Willing to Be for Her - Chapter 23

The girl’s slender, translucent fingers, as delicate as fan ribs, left the thin sheet of paper, voluntarily severing the last thread connecting her to the woman.

*Look how fragile the bonds between people are,* she thought. *They can be broken with a word, and forgotten… just as easily.*

Seeing the cracks appear in Ning Yiqing’s usually composed and self-possessed demeanor, Luo Wei screamed in panic.

“Luo Xuan, what are you doing? Are you crazy? Are you crazy?”

Luo Xuan casually tossed the ribbon from the gift box into the air, where the enamel chandelier cast dazzling, chaotic colors.

With unwavering resolve, she turned and strode away from the engagement stage, bathed in light and warmth.

The world sat perched on its gleaming, elevated platform, looking down at her radiant smile as she walked against the wind, against the crowd, against the curious stares, against the rules that everyone else dared not transgress.

She walked in the opposite direction.

From this day forward, no one in the world would ever call her “Star” again. Luo Xuan walked out without a care, moonlight streaming in.

*This is good enough.*

She had always been a monster living in darkness, but through Ning Yiqing’s light, she had tasted warmth.

Now that the light was gone, there was nothing to fear.

She was simply a monster.

No one dared to rush forward to stop her, not even the most gossipy and fearless media reporters, who seemed to be held firmly in their seats by some strange force, unable to move.

The pure white gown she wore gradually became stained crimson with bl00d. Ning Yiqing’s heart trembled slightly, as if she could see the bloody wound on the back of the girl’s neck.

It resembled a butterfly spreading its wings, ready to take flight.

Darkness gradually swallowed Luo Xuan’s beautiful, resigned face. The wildly growing thorns chose to turn their backs on the world, resisting with a quiet defiance, so quiet that it erased all traces.

All traces.

There would be no more sweet cherries clinging to the pure and noble White Sandalwood.

Luo Xuan never once looked back. The massive sighs and gasps behind her seemed like celebratory gifts for severing her fate.

*I’m about to die anyway, so who cares if the world floods behind me?*

Perhaps everyone has a moment when they glimpse their destiny, whether they struggle against it or feign compliance. In the end, all that remains is a helpless sigh.

The destiny she had glimpsed and understood was to become a special guest at her own wedding.

But she wasn’t the docile type. Beneath her monstrous exterior lay a truly monstrous heart—a heart that dared to gamble with fate.

To deliver such a heart-wrenching gift even while dragging her ailing body—she felt truly honored.

Luo Xuan wiped the bl00d from the corner of her mouth, turned her back on the world, and felt a strange mix of grandeur and sorrow.

Even the grandest lights must eventually fade. All this love and hatred had grown too exhausting.

She finally felt tired.

She could now return to a warm, safe place and sleep.

Around her, the formally dressed guests struggled to maintain their composure, their palms sweating profusely. Some stared in shock, others in terror, while a few forced smiles or simply stared blankly at the scene.

The cameras seemed to freeze for a moment, then sprang back to life, frantically recording every detail.

The whispers of the crowd, the whirring of machinery, the relentless flashing of lights, and the stunned, numb, or pained expressions on the faces of the onlookers formed a bizarre tableau.

“Who is she anyway? I’ve never heard of Luo Xuan. Is she related to the Luo Family?”

“She’s apparently the Luo Family’s youngest daughter, an Alpha. But her pheromone level is quite low—probably not very useful.”

“Isn’t she the one who’s sick and doesn’t have much time left? What’s her relationship with Chairman Ning?”

“Hey, hey, look at Chairman Ning. Doesn’t she seem a bit off, like she’s lost in thought?”

Under the dazzling lights of the high platform, the crowd was blinded by the spectacle and intimidated by the power and authority on display. No one dared to scrutinize her closely, offering only perfunctory smiles and dismissing the notion. “Nonsense,” they said. “Chairman Ning would never act like that.”

