Yancheng walked Jolene into the residential complex. Jolene smiled and said, "Thank you for walking me back... and for pretending to pursue me. I’m sorry I took advantage of you."

Yancheng was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "I am pursuing you. It wasn't a pretense."

Under Jolene’s shocked gaze, Yancheng spoke with total sincerity, revealing a secret he had kept for a long time: "I’ve had a crush on you for years."

"I followed you even back in Country M. But since everyone knew you had a boyfriend then, and I knew you were someone who took relationships seriously, I just watched and wished you well from afar."

"Later, I learned you agreed to come to Country H with your mentor, and I heard rumors that you were breaking up... I apologize, I didn't mean to pry into your privacy."

Yancheng paused. Seeing that Jolene didn't look repulsed, he breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "So, I followed you here."

Jolene never expected she had such a devoted secret admirer. She remained speechless for a long time before finally lowering her head and apologizing. "...I’m not looking to consider anything like that right now."

Even though Yancheng was exceptional, the wounds inflicted by Xavier would take a long time to heal. Although her friends often told her the best way to forget a relationship was to start a new one, she felt that doing so would be irresponsible toward Yancheng.

Jolene expected her rejection would cause Yancheng to turn and leave. To her surprise, a spark of light flickered in his eyes. "I know. I just wanted you to understand that you are excellent, and many people love you. You don't need to shrink away because of one failed relationship."

"I have patience. I can wait for you."

A day that should have ended in total chaos instead concluded with Yancheng smiling and saying goodnight. That night, for the first time, Jolene didn't have nightmares. There were no scenes of Xavier’s betrayal. She fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.

The next day, she didn't see Xavier on her way to school. When she arrived, her teammates rushed over to have her take a call, saying someone was willing to invest ten million in their project.

Jolene felt a mix of surprise and a faint sense of unease as she took the phone. On the other end was indeed a strange male voice. His polished English eased her concerns slightly. "Is this Miss Jolene Jiang? Our employer is very interested in your startup plan. Is it convenient to meet at a certain time and place?"

Jolene thought for a moment and chose an upscale restaurant near the school. It was familiar and safe.

She couldn't see that on the other end of the line, Xavier’s fists were clenched with excitement upon hearing her agreement. After giving a foreigner a few hundred dollars as a tip, Xavier immediately contacted the restaurant to arrange a candlelight dinner. He even visited a stylist, changed into the white suit Jolene loved most, and had his hair styled perfectly.

As night fell, his assistant loaded boxes of cash into the car and hesitantly told Xavier, "...It seems Chloe escaped. The foreigners I hired said they didn't finish the job."

Xavier, his heart and soul focused on the date, had no energy for anything else and said dismissively, "It's not important anymore."

Tonight would be the new beginning where he won Jolene back. Regardless of whether she agreed, he would never let her go to another man. She could only be his. By any means necessary.

Night soon arrived.

The setting was a private room. When Jolene walked in, she was stunned by several open safes on the table. Inside were stacks upon stacks of cash—roughly ten million. Instead of making her happy, it felt entirely wrong. She stopped in her tracks and instinctively turned to leave.

But it was too late. The door was shut from the outside and locked with a click.

Jolene’s pupils contracted. She rushed to the door, but no matter how she pressed the handle, it wouldn't open.

"Jolene..."

Xavier’s familiar voice sounded behind her. Jolene couldn't help but flare up in anger, exhausted by his persistence. "Xavier, what on earth do you want?!"

"Do you not understand plain English? Late-coming affection is cheaper than dirt. I’ve already started a new life!"

Xavier looked at her with dark, hollow eyes, acting as if he were the victim. "Jolene, did you forget? Today is my birthday. We promised we would never miss each other's birthdays."

"Do you see the cash on the table? I sold the hospital and turned it into money. These are my life savings..."

Xavier admitted to himself he was one step away from madness. "I’m loving you with my life. For you, I’m willing to give up everything and start over... Jolene, forgive me. Let’s get back together. I’ll make you happy."

As he spoke, he approached her with a glass of wine. After her initial shock, Jolene was purely annoyed. She flipped the glass over. "Let me leave right now. I forgot your birthday long ago, and there’s no reason to remember it."

The champagne drenched Xavier, leaving a large stain on his pristine white suit. His carefully prepared appearance was ruined, and his rehearsed confession was treated like trash. His expression finally twisted.

"Jolene, you’re the one who broke our promise first. I told you, Chloe and I were just colleagues. Even if I was wrong, I corrected it immediately. Why do you keep clinging to this one point?"

"Is it because you already had something to hide, and you’re using this as an excuse to break up with me and go to another man... But Jolene, how could someone like Yancheng Gu ever be satisfied with just you?"

"Come back to me, Jolene. I’m the only one who loves you wholeheartedly..."

Slap!

Jolene, reaching her limit, delivered a slap to his face. "Xavier, there’s a limit to self-delusion! You were the one who betrayed our relationship. What right do you have to throw dirt on me now?"

Xavier’s face was knocked to the side. After a long silence, he let out a few eerie chuckles. "Jolene, if you’re going to refuse my kindness, then don't blame me for what happens next."

With that, he scooped Jolene up and pushed open the door to a hidden room, pinning her onto the bed. Excitement and a strange sense of unease made Xavier lose his head. He bit into Jolene’s neck, his hot breath washing over her. After a few seconds, he realized something was wrong.

Jolene wasn't reacting at all.

Startled, Xavier propped himself up to look at her, only to find her expression unnervingly calm. It was like a bucket of ice water had been thrown over him, extinguishing his heat.

"What are you thinking?" Xavier asked.

"I’m thinking you’re an animal," Jolene said flatly. "Xavier, if you think that by sleeping with me, I’ll have to belong to you for the rest of my life... you’re wrong."

"If you think doing this will provoke Yancheng Gu and make him give up on me so that I have to belong to you... you’re even more wrong."

"I, Jolene Jiang, have never lived my life relying on men."

"I don't believe chastity is such a vital thing; it's just like being bitten by a dog."

"Doing this will only make me hate you. It will make me feel that our initial meeting was a complete mistake, and it will cast a veil of coercion over all the good things that actually happened between us."

"I will never forgive you."

Xavier seemed to have a pause button pressed on him. The light in his eyes vanished instantly, leaving only a dazed blankness. His fingers, which were at her collar, stopped moving. The room was silent except for his breathing, which felt even heavier than the dead silence.

"You can go."

After a long time, Xavier closed his eyes tightly and spoke to her in a low, strained voice. "Go now."

Jolene didn't hesitate. She got up, straightened her clothes, and walked out. The door opened again at Xavier’s command. Before she was completely out of his sight, he asked one last time, very quietly, "Is there really no chance for us anymore?"

His voice, soaked in alcohol, was raspy and deep, making him seem even more lonely and tragic.

Jolene didn't answer.

But Xavier had his answer. Whether it was self-mockery or the peak of sorrow, he actually let out a deep laugh and shouted at Jolene’s retreating back: "Jolene, then don't forget me... and even more, don't hate me."

Jolene walked out of the hotel.

The sky was covered with dense clouds, looking incredibly gloomy. A cold wind wrapped in mist brushed against her face, carrying a damp and chilly bite.

It was not good weather.

Her mind went blank as she mechanically switched back and forth between social media apps on her phone.