Arthur started the car and glanced sideways at her: "How was work today?"

"Fine."

"Did anyone give you a hard time?"

"No."

"Really?"

Elena turned to look at him: "Uncle, I’m not a porcelain doll. I won't shatter just because someone says a few things."

Arthur’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel, and he said nothing more.

When the car arrived downstairs at Emerald Bay, Elena unbuckled her seatbelt, preparing to get out. He suddenly spoke.

"Elena, has Cassie been contacting you?"

Her hand froze.

"Why do you ask?"

"She’s been looking for people to investigate you recently." Arthur’s voice deepened. "I’m afraid she might do something harmful to you. If she contacts you, you must tell me."

Elena thought of that night’s phone call, the things she said—the diary, the photos, the total ruin.

Her heart leaped, but she quickly steadied herself.

"No," she said. "She hasn't contacted me."

Arthur stared into her eyes, as if judging whether she was telling the truth.

After a few seconds, he nodded: "Good. If she does, tell me immediately."

"I will."

Elena pushed the door open, stepped out, and walked into the apartment building holding the bouquet of bellflowers.

The moment the elevator doors closed, she realized her hands were shaking.

Cassie, what exactly do you want?

Back home, Elena put the bellflowers in a vase and sat on the sofa in a daze.

Her phone suddenly pushed a forum notification.

She clicked in—Arthur’s post had been updated.

[I gave her flowers today, and she accepted them. But she is still very polite to me, as if there is a layer of glass between us.]

[I want to tell her that I don't just want to be her family. But every time the words reach my lips, I swallow them back.]

[I’m afraid of scaring her. After all, she has only just returned to normal; I don't want her to think I’m taking advantage of her situation.]

There were many comments; some encouraged him to just say it, others advised him to take it slow.

As Elena scrolled through the comments, she suddenly saw a private message.

It wasn't in the thread; it was a private forum message.

The sender’s avatar was black, and the nickname was a string of garbled code. There was only one sentence:

[Elena, you think you're safe just because you moved to a different city? I have plenty of ways to ruin you.]

Elena went ice-cold, and her phone nearly fell to the floor.

She immediately took a screenshot and then deleted the private message.

That night, she suffered from insomnia again.

She didn't dare tell Arthur, because Cassie had screenshots of the diary.

If Cassie really published them, it wouldn't just be Elena’s reputation; Arthur would be implicated as well.

She couldn't drag Arthur down with her.

At 3:00 AM, Elena made a decision—to stay away from Arthur, as far away as possible.

Only this way would Cassie have no reason to deal with her, and no reason to implicate him.

She remembered when she was by Arthur’s side before, Cassie had introduced a blind date prospect to her.

At the time, Arthur hadn't said anything, and Elena had added him but never deleted him.

Dawn broke. Elena turned on her phone and sent a message to Li Zeyan.

[Young Master Li, is the meal we talked about last time still on?]

Ten minutes later, he replied: [Of course. Tonight?]

[Okay.]

After sending that message, Elena deleted all chat history with Arthur.

I’m sorry, Arthur.

I cannot let you be dragged down by me.

Chapter 17

Li Zeyan was even more attentive than Elena had imagined.

At six o'clock sharp, his silver Porsche was parked downstairs at the office.

She deliberately walked out the front door, her peripheral vision scanning the parking lot—Arthur’s car was not there.

Arthur had a business dinner today; his assistant had already told her.

Elena exhaled in relief, pulled open the car door of the Porsche, and sat inside.

"Miss Elena looks very beautiful today." Li Zeyan smiled, looking her over.

"Thank you."

The restaurant he had booked was the most expensive French restaurant in Jincheng.

The lighting was dim, candles flickered, and the silver utensils covering the table shone dazzlingly.

She wasn't actually that hungry, but she politely ordered foie gras and steak.

"I heard Miss Elena works at the Gu Group?" Li Zeyan poured Elena a glass of red wine. "Mr. Gu must take good care of you, right?"