In that moment, the clamor and noise faded away for Ning Yiqing. She stared blankly at the girl’s resolute retreating figure. Before she could crumple the white paper in her hand, its edge sliced open the pad of her left index finger.

A sharp, stinging pain spread through her fingertip as bl00d welled from the cut, dripping onto the pristine white paper.

The black text on the paper reminded her again: *Permanent Marking, Permanent Elimination*. Whether she willed it or not, her Cherry Pheromone would silently diminish each night, until it vanished completely, leaving no possibility of reversal.

But this was a trivial wound. Ning Yiqing withdrew her left hand, concealing her jade-like fingers behind the folds of her pure white gauze dress.

The finger injury was hidden, and the slight tremor in her body had subsided. Yet her nape burned fiercely, as if something were draining away, thread by thread, and she was powerless to stop it.

She wasn’t sure if she had lost something precious and irretrievable, but she suspected not.

For the first time in her life, the woman stood before a crowd, her eyes clouded with confusion and bewilderment, yet her gaze drifted slowly and deliberately to the now-empty exit.

She suddenly realized she couldn’t find her way out. In that moment, the world had transformed into a vast, labyrinthine maze, leaving her alone, trapped in a cage of bewilderment and despair.

The wedding officiant glanced around, watching the crowd’s initial frenzy subside into silence. The seasoned veteran suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

Though the young woman had already left without a backward glance, he sensed that something had collapsed—perhaps a crucial support, or merely a self-deceiving knot someone had dismissed as insignificant.

Outside the engagement banquet hall, a bright yellow bicycle stood parked. Luo Xuan switched on the headlight, swung her long leg over the frame, and, under the moonlight, put on her headphones. She heard the café manager’s voice urging her to hurry over.

Her last part-time shift at the café was about to come to a perfect end.

The estate was located in the suburbs, surrounded by beautiful scenery. When Luo Xuan answered Chi Li’s call, her frantic voice carried far through the sparse woods.

“Xuanxuanxuan! What’s going on? President Ning and Luo Wei got engaged, and the live broadcast of the engagement banquet stopped the moment you appeared! Do you understand? The entire global broadcast just cut off!”

“Nothing much,” Luo Xuan replied, pedaling swiftly. The spring wind, fierce yet delicate, carried the scent of summer lemonade. “I just delivered a package to President Ning.”

Chi Li: “……”

“A package? What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

“We got divorced. I went to deliver her one last gift, to wish her happiness in the future. It’s that simple.”

“Speak properly! What exactly happened between you and President Ning? Who dumped whom? Why would she divorce you? Didn’t she like you? How did she end up with Luo Wei?”

“She didn’t like me,” Luo Xuan interrupted calmly, her eyes cold and distant. “That wasn’t love—or perhaps it was a kind of love I couldn’t understand.”

“I love you, but I’m going to marry her.”

Does someone who says such a thing truly love themselves?

What kind of love is that? It’s more like the gaze of a god looking down upon mortals, bestowing boundless divine grace, raining down blessings and thunder alike.

There’s no explanation. The god declares their decree, and whether you receive favor or are stripped bare is irrelevant.

Because you’re merely an ant gazing up at the divine.

Luo Xuan couldn’t comprehend how a woman could utter such words, and at this point, she no longer cared to understand.

Chi Li was still struggling to process the news. “Could there be some misunderstanding or hidden reason? I’m so confused, like I’m dreaming. Someone wake me up!”

“No. She simply doesn’t love me.”

Hearing Luo Xuan’s resolute words, Chi Li fell into a long silence, the only sounds being the static from the phone and the howling wind.

“Xuanxuanxuan,” Chi Li finally said, her mind racing, “then tell me, does she love Luo Wei?”

The bicycle wheels gradually stopped turning, and the rider placed one foot on the grassy verge, offering no reply.

“What? Cancel the engagement banquet?” Qi Qingqing gasped, nearly fainting at Luo Wei’s words. “Yi Qing—no, President Ning—how could she say that? Our perfect engagement banquet, just moments away from exchanging rings, and she just cancels it?”

