NOVEL NEXT Chapter 431: Life Has No Hypotheticals
After dinner, the group returned to the private room Lin Youxi had booked.
Of the six, only Xiang Bingbing wasn't from Baimei County. Yue Xinyi naturally suggested playing Baimei mahjong, but Xia Yuan objected:
"There are six of us—how would that work? Plus, Xiaoyu, Bingbing and I don't know how. Let's go to the arcade instead."
"Arcade at your age? YuanYuan, your face is too recognizable—you almost got spotted while bathing. Public places are risky."
"Then… what does everyone else think?"
Currently eager to learn more about Mei Fang, Xiang Bingbing raised her hand. "I'm interested in mahjong! I want to learn!"
Liu Xiaoyu nodded. "I'm fine with either. I know a little Baimei mahjong… play with family during New Year's."
"Wow… Xiaoyu, you're way more experienced than I thought?"
Mei Fang indeed avoided public spaces now. "Staying in the private room sounds good. No need to go out."
Yue Xinyi proposed: "With six people, we can rotate every two rounds. Works?"
"I'll sit out."
Mei Fang explained, "I need to teach YuanYuan. She's never played and sucks at math—probably clueless."
"Okay, I'm new, but why add the math insult? Jerk!"
Xia Yuan punched Mei Fang but still pulled him close.
"First round, I'll watch too—teach Bingbing."
Yue Xinyi sat beside Xiang Bingbing, teasing Mei Fang:
"Mei Fang, you've been glued to YuanYuan since dinner. Not worried about Youxi? Maybe she wants coaching too."
"Youxi… you'll understand once you play with her."
"To win, you need 33332 combinations—sequences or triplets count. Baimei mahjong uses wildcards—they substitute any tile but can't win from others…"
Mei Fang patiently instructed Xia Yuan, who arranged tiles under his guidance.
After one round, beginners Xiang Bingbing and Xia Yuan lost repeatedly, while Liu Xiaoyu and Lin Youxi dominated, amassing piles of chips.
Though just for fun, Liu Xiaoyu and Lin Youxi were evenly matched in Baimei mahjong.
"Damn… Xiaoyu, you call this 'a little'? I'm getting wrecked—Ah Fang's no help."
"I told you not to pon [claim a discard]! You gave Xiaoyu good tiles from Youxi's discards."
"But pon helps me see winning combinations…"
"I was tracking for you—"
"I can't always rely on you! Bingbing's losing less than me."
"Bingbing listens to Xinyi—"
As Xia Yuan's competitive streak emerged, Lin Youxi raised the stakes:
"YuanYuan, let's bet big—if I bankrupt your chips in two rounds, Ah Fang's mine tonight. Otherwise, he's yours."
"Two rounds? Hmph… I'm bad but not that bad. Bring it!"
The tension excited Yue Xinyi, who urged Xiang Bingbing to swap seats.
"Bingbing, let me play! I'll drain YuanYuan dry!"
"Oh? Challenging me? If I have chips left, you must attend all gatherings I call for a year!"
"Deal! You're my boss anyway. Bingbing, time for Baimei Mahjong Queen Yue Xinyi to shine!"
"But I wanna play too… or I'll be bored."
Xiang Bingbing pouted. Xia Yuan whispered to Mei Fang:
"Ah Fang, take Bingbing exploring. They underestimate me—I know how to win now. Don't let them blame you if I lose."
"Using me then discarding me? I'm not your tool—don't equate spoiling you with being at your beck and call."
Mei Fang tapped Xia Yuan's head, genuinely annoyed by her single-mindedness.
Realizing her mistake, Xia Yuan stroked his cheek apologetically.
"Sorry… I just… really want to prove myself. You don't want me humiliated, right? Hmm?"
Perhaps excessive closeness in their circle had eroded Xia Yuan's boundaries. She nuzzled and kissed Mei Fang.
"Come… little Ah Fang, don't be mad. Mommy kisses~ Hugs~ Another kiss~ Better now?"
