"Engaged…?"
"You're getting married?"
Shen Wan'er asked in a daze.
For some reason, when Gu Yan said it so calmly—said he was about to get engaged—her heart ached unbearably.
She clearly felt that she shouldn't like Gu Yan.
So why did it hurt so much when she heard that he had let her go and was about to step into a new life?
Gu Yan nodded, a gentle smile in his eyes.
"Yes. She's a good girl."
"I see…"
Shen Wan'er fell silent.
She looked down at the wine glass in her hand. Her own sad expression was reflected in the red liquid.
She tightened her grip on the glass, raised her head, and forced a smile.
"I wish you happiness."
As she said those words, she could feel her heart tearing itself apart.
Why… why is this happening?
I clearly don't like him.
So why am I in so much pain?
So sad?
"Mm."
Gu Yan clinked glasses with her.
"I also hope you'll find your own true love."
He took a sip.
Hearing this, Shen Wan'er smiled bitterly in her heart, then raised the glass and drank it all in one go.
What she didn't notice was the strange glint that flashed through Gu Yan's eyes the moment she finished the wine.
Shen Wan'er rarely drank. But now, drowned in suffocating emotions, she had emptied the glass in a single breath.
Her face flushed immediately.
She pressed a hand to her forehead, took a deep breath, and the world in front of her began to blur.
Tears spilled out again.
Lowering her head, she sobbed softly.
"I'm sorry… I was wrong before…"
She looked at Gu Yan through tear-filled eyes.
"Can we… go back to how things were?"
Gu Yan didn't answer.
He only smiled.
Not getting the response she wanted, Shen Wan'er's eyes completely dimmed.
At that moment, she finally understood—
It wasn't Gu Yan who couldn't let go of her.
It was her who couldn't let go of Gu Yan.
She regretted it.
So deeply, painfully regretted it.
She set the glass down, wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and forced herself to smile.
"Alright… I understand."
But beneath that smile, her heart was drowning in regret and loss.
It seemed… she really had been wrong.
Shen Wan'er walked out of the Gu residence, her steps unsteady.
"Gu Yan…"
Her eyes were red, her vision hazy.
The alcohol slowly took over, making her feel light-headed.
She staggered toward her Porsche.
At the same time, a black car made of special materials approached from a distance.
---
"Xiao Lin, right?"
"My name is Bai Jun."
Sitting in the back seat, Bai Jun smiled faintly at the silent, gloomy young man beside him.
"If I'm not mistaken, you should be an early-stage Grandmaster, correct?"
Bai Jun was puzzled.
Is this depressed man really the future heir of the Dragon King Palace?
His strength was impressive, yes—but with this kind of mindset, how far could he really go?
Before bringing Xiao Lin away, Bai Jun had already investigated everything.
When he learned that Xiao Lin had been arrested over jealousy, his disappointment was unmistakable.
He had always respected the old master of the Dragon King Palace and had high expectations for the successor chosen by that legendary figure.
Yet this… didn't look promising.
Xiao Lin didn't answer.
He wasn't even in the mood to think about why this man was taking him away.
His fists clenched tightly, pain etched across his face.
Gu Yan's words echoed endlessly in his mind.
People like you…
People like me…
Xiao Lin shut his eyes.
Your strength is not meant to hurt others…
Guilt crushed his chest.
If he could, he wanted nothing more than to go to the hospital and see Wang Yulan.
Suddenly, he sensed something.
He turned to look out the window—and froze.
A familiar figure was crouched beside a car, shoulders shaking as if she were crying.
"Shen Wan'er?!"
Xiao Lin's eyes widened.
"Stop the car!"
Bai Jun frowned. "Stop?"
"What are you saying? Next, I'm taking you—"
"Please!"
Xiao Lin looked at him with pleading eyes.
"There's someone very important to me. Let me deal with this first, and after that, I'll cooperate with anything you want."
"…."
Bai Jun fell silent.
He pushed his glasses up, glanced at the woman outside the window, then smiled lightly.
"Alright."
---
Drunk and overwhelmed, Shen Wan'er had actually collapsed crying right in front of her car.
At that moment—
"B-boss…?"
"Are you okay?"
A familiar voice reached her ears.
She froze, turned her head, and saw the security guard she had hired standing behind her, worry written all over his face.
For the first time, warmth filled her heart.
She wiped her tears and shook her head.
"I'm fine. Why are you here?"
It was also the first time Xiao Lin had ever seen Shen Wan'er like this.
Her cheeks were flushed from alcohol, her tone soft and fragile.
"I—I was acquitted," he stammered.
"What are you doing here, boss?"
Shen Wan'er recalled Gu Yan's words.
Looking at the nervous Xiao Lin, she shook her head and smiled.
"Can you drive?"
Xiao Lin nodded furiously.
"Yes! I learned on the mountain!"
"On the mountain? What kind of place is that?"
"Longwang Mountain—"
"Alright," she interrupted, handing him the keys.
"Take me back to the company."
When Xiao Lin took the keys, his fingers brushed against hers.
His face instantly turned red.
"O-okay! Okay!"
He nodded without hesitation.
---
From the black car, Bai Jun watched the interaction quietly.
Light glinted off his glasses.
"Drive back," he said coldly.
"Yes, sir."
The engine roared to life.
Bai Jun leaned back, recalling Xiao Lin's behavior.
A sneer curled at his lips.
So this is the current young master of the Dragon King Palace?
Truly disappointing.
His father must be confused.
To actually want his little sister to marry a man like this?
As her brother, he would never allow it.
And then—
He remembered something.
His little sister had once said she was bullied.
Bai Jun asked the man in front, "Have you found the one who bullied my sister?"
"Yes. They were local thugs. The leader is called Shen Tian."
"He's the younger brother of Shen Wan'er, the Shen family's eldest daughter."
"He had extensive financial dealings with the Gu family's eldest son."
"But according to our investigation, Gu Yan and Shen Wan'er had already broken up."
"And it was Gu Yan who rescued the young lady."
Hearing this, a murderous glint flashed through Bai Jun's eyes.
Shen Tian.
The Shen family.
What a pity—I can't interfere directly in secular affairs as a warrior.
As for Gu Yan…
He had heard before that Gu Yan was once the Shen family's bootlicker.
But since he saved his little sister—
He's a friend.
And Bai Jun always repays favors.
Looks like I'll need to find some time…
To meet this Gu Yan.
...
Author's Note
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