Fake dating my enemy, The playboy billionaire-Chapter 56: Scrappy little timepass

His brows arch, "A fan?"

"Well, I’m more of a Carlos Leclerc fan," I admit, laughing a little, "but my sister Ning is obsessed with you. She’s in the hospital right now, and an autograph from you would cheer her up."

A flicker of warmth softens his expression. "I’m sorry to hear about your sister. I hope she recovers quickly." He glances over at a rack of F1 t-shirts, nodding. "Pick her size. I’ll sign it for her. On me."

I blink in disbelief. Is this really Zhao Zeng? The guy known for his no-nonsense attitude and fiery outbursts on the circuit, giving out autographs like a sweetheart? But here he is, kind, calm, and charming. I grab a shirt in Ning’s size before he can change his mind.

"Ning, right?" he asks, pen in hand.

"Yes, that’s her."

He smoothly signs across the shirt. To Ning. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Love, Zeng. The casual elegance of his signature is almost as mesmerizing as he is.

"Here you are. I’ve been looking for you." a voice calls, and a woman with stunning curly hair glides over, sliding an arm around his. A diamond the size of a small asteroid sparkles on her ring finger, and I do a double-take. Isn’t this... the woman Jun couldn’t stop looking at during the charity gala?

*******

"Oh, it’s you," she says, giving me a once-over that leaves me feeling like yesterday’s leftovers. I immediately regret my choice of comfy, worn-out sneakers, old jeans, and crop top over the fancier clothes and shoes Jun bought me. She, on the other hand, looks effortlessly elegant, practically shimmering in designer everything.

"You know her?" Zhao Zeng asks, eyeing me curiously.

"She was at the charity gala with Jun." Her voice drips with disdain, as if being with Jun somehow diminishes me. Zeng raises an eyebrow, nodding before excusing himself to sign autographs for a small crowd gathering nearby. Relieved, I push my cart toward the checkout, only for her to step in my way, blocking me like some final boss in a video game.

"Excuse me?" I say, trying to keep my voice polite.

"Excuse you." She smirks, her eyes narrowing. "Stay away from my fiancé. These cheap tricks of Jun’s won’t work here."

My jaw practically hits the floor. Cheap tricks? Jun? What is she even talking about?

"Oh, come on. Quit the act," she scoffs, crossing her arms. "I know Jun sent you to cozy up to Zeng and drive a wedge between us. Typical. But I’m not falling for his little ploys, and neither is Zeng."

For a moment, I can’t even process the absurdity of her accusation. The idea is so ridiculous that I nearly laugh.

"Why on earth would he do that?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Her chin tilts up, her eyes glinting with delusion. "To get me back, of course. The man is obsessed with me. But he should know I have zero interest in a man-child like him. Let me be happy with my fiancé."

Okay, wow. This woman is living in a fairy tale, and apparently, she’s cast me as some sort of evil sidekick. From whatever time I have been with Jun, he’s definitely not pining for her—or, honestly, even thinking about her.

"First of all," I say, holding up a finger, "Your fiancé is just average. Not my type. I’d rather focus on getting a certain man-child’s attention. Because that’s the man with a heart as pure as child’s beating inside him."

I lean in, lowering my voice as I meet her narrowed eyes. "Secondly, you might want to stop repeating this story, or people might start thinking you’re... well, stupid. The man in question is Feng Junjie. He likes his women classy and intelligent. And you—" I take a moment to look her over from head to toe, taking in the designer clothes with zero personality behind them, "—aren’t exactly giving that vibe."

"Listen, honey, you’re nothing but a scrappy little timepass he is whoring around with. Just a convenience until he finds a way to get me. By hook or by crook. Men like him don’t keep girls like you."

I raise an eyebrow, genuinely entertained by her tantrum. Scrappy little timepass? This woman’s insults feel like they’ve been lifted straight out of a soap opera script.

"Well, if that’s true, then why do you look so threatened? Last I checked, people secure in their relationships aren’t throwing hissy fits in stationery stores over the ’timepass’ girl."

That hits a nerve. Her smirk falters, and she straightens, brushing invisible dust off her designer blouse. "I’m not threatened. I just want to give you a reality check before you embarrass yourself further."

"Oh, I appreciate it," I say, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Really, I do. But I’m good. So if you’ll excuse me, I’m getting late. My man is waiting for me at home." I finally manage to move my cart past her, enjoying every second of her incredulous expression.

As I head for the checkout, I can still feel her glare burning holes into the back of my head, and I smile to myself. Jun’s not the one stuck in the past, honey. It’s you who is stuck in your delusions and dragging that innocent man with you.

Not anymore, sweetheart. Yiren is here!

Game on!

******

JUNJIE

I stopped by the store to pick up another Hogwarts castle set since I gave mine to Honey. It’s a small thing, but somehow, I missed seeing it there on my shelf. When I saw Yiren’s pickup parked outside, I found myself heading into the store instead of sending my driver in. No idea why. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of things that don’t make sense, things I’d never have done a few months back.

She’s everywhere—this constant distraction, and somehow, an even stronger attraction. She’s woven her way into my life in ways that are too hard to ignore.

And as I step through the aisles, I’m glad I came inside myself.