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Just then, He Hansheng called.
Qin An answered, “Mr. He.”
He Hansheng’s cool voice came through the phone, “Did you bring her back?”
Qin An swallowed hard. “No… Miss Xu secretly bought a ticket to Yunshi.”
He Hansheng: …
He Hansheng hung up the phone.
He Hansheng’s handsome face remained cold as he found Xu Xingran’s number and dialed it.
This was him reaching out first—a way of giving her an out.
But the phone rang for a long time until it eventually disconnected on its own.
She didn’t answer.
He looked at the darkened screen, his cold face expressionless.
Her temper was really something.
Not only had she refused to take Qin An’s call, but now she wasn’t answering his either.
He Hansheng then called his other assistant, Hu Fei.
“Find out Xu Xingran’s location in Yunshi, and book the earliest flight. I’ll go personally to bring her back.”
There was a slight pause on the other end from Hu Fei, his assistant. Quickly, her professional and respectful tone responded, “Yes, sir!”
—
Xu Xingran had always wanted to visit Yunshi. The city had a great environment, stunning scenery, and ideal weather.
She planned to leisurely make her way back home, traveling along Yunshi and taking a month or so to enjoy it.
The mountains in Yunshi were majestic, and the waters clear. In the face of such natural beauty, her heartbreak felt insignificant.
Her mindset felt renewed. Standing before nature, personal emotions seemed to pale in comparison.
She had joined a tour group and visited Lugu Lake, admiring the most beautiful poplar blossoms.
After a full day of exploring, she returned to her guesthouse around nine in the evening.
When she opened the door, she saw a tall, familiar figure seated inside, one that struck a deep chord in her memory.
She instinctively rubbed her eyes, then opened them wide.
Still there!
It wasn’t an illusion!
Her pupils shook with shock.
What was He Hansheng doing here?
He Hansheng had an air of authority and elegance; just sitting there in his perfectly tailored suit, he exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure.
He was holding his phone, apparently in the middle of making a call. Lifting his gaze, he looked at Xu Xingran standing by the door, expressionless.
“Why didn’t your phone ring?”
Xu Xingran’s beautiful face froze for a moment before she pursed her lips.
“I threw out the old one.”
He Hansheng nodded in understanding and put away his phone.
“Let’s go back, I’ll arrange another one for you. Pack your things, and come back to the capital with me.”
Xu Xingran tugged at the corner of her mouth, instinctively stepping back.
Her bright eyes were clear and calm.
“He Hansheng, we’ve already broken up.”
He Hansheng furrowed his brows.
“Is it because I canceled the engagement banquet? You care that much?”
Xu Xingran pursed her lips and remained silent.
He Hansheng stepped closer to her, letting out a sigh.
“I’ll arrange a more extravagant engagement party for you. Are you not angry anymore? Look, I came to find you in person.”
Xu Xingran let out a derisive laugh.
She took several steps back, retreating to the corridor of the guesthouse.
“So what? Should I be grateful? Thank you for your lofty generosity?”
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
“I don’t want it! He Hansheng, I don’t want your charity, and I don’t want you. Let’s break up.”
Hearing the word “break up” come from her twice, He Hansheng, who had initially planned to patiently coax her, suddenly turned cold.
“Break up? Can you really let go?”
His tone was filled with a high and mighty disdain.
It felt like a knife was plunged into her chest.
Yes!
She couldn’t let go!
That was something everyone knew.
Didn’t He Hansheng know it too?
It was because he knew, because he understood that she loved deeply, passionately, recklessly, that he was able to hurt her without restraint, ignore her, and neglect her.
Even those around him, one by one, looked down on her.
It was her fault.
She had been too consumed by love, placing herself in a position of utter humility.
She had made herself a target.
She took a deep breath, lifted her head, and looked at He Hansheng with unwavering determination.
“I will do it. I can do it!”
Then she pointed to the door of the apartment.
“Now, please leave.”
The calmness and coldness in her eyes made the usually unshakable He Hansheng furrow his brows.
For seven years, Xu Xingran had always been like a bright little sun in front of him, never showing a cold face.
The most she would do was pout when she was upset, but that was always just her way of hoping he’d coax her.
All he needed to do was pat her head, and she’d be fine.
But now, the Xu Xingran in front of him felt unfamiliar.
Especially her indifferent gaze, which made him uncomfortable.
Suddendly, he felt a sharp, twisting pain in his stomach.
Rubbing his forehead, he suppressed the impatience rising inside.
“Xu Xingran, stop making trouble. You know I’m busy and don’t have time to coax you. Just behave, okay?”
The fatigue on He Hansheng’s face was genuine. He had taken a late-night flight and arrived at the accommodation around 10 PM.
He hadn’t slept a wink since, waiting for her.
He had already shown a vulnerable side, and she should have been content, should have taken the opportunity to come back.
But Xu Xingran took a few steps back again, and her gaze toward him was no longer filled with love.
“He Hansheng, I don’t need you to coax me. You didn’t before, and I don’t need it now. This is where it ends for us.”
Then she turned around.
“If you won’t leave, then I will.”
As soon as she turned, a loud crash echoed behind her.
She quickly spun around in shock.
What she saw was He Hansheng collapsed on the ground, his tall frame curled up.
A sleek, professional figure swiftly passed her and knelt beside He Hansheng.
“President, are you okay?”
Hu Fei’s face was filled with urgency.
She turned to Xu Xingran, scolding her.
“Mr. He flew here overnight to find you, and hasn’t had a sip of water since yesterday. Miss Xu, you’re being too cold, don’t you think?”
Xu Xingran took out her phone, dialed 120, explained the situation, and hung up.
“I’ve already called for an ambulance, so I’m not being cold, am I?”
She turned around to leave without another word.
Hu Fei, stunned, called after her retreating figure, “Aren’t you going to the hospital to take care of Mr. He?”
Xu Xingran didn’t slow her pace.
“I’m not a doctor. What’s the point of going?”
He Hansheng, with intense pain in his stomach, trembled. Through his blurry vision, all he could see was her unwavering figure, walking away without a second glance.