OFR – Chapter 185 How can life always remain the same as when we first met (Part 1)!

Li Yanyun couldn’t see through this boy, but she didn’t feel the need to dig any deeper.

After all, everyone has their own secrets.

She was just very curious about Mu Bai.

By now, the meal had reached its final rounds, and after Mu Bai finished eating, Mu Xiaoxiao had already expressed to her classmates that she intended to leave.

However, many classmates tried to persuade her to stay.

Faced with this situation, Li Yanyun simply stood up and said softly, “Xiaoxiao, you go say goodbye to your classmates first. I’ll take Mu Bai to get the invitations for the charity auction and wait for you at the entrance.”

With her experienced approach, Li Yanyun directly used action to decline the invitations, also helping Mu Xiaoxiao out of an awkward situation.

After saying that, she turned to Mu Bai and said, “Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

Hearing this, Mu Bai nodded calmly and got up, preparing to leave the private dining room.

Perhaps it was just his personality, but he didn’t particularly enjoy these kinds of gatherings. If it weren’t for Mu Xiaoxiao, he probably would have left much earlier.

So now, there was no reason for him to stay any longer.

Very soon, the two of them walked out of the private room.

It was now past one in the afternoon, and the corridors of the Royal Clubhouse were bustling with groups of people.

Many who had drunk too much were shouting drunken nonsense, causing frowns and dissatisfaction among others.

But Mu Bai and Li Yanyun simply walked calmly through the noise, paying no mind to the drunken chatter.

After walking a few steps, Li Yanyun suddenly asked, as if casually, “Mu Bai, do you think there’s such a thing as a gap between people?”

“A gap between people?”

Hearing this, Mu Bai frowned slightly, not entirely sure what she meant.

But after thinking about it for a moment, he replied evenly, “Although today’s society preaches the idea that everyone is equal, in reality… I think differences will always exist.”

“Yes, you’re absolutely right. If there were no differences, then why would there be social classes?”

Li Yanyun nodded in agreement.

The hallway was short, and after just a few exchanges, they had already walked through the luxurious Royal Clubhouse.

At the entrance, Li Yanyun stopped in her tracks. She turned to glance at Mu Bai, pulled him to a spot where they wouldn’t be in the way, and then took a cigarette pack from her pocket, offering him one.

“Do you smoke?”

Mu Bai reached out and accepted the cigarette. “Thanks.”

Though he didn’t smoke often, he wasn’t a stranger to it.

“You’re welcome.”

Li Yanyun smiled, then lit her own cigarette and began to puff out smoke.

“Mu Bai, can I say a few words to you?”

“Of course, go ahead.”

Mu Bai watched as Li Yanyun exhaled a cloud of smoke, and a scene from a long-forgotten drama surfaced in his mind.

He vaguely remembered that back then, Li Yanyun was still young and had played a rebellious girl in the show.

As a child, Mu Bai had been captivated by her smoking scene.

In that drama, Li Yanyun had perfectly portrayed a lonely, helpless, rebellious, and pitiful young girl.

Many viewers had been moved, wanting to protect her.

“I have tattoos, I smoke, I drink, I curse—but I know I’m a good girl.”

That one line of hers had once gone viral online.

Thinking back now, it had already been so many years.

As Mu Bai was lost in thought, Li Yanyun’s slightly hoarse voice, a result of her years of smoking, brought him back to reality.

“Mu Bai, I know Xiaoxiao cares about you a lot, but as I said earlier—there is a gap between people. I’m not saying you’re not good enough for her. I know you’re outstanding, maybe even one in ten thousand. But did you see the cars in the parking lot?”

At that moment, Li Yanyun took a drag from her cigarette, exhaled, and gestured toward the vehicles in the parking lot.

“There are luxury cars worth tens of millions, supercars worth several million, high-end sedans worth hundreds of thousands, and then there are ordinary cars worth thirty or forty thousand, or even just ten thousand.”

“What does this prove? It proves that there are many levels of difference between people!”

Still reminiscing about the old drama, Mu Bai was caught off guard by her sudden change in topic.

However, he quickly understood her point, and his expression gradually grew colder.

“And then?”

His voice remained calm, but the warmth had completely disappeared.

Li Yanyun glanced at his wristwatch—her eyes flickered briefly—before continuing softly,

“You are indeed remarkable. At such a young age, you’ve already reached a certain level. You’re like one of those high-end luxury cars in the parking lot, and you have the potential to go even further.

“But right now, what Xiaoxiao needs is someone who can boost her popularity and increase her exposure.

“The company has already arranged for a top-tier male celebrity to be her partner at the charity auction.

“They could gain fans from each other, create buzz, and even stir up rumors of a ‘perfect couple,’ which would greatly boost her fame.

“But because of you, she refused.

“Since Xiaoxiao entered the entertainment industry three years ago, she has never been involved in any scandals, not even a kissing scene—those were all shot with camera tricks or stand-ins.

“But you must understand, for a celebrity, fame and popularity are everything. If she loses these…”

Minutes later, after Li Yanyun had finished speaking, Mu Bai simply responded with,

“And then?”

His voice was utterly emotionless.

The sheer calmness of his reply made Li Yanyun freeze for a moment.

But after a brief pause, she still said what she had to say.

“Mu Bai… I hope you can refuse Xiaoxiao’s invitation this time. It will only benefit her.”

She then waited for his response.

After more than ten seconds, Mu Bai exhaled a mouthful of smoke and asked softly,

“How much is the cigarette?”

“Huh? Oh… 261 yuan per pack. If you like them, I can send you a few cartons later.”

Li Yanyun was caught off guard by his unexpected question but answered truthfully.

“You’re overthinking it. I just wanted to pay for the cigarette, nothing more.”

Mu Bai pulled out a hundred-yuan bill from his wallet and handed it to her.

After placing the money in her hand, he stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette and tossed it into a nearby trash bin.

Then, he looked up at her and said lightly,

“You know, when I first saw you on TV as a kid, I was instantly captivated.

“It was a feeling I couldn’t quite describe.

“But now that I’ve met you in real life, that feeling is gone.

“Sometimes, I wish life could always be like the first meeting.”

Hearing this, Li Yanyun suddenly felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out.

Mu Bai chuckled softly.

“But I also know that life can never be just like the first meeting.

“This world changes people.

“I’m leaving now. I don’t need the invitation.

“Later, don’t let that silly girl worry—just tell her I’ll be at the charity auction.”

With that, Mu Bai turned and walked toward the parking lot without a second glance.

Watching him leave, Li Yanyun clutched her chest, feeling an inexplicable pain.

But when she saw the car he drove out of the parking lot—

Not just her heart, but even her eyes stung.