The Billionaire's Hidden Affection-Chapter 500 - 497 Honey, Give me a hug 5_1

Otherwise, how could it have been such a coincidence? In the grand scheme of things, her path had been remarkably smooth—work, career, even dealing with enemies. Any sexual predators who dared cross her had met a bitter end. Reflecting on it now, was it all truly her own doing? Aside from love, everything else had gone *too* smoothly. She had even thought her luck had turned. Could it be that an invisible hand was silently guiding everything? That she had laid herself bare, dissected in full view right before him?

God knew, before this, she had never trusted anyone to this extent—not even Xu Xiaoya. Friendship involved boundaries. Friends weren’t your trash cans. It wasn’t reasonable for them to constantly absorb your complaints or negative energy. Her relationship with Xu Xiaoya wasn’t one of "girlish best friends." She even detested that term—"intimate friends within a boudoir"—how phony, how hypocritical! To describe it accurately, her bond with Xu Xiaoya was closer than friendship, surpassing even family ties. They never proclaimed how close they were, but they were willing to sacrifice everything for each other. In fact, with Xu Xiaoya, she mostly shared good news, not wanting to burden her further with her own troubles.

And it went without saying how she acted in front of Huang Xiaojue—so painstakingly careful, so vain, all to maintain her goddess-like, seemingly perfect image in his eyes. During those two years with Wan Donglin, her lips had been sealed. "Thank you, Mr. Wan," and "Okay, Mr. Wan," made up almost eighty percent of their conversations.

Who would have thought she’d end up baring her sloppiest, truest, most deceitful, and most calculating sides... completely exposed to the "foot-picking guy"? God knew, if she had realized earlier that he was Wan Donglin, she would have died before acting that way!

From noon until dusk, her face was flushed. The shame was unbearable. And that guy was utterly detestable! He must have been secretly gloating, watching her make a fool of herself time and time again. No wonder he kept sending those messages with that incredibly insidious, mocking laughter—at those moments, he must have been genuinely roaring with laughter. To be tricked by him like this, treated like a performing monkey—of course, he’d be roaring with laughter! She fumed with indignation: she was an open book to him, yet she knew nothing about him at all!

She was so angry and embarrassed that she leaped up, wanting to slap him. But who would she slap? The air? Oh my God, how utterly mortifying! She slumped onto the carpet. The white sheets provoked her again.

After staying in a hotel for a month, she hadn’t gained much, but her insomnia was cured. She had even asked the hotel to order two bedding sets identical to the ones they used.

But as she lay on the bed, remembering that month of being pampered like a princess—her face burned with shame again.

"Foot-picking guy, I’m so pathetic, spending my ex-boyfriend’s money again..."

"Your ex-boyfriend’s money is still money. Spend it as you please."

She buried her face in her hands. Making a fool of herself was one thing, but why did it have to be in front of *him*? Oh, Yan Xixi, Yan Xixi, you’re unbelievably stupid! When Doctor Liu first came, you should have known. Who else would have such resources and patience? Who would spend that kind of money to hire a private doctor for daily house calls? Even a home visit from a blind masseur costs several hundred, let alone a doctor! Who, with nothing better to do, would go to such lengths to help you? And all those gifts, so thoughtful and never the same one twice. Could an ordinary person manage all that?