"I’m just here to use the restroom, miss. Could you ask your boyfriend to step aside? Okay?"

Xiao Feng kept his back turned to Xia Xue, his voice utterly flat—as if speaking to a total stranger.

Hearing his detached tone, Xia Xue froze for a moment, convinced he was playing hard to get. Her expression instantly chilled.

"Xiao Feng, we’re never getting back together. What’s the point of this act?"

Xiao Feng let out a sharp snort of laughter. "Hah! Miss, are you serious? Why would I play hard to get? Do I even need to?"

Xia Xue blinked, stunned. In her memory, Xiao Feng would never speak to her so coldly. She’d even believed that after their breakup, he couldn’t possibly move on so fast—not when she was this beautiful, his first love of two years. How could he just… forget? If not an act, then what?

Nearby, Hong Tao’s face darkened. He shot Xiao Feng a icy glare. "Xiao Feng, even if you keep playing hard to get, Xia Xue will never choose you. Know why?"

Xia Xue’s cheeks flushed. She yanked Hong Tao’s arm, shaking her head. "Don’t say it!"

Hong Tao smiled warmly at her delicate face. "It’s fine, babe. I just want him to understand why she picked me." He turned back, sneering. "Remember when Xia Xue wanted lipstick? You refused and lectured her about ‘life principles’?"

Xiao Feng didn’t answer—just scoffed. "I don’t know if it was some grand lesson, but I’ll be straight: back then, I simply couldn’t afford it. Is *that* why she chose you?"

Before Hong Tao could reply, Xia Xue cut in sharply, "Isn’t that enough? You kept saying ‘I’ll buy it when I’m rich’! If you couldn’t afford it, just say it plainly like now! Ugh… stop putting on airs!"

Xiao Feng’s chest tightened—a hammer blow of pain. He’d thought she left because she fell for Hong Tao. Never imagined it was over a tiny lipstick. Two years of love, worth less than a tube? Ridiculous.

Yet the ache faded fast, replaced by quiet relief. Without her blunt words, he might’ve clung to old memories. Now? Truly unnecessary.

He sighed, forcing a hollow smile. "Fine, fine—you’re right. Can you two please move so I can use the restroom?"

Xia Xue’s face hardened. She muttered just loud enough for him to hear: "No idea why I ever liked a loser like you. Total embarrassing past."

Xiao Feng pretended not to hear. Cold-faced, he shoved Hong Tao aside and strode into the restroom.

*Thwack!*

The moment he stepped inside, Hong Tao—just shoved—kicked him hard in the back. Xiao Feng stumbled, nearly faceplanting.

His mood, already frayed from the earlier taunts, snapped. He steadied himself, spun around, leaped—and kicked straight for Hong Tao’s face.

*Thud!*

The blow landed squarely. Hong Tao crashed down, blood gushing from his nose as he groaned on the floor.

Earlier, Hong Tao had assumed Xiao Feng was too cowardly to fight back—just endure the shove, take the kick, keep peace. Smart people would.

But Xiao Feng was smart *and* unshaken.

His size-42 sole left a perfect imprint on Hong Tao’s face. Clutching his bleeding nose, Hong Tao jabbed a trembling finger at Xiao Feng and barked at the four stunned thugs nearby:

"Damn it! What are you waiting for? Beat him senseless! I’ll cover for you if shit hits the fan!"