Behind them, guests were departing, and the half-lit colored lights cast Luo Wei’s radiant face into stark relief, making her appear utterly distraught. Her eyes were weary, and her hair was a tangled mess from her own frantic tugging, making her look like a drowned ghost.

“She simply said the engagement was canceled.”

“Not even an explanation?” Luo Guoren asked anxiously. “Chairman Ning should at least offer some reason. How can she just call it off like that?”

“I knew Luo Xuan was behind this! What kind of bewitching potion did she give President Ning?” Qi Qingqing’s eyes reddened as she turned to Luo Wei. “Did you see what she handed President Ning? How could a single piece of paper have such power?”

Luo Wei rubbed her forehead, the woman’s elegant, measured tone still echoing in her ears:

*Cancel the engagement. I will compensate the Luo Family threefold for their losses and personally apologize at a later date.*

“I don’t know. I didn’t see clearly. Luo Xuan said she came to congratulate us, but Yi Qing… he’s acting very strange.”

Luo Wei struggled to describe it. It was as if an inexplicable weariness had enveloped Ning Yi Qing, making the usually abstemious and flawless man show signs of losing control.

Or perhaps it was just an illusion, a shared hallucination among them all.

“How… how could this happen? Our families still have joint projects, don’t they?” Qi Qingqing murmured to herself, her dreams of marrying into wealth shattered and her path to climbing higher now blocked. Her heart felt as cold as ashes.

“It’s all Luo Xuan’s fault! Your car accident must have been caused by that sickly woman’s curse. She’s nothing but bad luck!” Qi Qingqing, utterly despairing, wept hysterically, her makeup smeared, making her look like a madwoman.

“Mom, what do I do? Yi Qing doesn’t want me anymore. What are we going to do?” Luo Wei looked equally defeated. The money, power, status, and beauty she had within her grasp had all slipped away. “No! I can’t give up!”

Upstairs in the luxurious lounge, beneath the snow-white ceiling, gleaming brass floor lamps cast a harsh light, making everyone’s cheeks flush with heat.

The woman, having changed out of her wedding dress and now wearing only a silk shirt, held a diamond-patterned glass in her pale hand. The amber-colored whiskey on ice reflected a cold, piercing light.

“You’re canceling the engagement so casually?” Qin Shiyi burst into the room, gesturing for everyone else to leave.

As the room fell silent, the oppressive heat lingered.

Staring at Ning Yiqing, who sat composed on a red velvet chaise lounge, Qin Shiyi felt herself on the verge of hysteria. “You could have canceled half an hour ago, a day ago, even a month ago! But you waited until right before exchanging rings? You’re unbelievable! Have you lost your mind? Have you and Luo Xuan both gone mad?”

Ning Yiqing’s eyes darkened. A sharp, stinging sensation surged through the back of her neck, though her heat cycle hadn’t even begun.

She repeatedly brought the glass to her lips, only to hesitate and set it down.

“It’s my fault. I’ll take responsibility.”

“Responsibility? Your family can use their influence to suppress the news, but do you think whispers won’t spread behind closed doors? This could… affect your work,” Qin Shiyi deliberately brought up the issue of work.

“You’re starting to care about work now?” Ning Yiqing replied casually.

Qin Shiyi choked on the woman’s earnest question, but within two seconds, she retorted:

“And you’re starting to *not* care about work?”

“No,” Ning Yiqing said, her breath coming in ragged gasps, as if she were drowning. “I just suddenly realized how much I truly dislike Luo Wei.”

“Bullshit! You’re just now realizing you dislike Luo Wei? Yi Qing, don’t be ridiculous. What did Luo Xuan show you earlier? Your face is pale, your thoughts are scattered—don’t think I can’t see through you.”

