Trust issues… That was one thing for sure. Bai Jingye only trusted her when she went too far on faking her miscarriage. In that way, she proved that she was someone he could trust.

“If he doesn’t trust anyone so easily, why hasn’t he fell in love with you yet?” It was just a question she asked out of curiousity. She found it hard to believe that a man and woman could remain friends for years without feelings growing between them.

“I told you, we’re not interested. We know each other so much that it’s getting annoying, really. We’ve been together since childhood, we don’t want to spend the rest of our lives with each other.”

“You really can’t say that for sure. You’re only saying that because he haven’t fall in love with someone else. Who knows, you might end up realizing your real feelings if you see him with getting lovey-dovey with another girl.”

Tian Ruyi rolled her eyes as she continued to reject her words. “Why do you insist that we ‘secretly’ love each other? Men and women can be friends too. Just friends. If you still doubt us, then I can’t do anything about it.”

“So you really don’t have feelings for him,” Lu Mengjie mumbled in confirmation.

“I swear.”

At least in this way, Lu Mengjie won’t have to fear for her life anymore after all, a woman’s jealousy was dangerous. “Anyway, how did you meet him?” She asked yet another question that first popped out her mind. She took a slice of apple and ate it.

“We studied in the same school during elementary. He was also my first friend.”

As Lu Mengjie continued to learn more about Tian Ruyi, she soon discovered that she was actually the adoptive daughter of the famous retired actor, Tian Wen. After he lost his wife and daughter from an accident, he tried to commit suicide but failed since a seven years old beggar called for someone to rescue him. She was the last person he saw before he fainted but at that moment, it was as if he saw his wife and daughter through her. After recovering, the first thing he did was to look for the beggar girl. He adopted her and raised her like his own daughter. As she grew up, Tian Ruyi never forgot where she came from that was why she has always worked hard not to disappoint her adoptive father.

“Life has always been hard for me, even after I was adopted. My dad’s family made things hard for me especially when they found out that I was going to inherit everything from him. People can be really greedy, some couldn’t be content with what they already have,” she smiled bitterly. “I don’t care about the riches that I will inherit from my father but even if I say this, it doesn’t mean that I won’t need it. You will not be able to survive in this world without money. I learned this from childhood.”

Tian Ruyi recalled the days when she begged for food for her dying sister but at that time, no one was kind enough to spare some for them. They had to rummage the trashcan just to look for food. It was the cruelness of this world that killed her sister. She knew that she was next but a miracle happened in her life. If not for Tian Wen, she has long died because of starvation. That’s why as she grew up, she didn’t forget how to be kind to others. She didn’t want to be blinded by the greediness around her. She was able to hone her survival skills that’s why it was always her rule that she was not going to attack anyone unless they would strike her first.

“Be kind to those who are kind to you,” she said. “Look at where it got me.” She smiled proudly at her. She was an internet celebrity, an influencer with over three million fans on social networking platforms. “You need to learn how to survive and you won’t be able to do that on your own. That’s why as much as possible, I want to gain as many allies as I can.”

“Is that why you asked me to be your ally?”

“Yes,” Tian Ruyi answered honestly. “Jingye told me the possibility of you being a member of the Lu family. If I am given an opportunity to gain a friend from that family, I will not waste it.”

Lu Mengjie placed her hand on her chest as she pouted and acted as if she was in pain. “So you befriended me all because of my background? I’m hurt.”

A soft laugh escaped her lips. “Of course not!” She exclaimed in her defence. “I will still help you as long as I made sure that you will not be a threat to me.”

“Good point.” She couldn’t really blame her, in fact, she agreed with her view in life.

“I have an old soul, I’m great at giving advice especially when it comes to love,” she said, puffing out her chest proudly.

“Well they do say that the greatest relationship advice comes from single people,” Lu Mengjie teased, a snicker playing on her lips.

Tian Ruyi’s face instantly went red upon hearing what she said, “t-that’s not true!”

“Then, are you in a relationship?”

“Uh…”

“Well?”

“No…”

“Will your advice for love be based on your experience?”

Tian Ruyi hesitated. She shyly looked away as she replied again, “no…”

“See?” Her smirk grew wider which made Tian Ruyi purse her lips and looked at Lu Mengjie with an embarrassed blush plastered on her cheeks.