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Chapter 2: Breaking Pride

The ceiling light flickered twice due to a poor connection.

The shifting light and darkness were like a dividing line between reality and memory, drawing a six-year-long river between them. That torrential rain from memory was now submerged in a river so close, yet unreachable.

In less than half a second, Jian Li had already put on a formulaic smile, just like any polite first-time meeting in social settings.
“President Zhou, I’ve heard so much about you.”

Zhou Shubei said nothing as he walked past her without the slightest pause, as if he couldn’t even be bothered to give her a glance.

People around him quickly dispersed as he left, some glancing at her curiously as they passed.

Jian Li withdrew her smile and returned her wine glass to a passing service robot before bringing Neo back to their seat.

Their assigned seats were in the first row on the right. The others moved slightly to the side to make space for her, signaling that everything was ready.

Just as Jian Li sat down, her phone buzzed.

[Already a mature film queen]: First-hand news—Zhou Shubei is at the launch too!

[Already a mature film queen]: Did you see him?

Jian Li: [I saw him.]

[Already a mature film queen]: Whoo! Long-lost reunion, broken mirror mended!

Someone passed by in front of her, and Jian Li pulled her legs in a bit. People behind whispered and gossiped while a steady stream walked toward the same direction.

Zhou Shubei’s appearance had brought this product launch to its highest level of attention in years. Those who initially just came to observe were now fully alert—some looking for a chance to approach him, others watching which company he favored in hopes of finding a path to cooperation.

Even back in school, Zhou Shubei had been the center of attention wherever he went. Now was no exception. Jian Li slightly turned her eyes and immediately spotted him seated in the center.

He raised his wrist slightly, slowly fastening the buttons on his shirt sleeve. His expression was cold and indifferent, in stark contrast to the person before him who was smiling obsequiously.

His sleeve was neatly folded once, revealing a bit of his wrist bone. The watch reflected pinpoints of light under the spotlight. After the person in front of him finished speaking, he tugged at the corner of his lips slightly and said something that made the person’s expression shift before they left with an awkward smile.

He still looked the same as in her memories, but his entire aura had changed. Gone was the defiant and unrestrained youth, replaced with composed coldness.

Jian Li’s lashes trembled slightly as she looked away.

[You’re overthinking it.]

[Already a mature film queen]: Why?

[Because I know him.]

[Already a mature film queen]: I don’t get it.

The overhead lights shifted as the host in a flowing white dress stepped on stage, announcing the official start of the launch event.

Jian Li leaned toward Tan Xueying to say a word, using the moment to end the chat and turn off her phone.

The launch followed a simple flow—each team took the stage in order to demonstrate their robots. The event was livestreamed, not focused on immediate sales, but to introduce the robot to the public. Official market release would take more time.

Soon, it was Rainbow’s turn.

The programmer connected the main screen projection to the computer. Jian Li stood up and gave a command to Neo, who stood beside her:
“Neo, follow me.”

The once-motionless robot began to walk, trailing two steps behind her, arriving at the center of the stage.

“Neo, stand still.”

The robot halted mid-step and stood firmly in place.

From this angle, the entire exhibition hall came into view. Jian Li accepted the microphone handed over by the host, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with her left hand, and smiled with poised grace.

“Hello everyone, I’m Jian Li, the person in charge of Rainbow. The robot standing beside me is our company’s newly developed companion robot, called Neo. It can handle 80% of daily life tasks, supports 4,000 languages, and can hold basic conversations. Once voice recognition is set up, it can follow verbal commands, just like I demonstrated earlier.”

Jian Li scanned the audience and invited a young girl to the stage for a demo.

After recording the girl’s voice, she pulled a lollipop from her satchel and said,
“Neo, help me unwrap this.”

The robot bent down, gently took the lollipop, and unwrapped it skillfully.

The little girl sweetly said thank you, and Neo gently patted her head—an adorable interaction that made the audience laugh.

Jian Li also couldn’t help but smile. As the little girl skipped off the stage, she signaled to proceed.

“In addition to handling daily tasks, Neo has another feature,” Jian Li stepped aside to reveal the big screen. “It’s embedded with a knowledge base from primary school to high school, so when parents are too busy to help with homework, Neo can assist. It can also watch over children, elders, and pets. For remote interaction, just use the mobile app to send commands.”

