Chapter 22: Day Twenty two, No Thought

The spacious CEO’s office suddenly fell into complete silence.

Lu Shuyan’s gaze landed on Zhao Chao, who had just stopped speaking and was trying hard to lower his presence.

Weekend.

Si Nian.

Male partner.

Date.

These words kept circling in his mind, and Lu Shuyan felt that something he had previously suppressed was now completely shattered.

When she finished posting her update and returned home, the sky had not yet darkened.

Si Nian never expected to run into Lu Shuyan again on her way home from work.

He stood there alone, his handsome face and tall figure drawing the attention of many passersby. He looked like he was waiting for someone.

And as soon as his gaze fell on her, Si Nian knew who that person was.

“…”

“What do you want this time?”

Inside the same café, Si Nian rested one hand against her temple while stirring her coffee with the other.

She was genuinely exhausted.

Why was this still not over?

Lu Shuyan’s soul seemed to have only just returned to his body at that moment.

Right.

Why had he come looking for Si Nian again?

Ever since Zhao Chao told him those things, the only thought in his mind was that he needed to see Si Nian and clarify the situation.

So he came.

But now, as he faced Si Nian, who was sitting right in front of him, he opened his mouth but found himself unsure of what to say.

Si Nian raised her eyes.

“Hmm?”

For the first time, Lu Shuyan realized that there were some things he no longer had the right to question or verify.

“What’s your relationship with that partner?” But in the end, he still asked.

Si Nian frowned in confusion.

She had no idea which “partner” Lu Shuyan was referring to.

Then, as she caught the look in his eyes, she slowly realized he was probably talking about Yuan Yu.

So Zhao Chao had told Lu Shuyan about running into her and Yuan Yu at the mall?

On the surface, Zhao Chao seemed like a serious person, but in private, he was apparently quite the gossip.

Si Nian was speechless at Zhao Chao’s big mouth.

So was Lu Shuyan here to question her about why she didn’t inform him first if she was planning to start a new relationship or get married?

But now, Si Nian felt that even if she did fall in love and get married in the future, she had no obligation to report it to Lu Shuyan.

She lifted her chin.

“That was just a casual remark.

You didn’t take it seriously, did you?”

“I’ve changed my ways.

Do I need to report to you if I start dating or get married?”

“Aren’t you being a bit too nosy?”

Lu Shuyan was stunned for a few seconds.

Then, facing Si Nian’s calm demeanor, his expression gradually darkened, and he said coldly, “I didn’t expect you to move on so quickly.”

Si Nian: “…”

“Let me clarify again,” she cleared her throat and sat up straighter.

“I don’t know what Zhao Chao told you, but I need to make it clear that my relationship with that partner is purely that of ordinary friends.”

“We just had a meal together over the weekend, that’s all.”

“It’s not that kind of relationship, and I have no intention of entering that kind of relationship either.”

Even though her love life was technically private, she still disliked being misunderstood.

After Si Nian finished explaining, she noticed Lu Shuyan’s expression shift again.

His entire demeanor seemed to relax, like ice melting into water bit by bit.

Lu Shuyan heard Si Nian say, “It’s not that kind of relationship” and “I have no intention of entering that kind of relationship.”

At that moment, he felt as if a tight knot in his chest, which had been suffocating him, suddenly loosened.

Just friends. Just a meal.

Then, almost instinctively, he asked, “What did you eat?”

Si Nian: “…”

She couldn’t help but frown.

“Lu Shuyan, don’t you think you’re being really weird?”

“Are you some kind of curious baby? Do you need to ask about what I ate?”

“What does it matter to you who I eat with and what I eat?”

Si Nian was utterly baffled.

“I already apologized for deceiving you.

I didn’t take a single cent of the breakup fee, which should count as my punishment.

Now that I’ve turned over a new leaf, why won’t you let me go?”

“The law didn’t say I needed to be punished, so why are you still coming after me? What do you even get out of this?”

Lu Shuyan was momentarily stunned by this barrage of words.

Was he really still not letting go of Si Nian?

Even he felt that his behavior was strange so strange that it made him uneasy.

He wanted to know who she was eating with, what she had eaten.

When Zhao Chao mentioned it was probably her boyfriend, his mind had been in turmoil, and he had rushed over just to confirm it in person.

And only after hearing her denial did he finally feel at ease.

Across from him, Si Nian exhaled deeply, feeling a rush of frustration.

“Just tell me what you want already.”

“You’re not expecting me to pay you money, are you?”

If he dared to nod, she swore she would fight this evil capitalist to the death right here and now.

Si Nian looked around for a weapon, but all she could find was a small butter knife.

Lu Shuyan remained silent.

He stared.

Finally, he lifted his gaze and saw Si Nian watching him warily.

Suddenly, he remembered the first time he had met her when she was late for class, sneaking in through the back door, tripping over a chair leg, and falling right into his lap.

His first impression of her.

She was very thin, very light, and carried a faint scent.

Five years had passed, and the youthful roundness of her face had faded, replaced by delicate and radiant features.

Si Nian had no idea what Lu Shuyan was thinking.

“What exactly do you want?” she asked again.

Lu Shuyan closed his eyes, as if trying to suppress some overwhelming emotion, then finally said, “Don’t overthink it.”

“I won’t ask you for money, and I certainly won’t…” He hesitated, seeming surprised at his own choice of words, “…hunt you down.”

Hearing this, Si Nian finally relaxed.

She let go of the butter knife.

“So you came here today just to verify what Zhao Chao told you?”

“Just to be clear, I don’t need to prove my character to anyone.

This time, I’m not in a relationship, and even if I do get into one in the future, I won’t be reporting it to you.”

Lu Shuyan frowned again.

Si Nian set down the knife.

“So, everything between us is truly, completely resolved now, right?”

No financial entanglements, no ridiculous promises to keep, no reason to stay in contact.

She really didn’t want to keep running into him on her way home.

Lu Shuyan continued to frown, his expression unreadable.

“Maybe… probably.”

Si Nian sighed in relief.

She smiled.

“Alright then.

In that case, let me congratulate you in advance wishing you and your future Mrs. Lu a lifetime of happiness.”

Si Nian felt like the most graceful ex-girlfriend in the world.

But just as she was about to leave, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Lu Shuyan had stood up and caught her wrist.

Si Nian looked down at his hand, then up at him in confusion.

Lu Shuyan finally broke his daze.

With his fingers wrapped around her delicate wrist, he stared into her eyes and, in a voice rough with hesitation, asked:

“Si Nian, did you ever love me?”

Si Nian was stunned.

Lu Shuyan’s gaze didn’t waver.

“Did you ever love me?”

Si Nian opened her mouth, but for once, she didn’t know how to answer.