Cheng Wenhan’s face dropped immediately, the hope he’d been holding on to shattering into pieces. His expression crumpled with disappointment and defeat, the weight of her rejection pressing down on him.

Jiang Mian couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt deep in her chest. Looks like Cheng Wenhan is finally giving up on me…

Ugh, I can’t believe I’m letting such a handsome guy slip away…

But then, the thought of Shen Shiyan echoed in her mind, and a wave of frustration washed over her. Why hasn’t he dumped me yet?

Her phone continued to buzz incessantly in her pocket, and the sound only made her more anxious.

Trying to break free from Cheng Wenhan’s grip, she quickly apologized, “I’m sorry…”

But before she could retreat any further, Cheng Wenhan’s voice cut through her apology, hoarse with the rawness of unspoken emotion.

“Do you really like someone else?”

His eyes were red, locked on her, as if searching for any sign of doubt, any hint that her words weren’t the absolute truth. He needed an answer—the answer.

“If you don’t like anyone else, could we at least stay friends?” Cheng Wenhan asked, his voice tinged with vulnerability. This was the first time he’d truly liked someone, and even though he’d been rejected and shown his weakest side, there was still a glimmer of hope in his heart.

Maybe if they started again as friends, Jiang Mian would eventually warm to him, and one day, she might even be moved by his feelings.

Jiang Mian let out a deep sigh. “I really do have someone I like. I’m sorry.”

That should be the end of it, right?

She thought she’d been clear and unyielding enough to make him give up. But as soon as the words left her mouth, she saw the brief flicker of hurt in Cheng Wenhan’s eyes before he masked it with a brave smile.

“It’s okay. Even if you like someone else, I’ll still like you.”

Jiang Mian stared at him, flabbergasted. Well, that was a waste of my breath.

Trying to regain control of the situation, she asked, “Can I go take my call now?”

Reluctantly, Cheng Wenhan let go of her hand, though his gaze lingered for a moment longer. Jiang Mian didn’t have the energy to think about it, immediately stepping aside to take the call.

Jiang Mian’s heart skipped a beat as her eyes locked on Shen Shiyan standing under the tree ahead.

Why is he here?

Her mind went blank, and without thinking, she pressed the call button, immediately hearing his cool, detached voice on the other end. “Why are you only picking up now?”

The night was crisp and clear, the full moon hanging high in the sky, casting a soft, ethereal glow. The century-old phoenix trees lining the streets swayed in the cold breeze, their branches creaking and rustling in the wind.

The moonlight danced across the leaves, casting fractured shadows on the face of the man standing beneath them. His cold, obsidian eyes glinted with a chill that made her shiver uncontrollably.

Great, now he’s mad.

His gaze made Jiang Mian feel like she was a cheating wife, caught red-handed by her husband during an illicit rendezvous with another man.

Though they weren’t in that kind of relationship, she was, in some way, still his—his lover, in name at least.

Which man could tolerate his woman being unfaithful?

From what Jiang Mian knew about Shen Shiyan, once he got angry, the consequences would be devastating.

Just like what happened to the original owner—her fate was sealed by Shen Shiyan’s own hands.

Jiang Mian certainly didn’t want to end up locked away in a mental hospital, just like the original owner had.

The man’s cold, piercing gaze made her body involuntarily tremble. She forced a smile and obediently greeted him over the phone, “Mr. Shen.”

While fear gripped her, she couldn’t help but wonder how long he had been standing there and what exactly he had overheard.

If he’d heard everything from start to finish, then there’d be no reason for her to worry—after all, she had clearly rejected Cheng Wenhan and made it clear she had someone else she liked. But if he had only heard part of the conversation, and misunderstood it as some unclear, ambiguous interaction with Cheng Wenhan, then she was truly in deep trouble.

With less confidence than usual, Jiang Mian answered, “I was just talking to a… classmate.”

“Oh, talking to a classmate, and you need to hold hands?”

His voice remained casual, but there was an unmistakable coldness to it, like the chill of a winter wind cutting through her heart.

The icy cold gaze from Shen Shiyan made Jiang Mian feel as if the temperature around her had dropped even further.

From his tone, it seemed like he had misunderstood—she was probably in even more trouble now.

She wanted to cry. Why did the male lead always show up at the worst possible times?

“Mr. Shen, you’ve misunderstood. It’s not what you think…” she started, but before she could finish her sentence, the call was abruptly ended.

Without even looking at her, Shen Shiyan turned on his heel and walked away.

She hadn’t seen him in a while, and yet here he was, always managing to surprise her when she least expected it.

Shen Shiyan’s face was taut with anger as he strode off with long, purposeful steps, his pace quickening with every moment.

If only he would break up with her right then and there, that would be the best case scenario. Jiang Mian had no intention of chasing after him to explain herself.

But the problem was, as she stood there frozen, a sharp pain in her chest flared up, and her breath became shallow and difficult to draw.

Damn it, she couldn’t just leave it at that and face the consequences. Jiang Mian couldn’t take it anymore.

She gritted her teeth, trying to push the pain in her chest aside, but with every passing second, the ache grew sharper.

In mere seconds, sweat was beading on her forehead, and it felt as though minutes had gone by instead.

She wasn’t just afraid of the pain—she was terrified of dying.

She had fought so hard to hold onto life; there was no way she could just let go now.

Jiang Mian glanced back at Cheng Wenhan and said, “I’m really sorry, but I have to go!”

Without waiting for his response, she quickly turned and ran in the direction Shen Shiyan had gone.

Cheng Wenhan stood there, stunned, watching her leave. His gaze followed Jiang Mian’s retreating figure and landed on the man she was chasing after.

