Guan Ciyan’s heart cracked with a sound, as if something had split inside. The branches swaying in the wind stopped, and the snowstorm seemed to blow into his heart, freezing everything.

He knew that the love Jian Yang spoke of was fake, and hearing it was one thing, but to be abandoned, was something else entirely.

Jian Yang’s eyes couldn’t hide his fatigue. He turned away and continued walking forward.

Guan Ciyan followed the direction of his gaze, blocking his path. “What exactly is the problem that can’t be solved?”

“You just don’t understand what the problem is,” Jian Yang said calmly, with a hint of coldness in his tone.

“I gave you a chance, you promised you wouldn’t lie to me again.”

Guan Ciyan remembered, “Ah… so you’re bringing up the past…”

“Bringing up the past? I…” Jian Yang was enraged again. “If I bring up the past, then what you’re saying doesn’t count, right? You promised me, after we left the Wen Ye Pavilion, that you wouldn’t lie to me again. You hid news about Wen Ye from me, made me struggle on my own, said it was to test me, to help me grow, and let me make my own decisions. I believed it. You said you wouldn’t lie to me again, and I believed you. But how long has it been? What are you going to explain now, that this report was for my good too?”

“You still see me as a tool to deal with Guan Jingyu, but I already believed in you.”

Jian Yang shot words out like a machine gun, while Guan Ciyan listened, calmly sorting through them. “Wait a minute, that’s not right. The report didn’t happen after I promised you, it happened before I promised you. Back then, I didn’t think we… I would…”

“At that time, I thought you were sent by Guan Jingyu, that’s why I allowed that report to be published. You can’t wrongfully accuse me like this.”

“Heh,” Jian Yang laughed with anger. “So, what? Should I clear your name?”

“No need,” Guan Ciyan said seriously. “The decision is in your hands. You don’t have to clear my name; you need to declare me innocent.”

Jian Yang unconsciously slowed his steps, his gaze drawn to Guan Ciyan, his attention consumed by his words. When did he ever have the authority to judge Guan Ciyan? Guan Ciyan had always been the one leading their relationship, deceiving him when he wished, and comforting him when he desired.

Guan Ciyan reached out, gently stroking Jian Yang’s palm. “So, what will the judge say?”

Jian Yang jerked his hand away in surprise, frustrated and flustered, his face slightly flushed. “So you think you’re innocent?”

“According to your judgment… I am indeed a bit innocent.”

“Crazy.” Jian Yang brushed past Guan Ciyan’s shoulder and walked away.

Guan Ciyan followed him, “Yes, that report was actually decided before I promised you. Back then, I had doubts about you, which was normal. You said you liked me, that you would give up Guan Jingyu and join me, unless… you really like me. I misunderstood you from the beginning.”

Jian Yang stopped in his tracks. Why bring this up now?

Guan Ciyan took the opportunity to stand in front of him. “So, was it I who misunderstood you? If you say so, I’ll believe you, Jian Yang.”

How was Jian Yang supposed to answer this? He was furious, biting his lower lip, glaring at Guan Ciyan.

If he said he didn’t like him, it would mean he lied to Guan Ciyan first, and he would be in the wrong. If he admitted it, it would play right into Guan Ciyan’s hands—he already liked him, so how could he leave? Guan Ciyan would drag him back.

Wasn’t this bullying?

Jian Yang was furious to the point of tears, his eyes red, tears dripping down.

It made him even angrier.

He hadn’t won the argument, and now he was crying from frustration.

The two tears completely flustered Guan Ciyan. He had only wanted to ease the atmosphere and make Jian Yang feel better, but he had ended up making him cry.

It was already cold, and as the tears slid down Jian Yang’s face, his skin grew even redder, and his eyes were no better. Normally carefully maintained, now the blood vessels in his eyes spread like a spider’s web.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry.” Guan Ciyan tried to wipe Jian Yang’s tears, raising his hand only to find that his fingers were numb from the cold. His sleeves were already wet from the snow. The ever-composed Guan Ciyan searched his pockets but couldn’t find a tissue.

He clumsily blew warm air into his hands, rubbing his palms together to warm them, then gently placed them on Jian Yang’s cheeks. His thumb softly pressed as he wiped away the tears, careful not to hurt the delicate skin around his eyes. His usually composed eyes were filled with urgency. “Don’t cry, you’ll have to take more medicine later.”

His tone was like that of someone comforting a child. Jian Yang began to doubt if he was hallucinating. Was that a trace of concern he saw in Guan Ciyan’s eyes?

“I’m sorry,” Guan Ciyan exhausted all his words. He’d made jokes, explained everything, and made Jian Yang cry. All his negotiation and communication skills failed before Jian Yang, and even backfired. He could only say, “I’m sorry. Please stop crying.”

“You lied again…” Jian Yang cried louder. “You said you were wrong last time, but you don’t even know where you went wrong.”

Guan Ciyan had a vague memory, maybe it was about the Wen Ye incident, when he had apologized to Jian Yang.

At the time, he just wanted Jian Yang to calm down and stop being angry, saying only the necessary things. Whether he was truly wrong or not, he didn’t dwell on it. As long as Jian Yang wasn’t angry anymore, that was enough.

