Ye Xinning was completely bewildered by Shen Lin's series of actions.

Wasn't this person leaving? Why did they come down again?

Still acting so aggressively?

In the darkness, where no one was around, only a sliver of light shone from a distant streetlamp, making it difficult for Ye Xinning to clearly see the expression on Chen Lin's face.

He held her hand tightly, and the heat in his palm made her momentarily stunned.

When Ye Xinning came to her senses, her first reaction was to shake off Shen Lin's hand.

However, the force in his hand was so heavy that Ye Xinning couldn't break free even with all her strength.

She frowned, her displeased words on the tip of her tongue, but before she could speak, Shen Lin spoke first.

Was that Cheng Yuhuai who just called you?

Ye Xinning knew that Shen Lin had obviously heard what was happening, and that asking these questions now was just a rhetorical question.

She didn't bother to hide it, "Yes, it's Cheng Yuhuai, what's wrong?"

Where are you going tomorrow?

"It's his first time in Nancheng, and he wants me to show him around."

Upon hearing Ye Xinning's words, Shen Lin's expression darkened even further. "So, you agreed?"

"He's my boss, so it's not strange that I agreed."

Shen Lin was so angry at Ye Xinning's words that he laughed.

His gaze fell intently on her face. "Ye Xinning, do you know that Cheng Yuhuai likes you?"

"I know."

"Do you know that you're always willing to do anything for him? Or is it that deep down, you were already considering accepting his advances?"

Ye Xinning thought about it seriously for a moment and replied, "No, that's not the case."

Shen Lin was about to explode with anger, but upon hearing this, his expression softened slightly.

"You agreed to it even without him?"

"What's the big difference between me not accepting his advances and me agreeing to go on a trip with him?"

"If you know he likes you, you should firmly reject him."

Hearing this, Ye Xinning lowered her head and smiled faintly. "First of all, I have worked in the law firm for so many years, and Cheng Yuhuai has taken good care of me. Now he is just asking me to accompany him to stroll around Nancheng. I have no reason to refuse. Also, Shen Lin, I am not a child anymore. Why do you have to do that to me and Cheng Yuhuai in a way that is not dignified?"

Shen Lin remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, asking this question.

"Ye Xinning, Cheng Yuhuai is pursuing you, and so am I. Which one do you like more?"

Ye Xinning felt that Shen Lin's question was somewhat unnecessary.

I don't like anyone.

“I don’t believe it,” Shen Lin said stubbornly.

Ye Xinning: "If you don't believe me, why are you asking me?"

After these words were spoken, Shen Lin fell silent once again, but this time he seemed to be deep in thought, unlike before.

Ye Xinning didn't want to be alone with him any longer. She struggled slightly and said, "Chen Lin, it's getting late, I have to go."

Shen Lin still wouldn't let go. Ye Xinning was about to get angry when she heard his deep voice in her ear, "You don't reject Cheng Yuhuai but you reject me. Is it because I haven't done well enough?"

"no."

What is that?

"I have never considered either you or Cheng Yuhuai."

"Then who are you considering?"

“I’m not considering anyone else, Shen Lin. Let me put it this way: I have no plans to look for someone else right now. I just want to take good care of my child, enrich my life, have a job, a family, and a life that I’m satisfied with. That’s enough.”

Shen Lin stared into her eyes. "Is it because of me?"

"My two previous marriages both failed, and I couldn't help but wonder if I was just not suited for marriage, or if maintaining a marriage was too exhausting. I didn't want to fall into that cycle again."

It was all because of him. Shen Lin held Ye Xinning's hand tightly. He knew perfectly well that everything Ye Xinning was making now was because of him.

If it weren't for the fact that her two previous marriages with him had been unsuccessful, she wouldn't have felt this resistance.

He pulled her hand forward and lowered his head, bringing them closer together once again.

Ye Xinning subconsciously shrank back, but Shen Lin still didn't stop.

He gently rubbed her head, his deep voice ringing in her ear, "In my entire life, there's only one person I'm helpless with: you."

...

Ye Xinning stood on the balcony in the bedroom. Ye Zhimu was being taken to take a bath by the maid. With nothing to do, she came to the balcony to get some fresh air.

But people tend to overthink when they have free time.

For example, now she is standing on the balcony, and the bleak cold wind has not woken her up, but instead reminded her of when Shen Lin left.

—Ye Xinning, in my entire life, I have been helpless only with you.

She didn't know the specific meaning behind Shen Lin's words, but the helplessness and humility in his tone when he said them truly surprised her.

Four years have not allowed Shen Lin to let go of the past.

...

The next morning.

Because she wanted to accompany Cheng Yuhuai around, Ye Xinning didn't bring Ye Zhimu. Coincidentally, the Shen family wanted to pick up Ye Zhimu, so she told Ye Zhimu that she would pick her up that evening.

While with Cheng Yuhuai, Ye Xinning took him to some well-known tourist attractions. Cheng Yuhuai kept talking to Ye Xinning.

Cheng Yuhuai said with a smile, "It's fortunate that we have a local like you, otherwise I would have missed so many beautiful sights."

Ye Xinning pursed her lips. "Actually, these places are very common. You can find plenty of travel guides online."

Cheng Yuhuai sensed something was wrong from her words; she was trying to distance herself from him.

Later in the evening, Ye Xinning and Cheng Yuhuai walked along the riverbank.

Cheng Yuhuai looked into the distance. "When do you plan to go back?"

"Let's talk about this after I finish this case."

Cheng Yuhuai suddenly stopped. "Xinning."

Ye Xinning hummed in agreement. "What's wrong?"

"You're going back to Jiangcheng, aren't you?"

Ye Xinning didn't know why Cheng Yuhuai asked that, "Yes."

Cheng Yuhuai seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"That's good."

Ye Xinning lowered her head and thought for a while before speaking, "Cheng Yuhuai, would you like to hear my story?"

Cheng Yuhuai turned his head to look at her. Ye Xinning had a smile on her face. This is what she said to Cheng Yuhuai.

“I went to Jiangcheng to say goodbye to my past, but I don’t think I’ve ever told you about my past. I am the eldest daughter of the Ye Group, the ex-wife of Shen Lin, the president of the Shen Group. Zhi Mu is Shen Lin’s daughter.”

Before this, Cheng Yuhuai had made many guesses about Ye Xinning's past, but he never expected that Ye Xinning's ex-husband was the man who dominated the business world in Nancheng.

He remembered seeing Ye Xinning talking to a man at the restaurant last time, and now he realized that the man was Shen Lin.

"Are you saying all this because you want to get back together with Chen Lin?"