The amber liquid reflected a hazy glow, enveloping the woman’s cold, aloof face. Ning Yiqing repeatedly rubbed the glass, her eyes darkening before abruptly regaining their usual composure.

She set down the glass and turned her head, answering casually, “It wasn’t anything important.”

“It wouldn’t have anything to do with your permanent mark, would it?” Qin Shiyi suddenly exclaimed, struck by a flash of insight. “But didn’t you say you couldn’t bring yourself to remove it?”

The night breeze slipped through the window cracks, carrying the warmth of the indoor lights. Ning Yiqing’s aloof, noble face remained flawlessly indifferent.

“Enough. That’s not important… it actually saves me unnecessary trouble.”

Realizing her guess had been correct, Qin Shiyi was stunned by her best friend’s almost cold-blooded indifference. “Yi Qing, I thought… I thought you had at least some affection for Luo Xuan. How can you… how can you…? Or are you just saying one thing and meaning another? You’re such a complicated person.”

The walnut door of the lounge burst open, and the Ning Family’s elderly patriarch strode in, leaning on a silver cane. His eyes were sharp and piercing. “Qing’er, I don’t care who you fancy, but members of the Ning Family cannot act on whims. Handle this matter properly.”

Seeing the still-vigorous Ning Zhengye, Qin Shiyi was too frightened to utter a word. Everyone knew the old man’s ruthless methods from his younger days—it was no exaggeration to say that his name alone could stop children from crying at night.

In recent years, however, he had relinquished power, retreated behind the scenes, and devoted himself to cultivating his temperament through gardening and bird-watching.

Ning Yiqing was arguably the most like him among his grandchildren, possessing the same decisive ruthlessness and cold-blooded detachment.

“I understand, Grandpa,” Ning Yiqing nodded, showing none of the warmth one might expect toward family. Only impeccable, faultless respect remained.

“I trust Yi Qing can handle this well and won’t disappoint me,” Ning Zhengye said, his expression complex as he looked at Ning Yiqing. He finally chuckled, “Don’t be like your sister, insisting on being with a crippled Omega. The Ning family must maintain its dignity—no more acting on emotion.”

Ning Yiqing lowered his gaze respectfully, listening to the lecture. His impeccable manners left no room for criticism.

“You’re a smart child. You know what kind of Alpha the Ning family heir needs. You can be more selective with marriage—after all, you’re the heir I chose.”

As the old man stormed out, all bluster and little substance, Qin Shiyi quickly poured herself a glass of whiskey to calm her nerves.

“Why is the old man so easy to deal with now? I thought he’d force you to marry Luo Wei, and if you refused, he’d strip you of all your positions in the group—executive director, general manager, everything.”

“When you have fewer chips to play, your tactics become more restrained.”

“So the old man’s losing his grip on you? But what did he mean by that last remark?”

“He was warning me not to have it both ways,” Ning Yiqing said, lowering his gaze. A self-mocking smile touched his composed face. “The Ning family’s Alpha, Luo Xuan, is unworthy.”

“Is it that you feel unworthy, or that the Ning Family deems you unworthy?”

The ice in the diamond-patterned glass had melted to a small chunk. Ning Yiqing hadn’t touched her drink. She stood up and gazed at the pale green night sky. The moon was bright tonight, and wisps of dampness clung to the windowpane.

“It doesn’t matter. This is probably how it ends.”

“Yi Qing, are you sure you won’t regret this?”

“I don’t think so.” The corners of Ning Yiqing’s eyes flushed a faint, damp red as she lowered her gaze. “I’ve never regretted anything in my life.”

Watching Ning Yiqing leave, Qin Shiyi couldn’t predict the fate of this engagement. But she knew that even without this one, there would be another.

“Wait! It’s so late and dark. Where are you going?”

“To go boating.”

*Boating in this darkness?* Qin Shiyi grumbled under her breath, but she still called out, “Take more people with you! Turn on the lights! Don’t faint from the dark again!”

