Three years after our breakup, you came back to China, and I'm just giving up. Why are you cryi

For three whole days, Lu Hao didn't go to the company.

The curtains were drawn, and the air was heavy. He lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

He didn't know how to face Lin Ran.

Her desperate gamble, her domineering nature, and the warmth of her lips kept replaying in my mind...

But the next morning, she was as calm as if nothing had happened, which made him feel suffocated and extremely agitated.

In the past three days, Lin Ran has not made a single phone call or sent a single message.

Only the daily check-in notifications that pop up on his phone remind him that the woman is still in his world.

Lin Ran's appointment letter as manager has been issued. It couldn't be simpler for a department manager to take attendance for a subordinate who has been absent without leave.

Lu Hao shook his head irritably, his stomach protesting, forcing him to get out of bed.

He put on his slippers and walked out of the room; the living room was empty. Ning Shu's door next door remained tightly closed.

At that moment, he seemed to suddenly understand Ning Shu's feelings back then, and finally understood why she had been avoiding him all along.

"What a tragedy," Lu Hao sighed, leaning against the wall.

"Oh, which girl have you seduced this time?"

A charming yet languid voice rang in his ear, startling Lu Hao.

"Holy crap! When did you get back?" He turned around abruptly and saw Zhou Mengmeng leaning against her door frame, wearing only a loose, off-white slip dress.

"I came back too late last night, so I didn't bother you." Zhou Mengmeng yawned and stretched.

Beneath the thin silk fabric, her slender, undulating curves were displayed without reservation in Lu Hao's pupils with her movements.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes, took a step closer, and looked him over with interest: "Tell me, what mischief were you up to just now? Did you climb into someone's bed again?"

Lu Hao subconsciously touched his nose, his eyes somewhat unfocused. "No...nothing like that."

"Tch, you practically wear your heart on your sleeve." Zhou Mengmeng curled her lip in disdain, then reached out her fair little hand, grabbed Lu Hao's arm, and pulled him into her room.

With a "bang," she slammed the door shut behind her.

"What are you doing?" Lu Hao, his back against the wall, looked at Zhou Mengmeng who was closing in, somewhat bewildered.

Zhou Mengmeng raised her hand, her slender fingers tracing his cheek, her breath sweet as orchids: "I want to hear your story."

Lu Hao rolled his eyes speechlessly: "What kind of story could I possibly have?"

"Well, you're still pretty stubborn." Zhou Mengmeng suddenly laughed, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Looks like I'll have to get you to back down first."

As soon as she finished speaking, she hooked her arms around Lu Hao's neck and pulled him down forcefully.

Caught off guard, Lu Hao was pulled down and bent over, their bodies pressed together.

Before he could react, he felt dizzy as Zhou Mengmeng turned around and pinned him down on the soft bed.

"Are you crazy?" Lu Hao exclaimed, instinctively reaching out to grab her hand that was already reaching for his waistband.

"If you don't talk, I'll make you so soft that you'll finally talk." Zhou Mengmeng straddled him, looking down at him with a smug glint in her beautiful eyes.

"...I'll talk, I'll talk, okay!" Lu Hao was completely exasperated and surrendered with a wry smile.

With a little force, he pushed Zhou Mengmeng aside, turned to the side, and looked at her helplessly.

Zhou Mengmeng lay down smoothly, propped her chin on one hand, blinked her bright eyes, and stared at him with great interest.

"Come on, I'm all ears."

Lu Hao sighed and slowly recounted his story with Lin Ran, but concealed the fact that Lin Ran had parents.

Zhou Mengmeng's features contorted in disbelief, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion. She abruptly sat up straight, the strap of her tank top slipping half an inch down her shoulder.

"No, wait a minute, let me sort this out." She pointed a finger into the air. "You mean, you got a beautiful girl for free and slept with her for one night, and now you're here acting like you've done something 'wrong'?"

"Big sister, I don't want to develop that kind of relationship with her." Lu Hao scratched his hair in frustration. "She's a good woman, and she really shouldn't be ruined by someone like me."

"Heh..." Zhou Mengmeng sneered, "You mean, I'm a bad woman? Someone you can ruin at will, is that it?"

"That's not what I meant," Lu Hao hurriedly explained.

"Tch, they're getting a good deal and then acting innocent."

Zhou Mengmeng curled her lip in disdain, leaned forward, and got close to him. "The girl herself doesn't mind, and she didn't ask you to take responsibility. Why don't you just forget about it? You're still holding a grudge, not going to work for three days. You're really something."

"You make it sound so easy. If I could forget, I would have forgotten long ago." Lu Hao's voice was filled with a deep sense of helplessness. "Right now, I have absolutely no idea how to face her, just like... just like Ning Shu didn't want to face me back then."

Zhou Mengmeng fell silent, seemingly reminded of something by Lu Hao mentioning Ning Shu.

Neither of them spoke again.

After a long silence, Zhou Mengmeng spoke first, "So what do you plan to do? Just like that, never see her again?"

"I don't know." Lu Hao shook his head repeatedly, his expression pained. "Actually... I want to take responsibility for her. But look at me now, what right do I have to take responsibility?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Mengmeng suddenly laughed, but her clear laughter was full of sarcasm.

"You're lying in my bed now, and you're telling me you want to take responsibility for another woman?"

"Didn't you drag me into this?" Lu Hao said, speechless.

"If we're talking about taking responsibility, it's not Lin Ran's place, is it?" Zhou Mengmeng's tone was aggressive. "What about Ning Shu? What about me? Why don't you say you're taking responsibility?"

Faced with Zhou Mengmeng's questioning, Lu Hao sat up and remained silent with his back to Zhou Mengmeng.

He felt like he was a beast.

Without realizing it, he had attracted so many women.

If these were all "bad women," that would be one thing, but they're all better than the last.

A strong urge surged through him; he wanted to escape, to leave the city immediately.

Go somewhere no one knows you and start over.

The thoughts in my mind grew stronger.

Just then, a soft, warm body pressed against her from behind.

Zhou Mengmeng wrapped her arms around his body and waist, resting her head on his shoulder.

Her warm breath brushed against his neck, and her voice softened.

"Lu Hao, I feel you've changed. You're not the same as before."

"Have I changed?" He was somewhat dazed.

"The more you think, the more worries you have." Her voice carried a hint of nostalgia. "Look at the old you, how carefree and free you were."

Lu Hao frowned deeply.

Zhou Mengmeng's words woke him up; he had indeed changed.

When did it start?

Was it meeting Xiao Xiyue?

Or... because of Su Yu's sudden return?