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Holding her in such a detached manner, Lu Yichen suddenly felt as though he were offending her. Just as he was about to let go, the door opened. Song Ying entered with a steaming cup of milk, only to stumble upon the two of them in an intimate embrace. She froze, caught in an awkward dilemma of whether to advance or retreat.

"Set it down," Lu Yichen said, releasing Xia Yuwei. She took several steps back.

Secretary Song stepped in, placed the milk on the coffee table, and quickly retreated.

It was often said that the CEO had no interest in women, but it seemed the rumors were false. Which wealthy man wasn't unfaithful? It seemed none were. Hadn't he had a fiancée a short while ago? And this one... elegant yet alluring. Was she a mistress? With that thought, the look she gave Xia Yuwei lost its courtesy.

Xia Yuwei clearly sensed the hostility, but she did not care. She had endured countless storms and accusations in the past; what did these mere glares matter? Her resilience had long since been tempered by the grind of life.

Lu Yichen walked to his desk and sat in the chair behind it.

Xia Yuwei followed him to the expansive desk, opened her bag, and smiled. "Lu Yichen, I've come to return your things today." As she spoke, she produced the items she had prepared. She had gone out of her way to buy a jewelry box, placing inside every piece of jewelry he had ever given her, including the jade ring and the rose diamond ring.

"What is this?" Ignoring her deliberate coldness, Lu Yichen frowned at the medium-sized jewelry box she had placed on the desk.

Xia Yuwei smiled brightly. "See for yourself." Freed from his confinement, she found she could suddenly treat him like a stranger.

Lu Yichen reached out a long arm to pull the box toward him, just about to open it, when his gaze caught the hand Xia Yuwei had resting on the desk—her right hand.

On her ring finger was a ring. However, it was not one he had given her. It was merely a small, inconspicuous, ordinary band.

Lu Yichen slowly looked up, his gaze traveling from her finger, up to her face. Though only a desk separated them, it felt as though they were worlds apart.

"Is there a problem?" His long, silent scrutiny made Xia Yuwei uncomfortable. She instinctively pulled her hand back from the desk. Yet, Lu Yichen continued to stare at her face, giving her the urge to reach up and touch it herself.

"The ring. Where is the ring I gave you?" He leaned back into his chair, still staring at her, speaking each word with deliberate weight.

"It's right in front of you. Open it and take inventory," Xia Yuwei said, feigning ease. He kept his eyes on her, but she refused to look at him. What was he trying to do? Was he looking at her to condemn her? Did he still have the right?

Lu Yichen remained motionless, a dull fire beginning to burn within him.

Xia Yuwei walked over to open it for him. She turned the box to face herself, unlatched the clasp, and then rotated it back to present the contents to him.

What came into view were items both familiar and strange. She had arranged them neatly and meticulously. Back then, he would dump all the finest things onto her at once, regardless of her protests.

There was the "Jade Cold Night" limited edition necklace he had given her at seven, along with the entire "Infatuation" jewelry set... The "Days on the Clouds" commemorative series from when she was eight... Then nine... Then ten... And the jade ring from when she was seventeen, symbolizing a love for a lifetime. Finally, the rose diamond ring he had forced onto her finger just a week ago—her flower, their language of love and longing.

Lu Yichen reached out, closed the box, and pushed it aside. He looked up at Xia Yuwei, who stood beside him.

"If you don't want them, you can throw them away; there was no need to return them. What is the meaning of this?"

"Take it to mean whatever you like." She mimicked his tone, feeling a shred of vengeful satisfaction. "And what about you? What do you mean by this? You gave me a ring for no reason. You know this object holds special significance; it cannot be given away casually. And now, we have no relationship whatsoever."

Lu Yichen furrowed his brows and stood up, his tall frame instantly looming over her.

"Are you sure we have no relationship?"

He could have embraced her with a single movement, but Xia Yuwei stepped back twice, watching him with caution.

"Lu Yichen, don't you think you're being contradictory? If you didn't want me, you should have made a clean break. Don't let me see you again! You don't need to feel guilty, and I have long since forgotten you. I have my own life. What is the point of all this?" She tightened her fingers, her slightly long nails digging into her palms. Her good temper did not mean she was a block of wood without her own thoughts or temperament.

Lu Yichen frowned, wanting to reach out and hold her, but he merely shoved his hands into his pockets instead.

"Weiwei, I never wanted to let you go. And I never wanted to forget you. I didn't want to in the past, and I certainly don't want to now."

Do you know how hollow and bitter the days were when I had forgotten you? Now that I have finally remembered you, you tell me you have already forgotten me...

"But you still let me go, didn't you?" The sentence sounded a bit like a resentful woman. Xia Yuwei couldn't help but let out a soft, involuntary laugh.

"You hate me," he said. If she found out that he had dared to forget her for seven years, would she hate him even more?

"I don't hate you," Xia Yuwei replied, her face calm, a smile lingering on her lips. "I have already forgotten you." She repeated her words, as if to remind him—and to remind herself.