Instead of returning to the garden villa, Ning Yiqing drove to a lakeside estate in the suburbs. A slow-flowing river meandered through the grounds, perfect for summer strolls and cooling off.

Though it wasn’t summer, her heart felt hollow. She hoped that listening to the babbling stream and the sounds of birds and insects might ease the emptiness.

Beneath the towering banyan tree, sparse vegetation glowed under the searchlight’s glare. The river snaked through the landscape, its banks shadowed by dense thickets and thorny brambles.

Ning Yiqing sat alone in her kayak, her paddling strokes gradually losing their strength. Moonlight shimmered on the river’s surface, casting a gentle, sparkling glow that reminded her of the starlights that had once banished the darkness.

Her nape still burned, and she could clearly smell the damp, sweet scent of cherry wine.

After the permanent marking, that person’s pheromones had intertwined and coalesced within her body, ultimately brewing into cherry wine.

But now, this sweet, cloying cherry wine was draining from her body, transforming into tangible, cold-hued foliage that burned into bitter ashes, drifting away like cold smoke.

The permanent marking was permanently erased.

Ning Yiqing closed her eyes and smiled bitterly. She stopped her kayak mid-river and climbed ashore.

When Lan Leren reached the estate’s gazebo, she found Ning Yiqing sitting rigidly in a cold chair, her eyes closed as if asleep.

Silver-rimmed glasses rested on her nose, and the faint tear mole beneath her eye softened her usual aloofness.

Lan Leren hesitated, unsure whether to approach. Ning Yiqing’s sleeping expression was far from relaxed; her brow furrowed slightly, and her lips pressed tightly together, as if her dreams held nothing worth rejoicing over.

“What is it?” Ning Yiqing opened her eyes, her gaze heavy with fatigue.

“President Ning,” Lan Leren said, forcing herself to approach, a sense of dread settling in her stomach. She knew the news she carried would only add to Ning Yiqing’s troubles. “You asked me to investigate the surgery. The specialist has responded.”

“Go on.”

“The glandular function elimination surgery is irreversible and carries significant risks to the body.”

Ning Yiqing gently rubbed her prayer beads. “Irreversible?”

“In simple terms, an Alpha can no longer mark specific Omegas.”

The woman fell silent for a long moment, her eyes as cold and dark as the abyss. “So Xiao Xuan can still mark others, just not…”

“Yes, just not you,” Lan Leren said hesitantly, delivering the truth. “It’s like shattered glass—no matter how you piece it back together, it will never be whole again.”

Ning Yiqing’s breathing grew shallow. Her body temperature, already low, plummeted further as a sharp pain pierced her chest. She forced herself to ignore the lingering ache, telling herself it was nothing significant.

Just a fleeting, inconsequential emotion.

Inconsequential.

She shouldn’t waste her energy or feelings on it.

“Alright, go back. We have a video conference with the subsidiary representatives tomorrow morning,” the woman said.

Now that they were alone, Lan Leren relaxed slightly, her tone losing its professional edge.

“Are you sure you’re alright? You abruptly canceled the mark cleansing surgery, and now…”

“I’m fine,” the woman sighed, her voice hoarse. “It’s just a mark. Just a mark. Losing it won’t kill me. It won’t change anything.”

*It won’t change anything.*

*Absolutely nothing.*

Lan Leren paused, then hurried to catch up with the woman, walking briskly through the light rain. “The room has been cleaned and everything is arranged in order. You can rest immediately.”

The area was lined with old Western-style houses. The rain-soaked white walls and red bricks exuded a rustic elegance. After entering the house, Ning Yiqing’s first act was to wash her hands.

The water from the metal pipes was at the perfect temperature, creating a faint, misty pink hue above the white porcelain sink.

Her fingers, repeatedly rinsed under the running water, resembled jade-like porcelain, radiating a sense of purity and cleanliness, like morning dew at high altitudes.

Lan Leren sat in the living room, sipping tea. The constant sound of running water made her anxious, and she walked toward the sink.

