef. Zhou Xiaoyu picked up a piece of tripe with her chopsticks, dipped it in the pot a few times, then took it out, dipped it in the sesame oil sauce, and popped it into her mouth, chewing it with a crunchy sound.

Zhao Xiaoya sat opposite, barely touching her chopsticks. She held the chopsticks in her hand, poked at the bowl a couple of times, and then suddenly looked up.

"Xiaoyu, I've made up my mind."

"What have you decided?"

"I'll break off the engagement with Chen Qiang as soon as I get back," Zhao Xiaoya said, her tone harsher than in the car. "I'll return the betrothal gifts to his family. And... could you introduce me to your friend?"

Zhou Xiaoyu paused her hand while rinsing the tripe and glanced at her.

"Are you really sure?"

"I've thought it through." Zhao Xiaoya nodded, her eyes showing a resolute determination born of being cornered. "I don't like Chen Qiang. I don't want to be stuck in this county town forever, earning just over a thousand yuan a month. I'm not bad-looking, and I'm young. Why can you do it but I can't?"

Zhou Xiaoyu put down her chopsticks, leaned back in her chair, and looked at Zhao Xiaoya.

She has known Zhao Xiaoya for many years.

In high school, Zhao Xiaoya was the most popular girl in her class. She was beautiful, knew how to dress, and had several boys pursuing her.

At that time, Zhou Xiaoyu was not very good at makeup, and she always felt like she was just an extra when standing next to Zhao Xiaoya.

But it's different now.

Zhou Xiaoyu earns 50,000 yuan a month, drives an Audi, and lives in Jingzhou.

Zhao Xiaoya wanted to give her brother 188,000 yuan as a bride price to help him get married.

"An introduction is fine," Zhou Xiaoyu said. "We're best friends, we're practically family. But there's one question I need to ask you first."

"What's the problem?"

Zhou Xiaoyu looked at her, her tone becoming more casual: "Are you the original?"

Zhao Xiaoya was stunned.

"What?"

"Original," Zhou Xiaoyu repeated, "Are you a virgin?"

Zhao Xiaoya's face flushed instantly. She opened her mouth, almost dropping her chopsticks on the table: "Why...why did you ask that?"

"Why do you think he gives me 50,000 a month?" Zhou Xiaoyu picked up a piece of tender beef, dipped it in sauce, and chewed slowly. "Do you think he lacks women? What he lacks are clean women. If you're not virgin, you're not worth that price. He wouldn't want you at all."

Zhao Xiaoya lowered her head, the steam from the hot pot hitting her face. Whether from the heat or embarrassment, her ears turned bright red.

"I..." She opened her mouth.

"Think it through before you speak." Zhou Xiaoyu's tone suddenly became serious, losing its previous playful tone. "Xiaoya, I'm telling you the truth. If you lie to me, the consequences will be severe. He may seem carefree, but he's actually quite shrewd. If he finds out you're lying, not only you, but I'll be in trouble too."

Zhao Xiaoya gripped her chopsticks tightly.

She remained silent for a long time. The hot pot simmered on the table, and the faint sounds of drinking games drifted from the next private room. She lowered her head, her voice slightly hoarse: "I didn't lie to you."

"Um?"

"I dated Chen Qiang for two years, and he... he never touched me." Zhao Xiaoya's voice trailed off as she spoke, almost as if she were forcing it out. "At most, we held hands. We didn't even... kiss."

Zhou Xiaoyu looked at her.

"real?"

"Really." Zhao Xiaoya looked up and met her gaze. "Why would I lie to you? My mother always told me that girls should protect themselves and not mess around before marriage. Chen Qiang wanted to, but I didn't allow it. He didn't dare to force himself on me."

Zhou Xiaoyu was silent for a few seconds, then smiled.

"Okay." She picked up her chopsticks and took another piece of meat. "Then I'll talk to him about it later. You should sort things out here first—break off the engagement, return the betrothal gifts, and don't leave any loose ends. Once you're done, I'll take you to see him."

Zhao Xiaoya breathed a sigh of relief, but then became nervous again.

"What...what kind of person does he like?"

Zhou Xiaoyu thought for a moment: "He likes quiet people, and he also likes lively people, it doesn't matter. He probably just thinks I'm funny. Someone like you... should be fine too. You're good-looking, that's your biggest asset."

Zhao Xiaoya picked up the cup and took a sip of water, her fingers still trembling slightly.

"Xiaoyu," she called out.

"Um?"

"Thank you."

Zhou Xiaoyu waved her hand: "No need to thank me. But Xiaoya, let me tell you something upfront. This road isn't easy. You see how successful I am now, but I don't have everything. He won't give me a proper status, he won't marry me, and he won't introduce me to his family and friends. I'm just someone he keeps on the side. If you can't accept that, you'd better not go down this path."

Zhao Xiaoya held the water glass and thought for a while.

I accept.

Zhou Xiaoyu looked at her and didn't try to persuade her anymore.

She simply nodded, then picked up her glass and touched it to Zhao Xiaoya's.

"That's fine. Let's eat first, the meat's getting tough."

Zhao Xiaoya smiled and finally picked up her chopsticks. The red oil in the pot was still bubbling and steaming. She dipped a piece of tripe in the hot oil, mimicking Zhou Xiaoyu's movements, and then scooped it out and put it in her mouth. It was so spicy that she gasped for breath, but she felt a little more at ease than before.