Finally, Jasper pinched Susan’s chin and kissed her deeply.

Zoe stared blankly at Jasper performing CPR by the poolside. The freezing pool water dripped from her hair, but it was nothing compared to the chill in her heart.

In her past life, Jasper had been aloof and noble; he would wash his hands repeatedly even after touching her. She had always thought he was just a germaphobe or naturally indifferent to women, and that she could slowly warm his heart.

Only now did she realize he simply had someone he liked.

And she had never been in his eyes.

Chapter 2

Zoe used all her strength to crawl onto the shore, her fingernails digging deep into the ground.

She could not die.

She still had to marry Julian.

Not far away, Jasper finally finished that long "CPR" session. Susan coughed twice and slowly opened her eyes.

"Susan!" Jasper, relieved, immediately scooped her up into his arms. "I'm taking you to the hospital."

He turned and walked away, not even sparing a glance for Zoe, who was soaked from head to toe.

At the same time, the other three men finally regained their senses and spotted Zoe, who had crawled ashore on her own.

"Zoe!"

Lucas was the first to rush over. He was wearing a deep blue suit today; even in his flustered state, he remained elegant and noble. Hugo and Jude followed closely behind. The three men stood together like a carefully composed magazine spread.

"Zoe, are you alright?" Lucas reached out to help her. "The situation just now was too critical, we..."

"Mistook Susan for you," Hugo quickly added.

Jude handed her a towel. "That's right. The water was too murky; we made a mistake."

Zoe took the towel, her fingertips icy.

What a ridiculous excuse.

The pool was crystal clear; Susan was wearing a white dress, while she was in a red one. How could they have mistaken them?

"Let's go to the hospital for a check-up," Lucas said gently. "We'll go with you."

Zoe looked up and saw the undisguised urgency in their eyes.

Were they really trying to accompany her?

They were simply looking for an excuse to go see Susan.

"No need." She tossed the towel back. "I'm fine."

"How can you say that!" Hugo frowned. "You're soaked through. What if you catch a cold..."

"If you want to go to the hospital," Zoe interrupted, "go yourselves."

The three men looked at each other.

"We aren't hurt, why would we go to the hospital?" Jude spoke up again. "Don't be angry, okay? We really did mistake her for you. We won't go to the company for the next few days; we'll stay here with you as compensation for our mistake."

Zoe didn't say another word and turned to leave.

Her soaked clothes clung to her skin, making every step feel heavy, but she kept her back straight and did not look back.

Over the next few days, the three men tried every possible way to win Zoe’s favor.

Lucas sent the latest haute couture gown from Paris Fashion Week, Hugo air-freighted a rare pink diamond necklace, and Jude simply gifted her a limited-edition sports car.

"Zoe, there’s an auction tonight," Lucas said gently, handing over an invitation. "Should we go to help you clear your mind?"

Zoe looked at their attentive behavior and sneered inwardly.

The auction venue was magnificent, with dazzling crystal chandeliers illuminating the grand hall as if it were daylight.

Zoe entered slowly, her slender heels clicking on the floor. Her champagne-colored dress outlined her graceful figure, but in the next second, she froze in her tracks—

In the VIP section, Jasper was carefully helping Susan get seated.

The man was dressed in a well-tailored black suit that accentuated his tall, lean frame, and those phoenix eyes that had once fascinated her were now filled with tenderness for the person beside him.

When Jasper saw her, he frowned slightly and actually walked over on his own initiative.

His voice was as cold as if he were discussing a business deal. "Did your mother mention anything about choosing a fiance to you?"

Zoe lifted her eyes, meeting his distant gaze.

"I know you like me," he stated mercilessly. "But I don't like you, so don't choose me."

With that, he walked away without looking back, carefully shielding Susan at his side, his posture as if he were guarding some precious treasure.

"Zoe, don't be sad." Seeing this, Lucas quickly walked over and placed a long finger gently on her shoulder. "Jasper has no taste, but that doesn't mean no one appreciates you."

Hugo pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his peach-blossom eyes behind the lenses filled with a gentle smile. "That’s right. The three of us all like you, and we will always be on your side."

Jude, looking full of worry, took a glass of champagne from a server and handed it to Zoe. "Little Princess, have something to drink; don't dwell on these unhappy things."

Zoe looked at the three men before her, their eyes filled with "love," and curled her lips in self-mockery. She took the champagne, her fingertips freezing cold.

"I'm fine," she said softly, her voice devoid of even a ripple of emotion.

"But seriously," Lucas leaned in, his warm breath fanning against her ear. "Zoe, ever since Julian was driven abroad by you, you only have four fiances left. Now that there are four of us, who are you actually planning to choose? We’re all very curious."

Zoe was about to say "I don't want any of you," but the words on her lips changed to: "You'll know in a while."

A single sentence immediately made everyone present feel uneasy.

Zoe merely curled her lips. She had suffered twenty years of torment in her past life; what did a few measly days of torment for them matter?

After the auction officially began, the three men kept asking what Zoe liked, but she shook her head the entire time.

On the other side, Jasper bid on every single item Susan set her eyes on.

Diamond necklaces, antique pocket watches, jade bracelets...

Zoe glanced at them, but she no longer felt the heart-wrenching pain of her past life.

Her heart was undisturbed; she just stared straight ahead with a blank expression.

It wasn't until the final grand prize of the auction appeared and the auctioneer lifted the red silk that Zoe’s pupils suddenly constricted—

It was the final masterpiece of her late mentor, Mist and Rain over Spring Mountains!

The familiar brushwork on the painting instantly reminded her of her teacher’s withered hands before he passed.

In her memories, her teacher would always stroke her head lovingly and say, "Zoe, this painting is my life's work..."

Now that her teacher had passed, her teacher's wife wept day and night. If she could win this painting, it would certainly comfort her teacher's wife’s longing.

"Five million," she raised her number plate without hesitation.

"Jasper..." Susan tugged on Jasper’s sleeve. "This painting is so beautiful."

Jasper immediately raised his plate. "Ten million."

Zoe gritted her teeth. "Twenty million."

"Thirty million."

The price soared rapidly, and the entire auction hall fell silent. Zoe caught a glimpse of Lucas and the other two quietly putting down their plates, as Susan was gazing longingly at the painting.

How ironic.

Just ten minutes ago, they had sworn, "Whatever Zoe likes, we’ll buy it for you."

Digging her fingernails into her palms, she raised her number plate again. "Fifty million."

"Eighty million."

"One hundred million."

In the end, Jasper actually went all in!

As he stood up to swipe his card, his long legs in dress trousers strode across the red carpet, not sparing a single glance for the pale-faced Zoe.

"Zoe, don't be sad," Lucas quickly comforted her. "If you like this painting so much, I’ll check the back room now to see if there’s a similar one, and I’ll bid on it for you immediately..."

"I’ll go too!" Hugo quickly chimed in.

"I’m coming as well!" Jude followed closely behind.

The backs of the three men as they hurried away blurred in Zoe’s vision. She took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of heartache, and headed straight toward Susan, who was surrounded by others like a star.

"Name your price for this painting." Zoe’s voice was terrifyingly calm. "Five times, ten times, twenty times—it doesn't matter."

Susan chuckled, a flash of smugness in her eyes. "So, the high-and-mighty heiress also has to beg?"

She tilted her head, blinking innocently. "But money isn't everything. I don't want to sell this painting for now. However, if you really want it, kneel down and beg me, and I'll give it to you."

Zoe’s breathing hitched slightly.

The face before her always acted weak and frail in front of men, but was arrogant and insufferable to the point of nausea when facing her.

This was why she had never liked Susan in either her past or present life.