Lu Sheng paused near the restaurant's entrance, casting one final glance back at the table where Jiayi sat between the two men she had once manipulated like pieces on a chessboard.
Her expression was a mess of panic and disbelief, and for a second, Lu Sheng almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
But then he remembered the blood, the betrayal, the years of friendship thrown away like they meant nothing.
He turned back toward them and spoke, his voice firm and cold, echoing through the quiet restaurant.
> "My part's over. The rest is between you three now. I just wanted to make sure Jiayi's mask finally came off."
He didn't wait for a response.
With quiet dignity, Lu Sheng walked out of the restaurant—and out of her story for good.
---
Inside, at the Table
The silence left in Lu Sheng's wake was deafening.
Jiayi slowly turned toward Zhou Qi and Chen Xiao, her lips trembling. "It's not what you think, I—"
Zhou Qi's voice cut through her excuse. "Don't."
He stepped closer, eyes sharp and unreadable. "I defended you. Lied to people for you. You know what hurts more than being cheated on? Being made to look like a fool."
Chen Xiao remained seated, arms crossed, staring at the half-finished glass of water in front of him. "You ruined my friendship with him, Jiayi. You tried to ruin it."
She looked between them, desperate now. "I didn't mean—"
"You never mean it," Zhou Qi snapped. "But you always do it."
There was no screaming. No dramatic scene. Just two men realizing the truth—and one girl who had finally run out of people to lie to.
Jiayi's hands curled into fists beneath the table, but for once… no one cared what she had to say.