"He is my uncle; taking care of me is only natural."

"Uncle?" Li Zeyan smiled slightly, a meaning in that smile she couldn't quite decipher. "But I heard people say you aren't related by blood."

"Adoption still makes us family." She picked up her wine glass and took a sip, not intending to continue the topic.

Li Zeyan, however, seemed to have taken an interest, leaning forward slightly: "Miss Elena, to be honest, my father has proposed marriage to your uncle several times, but he was rejected every time. I was quite surprised that you agreed to come out and see me today."

Elena set down her wine glass and looked into his eyes: "Young Master Li, I don't like beating around the bush. I came out to see you today because I feel that one must move forward. I relied on my uncle too much in the past, and now I want to live independently, in my personal life as well."

"So I am an alternative?"

"So you are a possibility," she corrected. "I want to try and see what it feels like to interact with someone other than my uncle."

Li Zeyan was silent for a few seconds, then laughed: "Good, I like honest people. Then let's try."

The entire meal was quite pleasant.

Li Zeyan was good at conversation; he knew what to ask and what not to ask.

He didn't bring up Elena's past, didn't mention the sanitarium, didn't mention Cassie.

He was just like any ordinary, polite date.

As the meal was nearing its end, Elena’s phone vibrated.

Arthur: [Where are you? I’m coming to pick you up.]

She was about to reply when a second message followed immediately.

[I see Li Zeyan’s car. Are you eating with him? Elena, answer me.]

Elena bit her lip and typed out a few words: [Uncle, I’m eating, I’ll go back on my own when I’m finished.]

He did not reply again.

But fifteen minutes later, the restaurant door was pushed open.

Arthur walked in.

He was wearing the same black suit from his meeting today; his tie was loosened, and there was a faint bluish-black tint under his eyes.

He walked straight to their table, not even glancing at Li Zeyan, his gaze fixed solely on Elena.

"Elena, come home."

The other guests in the restaurant turned to look.

She felt her cheeks burning, stood up, and lowered her voice: "Uncle, what are you doing? I’m eating with a friend."

"A friend?" Arthur finally looked at Li Zeyan, his tone as cold as shards of ice. "Young Master Li, my niece has just returned to the country; there are many things she doesn't understand yet. Before you ask her out, shouldn't you have greeted me first?"

Li Zeyan stood up, neither humble nor pushy: "Mr. Gu, Miss Elena is twenty-four years old. She has the freedom to choose her own friends, doesn't she?"

Arthur’s gaze turned sharp and cold.

Seeing the situation spiraling, Elena quickly grabbed her bag: "Young Master Li, let’s stop here for today. I’m leaving."

With that, she grabbed Arthur’s arm and dragged him out of the restaurant.

"Arthur, have you lost your mind?" Elena threw his hand away, her voice trembling. "With so many people watching, how am I supposed to hold my head up?"

"How do you want to hold your head up?" He turned around, his eyes reddened. "By dating Li Zeyan? How many days have you known him? Do you know anything about his background?"

"I’ve only known him for three days, but I have to try to meet other people! I cannot live under your protective shield forever!"

"Why can’t you?"

His voice suddenly dropped, carrying a tremble that was almost a plea.

Elena froze.

The night wind passed between them, ruffling his hair.

Under the streetlamp, the look in his eyes was one Elena had never seen before—passionate, repressed, and painful.

"Elena," Arthur took a step forward, reaching out as if to touch her face. "Can you..."

Chapter 18

Elena’s phone suddenly rang.

Cassie.

She stepped back as if electrocuted and answered the call.

"Elena, I saw the photos of you having dinner with Li Zeyan. What’s the matter? Already looking for a backup?"

Her voice carried a hint of amusement. "Not bad, quite smart. Remember, stay away from Arthur, otherwise those photos—"

Elena hung up, trembling all over.

Arthur frowned: "Who was that?"

"Wrong number." She turned her face away. "Uncle, I’m tired; I want to go home."