The smile plastered on her face each day, tinged with vulgar charm, was nothing more than an attempt to win the crowd’s favor.

Yichen spoke steadily, “I never once thought you would steal the sapphire, but the truth is you did.”

That word “steal” pierced her heart like a sharp blade, causing a violent ache.

Xiaoqi’s face paled, her voice trembling, “You say ‘steal’ as if it’s a crime punishable by death.”

She still refused to see reason.

Yichen’s voice was deep and grave, “Calling what you did ‘stealing’ is already putting it mildly, do you understand? TC’s reputation is flourishing. If the police get involved, your actions could land you in prison, causing a national scandal. Do you grasp that?”

His words, delivered in an even tone, struck her heart as heavily as stones.

Prison?

Was it really so serious?

Should she tell the truth?

Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the white teacup.

That was a gift from Ye Xiyang, so he treasured it.

If a single sapphire could make him so angry, what would happen if she told him she wasn’t Ye Xiyang? Would he haul her off to jail right away?

Just thinking about it made Xiaoqi fearful.

She raised her face and forced a relaxed smile, “I took the sapphire, but it didn’t belong to your company, so I—”

“So you stole it to sell for money?” Yichen cut her off coldly. “Ye Xiyang, just how much do you love money? To stoop to such sneaky, shameful acts?”

If she truly loved money, why not tell him? Did he not believe he would give it to her?

“So that’s why you said the other day you were just an insignificant nobody, someone without money,” Yichen said, disappointment lacing his tone. “Xiyang, I really can’t see it. Five years apart, and you’ve become like this.”

Xiaoqi didn’t protest, letting him believe she took the sapphire for money was better than telling the truth.

Seeing her silent, Yichen almost wished he could strangle the person before him—the one he both loved and hated.

His anger made his words even harsher, “Every day you wear that vulgar smile, just to court attention, am I right?”

She bit her lower lip, but still didn’t speak.

Forget it—she had lied to him anyway. Let him vent his rage.

But her silence, in President Lin’s eyes, was an admission.

His anger only grew.

“Speak to me.”

Startled by his booming voice, Xiaoqi froze.

Letting him scold her freely wasn’t enough?

Fine, if he wanted her to speak, she would.

Xiaoqi lifted her eyes bravely, but when she met his cold, dark gaze, her heart quivered. She quickly lowered her head, staring at her toes. That look was terrifying.

Maybe she should plead for forgiveness—win his sympathy.

Pulling at her fingertips, she spoke in a low voice, “I... I don’t know what to say. My situation has been turned upside down, my thoughts are a mess, like a storm raging inside me. I already feel miserable, and your voice is so cold and sharp, like the King of Hell himself. How could I dare to speak?”

She dared to call him the King of Hell?

“Do you realize your defense is weak?”

“I’m not defending myself, just telling the truth.”

Yichen tried to steady himself, his burning gaze pinned her. “I’ll give you money; return the sapphire.”

Xiaoqi was stunned—she hadn’t expected him to say that.

Of course, he thought she took the sapphire for money.

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So his words were no surprise.

But the sapphire was already destroyed.

Oh, my signal device!

“I don’t want your money.”

“Say one more word and—” His voice was laced with fury. Xiaoqi, frightened, stepped back.

Her shoulders were seized forcefully, immobilizing her. The grip was so strong she felt her bones might crack.

Was he trying to crush her?

Just as she was about to flare up, the man’s desperate, angry voice came.

“I never sought you out—why did you come to me? And since you did, why give up halfway?”

What was he saying?

“I only want to ask you one thing,” Yichen gradually calmed, his gaze burning into her. “Will you leave again?”

Leave again? Xiaoqi was bewildered—why this sudden question?

Ah, he meant Ye Xiyang left five years ago—he feared she would leave now.

But she wasn’t Ye Xiyang.

So she couldn’t answer.

Xiaoqi could only lower her head.

Yichen understood and abruptly let her go, the disappointment and anger in his eyes nearly tearing her apart.

At length, he forced himself to speak calmly, “Do you not like me at all anymore?”

Outside, the wind seemed to pause, everything falling silent.

Xiaoqi could only hear her own heart pounding fiercely.

Did she like him?

Perhaps a little.

Otherwise… why would she be reluctant to leave?

But his question was meant for Ye Xiyang.

How would the real Ye Xiyang answer?

Five years ago, Ye Xiyang left heartbroken after Zhuang Jia’s words—she must still be devastated, or why not return?

