{Zhao Buhui replied, “I don’t care.” 1}

Qian Xu closed the car door, but she didn’t expect Shen Qi to lean over, pressing both hands against the car window, staring at her as though she were already his.

After all the twists and cold encounters, Shen Qi didn’t seem to realize he had done anything wrong. Though there was a fleeting moment of frustration on his proud face, the emotion quickly vanished, as it always did with him. Soon enough, he attributed the day’s failure to Qian Xu simply not being “obedient” enough.

She began to roll up the manual window.

As the window slowly rose, his black leather-gloved hands remained in place, even as they were nearly caught by the closing glass.

But Qian Xu wasn’t concerned about his hands. To her, even a second’s delay was indulgence towards him, a betrayal of the years of effort and sacrifice she had made.

At the last moment, as the window was about to fully close, Shen Qi finally pulled his hands away.

Of course.

There was no way he would allow himself to be hurt—by her, a woman he treated as nothing more than a tool. Qian Xu knew him too well. Shen Qi had never loved anyone; he only loved himself.

True to form, his gaze fell on the modest Volkswagen she was driving. Despite his attempts to conceal it, the disdain bred into him since birth crept onto his face. His hand, previously resting on the car, was dirty, and he even dusted off his gloves after withdrawing them.

Yet, enduring his growing frustration, he spoke as if determined to maintain control over the situation: “Get out of the car. I’ll drive you.”

By now, Qian Xu felt that his confidence bordered on delusion. The reason for his arrogance wasn’t difficult to guess—she had been too generous with him in the past.

He had gotten too used to things going his way with her.

Even if societal norms told him he wasn’t worthy of her—a man with two illegitimate children didn’t deserve someone as pure as her—his ever-expanding resources made him believe that he could replace her with countless others just like her.

But could he really find another “her”?

Maybe he could, but that person wouldn’t have the same sincere heart. And even if they did, they certainly wouldn’t abandon their prejudices and unconditionally love him and his children the way she once did.

Or maybe, today, after being rebuffed by Cheng Shuangyi, he had come to her out of habit, seeking comfort.

It was laughable.

Qian Xu felt the urge to address the situation clearly. She rolled down the window again and beckoned to him, but this time her gesture was laced with contempt. It was nothing like her previous sincere and passionate calls.

Instead, it mirrored Shen Qi’s own manner—how he, in his high position, would wave to those beneath him. In this, at least, Shen Qi had been her best teacher.

He reluctantly leaned down, dropping the layers of pride and vigilance he usually wore in public. His eyes carried an anticipation, as if he thought the drama of today had reached its end and he had gotten what he came for.

But he couldn’t have predicted what came next.

As he leaned closer, Qian Xu wasted no time. She simply leaned in, and with cool detachment, whispered one word into his ear: “Get lost.”

This was exactly what he had brought upon himself.

Qian Xu felt no guilt for putting the man in his place. If Shen Qi hadn’t been so arrogantly self-assured, perhaps he would have seen her true feelings long ago—

Then she wouldn’t have had to humiliate the CEO of a publicly traded company in broad daylight.

Had he known the depth of his insignificance in her heart, there’s no way he would have pulled off that “deeply affectionate” display at the airport, nor would he have brought his children along to try and bind her.

Even now, despite her clear rejection, he remained unmoved, insisting, “Get out of the car.”

Qian Xu couldn’t help but feel a twisted admiration for his composure. How could he remain so calm, still clinging to this notion, as if his dignity meant nothing? She vividly remembered when Shen Qi had fallen on hard times in Ohio and treated his friend, a humble farm owner, with cold disdain.

Yet today, he had changed, relentlessly demanding that she get into his car.

From a distance, Qian Xu had already spotted Shen Qi’s vehicle. It was parked illegally in the most visible part of the airport, with a fresh parking ticket fluttering in the cold wind. He ignored it, still urging her to go with him.

Qian Xu was genuinely baffled.