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“I…” Xia Yuwei barely uttered a word before Lu Yichen’s hand wrapped around her waist, poised to lift her up. Before she could think further, fearing he might do something shocking, she hastily pushed him away with her hands. “I’m going out with you!”

Half-dragged and half-pulled, she was led out through the back door of the lecture hall. Xia Yuwei silently thanked the dim lighting and the lack of onlookers; otherwise, she couldn’t imagine the shock and turmoil that would erupt if anyone had witnessed such a scene.

Stepping outside, the sudden brightness made her squint. The back door opened onto a grassy lawn; to the left lay a road, bordered by tightly packed pine trees and a dense row of hollies, enclosing this relatively secluded space.

“Lu Yichen, can you stop being so willful…” Xia Yuwei’s words were cut off as Lu Yichen pushed her out, abruptly increasing the distance between them.

Caught off guard, Xia Yuwei stumbled backward several steps and fell onto the grass. Looking up, she met Lu Yichen’s dark, cold gaze, which sent an inexplicable chill through her. The faint joy she had felt vanished completely. He had changed—become reckless, heartless, incomprehensible… He would never have pushed her away like this before, never allowed her to fall to the ground.

“Lu Yichen, you—”

“Aren’t you afraid I’d touch you? I’m doing you a favor,” he said coldly. “Going to Europe? From now on, you can avoid me forever. Happy about that?” The scent of Ye Lifeng clung to her, a presence he found unbearable. Words meant to be gentle and persuasive twisted into biting cruelty at the last moment.

Yes, he sought her out because he couldn’t let go. But this was how he made her feel cheap, trampled upon. He hadn’t forgotten a thing—her scheming against him, her betrayal, her plan to escape with another man. If he were to treat her as if nothing had happened, he wouldn’t be a man at all.

Seeing her thin clothes, her translucent pale face, and her lips drained of color, his heart ached painfully. He wanted to hold her close, to warm her, but couldn’t untie the knot inside. His legs felt frozen, unable to take a step forward.

“Yes. I’m going to Europe with Lifeng. I can avoid you, and yes, I’m happy about it. Thank you for letting me go.” Xia Yuwei rose from the grass, brushing off the scattered blades stubbornly clinging to her. Without glancing at him, she forced herself to appear calm and polite—no anger, no disappointment, no hurt. Since he was no longer the man she knew, why should she keep making herself miserable?

Frowning slightly to make sure no grass remained on her, she stepped onto the winding path and walked away.

Is this what he wanted? To make her hate him at their final parting, to despise him! Hate his wild abandon, his cold cruelty, and most of all, hate that he disturbed the precious peace she had finally achieved after a sleepless night!

Only through this could she forget completely, could she leave without attachments, right? In the end, she should be the one thanking him!

Behind her, Lu Yichen clenched his fists tightly, struggling to suppress the urge to rush forward and hold her, but he never moved an inch.

Heartless woman! Despicable woman!

He had humbled himself to find her—couldn’t she see his sincerity at all?

And yet she didn’t even glance back, just turned and walked away like that!

He couldn’t let her go, couldn’t allow her to leave so freely!

*********************************************************************************

Class was over, and a crowd surged out through the front gate.

Xia Yuwei circled around to the front entrance. From afar, she spotted Ye Lifeng waiting beneath a tree outside the classroom, attentively watching every person at the door, as if afraid of missing her. A faint warmth stirred within Xia Yuwei’s cold heart.

“Lifeng…” she called softly from behind him. He turned, surprised to see her, and she smiled sweetly. This man was her fiancé—the one who would cherish her for life. He would never push her away, nor treat her harshly or coldly. He would tolerate her whims and be endlessly kind and generous to her.

“Why did you come up behind me? You’re like a ghost…” Ye Lifeng smiled at her radiant face, his gloomy mood instantly lifted.

“I came out the back door!” Xia Yuwei said playfully, winking as she linked her arm through his. Ye Lifeng was a little surprised but more filled with genuine joy. Perhaps after last night’s events, she had completely given up on Lu Yichen. Her heart was beginning to lean toward him—and what a wonderful beginning that was. In a few days, they would leave together, and he had more confidence than ever that he would win her heart, her love, her all.

*********************************************************************************

“So, what do you want to eat for lunch? You look pale—haven’t been eating well, have you? People might think I’m mistreating you. Why do you always wear so little? Your lips are pale, your little hands cold. Let’s go get something good to eat…” Along the way, Ye Lifeng tenderly caressed her cheeks and hands, his concern endless.

“Mm. Okay. I’ll follow your plan,” Xia Yuwei answered softly, offering a faint smile without resistance.

The harmonious intimacy of this strikingly handsome couple drew admiring glances from passersby.

“Such a fairy-tale story… President Ye and Xia Yuwei really are a perfect match!”

“Yeah, President Ye spent over two years pursuing her. What a devoted man! Are there still such faithful men in the world? The guy who chased me disappeared without a trace just because I said no once. Then he went after someone else! It’s just not fair… I’m so jealous of Senior Xia…”

“I heard they’re leaving for Europe in a few days. What a pity—another beautiful sight gone from campus…”

“Right. I heard the next student council president will be Xi Mingxuan, another total heartthrob. So there’s still hope for us…”

…

It dawned on him that they had been together for two years. More than two years, and he had won her. Could ten years of knowing her really be worth less than these two years of closeness?

Among the crowd, Lu Yichen stood tall and straight, watching Xia Yuwei and Ye Lifeng walk away. A strange thought slowly began rising in his mind.