So…

Xiaoqi sniffed, her voice low and sorrowful, “Yichen, I no longer have the strength to chase a distant heart, nor can I bear a love that might collapse at any moment. The sound of the world crumbling around me—I can’t withstand it a second time. You can no longer give me courage. So, Yichen, forgive my weakness; I dare not love you anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Yichen’s gaze was sharp. “Are you explaining your departure five years ago?”

Something felt wrong.

Xiaoqi steadied herself, “What I meant was—”

“Xiyang,” Yichen gently interrupted, “Is your amnesia fake?”

What kind of logic was that?

Wait, what she’d just said seemed connected to five years ago.

But she wasn’t the person involved—how could she know what happened? Her words were improvised.

How did the conversation shift from the sapphire to events she didn’t know about?

He never addressed the right issue.

Xiaoqi could no longer pretend; she shoved him aside and looked him straight in the eye. “Lin Yichen, believe it or not, I really have amnesia. And... I feel nothing for you.”

“Is that so?” Yichen listened coldly, his heart sinking.

“Ye Xiyang, you really are heartless.”

His expression was frigid and severe, the aura he exuded chilling the air around him. He glared at her fiercely, as if he might reach out and strangle her at any moment.

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For a long time, he spoke in a voice icy to the core, “I once said you were sui shi e, the sunlight I couldn’t refuse even if I wanted to. But now… you’re not anymore… Get out.”

###

Xiaoqi stumbled out, clutching Xiaobai in her arms, wandering aimlessly down the street in a daze.

The little creature sighed in her embrace.

It seemed Xiaoqi would be in a slump for some time.

It was seven o’clock now, the busiest hour on the streets.

Xiaoqi strolled along the beautiful shop windows, watching as some stores looked newly refurbished. She stopped occasionally to glance inside, then continued walking without purpose.

Unknowingly, she found herself on the street where she and Yichen first met—when he suddenly embraced her. Thinking back, Xiaoqi felt as if it were all a dream.

“Xiaobai,” she touched her chest, “why does it feel unsettled here, a little lost?”

Xiaobai replied, “All these feelings come from that Earthling. Xiaoqi, I think you really have fallen for him.”

Fallen for him?

Xiaoqi twirled her hair, “What good is liking someone? Ugh, I want to leave Earth!”

Yichen stood at the floor-to-ceiling window for a long time. He took out his phone and called Fang Li, “Notify the research department to abandon the sapphire project. No need to investigate further.”

Fang Li was puzzled, “President Lin, why?”

“Do I need to explain myself to you?”

The call ended abruptly.

On the other end, Fang Li was bewildered.

Why did President Lin sound so angry?

He’d seemed so cheerful these past days.

Could he have quarreled with Miss Ye?

Ah! The president’s moods are beyond guessing.

In truth, the five-year separation left a fissure in Yichen’s heart—a wound that could never be smoothed over.

Even so, he kept telling himself it didn’t matter, it was just a minor injury, as long as she returned. But now… hearing her indifferent words, saying she felt nothing for him, was like being stabbed with fine needles—the pain was maddening.

Caring too much meant he couldn’t bear it.

Perhaps, their fate had already been sealed five years ago.

...

...

Li Cheng stood on the balcony, holding a pale blue gemstone. Under the night lights, it shone with a blue radiance.

His phone rang.

Joanna said, “I’ve already told Yichen that Ye Xiyang stole the sapphire. Right now, that Ye Xiyang is probably being interrogated by Yichen!”

“Miss Jo,” Li Cheng stared at the sapphire, his words full of implication, “I helped you gather intel on your rival, and now you’re taking care of her yourself. Don’t you think you owe me some gratitude?”

Anna sneered, “Li Cheng, I think you’re confused about your place. That time you tried to steal a sapphire from the research department for them, if I hadn’t given you money in time, you’d already be in prison courtesy of Yichen.”

That time, Yichen had an allergic reaction from the shrimp Xiaoqi brought and was hospitalized. Anna, following Xiaoqi and Yichen, overheard someone making a call in the corridor. Curious, she approached.

She heard Li Cheng on the phone, saying he owed loan sharks from gambling and, in desperation, planned to hand them a research department sapphire.

A plan sprang to Anna’s mind.

She told Li Cheng she’d pay off his debt, but he had to do as she said.

When he didn’t respond, Anna added coldly, “Even if I didn’t say anything, you would have told Yichen who the real culprit was. Telling me was just a way to make me owe you a favor.”

“Miss Jo, you know that knowing about this can only bring you closer to President Lin in the future.”

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