I put down the comb and used foundation to cover the circles under my eyes.

Then, I called a taxi and headed to the clinic.

The psychiatrist looked at the fresh medical records, frowned, adjusted his glasses, and let out a heavy sigh.

"Sienna, although I can understand your situation, your condition cannot be allowed to continue like this."

I inquired, "Dr. Chen, if I agree to be with him, will my condition improve?"

Dr. Chen was silent for a moment. "Matters of the heart must be resolved by yourselves, but I must say one thing..."

"The majority of your condition is driven by the conflict of gain and loss."

"Until he can give you absolute security, try to have as little contact as possible."

The doctor’s words hung over my head like a curse.

I went to the seaside alone and strolled along the beach. In the distance, two children were building sandcastles.

I found a spot to sit and watched them play.

In the place where we used to live, there was no ocean. Once, we discovered a pond of modest size.

Jude jumped into the pond while Julian looked at him with disdain.

Eventually, Julian came to my side and helped me build a castle.

The star bracelet was a gift he gave me after that.

I slowly stood up and walked to the water's edge. I took off my high heels and let my feet sink into the sand. The salty seawater occasionally washed up, touching me lightly before retreating.

Julian and I were like the beach and the ocean—clearly able to touch, yet always separated by a distinct boundary.

No matter how many times the ocean washed over the beach, it could never change a thing.

The beach remained the beach, and the ocean remained the ocean.

The boundaries were forever distinct.

The seawater gradually rose past my ankles. Looking at the vast, endless ocean, a sudden peace filled my heart.

I stayed a while longer before thinking it was time to head back.

Just as I turned around, someone suddenly hugged me.

I was about to struggle when a familiar scent reached my nose. "Julian?"

"What are you doing?" Julian looked frantic.

When he drove past just now and saw me standing in the sea, he had broken into a cold sweat from the shock.

"I was just catching the breeze."

"You shouldn't come to such a dangerous place to catch a breeze!" Julian scolded.

I suddenly burst out laughing.

"I won't do it again."

Julian held my hand as we walked back.

Passing the castle built by the two children, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind, and I spoke in a low voice.

"Julian, let’s just be brother and sister."

Chapter 23

A wild gust of wind howled past, and the crashing sound of the waves drowned out my voice.

Julian looked back in confusion. "What did you just say?"

My mind went blank for an instant. I said hesitantly, "Nothing. I’m hungry, let’s get back quickly."

Instead of Julian leading me, I was now the one actively pulling him along.

Julian followed behind, staring at our joined hands in silence.

In truth, he had heard everything just now; he had simply pretended not to.

The moment he heard the words "brother and sister," Julian suddenly felt a wave of loathing for his past self.

Sienna had been the one enduring this painful loathing all along.

He had only felt it for the first time, and he was already barely able to stand it.

How much courage had she needed back then to walk across the blade's edge step by step?

Just thinking about it made Julian feel as if he were suffocating.

...

"How much longer will you be on this business trip?"

Sitting in a Western restaurant, I asked while looking at my phone.

Julian’s movement cutting the steak faltered. "Based on current progress, probably another month or two."

I nodded and didn't ask further, putting down my phone to focus on the steak in front of me.

"Why do you ask?"

"Yu just sent a text. Yara went to the coffee shop again and spent the whole day glaring at her," I said. "She comes over often when you're not around."

Julian frowned. "Is she giving you trouble?"

"No, she just sits there and glares at me. A coffee shop is a business; we can't kick her out, especially since she hasn't actually done anything."

Julian adjusted his glasses. "I’m sorry."

Hearing this, I paused mid-chew, then said with feigned indifference, "Why are you apologizing? You have nothing to do with her."

Julian fell silent.

The atmosphere suddenly became subtle.

I asked tentatively, "Did you and her... really date in the past?"

"No," Julian denied immediately. "Her father was my mentor. He was always trying to set us up, which gave her the wrong impression."

I felt a sense of relief in my heart and smiled. "Then there’s even less reason for you to apologize; it’s not your fault."

"It started because of me, after all." Julian reached out and took my hand, saying sincerely, "I will handle this."

I didn't reply.

In truth, I didn't want to get involved.

I had already decided to stay away from Julian.

However, when I heard that Yara's father had tried to set them up, I still felt a pang in my heart.

Julian’s time at university was the moment my first love began to bud.

I was still carrying a backpack while Julian had already met all sorts of different women, and I simply couldn't enter his world.

Those four years were the emptiest of times; even though we were neighbors, the only times we could interact were during winter and summer breaks.

Just the thought of Julian spending that same time with other women made me so jealous my expression grew twisted.

I went to the restroom and took some medicine to barely make it through the meal.

Perhaps even Heaven couldn't stand to see me let go so quickly; when we returned to the coffee shop, Yara just happened to be walking out.

The three of us stood face-to-face.

Yara took a step forward, intending to grab Julian’s arm, but he moved away.

I watched this scene in silence.

Yara looked embarrassed for a moment, then looked up and asked, "What have you two been doing?"

Julian knit his brows slightly, dissatisfied with Yara's questioning tone.

While this kind of assertiveness at work had saved their partnership a lot of trouble, it didn't mean he wanted to face her aggressiveness outside of work.

I reacted even faster than Julian.

Hearing this tone, which sounded like a "legitimate wife" asserting her territory, I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"In what capacity are you questioning Julian?"

I bit back almost immediately after Yara finished speaking.

Julian was stunned and immediately held back his own words.

"I am his colleague. It’s normal to ask about his whereabouts," Yara answered, maintaining her composure.

"Those who know would say you're a colleague; those who don't might think there’s something between you!" I continued to mock her.

This was the first time Julian had ever seen me so aggressive, and for a moment, he forgot to step in and defend me.

Yara wouldn't let it go: "As Julian’s sister, you should have enough sense to know not to interfere in your brother’s private life!"

I replied, "Weren't you the one who sent me those photos with deceptive angles a few years ago? Stop pretending!"

Julian was taken aback. "What deceptive photos?"

Hearing this, Yara grew frantic and retorted with a cold laugh, "Don't talk nonsense. Who knows if it was one of Julian’s other pursuers who couldn't stand the sight of you."

I wanted to argue a bit more; I truly couldn't stand this woman. It was one thing that she used to flaunt her status and send me photos.

What did she mean by coming here to provoke me every other day?

She didn't have the ability to win Julian over herself, so she was taking her anger out on me?!

But before I could speak, Julian threw his arm around my shoulder.

"Yara, you are the one who needs to mind your boundaries."

Seeing him hold me, Yara’s eyes widened, and she demanded, "What exactly is your relationship now?!"

I was just about to speak when Julian stopped me.

He said with a serious expression, "She is my girlfriend."

Chapter 24

A heavy silence fell over the front of the coffee shop. The wind chimes tinkled softly, and even the birds by the trees poked their heads out to glance at the scene before the door.

Leaning against the window, Yu jerked her head up in excitement upon hearing this declaration, accidentally slamming it into the window frame.

"Ouch!"

That sound finally snapped the three of them out of their trance.

I stood there in total bewilderment.

The sight of the color draining from Yara's face was deeply satisfying.