Chapter 1970: Chapter 1967: The Stand-in Boyfriend (Part 2)
"What’s a rebound guy?" Qiao Xiaoyi asked, clearly curious.
The others looked at him like he was an idiot. He blinked innocently, with such a face of earnest curiosity that it seemed genuine.
Lv Liangwei chuckled, putting on an experienced look, and said, "Let me tell you a story. During an outreach event, I met a woman a few years older than us. She went out into the world after graduating high school and spent her early years frequenting bars and various entertainment venues."
"She dated over ten guys, most of whom she had relationships with, but both parties were just having fun, so nothing lasted. She said she was tired of playing around and wanted to settle down with a decent man."
"Allegedly, her requirements aren’t high—average looks, at least 180 cm tall, healthy, no history of relationships, an annual salary of several hundred thousand, must own a car, and the house must be in her name."
"She doesn’t do housework, doesn’t cook, loves snacks, and if they go out, the man can’t control or inquire about her activities. That’s it for the conditions. We all laughed and concluded that any man who accepts her is a rebound guy."
"Basically, some girls are drawn to romantic, stylish guys when they’re young and scoff at ordinary men. As they grow older and can’t keep up the game, they settle for an honest guy. These men who accept them are known as rebound guys."
"Now you get it, right? Like your friend Ning Wenbin—how should I put it? Being a rebound guy should be good, at least he turned from a backup to the main guy, isn’t that so? Who can say he won’t be happy in the future?"
At this point, Lv Lianghao smiled slightly, then casually said, "Haha, I’ve talked enough, I need to go organize some work, you guys continue chatting."
After saying this, he waved his hand and got up to leave. Mu Binglan glanced coldly, "Hmph, intentionally brought Yin Menglan to disgust people, and then deliberately said a bunch of snide remarks."
"Ha, maybe it’s Yin Menglan rekindling an old flame," Lin Tian said indifferently.
"Why don’t we go check it out?" The three girls almost said in unison, which left Lin Tian and Qiao Xiaoyi stunned—women’s curiosity truly is intense.
The three beauties reached a consensus, automatically ignoring Lin Tian and Qiao Xiaoyi’s opinions, then they got up and headed to the corridor.
"Brother Lin, why don’t we go too? It wouldn’t be good if there’s a conflict," Qiao Xiaoyi suggested softly. To him, only Lin Tian could handle the three beauties.
"Alright, because of Ning Wenbin’s family identity, he can’t go overboard, but if that woman does too much, I won’t be polite. Does she think we’re all easy targets?" Lin Tian said with a cold expression.
Lin Tian and Qiao Xiaoyi left their seats as well. By the time they reached the corridor’s exit, the three girls had already found a favorable spot, where they could see the situation at the end of the corridor without drawing attention.
"Why are you out here too?" He Xiaofei asked in surprise.
"Ning Wenbin is my friend, I can’t just watch him suffer," Lin Tian affirmed.
At the end of the corridor, Ning Wenbin and Yin Menglan stood side by side at the railing, but Ning Wenbin remained silent, focused on the night view outside.
Unable to bear his silence, Yin Menglan spoke, "Wenbin, I... I’m not doing well."
"Ha, leaving home with a luxury car, living in a villa, able to study abroad—things so many people dream of. What’s not going well?" Ning Wenbin said calmly with a chuckle.
Yin Menglan frowned slightly, looking pitiful, "Wenbin, can you talk to me face-to-face?"
"Sure." Ning Wenbin didn’t refuse, naturally turning to face her, looking at her lightly.
That calm gaze made Yin Menglan frown again, she lowered her eyelids slightly, and sighed softly, "I did go abroad to study with him, but just one semester later, he hooked up with several foreign women..."
She paused, her eyes misting, seemingly ready to cry. Her vulnerable look and decent appearance could easily stir a man’s protective instincts.
"Such cunning tactics, even as a woman I feel a bit moved. Ning Wenbin is probably done for," He Xiaofei mused, shaking her head.
"I don’t feel moved at all," Mu Binglan said boldly.
Lin Tian just smiled, keeping silent. Others don’t understand Ning Wenbin, assuming he’s unreliable, but would the Ning Family produce such a coward?
Ning Wenbin remained silent, offering no comfort, just watching her as if waiting for her to finish the story.
"I couldn’t take it, requested to end my studies early and return home, thinking things would improve once back. But he completely changed, using the same tactics he used to pursue me on other women..." Yin Menglan said with true sorrow this time.
Ning Wenbin raised a brow and finally spoke, "You were wrong. He hasn’t changed; he always plays mind games with girls. You’re not stupid; deep down, you understand, but you believed you could change him and become his only woman. Sadly, you failed."
"What should I do?" Yin Menglan said pitifully, naturally stepping closer to Ning Wenbin.
Ning Wenbin furrowed his brow, but he didn’t step back, just watched her, and said, "Leave him."
"I don’t know, I’m so confused. Can you hug me? I realize now your embrace is the warmest, the one that makes me feel safe," Yin Menglan ambiguously asked for comfort, not saying yes or no.
"The ultimate move’s here. What man can refuse such a request?" He Xiaofei said.
"From Yin Menglan’s words, she doesn’t seem keen on leaving that rich kid, but still wants comfort from Ning Wenbin. It’s... really messy," Xiao Manxuan blinked, quite speechless.
"Classic backup." Mu Binglan sneered.
After a while, seeing no embrace from Ning Wenbin, Yin Menglan raised her head and caught his cold gaze, which made her tremble inside.
Ning Wenbin said coldly, "Ha, is this an act of cultivating a backup?"
Yin Menglan’s eyes flashed, and then she said pitifully, "I don’t understand what you mean."
"You think it’s fun to treat me as a backup, don’t you?" Ning Wenbin finally broke it down, giving her no chance to play her game.
"I didn’t," Yin Menglan immediately denied, but then tears fell as she continued, "I know you still like me. When I’m sad, can’t you give me even a little comfort?"
"Haha..." Ning Wenbin chuckled lightly, coldly saying, "When you’re wronged, you come back to find me. But when he calls, you return to him. What do you take me for? And what do you take yourself for?"
"You want to come back, right? Fine, call him immediately, open a video chat in front of me, and clearly say you’re breaking up for good—right now, this instant." Ning Wenbin said decisively.
