As he got closer, Jiang Yihuai noticed that the her beautiful wavy hair had been straightened, and the color he liked most had been dyed back to bck.

  No makeup. No high heels. Just a pin white T-shirt—pletely simple. Except… her eyes seemed even brighter than before. There wasn’t a trace of heartbreak or sorrow.

  If she retending, Jiang Yihuai had to admit—she was doing a damn good job. Good enough to piss him off. Su Yumian frowned. She knew him too well. That expression—it was the prelude to his anger.

  “Heh,” he sneered. “Your taste has bee terrible. After being with me for so many years, you should at least have some standards, right? Don’t just go for any random stray dog or cat. Otherwise, where does that leave my dignity as your ex?”

  “Dignity?” Su Yumian suddenly found it amusing. But in her ughter, there was a hint of sorrow. Too bad Jiang Yihuai didn’t notice. Right now, all he could think about was the image of Su Yumian smilily at another man. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

  He chalked it up to male “territorial instincts.”

  Su Yumian—since she had been his, even if he didn’t want her anymore, he wouldn’t allow some lowly mutt to mark his territory.

  “I have things to do. I’m leaving.” Su Yumian didn’t want to hear any more.

  “Leave? Where you go? Shao Yuwei’s apartment? That’s your only option, isn’t it? At least this time you had the guts to take the ched your dots with you. Fine. You y games, huh?”

  A sharp sting hit Su Yumian’s heart. She had long growo his bad temper—b oid violent—but hearing these words still hurt. Did he really think she was just pying?

  She took a deep breath, steadied her emotions, and curled her lips into a faint smile. “First of all, Mr. Shao and I are just friends. Not as dirty as you’re imagining.”

  “And sed, we’re already broken up. Whatever you think is your own problem.”

  Just then, her cab arrived. Su Yumian pulled open the door and got in. “Driver, please go.”

  Jiang Yihuai sneered. Su Yumian really was getting bold.

  Three months ago, during their st argument, she had tried to use this same tactic to threaten him. But this time? She went all out—bringing another man right in front of him.

  How dare she?

  Suddenly, a pair of soft hands g to his arm. Fang Qing leaned in closer, her voice coy, “Yihuai, why are you leaving so soon? Won’t you wait for me…”

  A strong perfume st filled the air. Jiang Yihuai frowned but didn’t push her away. Instead, he ed an arm around her waist.

  “Oh? You think you’re the only one who knows how to find a rept?”

  Ihe cab—

  Su Yumian caught a glimpse of the pair in the rearview mirror and smirked bitterly. So, it wasn’t just Shi Muxi… six years. Turns out, it was all for nothing.

  From the er of his eye, Jiang Yihuai watched as the taxi drove away, his face darkening. Coldly, he pulled Fang Qing’s hands off him.

  Fang Qing, fused, tried to g to him again. But in the sed, he shoved her away without hesitation and walked off without looking back.

  “Wait—Yihuai! Jiang Yihuai, stht there!” Fang Qing bit her lip in frustration.

  Jiang Yihuai got into his car, started the engine, and dialed Jiang Qiting. “…Bro? Aren’t you supposed to be on a blind date?”

  Jiang Yihuai gritted his teeth. “Did you tell Su Yumian I was at the West Shore Restaurant today?”

  “ you use your brain for ond stop bbbing to outsiders?”

  “If Mom forced me into this date, you should’ve at least covered for me. Instead, you leaked the info to her so she could deliberately bring another mao piss me off? Do you even think before you act?!”

  Jiang Qiting was startled by his sudden outburst.

  “What? Bro, what are you even talking about? When did I—” Before she could finish, the call cut off.

  “...What the hell did I even do?”

  Before she could get mad, the housekeeper came over with a gift list. “Miss, please check if these are enough.”

  Jiang Qiting gnced over the list—it was all high-end items. After double-cheg, she nodded in satisfa. “These are for Professor Ouyang. Make sure everything is prepared properly. No mistakes, uand?”

  “Yes, Miss.”

  —

  “Miss Su, this is the best rental property near B Uy. Just look at the lighting, the enviroons of people are lining up to rent this pce. If you don’t decide soon, it might be gohe agehusiastically introduced the apartment as Su Yumian examined every detail.

  It wasn’t big—just a two-bedroom unit. The decor was from over a decade ago. An old, worn-dowh no elevator. But the advantages were clear.

  Close to B Uy, right o the library, with veransportation. Most importantly, the lighting and enviro were excellent.

  If she wanted a fresh start, this was the perfect pce.

  “Okay. I’ll take it.” She signed a one-year lease in one go.

  When Shao Yuwei returned, she found an open suitcase on the floor. “You’re moving out?”

  Su Yumian was folding her clothes. “Yeah, I found a pce.”

  Shao Yuwei raised an eyebrow, then smirked. “Jiang Yihuai came looking for you, huh? Not bad, at least you made him wait a whole week this time. That’s exactly what you should do—ighose dog men so they don’t start thinking they’re some kind of chosen protagonist—”

  Su Yumian paused. Their eyes met. “Yuwei, this time, Jiang Yihuai and I are really over. I’m not going back.”

  Shao Yuwei was stunned for a moment. For the first time, she kind of believed her.