“President Ning, you’ve washed your hands so many times already. Any more and you’ll hurt yourself.”

Hearing Lan Leren’s voice, Ning Yiqing snapped out of her trance and turned off the water. Her wet fingers were already flushed with a faint, unhealthy redness.

A pristine white handkerchief wiped away the water droplets clinging to his fingers, as if plucking a long-stemmed magnolia blossom.

“You seem different today,” Lan Leren said, breaking the silence. “Should we bring Miss Luo Xuan back?”

The wiping motion paused briefly. Ning Yiqing lowered his gaze, even his eyelashes glistening with moisture. “It was my fault. It won’t happen again.”

Lan Leren shook her head, her resolve firm. “I privately checked Miss Luo Xuan’s itinerary. She’s taking a flight abroad at nine tomorrow morning. You could… go see her.”

Ning Yiqing’s fingers tightened around the handkerchief, a faint crimson tint spreading between his jade-like knuckles. “Arranging for Dr. Si to accompany her will suffice.”

Recalling the trail of bl00d that had snaked down Luo Xuan’s back, she bit her lip, a faint flush rising to the corners of her eyes. “Have someone take good care of Xiao Xuan.”

Lan Leren nodded, understanding that Ning Yiqing had no intention of going. Perhaps this was for the best.

As the permanent mark slowly faded, the two, now completely detached, could begin new lives.

All lingering affection, resentment, entanglement, contradictions, unrequited desires, and restless nights would eventually vanish into the river of time.

She considerately left, wanting Ning Yiqing to rest properly.

The dim, warm light in the living room made Lan Leren’s eyes feel heavy. After finishing a bowl of bird’s nest soup brought by the chef, she was about to go to bed when she heard a soft knock at the door.

She opened the door groggily, finding Ning Yiqing still dressed in her elegant, expensive suit, her dark hair cascading down her shoulders with a warm, lustrous sheen.

“Tell them to move tomorrow’s morning meeting to 5 AM. You can sleep in longer,” Ning Yiqing said.

With that, she tightened her pale, slender fingers and strode purposefully toward the study.

“But it’s already 1 AM. Aren’t you going to rest?” Lan Leren murmured to herself, thinking, *The subsidiary has a five-hour time difference. A 10 AM meeting there is normal, but why would President Ning move it to 5 AM here?*

The mind of a workaholic was too difficult to fathom. She simply couldn’t understand it.

The sound of rain disturbed her sleep all night. By 7 AM, Lan Leren, still yawning and half-asleep, had finished washing up when she saw Ning Yiqing dressed in a black Carroll-collared coat over a navy cashmere sweater.

She looked sharp and elegant, as if she were heading to a ball.

But the faint bluish circles under her eyes, stark against her pale skin, couldn’t be concealed.

“President Ning, you just finished the meeting. Are you heading to the office now?”

“I’m going to the airport.”

The walnut door swung open and closed. Lan Leren, holding her coffee, stood there for a moment, trying to process why her boss would be going to the airport so early. If it was a business trip, why wasn’t she, his secretary, going with him?

A black Maybach was already waiting outside. As Ning Yiqing emerged, the driver respectfully opened the car door. “President Ning, I’ve prepared the cold-brewed oolong tea as you requested. It’s at its peak flavor now.”

“Thank you,” Ning Yiqing replied, settling into the back seat and opening the center console. Inside was indeed an insulated thermos.

Known for her self-discipline, Ning Yiqing maintained a strict routine in all aspects of her life. The evidence of her occasional sleepless nights was therefore glaringly obvious.

The antique pocket watch clicked open and shut in her palm. The rhythmic *tick-tock* wasn’t particularly irritating, but it certainly wasn’t soothing.

The burning sensation at the back of her neck hadn’t faded with time; instead, it felt like a wildfire spreading through her veins, clouding her thoughts and leaving her restless.