That man… was he the one Jiang Mian truly cared for?

So it was true—she hadn’t been lying. He had been the one deceiving himself, unwilling to face the truth, preferring to believe in the lies.

Jiang Mian hadn’t run far when Chen Yao came out.

Chen Yao had been worried, unable to shake her concern. She wanted to check if Cheng Wenhan’s confession had been successful.

She scanned the area when she stepped outside and saw Cheng Wenhan standing under the streetlamp. She jogged over to him.

She was about to ask where Jiang Mian had gone, but seeing Cheng Wenhan’s lost and dejected state, she already knew the answer. The words she had wanted to say caught in her throat, and she stood silently beside him.

Cheng Wenhan glanced at her and said softly, “She’s gone.”

There was no need to ask. She could guess what had happened.

After a brief hesitation, Chen Yao still asked with concern, “Are you… okay?”

Cheng Wenhan smiled, though it was tinged with bitterness. “So she really does have someone she likes…”

Jiang Mian didn’t know what Cheng Wenhan was thinking as she chased after Shen Shiyan. If she had known, she would have gritted her teeth in frustration and tried to explain.

Chasing after Shen Shiyan wasn’t about how much she liked him—it was about the fact that she really didn’t want to die.

The pain in her chest grew sharper, and she was close to stumbling from the agony. Her hand gripped her chest, and her steps grew slower and slower.

She had finally closed the distance, but now it seemed like it was slipping away. In a panic, she called out his name loudly.

But the person ahead didn’t seem to hear. He just kept walking faster and faster.

It was infuriating! How could he pretend he didn’t hear her?

But what could she do? It was all because Shen Shiyan had misunderstood.

Jiang Mian gritted her teeth, forcing herself to endure the pain in her chest, and slowly picked up the pace to a run.

As she ran, she kept telling herself that this wasn’t her chasing Shen Shiyan—it was a race against her own life.

If she could catch up to him, even just a little, the pain might stop.

The campus avenue stretched endlessly, and the cold wind stung her face. She could feel the pain in her chest spreading through her limbs.

Each step felt like it was stealing her life away.

Jiang Mian couldn’t bear the pain anymore. She stopped, staring at his back, and shouted, “Shen Shiyan, you really misunderstood! Please, just turn around and look at me!”

Occasionally, men passing by on the street would glance over, thinking they were witnessing some kind of romantic drama—one chasing after the other.

But only Jiang Mian knew that if Shen Shiyan didn’t turn around and look at her, she would truly lose her life.

Using every last bit of strength in her body, she yelled out the words. Afterward, the air seemed to leave her lungs, and dizziness flooded her mind. Her body swayed weakly, unable to hold on any longer.

Finally, unable to withstand the pain in her chest, everything went black, and she lost consciousness.

The crowd that had been watching the scene was now in a panic, seeing Jiang Mian suddenly collapse. They rushed over to check on her.

“Hey, are you okay?”

Meanwhile, walking ahead, Shen Shiyan heard the shout and swiftly turned around. He saw two boys standing by the side of the road, and the person lying in front of them was none other than Jiang Mian.

The two boys were utterly confused. They had been casually watching the situation unfold, but now they found themselves faced with a collapsed Jiang Mian.

Without hesitation, they rushed forward, intending to pick her up and get her to the school’s infirmary as quickly as possible.

However, someone was faster than them.

After shouting at her a few times, the two boys were about to bend down to lift her when Shen Shiyan appeared before them in a flash. He crouched down and called her name softly.

The woman on the ground was unresponsive, her body completely still. Shen Shiyan’s face darkened, and with quick reflexes, he scooped her up into his arms, walking briskly away.

The two boys were left standing there, stunned, thinking to themselves that this man was just too cool for words.

A black car stopped at the school gate, with the driver quietly sitting in the driver’s seat, his gaze fixed on He Lai, who was pacing by the side of the road.

He Lai couldn’t help but think how miserable she must be. Despite her clear feelings for Shen Shiyan, she had to accompany him to pick up another woman.

She had walked back and forth at the school gate countless times, her emotions a storm inside her.

Shen Shiyan had never cared for a woman like this before. He Lai still remembered the look on his face when he had asked her to buy a limited edition handbag for him. His expression had been stiff, but there had been a subtle trace of pleasure that was hard to miss.

Who was that bag for? He Lai didn’t need to ask; she already knew, and the realization gnawed at her, stirring up a deep sense of unease.

Shen Shiyan’s treatment of Jiang Mian was excessive, even surpassing how he had treated Tang Mian back then.

After what felt like an eternity in the cold wind, He Lai finally heard footsteps approaching.

She looked up, hope sparking in her chest, only to see Shen Shiyan’s face set in a stern expression, his pace quick as he walked toward her.

In his arms was none other than the woman she both envied and resented—Jiang Mian.

“President Shen!”

He Lai called out, but Shen Shiyan acted as if he hadn’t heard her. He carefully cradled Jiang Mian in his arms and got into the car.

Glancing down at the pale woman in his arms, he snapped, “Take her to the nearest hospital!”

From start to finish, He Lai felt like a transparent air, completely ignored.

It felt like a hole had opened in her chest, cold winds rushing in to chill her to the bone.

The driver responded with a sharp “Yes,” then, noticing she was still standing outside the car, raised his voice, “Secretary He, get in the car!”

It took her several calls before He Lai snapped out of her daze, her limbs stiff as she climbed into the car.

With a heavy press of the gas pedal, the driver sped toward the nearest hospital.

He Lai sat in a stunned silence, her eyes glued to the rearview mirror, watching Shen Shiyan and Jiang Mian in the backseat.

=^_^=