Chapter 44: The Made-Up CEO Boyfriend

"I'm working as an elevator girl at Boson Group."

"What? Elevator girl? Oh my god, what a low-class job."

Everyone immediately showed disgusted expressions.

She was already used to it. They were like this even back in school. With her head lowered, she quietly withdrew the gift she had been holding out to Xia Ru, ready to leave. But just then…

"Yaoyao, weren't you giving me a gift? What is it?"

"It's a cross-stitch handmade by my mom. I hope you like it."

Mentioning her mom brought a smile back to Yaoyao's face as she handed over the gift.

Everyone around Xia Ru eagerly waited for the gift to be unwrapped, curious about what Yaoyao could possibly give a rich girl.

But when the cross-stitch was revealed…

"Oh my god... cross-stitch? What is she, a kid?"

"Seriously? Who gives something so cheap as a gift?"

"Yeah, might as well use it as a rag. Xia Ru, just toss it."

"Well, it's the thought that counts. Thanks, Yaoyao."

With a cold smile, Xia Ru threw the cross-stitch onto a table full of trash. "I need to go greet other guests. Help yourself, Yaoyao."

Yaoyao's eyes fell on the now dirty cross-stitch. Her chest ached.

Sure, it wasn't worth much, but it was full of her mother's love. So what if it wasn't a brand name or a luxury item? Nothing meant more to her than something handmade by her mom.

She could tolerate being looked down on—but not the disrespect toward her mom's work.

"Xia Ru! Stop right there!"

"What is it, Yaoyao?"

She stormed over, holding up the stained gift. "It may be cheap, but it's my mom's heart in this! You could've just said you didn't like it. Why treat it like trash?!"

"Yaoyao, don't overthink it. I didn't say I disliked it. It's just… not suitable for my house."

"Yeah, you're poor, fine. But this thing? It's disgusting."

"She's just bitter. If she'd known how to please Feng Shao, she wouldn't be stuck as an elevator girl now. Back in school, she wore the trendiest clothes—look at her now!"

She realized it then—this party wasn't about reuniting with old friends. Xia Ru had just tricked her here for public humiliation.

"I wore the same cheap clothes then too!" she shouted.

Back then, Feng Chen Yi gave her nice things, but she rarely wore them. People just assumed everything she wore was designer. Now that they knew she was broke, the same clothes became garbage?

"Let it go, Yaoyao. You still want Feng Shao back, don't you? I just saw him the other day. Want me to call him?" someone mocked, pulling out a phone.

She couldn't understand why people always thought rich meant better and poor meant worthless.

After she and Feng Chen Yi broke up, rumors said she begged him to stay, when in fact, he returned to China on his father's orders.

In their eyes, she was nothing without him.

"I don't need to call him—I already have a boyfriend!"

"What? You do? What does he do—security guard?" Xia Ru snorted. "Come on, Yaoyao, your ex was the Feng family's second son. You really downgraded."

"Hahaha…"

'Don't tell me your boyfriend is your fake fiancé—that'd be pathetic.'

'If he dumped you, I can always take you back.'

Their mocking and her memories overwhelmed her.

Yes, her ex was impressive—but also a jerk. She'd rather date a loyal poor guy than a rich heartbreaker.

But these people would never understand. To them, money was everything.

"He's not just anyone. My boyfriend is a CEO—a real CEO!" she blurted.

The room went silent.

Xia Ru narrowed her eyes. "A CEO? Of what? These days even fish sellers call themselves CEOs. What company?"

"That's right. If he's real, why are you working as an elevator girl? Yaoyao, stop pretending. Just call Feng Shao and beg him to take you back."

She had already told the lie—there was no turning back now.

"He's the CEO of Boson Group!"

"What? CEO of… Boson Group?"

The party froze. Faces turned pale. If what she said was true, 90% of the people there would need to apologize—after all, their families all did business with Boson Group.