*It’s probably just guilt and love for Luo Xuan acting up,* she thought. *Nothing serious. It’ll pass eventually.*

“President Ning, we’ve arrived. Dr. Si has located Miss Luo Xuan, but she refuses to let him accompany her.”

“Nonsense! She’s still ill. How could she be left alone?” Ning Yiqing pressed her lips together, her usually gentle and composed features tinged with irritation.

Sensing the CEO’s rising agitation, the experienced driver quickly glanced at the bodyguards in the rear car, signaling them to stay close and ensure no mishaps occurred.

Soft female announcements echoed through the airport terminal as crowds surged through the halls. Many travelers, burdened with heavy luggage, still held hands with their companions.

Ning Yiqing had rarely experienced such ordinary, bustling scenes. Most of the time, upon arriving at the airport, she would transfer to a VIP car that took her directly to the private jet tarmac, where order and tranquility always awaited her.

A warm breeze drifted from all directions. Someone shouted, “I found you!” and dashed past Ning Yiqing, seizing a final embrace.

The tightly embracing couple, their youthful faces etched with both affection and sorrow, seemed to blur the pain of parting with the anticipation of reunion.

The woman’s aloof aura isolated her, as if she stood at the center of the world’s labyrinth. Her eyes, as dark and still as ink, and her porcelain-white fingers gripped a string of snow-blue prayer beads.

She was still searching for that person.

The security checkpoint line gradually thinned. A silver-haired girl stood at the end, wearing a black backpack and a matching baseball cap.

Her hoodie was slightly askew, paired with washed-blue jeans, giving her a fresh, clean look, like the air after a summer downpour.

People around her glanced at her almost imperceptibly, then quickly averted their eyes.

The girl, however, merely checked her watch, completely unfazed by the curious, probing gazes around her.

“President Ning, should we bring Miss Luo Xuan back?”

“Send two of you to accompany her abroad.”

“Understood, President Ning,” the bodyguards nodded, signaling two of their group to purchase tickets for the next flight.

“Wait.”

Ning Yiqing gently raised a hand, instructing the bodyguards to stay put. She slowly approached the girl. In the soft, bright light, a faint cherry scent seemed to permeate the air, making her feel cold and disoriented.

The girl’s resolute, defiant voice still echoed in her ears:

*Ning Yiqing, I’m returning your clean slate. I hope you get what you want.*

Had she truly gotten what she wanted?

She didn’t know. All she knew was that throughout the sleepless night, she couldn’t stop thinking about the girl’s starlit eyes.

*Why couldn’t she harden her heart, remain detached and unwavering?*

She had repeatedly told herself: *It’s nothing. Just a fleeting emotion.*

Yet a sense of profound loss lingered in her heart, as if she had once possessed something precious, only to have it snatched away.

“Xiao Xuan…” Ning Yiqing murmured from three meters away, her voice sounding like a dream.

But a bright, elegant voice called out from the left:

“Xuanxuan, did I keep you waiting?” Xia Zhiwan smiled radiantly, dragging her suitcase as she hurried over to Luo Xuan.

“Wanwan, you almost made us late,” Luo Xuan said, glancing down with a helpless smile, her porcelain-white fingertips tapping her watch.

Xia Zhiwan offered her a cup of lemon black tea, her voice soft and sweet. “I went to get drinks. Thank you for waiting for me.”

Luo Xuan coughed, her pale cheeks flushing with a feverish blush. “Let’s go. We’re running out of time.”

“Okay,” Xia Zhiwan replied, linking arms with Luo Xuan and carefully tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

The distant sky was clear and bright, a gentle breeze promising perfect weather for their journey.

“President Ning,” a bodyguard approached cautiously. “Should we… should we still follow Miss Luo Xuan? Now that she has company, she might not need us… Do you think it would be redundant?”

So… she had company. Behind her silver-rimmed glasses, Ning Yiqing’s eyes grew as dark as mist, her body chilling inch by inch, as if quenched in ice.

Luo Xuan didn’t need… her.