It wasn’t like they were signing a contract; who would take verbal promises seriously?

…Except for Jian Yang.

Jian Yang’s tears seemed endless. Guan Ciyan wiped them away tirelessly, and when his hands were soaked with tears and still couldn’t clean them off, his heart tightened. He straightened up and said seriously, “This time, I really know I was wrong. I won’t lie to you again.”

“Regardless of the reason, I won’t lie to you again.”

“I promise,” Guan Ciyan thought for a moment. “When we get back, I’ll write you a letter of guarantee. If I lie to you again, I’ll transfer the ownership of Fuyu Sheng Hall to your name, and I’ll cover all the taxes. How about that?”

Jian Yang cried miserably, “What nonsense are you saying?”

“I… I…” Guan Ciyan had a thousand words stuck in his chest, but didn’t know how to explain. “Anyway, I really was wrong this time. I know why you’re angry, and I won’t make you angry again. Is that okay?”

“Please stop crying. I beg you. Take care of your eyes, okay?”

“Three doses of medicine a day isn’t enough? Do you want more?”

His concerned expression didn’t seem fake. Jian Yang even felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He thought no one knew about his bitter medicine, but Guan Ciyan had that kind of magic, making it hard to distinguish between what was true and what was not.

Such an arrogant and proud person, yet he was willing to humble himself in front of Su Lao just for Jian Yang’s eyes.

No matter how much wrong he had done, Jian Yang couldn’t hate him when he thought about these things.

It would be better to be like Jian Yang’s parents, who were relentlessly bad to themselves, which was easier to handle.

“Alright, Jian Yang,” Guan Ciyan said with a smile when Jian Yang’s crying grew quieter. “Can you trust me just one last time?”

Ding—

Jian Yang’s phone rang.

It was Director Xu. Jian Yang turned, wiped his tears with his sleeve, cleared his throat, and answered, “Hello, Director Xu.”

“Xiao Jian, I’ve seen the report. I’m sorry, I didn’t know you and Mr. Guan had such an early collaboration. I misunderstood your relationship, thinking there was something inappropriate. Please don’t mind the things I said at the banquet.”

“Director Xu,” Jian Yang stopped and looked at Guan Ciyan with a puzzled expression.

In less than three hours, those who had slandered him, calling him shameless and base, spinning rumors about his relationships with the Guan family, had already changed their views on him?

A single report, and suddenly everyone had lost their judgment, believing whatever they were told. It couldn’t be true.

“It’s fine, Director Xu, I understand,” Jian Yang replied, letting out a sigh inwardly.

Perhaps everyone didn’t actually believe it, but they enjoyed the gossip about the Guan family’s scandalous news, hoping to gain something from the internal conflict. Clarifying the report was one thing, but more importantly, it showed Guan Ciyan’s attitude. No one dared offend him, so naturally, no one would slander Jian Yang anymore.

Success or failure, it all depended on Guan Ciyan.

Guan Ciyan met Jian Yang’s confused gaze and, with stiff fingers, pinched his cheek, mouthing, “See? I’ve handled it.”

Jian Yang numbly hung up the phone, his tears stopping as if plucked from a flower mid-bloom, frozen in place.

He couldn’t escape from Guan Ciyan, couldn’t break free from the damn storyline.

Everything revolved around Guan Ciyan, and unless he was strong enough to protect himself, he would only follow the plot, sacrificing for Jian Buqing and Guan Jingyu’s love. Of course, Guan Ciyan would be dragged down with him.

The wind and snow above couldn’t compare to the pain inside his heart. After trying so hard, he still had to give up his pride, his arrogance, break his own boundaries, and trust the person who had deceived him again. Jian Yang slowly lowered his hand that was holding the phone, letting it slide down to his side. The phone fell from his hand, hitting the snow without making a sound.

Guan Ciyan, anxious, asked, “What’s wrong? Are you cold?”

He took Jian Yang’s hand, rubbing it to try and warm him, but his own hands were as cold as ice. Their hands clung together, but no warmth could be felt.

“Let’s go home, alright? Jian Yang, let’s go,” Guan Ciyan said with concern.

Jian Yang’s dazed gaze fell on Guan Ciyan’s face. “Mr. Guan, am I someone useful to you?”

Guan Ciyan thought Jian Yang was negotiating again, so he smiled lightly, thinking he should take him back first and explain the misunderstanding later. “For now, yes. It depends on your performance in the future.”

Jian Yang thought to himself: As expected.

“Mr. Guan, let’s go home. Don’t freeze yourself,” Jian Yang said, his voice strained and hoarse after shouting, deliberately softening his tone.

The lights in the convenience store went out, and Guan Ciyan’s golden eyes sank into the darkness, the faint light following them down. The darkness obscured his expression. He lowered his head, trying to see Jian Yang’s face, but only catching a vague outline.

He held Jian Yang’s hand tightly. “Let’s go.”

The driver stopped the car at the intersection where Guan Ciyan had come earlier. He followed the familiar path, occasionally stepping into water puddles where the snow had melted, one foot shallow, one foot deep. His numb, stiff fingers gripped Jian Yang’s hand tightly as he led him home.

Jian Yang let him lead, not exerting any strength, not resisting, walking step by step toward the seemingly warm car inside.