Damn it, can't you just let them curse to their heart's content?

That word, “steal,” was like a sharp blade thrust into her heart.

It hurt, violently.

Xiao Qi’s face turned pale, her voice unsteady. “You call it stealing—as though it were nothing less than taking a life.”

Even now, she refused to see reason.

Yi Chen’s voice was low and heavy. “To call what you did ‘stealing’ is already the mildest term I can use. Do you understand? TC has an impeccable reputation. If this gets to the police, your actions could land you in prison—become the talk of the nation. Do you grasp the gravity of that?”

His voice was neither loud nor soft, but each word fell upon her heart with the weight of a thousand pounds.

Prison?

Was it truly that severe?

Should she just tell him the truth?

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

That had been a gift from Ye Xiyang, which was why he cherished it so. A single sapphire had already made him this furious—if she revealed she was not Ye Xiyang, would he drag her straight to prison?

Just the thought of it made Xiao Qi tremble.

She lifted her face, forcing a casual smile. “Yes, I took the sapphire, but it’s not from your company, so I—”

“So you stole it to sell for money?” Yi Chen cut her off coldly. “Ye Xiyang, just how much do you love money? Is that what drives you to such petty crime?”

If she’d truly needed money, why not just ask him? Did she not believe he would give it to her?

“No wonder you said the other day that you were just an ordinary, insignificant person, and even poor,” Yi Chen said, disappointment coloring his tone. “Xiyang, I really can’t see how, after five years, you could have changed into someone like this.”

Xiao Qi didn’t argue. Letting him believe she took the sapphire for money was better than telling the truth.

Seeing her silence, Yi Chen felt a surge of hatred for the person before him—someone he both loved and detested.

In his anger, his words grew even harsher. “You wear that shallow, crowd-pleasing smile every day, just to attract attention, isn’t that right?”

…

Damn, so that’s what he thought of her.

Xiao Qi bit her lower lip but still said nothing.

Forget it—she’d already deceived him. Let him vent his anger.

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

His fury only grew.

“Speak to me,” he demanded.

His loud voice startled her.

Damn it, couldn’t she just let him scold her in peace?

If he wanted her to speak, then she’d speak.

Xiao Qi bravely lifted her eyes, but meeting his icy gaze, her heart fluttered in fear.

She immediately dropped her eyes to her toes; his look was truly chilling.

Better to take the path of remorse.

It might win some sympathy.

Xiao Qi twisted her fingers, her voice low and subdued. “I—I don’t even know what to say. I feel like my whole world’s been turned upside down, everything in chaos, like a storm in my mind. I’m already hurting inside, and your voice is so cold and sharp, like the King of Hell himself. How could I dare to speak…”

…

Did she really just call him the King of Hell?

“Don’t you realize your defense is feeble?”

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

…

Yi Chen struggled to calm himself, his burning gaze fixed on her. “I’ll give you money. Just return the sapphire.”

Xiao Qi was stunned; she hadn’t expected him to say that.

Of course, he thought she’d taken the sapphire for the money.

Page 1/3

So it wasn’t surprising for him to say that.

But the sapphire was already destroyed.

Oh, my precious signal device.

“I don’t want your money.”

“Say one more word,” he ground out through gritted teeth.

Xiao Qi shrank back in fright.

Suddenly, her shoulders were seized in a crushing grip—she couldn’t move an inch, and the pressure felt as if it would shatter her bones.

Was he really going to strangle her?

She was about to explode when the man’s despairing, furious question broke her thoughts.

“I never sought you out—why did you come into my life? And if you did, why did you give up halfway?”

What was he talking about?

“I just want to ask you one thing,” Yi Chen said, gradually regaining composure, his eyes burning into hers, “Will you leave again?”

Leave again? Xiao Qi was taken aback. Why was he asking this now?

Oh, he meant that five years ago, Ye Xiyang had left, so now he was afraid she’d go again.

But she wasn’t Ye Xiyang.

So she couldn’t answer.

Xiao Qi could only lower her head.

Yi Chen understood, and suddenly let her go. His eyes brimmed with disappointment and rage that seemed they might tear her to pieces.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, forcing himself to remain calm. “Do you not like me at all anymore?”

The wind outside seemed to stop; everything fell silent.

Xiao Qi could only hear the wild pounding of her heart.

Did she like him?

Perhaps a little.

Otherwise… why would she be so reluctant to leave?

But the question was meant for Ye Xiyang.

How would the real Ye Xiyang answer?

Five years ago, Ye Xiyang had left, heartbroken by Zhuang Jia’s words. Surely she was still deeply wounded; otherwise, why never return?