“We’ve also carried over heat sensor features from the previous model—if someone falls, or there’s an abnormal heat signature or rapid breathing, Neo responds accordingly. The materials are upgraded to withstand temperatures from -50°C to 150°C.”

“And Neo has one more skill—it can record the voice of someone you miss.” Jian Li glanced at the audience—Zhou Shubei was slightly turning to speak with someone. She smiled faintly, her voice softening:
“It’s like… that person is still by your side.”

…

After the presentation, Jian Li’s throat was nearly dry, but the reception was great. Several reporters raised sharp, insightful questions.

“Though it might sound like bragging, I really have to say—our company makes the best robots,” Yu Yue said to Jian Li as she stepped down. “I watched closely—except for that guy in the middle, everyone was very interested in Neo.”

Jian Li knew exactly who she meant. She took a sip of soda to soothe her throat. As she capped the bottle, she couldn’t help but glance in that direction again.

Zhou Shubei sat with one hand resting on his knee. The person he’d been talking to had already left. Under the light, his long, sculpted fingers looked like a masterpiece by a proud sculptor. These were the same fingers that once liked to intertwine with hers, even holding on until their palms were sweaty, reluctant to let go. A slight tug, and he’d pull her into his arms.

“Jian Qingli, you really didn’t hesitate to let me go.”

He’d say that as he kissed her, thumb gently tracing the artery on her neck, sometimes mischievously leaving marks, only to relent when she frowned.

…

“Li-jie, what are you looking at?” Yu Yue’s voice broke her thoughts.

“Nothing,” Jian Li said.

Just as she was about to look away, Zhou Shubei seemed to sense something and glanced over. Just a fleeting look, light as mist brushing the grass—completely casual.

Jian Li felt a wave of bitterness rise inside. Confirming there was still time before the next segment, she told Yu Yue she needed a break and headed to the restroom.

In front of the sink.

Jian Li splashed her face with cold water. Pale green hand soap lathered in her palms.

Under her white long sleeves, the red string bracelet peeked out, with a brown bead etched with a name—long faded with time.

Maybe Zhou Shubei had already forgotten her.

Six years was long enough to erase any once-burning affection. She was no longer the same Jian Li. And Zhou Shubei had changed too.

Time pushes everyone forward. No one waits.

Jian Li removed the red string, wrapped it in a tissue, and stuffed it in her pocket. She threw the face towel in the trash, adjusted her mood, and turned to leave with her phone in hand.

But as she rounded the corner, she abruptly stopped.

Zhou Shubei had somehow appeared, a cigarette between his lips, unlit. The light from the hallway cast his shadow long and stretched.

Jian Li’s hand curled slightly at her side as she walked past him, face composed.

The marble tiles beneath reflected the shrinking distance between them. Just as they were about to pass one another, she heard him let out a soft snort. The next second, her wrist was suddenly grabbed and yanked—hard enough to pull her close.

A clean, familiar scent rushed into her nose. Her forehead pressed against the cold button of his shirt, warmth radiating from the body behind the fabric. His thumb pressed against her wrist, tightening until she frowned in pain. Zhou Shubei let out a satisfied chuckle.

He broke the cigarette in half, eyes lowering with a look of disgust laced with sarcasm.
“That money you got for selling me—was it enough?”

Jian Li’s pupils contracted sharply. The hallway lights stabbed at her eyes.

Before she could respond, Zhou Shubei leaned closer. The woody scent around him was strong and forceful, dragging her into his familiar, overwhelming presence. The light above fell on his head, his features caught between shadow and brightness—familiar, yet distant.

Jian Li had nowhere to retreat. Her free hand instinctively pressed against his shoulder.

“Zhou Shubei.”

He froze. That one name seemed to stretch time itself.

And suddenly Jian Li remembered that summer—how Zhou Shubei had trapped her like this, body tense like a drawn bow, lips pressing down fiercely.

“Jian Qingli,” he had whispered by her ear, fingers intertwined with hers. “In this world, you’re the only one I trust.”

But later… she had shattered that trust with her own hands.
She broke his pride.

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