After returning home with the child, her ex-husband knelt down and gently coaxed her.

An Ning staggered, her bleeding knee trembling, and took a half-step back, her eyes trembling.

Her appearance was ironic to Lu Xiyan. Why did she think he would go easy on her?

He gave a dismissive smile and said, "Miss An, surely you understand that any reckless behavior comes at a price?"

An Ning bit her lip tightly, her heart sinking deeper and deeper.

She cannot afford any lawsuit.

Lu Xiyan looked away and turned to leave, but was suddenly stopped by someone.

"President Lu!"

An Ning clenched her fists, looked up at him, and said, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to do that. I don't need you to pay for my medical expenses. Can you please not sue me?"

Her tone was very sincere, and after she finished speaking, she bowed deeply to the upright man.

The man turned around, his eyes deep and cold. "What, can't afford to pay?"

"Yes," An Ning readily admitted. "Mr. Lu knows my circumstances are limited, could you please not hold me responsible?"

She looked up and asked softly, "Could we... resolve this privately?"

"No." Lu Xiyan put his hands in his pockets, his cold gaze sweeping over her pale face. "What makes Miss An think she can bargain with me?"

An Ning's heart clenched suddenly, as if it had been gripped and crushed by an invisible hand.

Her throat tightened, and she managed to utter a single word, "Okay..."

Lu Xiyan's eyes were as cold as ice. He hadn't expected her to agree so readily and not even bother to ask him for more.

He chuckled, walked to the car, opened the door, and got in. "Jiang Yao, drive!"

Jiang Yao was startled. He was about to get into the car when he hesitated, glancing at An Ning's knee. "Miss An, are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital for treatment?"

An Ning limped back to the side of the road, gently shaking her head, "No need, thank you Assistant Jiang."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yao immediately got into the car, started the engine, and drove away.

A black luxury car drove past her. Anning watched the departing car and then turned away.

In the rearview mirror, a slender figure carrying a laptop bag walked with a limp along the roadside, seemingly not intending to hail a taxi.

It looks like they're walking to the bus stop.

Jiang Yao drove slowly, his brow furrowing slightly as he watched the figure receding into the distance. "Mr. Lu, are you really going to sue Miss An?"

The man in the back seat had a cold expression, his exquisitely handsome face covered with frost.

Her cold expression and strong aura made Jiang Yao hold his breath.

"parking."

Lu Xiyan spoke in a cold voice, and Jiang Yao quickly stopped the car on the side of the road.

The man opened the car door and got out, saying, "I'll take her to the hospital."

Jiang Yao was stunned for a moment before he realized that the figure in the rearview mirror had not disappeared. He was sitting by the roadside green belt with his head down, and his expression could not be seen.

She looks like she's been crying.

......

A black car suddenly stopped in front of her. An Ning looked up and asked, "Assistant Jiang?"

Jiang Yao got out of the car, opened the back door, and looked at her slightly reddened eyes. "Ms. An, Mr. Lu asked me to take you to the hospital."

An Ning quickly waved her hand, "No need, Assistant Jiang. I said I don't need President Lu to pay for my medical expenses. My wound is fine, I will take care of it."

Jiang Yao looked troubled. "Ms. An, this is what President Lu instructed. If you don't go to the hospital, it will be very difficult for me."

"All right."

An Ning didn't want to put him in a difficult position, so she said, "Then I'll trouble you."

As I sat in the back seat and closed the door, a refreshing scent wafted into the car, carrying with it the delicate fragrance of cedar wood.

It was the scent coming from him.

An Ning sat quietly in the back seat, unconsciously reaching out to stroke the soft leather seat, as if Lu Xiyan's warmth still lingered on it.

"Miss An."

Jiang Yao started the car, glanced at the woman's calm face in the rearview mirror, and told her, "You don't need to worry about compensation. President Lu said he won't pursue any legal action against you."

An Ning's fingertips trembled slightly. "Really?"

Has Lu Xiyan decided not to sue her?

"Yes."

As Jiang Yao finished speaking, he saw a hint of joy in the woman's eyes.

"However..." he hesitated before speaking, "President Lu asked me to pass on a message to you."

An Ning looked up, waiting for him to continue.

"He hopes that you..." Jiang Yao said tactfully, "...will not come looking for him again."

After saying that, he quickly shut his mouth.

Mr. Lu's exact words were: "Tell her to stop getting in my way and never appear in front of me again."

Jiang Yao felt he had tried his best to be tactful, and Miss An should understand.

In the rearview mirror, the woman remained silent, her beautiful face as pale as paper.

She turned her gaze to the window, looking out quietly, her face expressionless.

Only in places unseen, her fair hands were deeply reddened from being pinched.

......

The night sky was as dark as ink, with a few stars twinkling in the darkness.

In the backyard of the Yuhe Duke's Mansion, several maple trees reach for the sky, their branches and leaves lush and verdant. Occasionally, a summer breeze blows by, and the green leaves sway in the wind.

The man was tall and slender, with a straight back. Dressed in black casual clothes, he stood under the tree, staring at the maple leaves swaying in the wind. His cool gaze was calm and serene.

The phone in my pocket rang, breaking the silence of the night.

"Mr. Lu, Miss An's wound has been treated. No bone was broken. She will be fine in a few days after the medicine is applied."

On the other end of the phone, Jiang Yao reported the situation truthfully.

The man hummed in agreement.

Jiang Yao added, "Fortunately, Miss An's knee only suffered a minor abrasion; the wound wasn't deep, and the bleeding has stopped. Otherwise, it would have been a bit troublesome."

Fearing the other party might not know, Jiang Yao added, "Ms. An has a rare blood type. Doctors say that people with this type of blood need to be extra careful to avoid injury and bleeding."

Lu Xiyan listened to the phone call, his Adam's apple bobbing.

She knew she had a rare blood type, yet she still ran out to stop his car. She's really risking her life for her job!

After hanging up the phone, the man's eyes were deep and thoughtful.

He heard light footsteps behind him, which stopped two steps away.

"These maple trees were bought by the Second Master from Jiangbei. In the blink of an eye, they have been planted in this courtyard for over twenty years."

Li Quan's gaze fell on Lu Xiyan, his eyes filled with kindness. "Young Master, are you missing Second Master?"

"Uncle Quan." Lu Xiyan looked at the swaying maple leaves, his voice low and slightly hoarse, "If I hadn't been so willful four years ago, would my father still be alive?"

"No one could have predicted that accident four years ago. These past few years, young master, you've lived here alone. Besides remembering Master Er, it's also a kind of punishment for yourself, isn't it?"

Li Quan sighed softly, his tone filled with heartache, "Young Master, you are too lonely. Why don't you move on? Since the past cannot be changed, you should try to move forward. I think the Second Master also hopes so."

"yes."

Lu Xiyan's deep eyes dimmed slightly, and his cold face was shrouded in the loneliness of the night. "The past cannot be changed, so why should I be so fixated on a particular outcome?"

His hands, clenched slightly in his pockets, tightened slightly. His voice was soft. "I've learned my lesson enough."