So…

Xiao Qi sniffed, her voice low and heartbreakingly sad. “Yi Chen, I no longer have the strength to chase after a heart so far away, nor do I want a love that could collapse at any moment. The sound of my world crumbling down around me—I can’t bear it a second time. You can no longer give me courage. So, Yi Chen, I’m sorry. Please forgive my weakness. I don’t dare love you anymore.”

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

…

Something didn’t feel right.

Xiao Qi steadied herself. “What I meant was—”

“Xiyang,” he gently interrupted, “Is your amnesia just a lie?”

…

What kind of logic was that?

Wait—a moment ago, what she said seemed to hint at five years ago.

And yet she wasn’t the person involved; she had no idea what happened then. She’d just been improvising.

Why was the conversation about the sapphire now tangled with things from five years ago?

Truly, he was missing the point.

Xiao Qi couldn’t keep up the act. She shoved him away and met his gaze. “Lin Yi Chen, believe it or not, I really have lost my memory. And as for you… I don’t feel anything.”

“Really?” Yi Chen listened coldly, his heart sinking.

“Ye Xiyang, you really are heartless.”

Page 2/3

His face was cold and grim, the chill emanating from him seemed to freeze the air itself. He glared at her with such hostility, as if at any moment he might reach out and strangle her.

After a long time, he spoke, his voice as icy as death. “I once said you were a ray of sunshine I couldn’t refuse, no matter how hard I tried. But you’re not that anymore… Now… get out.”

###

Stumbling out, Xiao Qi hugged Little White and wandered aimlessly down the street in a daze.

The cat in her arms sighed.

It seemed Xiao Qi would be downcast for quite some time.

It was seven o’clock, the busiest time of evening.

Xiao Qi strolled past gleaming shop windows, watching as the stores, newly renovated, bustled with life. Occasionally she’d stop to look inside, then continue her aimless wandering.

Somehow, she found herself on the street where she and Yi Chen had first met. Back then, he had suddenly pulled her into his arms… Thinking of it now, Xiao Qi felt as if it had all been a dream.

“Little White,” she murmured, touching her chest, “Why does it feel so unsettled here? Why is there this sense of confusion?”

Little White replied, “These feelings, Xiao Qi, are all because of that earthling. I think you’ve really fallen for him.”

Fallen for him?

Xiao Qi scratched her head. “And what good does liking someone do? Ugh, I want to leave Earth.”

Yi Chen stood by the floor-to-ceiling window for a long time before finally pulling out his phone and calling Fang Li. “Tell the research department to cancel the sapphire project. There’s no need to investigate further.”

Fang Li was puzzled. “President Lin, may I ask why?”

“Do I need to explain myself to you?”

He hung up.

On the other end, Fang Li was left bewildered.

Why did President Lin sound so angry? He’d seemed in such a good mood for days! Did he have an argument with Miss Ye?

Ah, the president’s mood was never something he could predict.

The five years apart had left a rift in Yi Chen’s heart—a wound that would never heal.

And yet, he kept telling himself it didn’t matter, it was just a scratch, and that everything would be fine now that she was back. But now… hearing her so indifferently say she felt nothing for him, it was as though needles were piercing his heart. That fine, throbbing pain was the most unbearable of all.

Because he cared too much, he couldn’t endure it.

Perhaps, for them, everything had been settled five years ago.

…

Li Cheng stood on the balcony, a pale blue gemstone in hand. Under the night lights, it refracted a cold blue glow.

His phone rang.

On the line, Joanna said, “I’ve already told Yi Chen that Ye Xiyang stole the sapphire. By now, she’s probably facing his wrath!”

“Miss Qiao,” Li Cheng stared at the sapphire, his words meaningful, “I’ve been your informant, and now I’m helping you eliminate your rival. Don’t you think you owe me some thanks?”

Anna snorted. “Li Cheng, maybe you forget your place? That time you tried to steal a sapphire from the research department for your creditors—if I hadn’t paid your debt, Yi Chen would have thrown you in jail by now.”

That time, Yi Chen had ended up in the hospital with an allergy after eating shrimp from a meal Xiao Qi brought. Anna was following Xiao Qi, who was behind Yi Chen, when she overheard a phone call in the corridor. Curious, she’d gone over.

She heard Li Cheng talking on the phone, confessing he’d racked up gambling debts and, desperate, planned to take a gemstone from the research department to pay them off.

A plan flashed through Anna’s mind.

She told Li Cheng she’d settle his debt, but only if he did as she said.

Hearing nothing from the other side, Anna continued coldly, “Even if I don’t go to Yi Chen, you’d tell him who the real culprit is anyway. The reason you told me is just to make me owe you a favor.”

“Miss Qiao, what are you saying? Now that you know, you’ll have an even better chance to get close to President Lin.”

Page 3/3