Chapter 15: Day Fifteenth, No Thought

There are indeed such precedents in this circle.

On one side, the girl receives some breakup money, and on the other, a lawyer is immediately contacted to reclaim the money.

The ruthless ones even slap on a charge of “extortion and blackmail” and send the person straight to prison.

Si Nian felt that she should assume the worst about Lu Shuyan.

After all, based on experience, he was very skilled at being heartless and ruthless.

When Lu Shuyan heard Si Nian mention things like “contacting a lawyer” and “rotting in prison,” he frowned slightly.

He didn’t know where Si Nian’s wild imagination was coming from, but he still calmed himself and said, “If you’re worried about such risks, I can have the lawyer draft a voluntary gift contract.”

Hearing the words “voluntary gift,” Si Nian’s heart skipped a beat for a moment.

Then, she fell into a state of confusion and hesitation.

Wasn’t Lu Shuyan supposed to be petty and vengeful?

Why was he suddenly eager to give her money?

Could this be a high-level trap that even contract law couldn’t override?

An ordinary person playing mind games with a capitalist was the most foolish thing to do.

Lu Shuyan observed Si Nian’s serious expression.

“I will have the lawyer…”

But before he could finish, he was interrupted.

Si Nian knew that the temptation of money made this decision incredibly difficult, but she still told herself to stay clear-headed.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said no means no.”

Although ninety million was a huge temptation, she was not on the brink of starvation.

Her career was finally picking up.

She couldn’t risk even the slightest chance of ending up in jail just for money.

Even if there was a contract, could a contract given by a capitalist to an ordinary person even be called a contract?

Playing legal games with these people one wouldn’t even know how they got scammed until it was too late.

Lu Shuyan stared at Si Nian’s wary expression.

He frowned.

He thought he had already shown enough patience and sincerity.

He wasn’t at the point where he needed to beg and coax someone into accepting a breakup payment and a house.

She was the one who deceived him, yet she turned around and judged him with the worst of intentions.

“Fine, forget it.”

Si Nian sneered.

Experience had taught her that the only truly safe money was what she earned through her own efforts.

Looking at it from another perspective, she had gotten a free live-in servant for five years.

Handsome ones like him weren’t that common.

Not a bad deal.

Lu Shuyan had no idea what Si Nian was thinking.

He had thought that after this meeting, things between them would be cleared up.

But for some reason, after seeing her, the restlessness in his chest only tangled into an even bigger knot.

He couldn’t untangle it.

Lu Shuyan thought back to the moment when he saw Si Nian wearing a wedding dress, her playful behind-the-scenes footage, and the thousands of comments openly expressing their admiration for her.

And her reply: “I’m single.”

That was when he decided they needed to meet.

Si Nian sensed that Lu Shuyan had nothing more to say.

His eyes, however, remained fixed on her with an unreadable expression, as if trying to decipher something from her.

Since Lu Shuyan had fallen silent, Si Nian remembered why she had wanted to meet him in the first place.

She came to reclaim her dignity.

Si Nian sat up straight.

“Lu Shuyan,” she addressed him seriously.

He looked up.

Their eyes met.

He seemed to be waiting for her to continue.

Si Nian curled her lips.

“I want to apologize.

I admit I was wrong.

I truly regret getting into a relationship with you just for the breakup money.”

Lu Shuyan didn’t respond.

He simply watched her speak.

Si Nian met his dark, deep eyes.

Some thoughts had been stirring in her heart for a long time.

She finally voiced them.

“But do you really think you were emotionally deceived?

We both know the truth.

You never had deep feelings for me.”

“You just can’t accept the fact that someone in this world was with you purely for money and not because they liked you.”

“That feeling probably bothers you more than being scammed out of money—because to you, money is nothing.”

Lu Shuyan kept listening.

Si Nian continued, “So, once you found out the truth, you lashed out.

You used your position of moral superiority to shame me and look down on me.”

“But if I guessed correctly, you had already planned to break up with me that night.”

“Seeing me break down and beg for money—did that make you feel better?

Did that satisfy your anger?”

“Well, I felt awful.”

Not only did she not get the money, but she also had to endure being shamed from a moral high ground by a man who never truly loved her.

Like a punching bag.

She wanted to deliver a grand final speech and leave triumphantly.

But when she raised her cup of coffee, she hesitated.

She saw Lu Shuyan lost in thought.

Despite the years, it was clear that they never truly understood each other.

Lu Shuyan never knew the real her, assuming she was just a facade.

And she, too, never truly understood him.

All these years, she had only thought about making money.

Si Nian glanced at the steaming latte in her hands.

She hesitated for a moment.

Her arm was already extended, but when she met Lu Shuyan’s gaze, she finally gave up.

Kindness was a fatal weakness.

She needed to change.

She finished her latte in one go.

Then, she wiped her mouth, put down her cup, picked up her purse, and stood up.

“I’m leaving.

Goodbye.”

The moment she stepped out of the private room, the waiting staff noticed how lighthearted she looked.

As if she was floating.

Out of curiosity, they peeked inside and saw Lu Shuyan still sitting there in silence, staring at the empty coffee cup.

He replayed her words in his mind.

His frown deepened.

That tangled mess in his chest was now an unsolvable knot.

Something felt right, yet also felt wrong.