Chapter 3

Jade looked just as impressed.

I did not say a word. I just quietly started counting down the time and thought about how to leave.

At some point, Zach looked at me with a smirk and said, “Ivan, when are you going to start your own company so Jade can be the boss’s wife?”

The truth was, I never told Jade I actually owned part of the company.

Ryan invested the money, and I contributed my skills.

In the end, he gave me 30% of the shares.

So, really, I was a co-owner. I just did not like handling business decisions and left most of it to Ryan.

I even called him “boss” like everyone else.

To Jade, I was just an ordinary employee getting a monthly paycheck.

She clicked her tongue and said, “Come on.

“He’s the kind of guy who’ll be working for someone else his whole life.

“If I’m counting on him, I might as well wish for a miracle.

“You’d be better off asking him how not to get fired.”

Everyone laughed.

Jade, enjoying the attention, started telling embarrassing stories about me.

She talked about how I once fell into a smelly ditch trying to protect her, or how I knelt while begging her to eat breakfast.

If she called me, I had to show up right away. Otherwise, I was not allowed to come home.

Everyone laughed hard.

“So Ivan is Jade’s simp!”

“Looks like Jade really knows how to keep him in line!”

I clenched my teeth and took a big sip of the beer.

“It’s just a few silly things. I don’t even care.”

Everyone went quiet for a second.

“Ivan, no need to act tough just to save face.

“There’s nothing wrong with having a regular job. You’ll just be broke forever, that’s all.”

Zach laughed like I was a joke.

“Alright then, tell us. What major, amazing thing have you ever done?”

“Maybe he fell in that dirty ditch out of embarrassment!” someone added and laughed.

I looked at everyone and calmly said the name of a medicine that played a huge role during the pandemic.

Everyone went quiet again.

“You’re saying we got through the pandemic faster because of you?”

“Wow, someone’s really full of himself.”

“If that were true, you’d be rich by now. But look at you. Your clothes are cheap.”

Honestly, I was indeed rich from the profits, but growing up in the countryside taught me to live simply.

Even Jade knew nothing of this.

She looked annoyed.

“Okay, that’s enough. Stop making things up.”

As soon as she said that, everyone relaxed.

“See? Jade knows. Ivan just likes to brag.”

I looked straight at Zach and asked, “Then tell me, what kind of sugar do you use to make those candies? How long does it take to set?

“You said you invested. What exactly did you invest in?

“And if you donated to charity, where did the money go?”

Zach could not answer clearly. I caught him off guard, and he was speechless for a while.

In the end, he got mad.

“What’s it to you?

“Jade, what’s your boyfriend trying to do? Interrogate me?

“I came to hang out, not to be questioned!”

The more he spoke, the angrier he got.

Jade got scared and quickly tried to calm him down. Then, she glared at me.

“Apologize.”

Everyone else joined in.

“Yeah, hurry up and say sorry.”

“You made Zach upset, and now Jade has to fix it. Was that really necessary?”

I gave a cold laugh but did not say a word.

I looked at my phone. There were three hours left before my flight.

Everyone was staring at me as I stood up.

“I’ve got something to do. I’m leaving.”

Jade chased after me. Just as I opened the car door, she stepped in front of me.

“Ivan, were you just trying to cause trouble tonight?

“Now look, everyone’s upset.”

She grabbed my hand and tried to pull me back.

“Come with me and say sorry. If you don’t, I won’t take you to meet my parents tomorrow.”

I shook her off and said coldly, “Why should I?

“They said all those awful things. Why didn’t you ask them to apologize to me?”

Jade frowned. She was clearly annoyed. “They were just joking. If you don’t like it, we’ll be more careful next time.”

At that point, she was still taking their side.

“Forget it. Go pack our stuff. We’re leaving tomorrow afternoon.”

I replied, “Okay.”

She looked relieved.

“Pick me up later. I’ll call you.”

I held the plane ticket in my pocket, smiled, and nodded.

Seeing that I was not angry anymore, she ran back to the group.

Once I saw her sit down again, I got in the car and drove straight to the airport.

I stared at her number for a while. Then, I blocked and deleted it.

She stayed in Southern City while I went to Northern City.

From that day on, we were done.