After the divorce, my ex-husband's cousin tricked me into getting a marriage certificate.

Just as Lin Mengchuan was about to kick Xu Qing, he suddenly heard someone shout, "It's Qiao Ran, Qiao Ran is here."

Xu Qing looked towards the doorway and thought, "It really is Qiao Ran."

"Oh, there are no events today. Why is Qiao Ran here?" a staff member said.

Qiao Ran was accompanied by Zhao Mengmeng and Ding Ding.

The three of them came to eat hot pot and do some shopping. Since it was a girls' get-together, they didn't bring any men.

Qi Muci and Qi Mu'an invited the company's shareholders to a dinner party, and then went back to the Qi family home for dinner together in the evening.

Zhao Mengmeng, with her sharp eyes, was the first to spot Lin Mengchuan. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh my god, what bad luck! I didn't check the almanac before I left home."

Qiao Ran then noticed Lin Mengchuan and the three gift bags he was carrying as a spokesperson.

Lin Mengchuan quickly put his hands behind his back.

Xu Qing waved excitedly at Qiao Ran, "Miss Qiao, what a coincidence! Happy New Year!"

Qiao Ran had no objection to Xu Qing, and since it was the New Year, she thought it best to be friendly and make money, so she smiled and replied, "Happy New Year, Young Master Xu."

Xu Qing thought for a moment, then boldly stepped forward and stopped Qiao Ran, "Miss Qiao, could we take a picture together?"

Qiao Ran stared at Xu Qing in astonishment, thinking she had misheard.

Ding Ding blocked their way, saying, "Excuse me, sir, we're out shopping today, so it's not convenient for us to take a photo together."

Xu Qing looked regretful. "I'm sorry to have bothered you."

Seeing Xu Qing's furrowed brow, Qiao Ran asked, "Do you really want to take a picture with me?"

Xu Qing: "Of course, I mean it sincerely, Miss Qiao. Actually, I'm your fan."

Zhao Mengmeng was skeptical. "Really? Then tell us the names of the three TV series that Ranran starred in, and we'll believe you."

Lin Mengchuan couldn't stand Xu Qing's obsequious and fawning manner, so he said sarcastically, "They don't want to take a picture with you and are deliberately making things difficult for you, but you still insist on being a simp. Aren't you ashamed?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere around him became awkward.

A woman in the crowd scoffed, "He's just a washed-up actor, what's with all the airs?"

The man next to the woman argued in Qiao Ran's defense, "They weren't putting on airs at all. Didn't you see they know each other? It was just a joke between friends."

The woman got even more excited, "Since we know each other, we shouldn't refuse their request for a photo. I think that handsome guy is right. If you don't want a photo, fine, but don't deliberately make things difficult for others."

Zhao Mengmeng was furious and glared at Lin Mengchuan, but she couldn't very well argue back in this situation.

He was afraid of implicating Qiao Ran.

She raised her voice and said, "I said it, not Ranran. I was just joking with this gentleman. If you have any complaints, come at me instead of making baseless accusations."

Xu Qing was also quite annoyed by Lin Mengchuan's spoilsport, and hurriedly tried to explain: "Dear viewers, Miss Qiao and I are friends. We were just joking around."

"Miss Qiao, I won't disturb your shopping any longer. Let's have dinner together another time."

Qiao Ran remained calm throughout. After listening to Xu Qing's words, she called Zhao Mengmeng and Ding Ding, "Let's go."

Lin Mengchuan watched as Qiao Ran and the other two entered the elevator, feeling quite annoyed.

Why did he say that just now? He caused Qiao Ran to be criticized by passersby; she must hate him to death.

He clearly wanted to be good to her, but the words he said always ended up hurting her.

The staff member behind the service desk whispered to Xu Qing, "Sir, Ms. Qiao is a really nice person. She didn't refuse when our staff took photos with her, and she even treated us to milk tea."

