Chapter 924: The Miserable Li Li (Part 1)
His sincerity is not enough.
This ’he’ naturally refers to Hua Dongxu.
So whose sincerity is enough?
Lin Tian felt his sincerity was also insufficient because... there were too many women in his heart. Towards Zhao Qingtang, it was more like both teacher and friend.
Zhao Qingtang often wondered: What kind of person is perfect?
In her mind, the answer seemed to be only one, and that was Mr. Zhou.
As for Lin Tian, though he was excellent, he was not someone perfect beyond criticism.
However, he was right by her side, unlike Mr. Zhou, who could only be remembered.
Zhao Qingtang didn’t know what string in her mind was struck wrong to send signals to Lin Tian and even speak words of affection.
Could it be you don’t know he has a girlfriend?
Zhao Qingtang was twenty-eight and had never been in love, nor did she know what liking someone felt like.
Could it be that the earlier accelerated heartbeat, the inability to look directly at Lin Tian, and those words that slipped out were also a form of liking?
The previous atmosphere was truly too ambiguous, and now with neither of them speaking, it was too awkward.
Lin Tian broke the silence, suddenly saying, "The excitement is over, let’s head back."
"Okay." Zhao Qingtang nodded. She opened her mouth to chat with Lin Tian, but for a moment, she didn’t know what topic to start.
Zhao Qingtang walked two steps forward, only to realize that Lin Tian hadn’t followed.
She turned back and saw him standing dumbfounded in place.
"What are you looking at? Let’s go."
Zhao Qingtang called out, seeing Lin Tian still unmoved. She followed his line of sight and found he was staring at a woman.
Lin Tian was indeed stunned, indeed looking at a woman, or rather, a silhouette.
That silhouette was all too familiar to Lin Tian, having appeared countless times in his dreams—the woman who captivated his soul and whom he cherished sincerely.
But the outcome was not as expected.
This woman betrayed him.
Recently, there’s a popular internet saying: "For life to go smoothly, one must wear a bit of green."
Lin Tian had heard this saying and somewhat agreed.
Look at himself, ever since being betrayed, he turned from a lowly nobody into a wealthy and handsome man, with a colorful life.
Yes, that silhouette was Lin Tian’s ex-girlfriend, Li Li.
"Can you buy me an iPhone? Can you buy me an LV bag?"
"Can you drive a Mercedes or BMW to pick me up from school?"
"And what do you always treat me to eat? It’s either county snacks or Lanzhou beef noodles, and you have the nerve to call it change?"
"Love? Can love be eaten as food?"
These were the words Li Li said when they broke up—harsh, piercing, and unforgettable.
As for these questions, Lin Tian could only chuckle bitterly now.
Apple, LV, BMW—these were once luxuries, but now they seemed hardly worth mentioning; he could easily afford items two tiers higher than those.
Li Li was wearing a set of nondescript clothes, standing alone with an umbrella in front of the teachers’ office building.
Everyone else had left; she stood there, conspicuous, making it hard for Lin Tian not to notice.
"Do you know her?" Zhao Qingtang asked.
Lin Tian nodded.
"Why not go say hello?"
"Never mind, let’s go."
Lin Tian shook his head, took a few steps, but couldn’t resist looking back.
First loves are unforgettable, especially for those hurt by them so deeply—it’s even more unforgettable.
Lin Tian walked over to Li Li, saying, "What are you doing here?"
Upon hearing his voice, Li Li shivered. She turned back, glanced at Lin Tian, and couldn’t help but feel heartbroken.
Especially seeing someone besides Lin Tian—someone with a better figure, prettier face, and more elegance—it almost made her cry.
Why did she choose a loser back then?
Lin Tian had thought countless times about how to take revenge on this pair of scumbags, but upon seeing Li Li now, his thoughts of revenge faded somewhat because... Li Li looked quite miserable.
She was thinner, and not just slightly, but skin and bones. Her face, covered by a white mask, could not hide the bruises underneath.
Clearly, Li Li had not been doing well.
Her clothes were shabby, the food was poor, and she had been beaten this badly.
Back then, she and Liu Chan boasted as if they came from wealth.
Later, when Liu Mang’s reputation was ruined, Liu Chan fled, leaving Li Li behind, so naturally, enemies came for her.
That she was still intact and alive was quite fortunate.
Li Li turned her head; she didn’t want Lin Tian to see her like this.
"Are you here to mock me?" She spoke, trembling.
Lin Tian pondered, then said, "I don’t even know what happened to you, but seeing you like this... maybe."
Li Li’s heart twitched as if stabbed, and the feeling of being kicked while down was quite unpleasant.
"Isn’t that what you’re wearing the clothes I once gave you?"
Lin Tian laughed, "I remember buying that shirt from a street stall for about 88; I pinched and scraped for a month to get it. When I gave it to you, you never wore it—this is the first time I’ve seen you wear it, and it looks nice."
Li Li felt her heart stabbed again, and the pain was intense.
Suddenly, Li Li turned and shouted hysterically at Lin Tian, "Liu Chan bought me cars, branded bags, and clothes; I sold them all. Now I’ve fallen to wearing your ragged gifts. Are you satisfied?"
Lin Tian stepped back, unwilling to suffer her breath; how many days had it been since she brushed her teeth?
"Why are you shouting at me?"
Lin Tian asked calmly, "Is your current situation my doing? Clearly, it’s your own fault."
These words reached Li Li’s ears, touching the softest spot in her heart. Instantly, she squatted down, hugging her knees like a child, crying bitterly.
Zhao Qingtang didn’t know what had transpired, but she could piece together from bits and pieces that the woman had dumped Lin Tian for money’s sake.
How rich and capable must the person be? More so than Lin Tian?
"Stop crying!" Lin Tian scolded softly; her cries frustrated him, his brow furrowing.
Li Li remained unmoved, crying even louder. Truth be told, Lin Tian felt tempted to slap her, but the raised hand eventually lowered.
For two reasons: first, she was a woman, and second, they were in a public setting.
Lin Tian had long harbored resentment toward this woman; seeing her now, although it pained him somewhat, he felt more at ease.
It seemed a small release for the grievances suffered months ago.