Her cooing and cuddling melted Mei Fang's resistance, soon reciprocating—to their friends' astonishment.
Especially Xiang Bingbing and Liu Xiaoyu, who blushed intensely. Xiang Bingbing even gulped.
Lin Youxi enjoyed the display—had decorum allowed, she'd have joined.
For their trio, such public affection reinforced boundaries.
Once started, Xia Yuan and Mei Fang couldn't stop without progressing further. Yue Xinyi's coughing finally broke the spell.
Flustered, Xia Yuan covered her face.
"Sorry… we… usually… got carried away."
"TMI! Unbelievable."
Mei Fang rapped Xia Yuan's head like a wooden fish, irking her:
"Ah Fang enjoys kisses but scolds after? Hypocrite!"
"Alright, I'll leave you to it."
Standing, Mei Fang glanced at Lin Youxi, then Xiang Bingbing—a silent request for permission.
Their tacit understanding was flawless. This glance showcased Lin Youxi's supreme status—while Mei Fang had been intimate with Xia Yuan, one look from Lin Youxi affirmed her dominance.
"Ah Fang, take Bingbing exploring. The buffet's open—grab snacks and drinks."
"Wait… we just ate—"
Before Yue Xinyi finished, Xiang Bingbing cheered, "I'm hungry again! Let's go, Ah Fang! Adventure time!"
Thus, Mei Fang and Xiang Bingbing explored the club.
Alone, Xiang Bingbing was less animated.
Did Youxi set a trap?Mei Fang wondered, though his wives weren't the testing type…
"Ah Fang, is this the buffet? Can we enter?"
"Yep! Let's go."
The upscale buffet offered rare delicacies. Xiang Bingbing piled her plate high as Mei Fang explained unfamiliar dishes.
"What do you like? I'll get some for you."
"I'm full—just watching you is enough."
"That's awkward… eat with me!"
"One takoyaki then."
As Xiang Bingbing devoured her food, Mei Fang felt nostalgic.
"Feels like high school again."
Xiang Bingbing wiped her mouth, surprised. "I… remind you of that?"
"Yeah, at Jiangcheng No.1 High, watching you enjoy cafeteria food was heartwarming."
"Really… Maybe I should be a mukbang streamer. Seems profitable lately."
"Don't chase money—do what you love. That's the real you."
Mei Fang smiled. "As my friend, you needn't worry."
Xiang Bingbing sighed. "But… I don't want to always rely on you. I want independence."
"YuanYuan says that too. You're both outstanding yet insecure."
"I get her—relying too much changes relationships."
Xiang Bingbing poked her food. "As your lover, she can't just be a dependent plaything… hence her drive to contribute."
"……"
Noticing Mei Fang's stunned expression, she frowned. "What's that look?"
"I just… didn't expect such insight from you."
"Take this!"
Xiang Bingbing playfully raised a fist, making Mei Fang plead: "Don't! One punch would kill me!"
"Wouldn't really hit you."
She resumed eating gloomily.
"…What's wrong?"
"Thinking about… your kiss with YuanYuan."
"Ah, that—"
"Ah Fang… is kissing really that great?"
"Uh… hard to explain… You'll know when you date someone you like."
"Doubt I ever will."
Xiang Bingbing shook her head. "No one likes me."
"Nonsense! You're adorable—who wouldn't?"
"I'm too tall… and…"
Her voice cracked. This giant lolita's tears stunned Mei Fang. He handed tissues, avoiding physical comfort.
"Actually… would you… have liked me if I weren't this tall?"
The direct question risked rejection, but Xiang Bingbing had to know.
"You're wonderful regardless of height…"
"But you still couldn't like me, right?"
Mei Fang rubbed his nose. "I already have YuanYuan and Youxi—two is already scandalous."
"Then… if I were also your childhood friend, could I… I mean—"
"Bingbing."
Mei Fang offered a takoyaki with a smile. "Life has no hypotheticals."
