Chapter 20: Listening to How Your Ex Describes You, Part 3

“It looks like I’m up next.”
Zhang Chen suddenly realized his recording would be played soon, and an inexplicable nervousness crept up on him.
“If I’m not mistaken, it really is your turn,” Lu Zhou, sitting beside him, said with a smile, studying him for a moment. “Want a moment to collect yourself?”
Zhang Chen calmly adjusted the strap of his watch, trying to show everyone how poised he was. In a crisp, decisive tone, he said, “What’s there to prepare for? Let’s just do it!”
Wen Yiming, seated diagonally across, raised a handsome eyebrow in amusement. “As expected, my brother Zhang Chen is sure of himself!”
Zhang Chen frowned slightly. “And how are you so sure I’m your ‘big brother’?”
Wen Yiming was momentarily speechless. Indeed, he didn’t know for sure—since none of them had revealed their ages yet, who was older remained a mystery.
The others couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s just a respectful address,” Wen Yiming said with an awkward chuckle.
Zhang Chen let the matter drop and pointed at the tablet in the middle of the table. “Go ahead, I’m actually quite looking forward to it.”
Lu Zhou obliged, tapping to play the next recording.
“I’m Zhang Chen’s ex.”
The opening lines were remarkably uniform—‘I am so-and-so’s ex’. Lu Zhou had already guessed the order, so this introduction held no suspense for anyone anymore.
But the next sentence that followed left everyone at the table raising their eyebrows in surprise.
“Um… An evaluation? How should I put this…”
The voice dragged out the words, clearly struggling with how to begin.
A long silence followed in the recording, so much so that everyone wondered if it had ended.
Time ticked by, and still nothing but silence.
Zhang Chen unconsciously swallowed, his calm expression threatening to crack.
Li Jiayan couldn’t help whispering, “Why isn’t there any sound? Could the tablet have run out of battery?”
Xu Junze immediately chimed in, “Maybe—it’s worth checking the power.”
Just then, the speaker’s voice came through again.
“Zhang Chen…
In my opinion, he doesn’t have any major flaws. He’s pretty decent in all respects.”
The distorted voice echoed through the dining room.
Zhang Chen, whose heart had been pounding in anxiety, nearly rolled his eyes at that comment but managed to hold it in.
The others at the table fell utterly silent.
“To be honest, I don’t know him very well, so I won’t say much. If anyone wants to understand Zhang Chen better, you should spend time with him and see for yourself.”
The recording ended there.
Everyone exchanged astonished glances but felt too awkward to break the silence. The table was plunged into a dead quiet.

Xu Junze’s mouth twitched. His inner monologue: Brother, you’re really down on your luck—your ex clearly never loved you…
Wen Yiming thought to himself: Zhang Chen was so confident before the recording played, sure his ex would praise him. But this? That ex was ruthless—what a grudge.
Zhang Chen’s previously steady expression shattered completely. He loosened his shirt collar, his face twisting into an indescribable look.
The silence stretched on, no one wanting to be the first to break it.
The discomfort was palpable, like sitting on pins and needles.
Lu Zhou swept his gaze around the table, then quietly slid the box of tissues toward Zhang Chen and patted him on the shoulder. “It’s no crime for a man to cry.”
Zhang Chen pressed his tongue to his cheek, helplessly shook his head, and finally managed a wry smile. Lu Zhou’s joke had at least given him an out, and his color improved.
The others breathed a sigh of relief and began making light-hearted jokes to dispel the awkwardness.
Under the table, Li Jiayan tugged discreetly at Lu Zhou’s sleeve.
He glanced down and saw her giving him a big thumbs-up.
He pressed his lips together in a small smile, careful not to show it too much.
“Only two recordings left. Shall we go on?” Lu Zhou prompted, steering things forward.
With everyone’s agreement, Lu Zhou played the next one.
“I’m Xu Junze’s ex.”
This time, it was Xu Junze’s turn.
“Junze is a man I once loved deeply and will always feel grateful toward.
He’s extremely rational, both in life and at work.
That’s something I really liked about him, but also the reason I chose to leave him.
Junze is a bit reserved. When you first meet him, he might seem a little stiff, but once you get to know him, he actually has a lot to say.
Oh, and he’s a workaholic. When he gets busy, he often forgets to eat.
If you care about him, I hope you’ll remind him to eat on time.”
As the recording ended, everyone let out a collective sigh.
“Loved deeply” and “eternally grateful”—those were high praises indeed. It was clear the two had once loved each other with all their hearts, yet had parted in the end. It was bittersweet.
Xu Junze, perhaps reminded of old memories by the recording, found his eyes growing red.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chen felt his own heart bleeding even more after hearing it.
Truly, there’s no harm without comparison.
Look at Xu Junze’s ex! So wonderful! And what did his own ex say? The more he thought about it, the more it stung.
Lu Zhou was about to play the final recording when he realized Xu Junze had been plunged into sadness and was crying hard.
Lu Zhou was stunned. Brother, what’s… what’s going on?

Seeing this, Zhang Chen quickly got up and moved the box of tissues Lu Zhou had given him in front of Xu Junze.
“Here, here, wipe up. It’s not easy for any of us, brother. You actually make me think maybe my ex’s attitude wasn’t so bad after all.”
Xu Junze couldn’t help but laugh through his tears, looking utterly disheveled.
“Zhang Chen, you really know how to rub it in,” Li Jiayan teased.
Wen Yiming burst out laughing. “Come on, let’s all hurt together!”
Xu Junze: “…”
The little commotion finally settled down.
Ye Fangfei sat at the edge of the table, playing the observer. She hadn’t gotten too swept up in everyone else’s emotions.
Maybe it was exhaustion from work, but after eating and drinking her fill, she only felt more tired. Her temples throbbed dully.
Ye Fangfei began gently massaging her temples with her fingers. “Is it the last one now?” she asked.
Lu Zhou replied, “Yes, we’ve heard everyone else’s. Just yours left.”
“Then let’s get it over with. I want to go to bed,” Ye Fangfei said, looking a little wilted.
Zhang Chen noticed her massaging her temples and asked with concern, “Headache?”
Ye Fangfei stopped rubbing, shook her head with a smile. “I’m fine, just trying to clear my head.”
Lu Zhou played the last recording. The mechanically altered voice came through—
“I’m Ye Fangfei’s ex.
In my memory, she’s dazzling, free-spirited, energetic, and confident.
She’s the kind of girl who, if she’s in the same space as you, it’s impossible not to notice her.
She’s talented and charismatic, especially on stage.
I think she hopes to find a boyfriend who can connect with her on a deeper level—something I know I still need to work on!”
As the recording ended, everyone but Ye Fangfei stared wide-eyed; Li Jiayan even covered her mouth in excitement with a “Woo~!”
By the end, it was obvious to anyone with ears—Ye Fangfei’s ex was making it clear: I’m here to win her back! Let’s see who dares compete with me.
Would anyone dare? That remained to be seen.
At last, the grueling round of exes’ introductions was over. Ye Fangfei stretched comfortably for the camera. “Finally, I can go to sleep!”
Wen Yiming laughed. “Are you really that tired?”
Ye Fangfei stood up and waved to everyone. “See you all later. I’m off to bed first.”
“I’m afraid you won’t be sleeping just yet,” Lu Zhou said, waving his phone. “Check your messages—a new task just came in.”