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

"The enemy!" Lu Hao said succinctly.

"An enemy?" Xiao Xiyue repeated softly, then laughed. "You've known her for quite some time, haven't you?"

"It's not short; it hasn't been long since I met you."

Lu Hao didn't hide anything. He gazed at the shimmering waves of the river bathed in moonlight and told everything. "I've seen her twice, both times, at bars. The last time was in front of the police station, you know what happened. Since then, I haven't had any way to contact her. Meeting her at the wedding was purely coincidental. The groom, Qin Shou, is my brother, and she happens to be the bride's best friend."

Xiao Xiyue turned her head, the sorrow in her beautiful eyes fading into surprise, "So well-behaved today?"

"Because I'm on your side." Lu Hao met her gaze, his voice not loud, but firm and resolute. "What happened in the lounge today was an accident."

"Heh..." Xiao Xiyue chuckled faintly, her expression revealing no emotion.

She turned back, her gaze drifting towards the dazzling neon lights on the opposite bank in the distance.

She seemed to be talking to herself, yet also asking him, "What conditions did she offer you?"

"Five million in funding, plus resources within the industry."

"You agreed?"

"No!"

"Why?" Xiao Xiyue tucked a strand of hair that had fallen to her cheek behind her ear. "For you right now, there's no reason to refuse this condition."

"I don't want to hurt you." Lu Hao's tone was low, as if he were talking about something very serious.

The sound of the river lapping against the shore, the whistling of the wind blowing past my ears, all became exceptionally clear at this moment.

After a long while, Xiao Xiyue let out a long breath.

She sniffed, as if trying to hold back something, and turned to look at Lu Hao, her eyes filled with a complex and unreadable expression.

"It's rare to see you actually care about my feelings." Her voice trembled slightly. "You wouldn't... really fall in love with me, would you?"

Lu Hao didn't answer; instead, he threw the question back at Lu Hao.

"Don't you have any?"

Xiao Xiyue's body stiffened abruptly, and her pupils contracted slightly.

She didn't answer, but just hugged herself tighter, burying her chin deep in her knees, shrinking into a small ball.

Lu Hao didn't press further.

He knew that the answer was no longer important.

The two sat there quietly, neither of them speaking.

The night wind became their only listener, as the river water lapped against the boulders beneath them again and again.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Xiyue finally loosened her curled-up legs, slowly straightened them, and stretched her feet out over the edge of the rocks, dangling them in mid-air not far above the river surface, swaying gently.

This gesture gave her a more childlike and carefree appearance.

"Have you ever thought about what if she uses all her connections to target you?" Her voice was light and airy, carried away by the wind.

"If things don't work out, we can just move to another city and start over," Lu Hao said casually.

"Hehe..." Xiao Xiyue suddenly laughed, the laughter sounding somewhat abrupt in the empty riverside, even carrying a hint of madness. "Change cities? You make it sound so easy... I'm not like you, I have no way out."

Lu Hao's heart skipped a beat. He turned to look at the cold, desolate profile under the bright moonlight and saw a resolute expression of utter despair.

"Wh...what do you mean?" Lu Hao's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice a little dry.

"Do you remember when you asked me what would happen if I failed?"

Lu Hao frowned, trying hard to search his memory.

He remembered.

That was a question he casually asked her when he was about to hand over the Yunlan Clothing proposal to her.

Her answer at the time was that she could simply leave the place.

But now that I think about it, her expression back then was exactly the same as tonight's.

Lu Hao felt a sudden tightness in his chest. He touched his nose and said in a teasing tone, "Don't tell me you made a bet with your dad that if you can't make something of yourself, you'll have to go home and accept a business marriage."

He had intended to ease the tension, but Xiao Xiyue actually went along with it and teased him, "Oh, you watch quite a few short dramas, huh?"

Lu Hao was stunned for a moment.

A prophecy.

Now, he was completely at a loss for how to comfort her.

Xiao Xiyue sniffed, turned to look at his dazed expression, and gave a desolate smile: "This is normal, isn't it? Only when the strong join forces can the family business grow bigger and bigger. I just... don't want my life to be arranged so clearly from the moment I was born."

"But... some things seem to be truly destined."

As she said this, she leaned back and lay on the rock, letting her long hair spread out.

She opened her eyes, her dim gaze meeting the bright moon overhead.

"Love has never been part of my life plan. I just want to prove to my father that I am not just a pretty face who can only depend on the family, and that I can succeed in my career even without a marriage alliance."

"Unfortunately... accidents always come so suddenly, and so profoundly..."

Lu Hao loosened his hands from hugging his knees, crossed his legs, and took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.

He took a deep breath, and the smoke he exhaled was blown by the wind towards the bustling city on the other side of the river.

"You rich people always like to stir things up, searching for that bullshit freedom and true love."

"Just assume we're bored and have nothing better to do."

Xiao Xiyue's words reminded Lu Hao of what Zhen Youqu had said on the terrace of Qin Shou's villa last night.

"We lack nothing, but we lack solace for our souls."

Zhen Youqu and Gu Yunfeng pursued true love, while Xiao Xiyue pursued freedom.

And what about Fang Ruoyun? Perhaps what she's seeking is the thrill of being in control of everything?

That's really... just being idle and having nothing better to do.

After finishing his cigarette, Lu Hao understood Xiao Xiyue's thoughts. He spoke in a hoarse voice, "Are you telling me all this so that I won't have any reservations and can follow my heart's choice?"

"Mm," Xiao Xiyue responded without the slightest hesitation, "Don't feel any burden or guilt towards anyone. Sometimes... you should be a little selfish."

"So, you think I rejected Fang Ruoyun because I was afraid you'd end up with nothing?"

"Could it be that you've actually fallen in love with me?" Xiao Xiyue threw the question back at her.

Lu Hao fell silent.

The river wind howls, and the river water rushes on.

After a long silence, he finally spoke slowly, "I don't know if that counts as love... I only know that I don't want to see you sad, and I don't want to... see you lose anything."

"Haha...hahahaha!"

Xiao Xiyue burst into laughter, a clear yet mad laugh that echoed across the river, as if she were pouring out all the grievances, resentment, and repression in her heart.

The wind seemed to have picked up, and the river surface was whipped into turbulent waves that crashed violently against the rocks on the shore.

She laughed for a long time before gradually stopping, but tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

She lay there, gazing at the night sky, and spoke softly.

"Do you remember the two conditions I told you before?"

Lu Hao's heart sank.

Of course he remembered. The first condition was that he wouldn't go to bars for seven days.

He broke his promise.

She never mentioned the second condition.

Now, is she going to speak?

Lu Hao took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind. His eyes were clear, and he looked at Xiao Xiyue, saying in a deep voice, "You speak."

Xiao Xiyue sat up straight, facing Lu Hao, and spoke with utmost seriousness.

"My condition is that you cut off all contact with those women!"