"Instead, imagine someone better than me who'd love only you. Isn't that nicer?"
"Y-yeah! You're right!"
Xiang Bingbing nodded vigorously. "Sorry… I'm being weird today. Blame YuanYuan's PDA—got me emotional…"
"It's fine. I understand."
Mei Fang whispered, "You'll find someone to cherish you."
"No rush! Single life's good! I'll drown sorrows in food!"
Unlike crybaby Xia Yuan, Xiang Bingbing recovered quickly.
After eating, she insisted on fetching fruit alone, sending Mei Fang ahead with drinks.
En route, a group of girls noticed him.
Recognized?Mei Fang pretended not to notice.
But one girl approached:
"Excuse me… are you C-site's founder? You look just like him!"
"Just resemblance…"
"Your voice too! It's you!"
The girl grabbed his arm, demanding photos. Her friends joined, trapping Mei Fang.
"Come on! Rare wild site owner sighting! We need proof!"
"Site owner~ Do the 'X Ni Tai Mei' dance! Haha!"
"Seriously, I'm calling security—"
"Go ahead! No one's coming to save—"
Suddenly, a female voice interrupted:
"Could you… stop bothering my boyfriend?"
Liu Xiaoyu—supposedly playing mahjong—emerged, pulling Mei Fang away. The girls hesitated.
"Not Youxi or YuanYuan…"
"Maybe really a lookalike?"
Seizing the confusion, Liu Xiaoyu dragged Mei Fang down the hallway.
"Phew… escaped."
Releasing his arm, Liu Xiaoyu apologized:
"Sorry… it was urgent… I'll explain to Youxi and YuanYuan."
"No, thank you! Why aren't you playing?"
"YuanYuan lost everything—needs cheering. I came to find you… then saw… Here, let me carry some drinks."
"No need—"
"Let me."
Unlike her past meekness, Liu Xiaoyu insisted firmly. They split the load.
"Sorry for today's trouble. Next time, I'll pick somewhere more private."
"Not at all! This was fun."
Mei Fang smiled. "Bingbing went ahead? Let's return."
They entered the elevator—just the two of them.
Liu Xiaoyu's calm facade hid inner panic:
Why did I say that?!
If Youxi finds out first, I'm dead!
As she fretted, Mei Fang brought up the past:
"Remember when we first met? You said I looked familiar?"
"Y-yes…"
"Ever recall where?"
"Too long ago… forgot."
Liu Xiaoyu smiled. "I don't dwell on the past—I focus on the present."
"Admirable attitude."
"But even so, if you could reincarnate, you'd have regrets, right? Like your family buying YuanYuan's hotel—"
"Well… knowing it'd fail, I'd try saving them… but any buyer would suffer… My family could withstand it… so I'm conflicted…"
"You're… incredibly kind."
Though surprised, Mei Fang laughed. "Typical of you—you and YuanYuan are alike."
"Not really… I'm not that good."
Liu Xiaoyu rubbed her eyes, then met his gaze:
"Honestly, we're nothing alike."
"YuanYuan's frank and pure."
"I'm hypocritical, living for others' expectations… unsure who I really am…"
Mei Fang thought of the past life's radiant Liu Xiaoyu—the perfect socialite everyone loved.
That flawless version did feel distant…
"What were you saying?"
Liu Xiaoyu tilted her head curiously.
"Nothing… just hypotheticals."
"Life has no hypotheticals."
Liu Xiaoyu's echo of his earlier words startled Mei Fang.
Indeed, no hypotheticals.
But in another world…
May I courageously confess to the boy I like—
Liu Xiaoyu silently cheered for an alternate self.
Author's Note:
"Edited for everyone's review. This introduces future IF chapters: Ice Chapter (Bingbing) and Rain Chapter (Xiaoyu). Bingbing's early 'cute glutton' trait got diluted—Ice Chapter may not happen, but Rain Chapter will. These await after the main story's conclusion."