Chapter 1 — I Tear Up The Script They Wrote For My Life

My Best Friend Used My Supplementary Card to Cover the Haidilao Table, Not Knowing That I Had Locked My Card 30 Minutes Ago My best friend called me and intentionally turned on the speakerphone. On the other side, the familiar sound of singing happy birthday rang out in Haidilao Hot Pot.

"Ladies, feel free to call today, I'll cover this meal!"

Immediately after that, she lowered her voice, but it was clearly intended for me to hear:

"Don't worry, just swipe that idiot's supplementary card. He still doesn't know anything yet."

The other end of the line immediately burst into laughter. I didn't hang up. Just silently listening to them order one dish after another. Hot pot 398 yuan (about 1,430,000). Wagyu beef is the most expensive. A whole Australian lobster. They don't know... Half an hour ago, I locked that card. Wait until the employee holds the bill and walks to the table... The real show begins. Phone is connected. The other side is extremely noisy. It was the sound of Haidilao Hot Pot's employees singing happy birthday in unison.

“Happy birthday——”

Trieu Dinh's voice came from the speaker.

“I'll cover everything today!”

“If you like to eat, please feel free to order, don't be polite!”

Her friends immediately cheered loudly. After that, Trieu Dinh lowered his voice. But he deliberately let me hear every word clearly.

“Don't worry.”

“Just swipe Hua Dien's supplementary card.”

“That idiot still doesn't know anything.”

The other end of the line burst into even louder laughter. Unpleasantly jarring. I said nothing. Don't hang up either. Just quietly leaning on the sofa, listening to them order.

“Hot pot costs 398 yuan, take a portion.”

“Australian Wagyu beef has four plates in front of me.”

“Boston lobster taken whole.”

“And this sake, choose the most expensive one.”

Every time a dish is read, it's like a needle prickling down. Not stabbing me in the heart. It's about stabbing into the stupid person of before. Hua Dien once considered Trieu Dinh as his only close friend and followed her in everything. An Hua Dien just wanted her to live a little better, so he even gave her both the main and supplementary cards to use. A Hua Dien was psychologically manipulated for three years, thinking that Trieu Dinh was the only one in this world who was sincere towards her. I heard Trieu Dinh on the other end of the phone boasting.

“Hua Dien listens to me very well.”

“I told him to go east, he absolutely did not dare to go west.”

“Isn't his money also my money?”

"Even her boyfriend Chu Minh, doesn't he revolve around me every day?"

The friends next to him immediately followed suit.

“Dinh Dinh is truly the best.”

“Play with both of you in the palm of your hand.”

I laughed. A soundless smile. They don't know... Half an hour ago, I just reported the loss of my main card. Once the main card is locked, all secondary cards will also be frozen immediately. I also didn't expect Chu Minh to be there. My boyfriend kept saying he loved me, saying he had to work overtime to earn money to buy me gifts. Turns out his “overtime”… Was overtime at Haidilao. As for that "gift"... It was prepared to be given to Trieu Dinh. That's really good. Just one birthday. Made me see two people clearly again. One person was the "best friend" I trusted the most. One person is the "lover" I thought would be with me for the rest of my life. The other end of the line was still bustling. I picked up my phone and looked at the time. From the time they ordered until now, it's been forty years minutes passed. I'm probably almost done eating. I softly said into the phone:

“Are you full?”

My voice is very light. But through the speakerphone, every word reached everyone's ears. The other side immediately fell silent. Trieu Dinh probably didn't expect me to still answer the phone. Her voice started to panic.

"Dian Dien? You... when did you hear that?"

“Since you called me an idiot.”

My voice was strangely calm.

“I won't bother you guys anymore.”

“Just enjoy it slowly.”

“Consider it the last meal I offer you.”

Having finished speaking, I hung up the phone. I can almost imagine Trieu Dinh's face right now. Definitely unsightly. But that's not important. The important thing is... At this time, the staff must have already walked over with the receipt. The bill is long and tight. The number makes people breathless. Great play... Now it's officially starting. The phone vibrates. The name Trieu Dinh clearly appeared on the screen. I didn't pick up the phone. So it kept ringing, annoyingly persistent. Just like the bell ringing for life. Finally, the phone is quiet again. Just then, a message popped up.

"Hua Dien! What do you mean?! Why can't the card be swiped?!"

Behind it is a string of exclamation marks. I can almost imagine how angry she looks right now. I leisurely replied with two words. Very soon, the phone rang again. This time I picked up the phone. Still turn on speakerphone, then conveniently throw the phone on the table. Trieu Dinh's scream almost pierced my eardrums.

"Hua Dien! Did you do it on purpose?!"

“You locked my card, right?!”

I calmly corrected it.

“It's my card.”

“I want to lock it, then lock it.”

“On what basis did you block my card?!” she questioned aggressively, her tone full of matter-of-factness as if she were the victim.

I laughed.

“Based on what?”

“Based on the fact that I'm the idiot you guys are spinning around like a whirlwind.”

I returned the sentence the other day verbatim to her. On the other end of the line, Trieu Dinh's breath suddenly choked. The sound of her friends chatting softly was heard around her.

“Dinh Dinh, what's wrong?”

“Didn't you say how much you are today?”

“The bill is almost ten thousand, who will pay?”

Even the waiter's voice came through, polite but firm:

“Ladies, would you like to pay in cash or scan the code?”

Trieu Dinh's voice immediately carried sobs.

“Hua Dien, please pay quickly!”

“My friends are all here, don't make me lose face!”

I asked back.

“When you called me an idiot on the phone, did you ever think about my face?”

“When you used my money to feed your fish and laughed at me behind my back, did you ever think about my feelings?”

She choked up.

“Hua Dien, aren't we best friends?”