Xu Qing glanced at Lin Mengchuan and smiled as she replied to the staff member, "I know, we've known each other for a long time, don't you know her temper? My brother here just likes to tease Qiao Ran."

The staff member glanced at Lin Mengchuan, somewhat annoyed. "There's a limit to joking around. The way he talked really brought trouble to Miss Qiao. It's not easy for Miss Qiao to make a comeback after her divorce."

"If you were really her friends, you should support her and help promote her, instead of making jokes that bring her trouble. If I were Miss Qiao, I would be devastated to hear such words."

Lin Mengchuan was too ashamed to stay any longer, so he yelled at Xu Qing, "Are you leaving or not? If you don't want to leave, then don't leave."

Xu Qing quickly took his cup and poster from the staff member, saying, "Thank you, beautiful lady."

Meanwhile, Qiao Ran and her two companions took the elevator to the food court on the top floor.

Zhao Mengmeng and Ding Ding's good mood was ruined.

As Zhao Mengmeng stepped out of the elevator, she cursed, "How can Lin Mengchuan's mouth be so annoying? Ranran, it's a good thing you divorced him. If you had lived with a man like that, you would have definitely developed breast hyperplasia from anger."

Ding Ding chimed in, "That's right. If there hadn't been so many people there, I would have slapped him across the face."

Zhao Mengmeng: "One isn't enough, we should beat his stinking mouth to a pulp."

"Alright, there's no need to get angry over someone like that and let it affect our mood. Don't forget, today is the first day of the new year," Qiao Ran reminded him. "Let him say whatever he wants, I'll just ignore it."

Zhao Mengmeng raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, let's just pretend he farted. Which restaurant should we eat at?"

When food was mentioned, Dingding perked up and pointed ahead, saying, "Let's eat at that place, the one with the best online reviews."

The three of them went inside, and there was exactly one private room left.

After following the waiter into the private room, Qiao Ran asked Zhao Mengmeng and Ding Ding to order, "This meal is on me, you can order whatever you want, but don't waste food. You can order some first, and then add more if you want."

Zhao Mengmeng and Ding Ding happily competed to order the dishes.

The phone next to her rang twice in a row. Qiao Ran picked it up and saw a photo sent by Qi Muci: a whole roasted lamb.

Qi Muci: "Would you like to eat a whole roasted lamb?"

Qiao Ran smiled, her slender fingers typing a line of text on the screen and sending it out.

Qiao Ran: "I want to eat it, can I get it to go?"

Qi Muci quickly replied, "We can't take it to go, but we can pre-order and have it delivered to our door. I'll order one and have it delivered to my parents' place tonight so we can eat it."

Qiao Ran: "Isn't one too many?"

Qi Muci: "Not many. There are also my grandparents and maternal grandparents. With so many people, we can definitely eliminate it."

Qiao Ran: "Then let's have one."

Qi Muci: "Have you had your hot pot yet?"

Qiao Ran: Not yet, we just arrived at the restaurant. Mengmeng and Dingding are ordering.

Qi Muci: "It's so slow, shall I go shopping with you after I finish eating?"

Qiao Ran: "Okay, remember to wear a mask. I'm afraid we won't be able to shop if you show up."

Qi Muci: "Okay, wait for me, see you in a bit."

Qiao Ran: "Okay, see you in a bit."

Seeing that Qiao Ran had put away her phone, Zhao Mengmeng teased, "Were you texting your husband again? You two are always together, isn't that enough? You're already feeling sad after being apart for just a little while?"

"People feel like they've missed each other for three autumns if they don't see each other for a day, but you feel like you've missed each other for three autumns if you don't see each other for an hour."

Qiao Ran chuckled and patted Zhao Mengmeng on the shoulder. "Hurry up and order the food, I'm starving! You're always teasing me. Aren't you the same as your older brother? Who was it that said they wanted to go on a business trip with your older brother last night?"