She bought this on her way up the mountain.

The first sip made her cough, but now she's drinking it one sip after another.

The Taoist temple courtyard was overgrown with weeds, the main gate was crooked, and dust was everywhere.

Since the Taoist temple was returned after the press conference, she hasn't had time to come back and tidy it up.

But now I'm sitting here.

Smelling the familiar scent of incense mixed with the aroma of herbs, she suddenly felt a strong urge to stay.

Put aside all the troubles of the Su family.

Let go of that wealthy world that doesn't belong to her.

Just like before, I'm all alone, free and easy.

The alcohol was taking effect, and my nose started to sting.

She hugged her knees and buried her face in them.

At that moment, a beam of headlights approached from afar and suddenly came to a stop outside the station.

The car door slammed open.

Xie Huaiye hurriedly got out of the car and immediately saw the huddled figure at the door.

He walked over quickly, his footsteps startling Yan Ning.

Yan Ning raised her head and, through her blurry, drunken eyes, saw the man's anxious face.

She paused for a moment, then turned her head: "What are you doing here?"

Xie Huaiye looked at her flushed cheeks and the can of beer in her hand.

My heart felt like it had been clenched tightly by something, a mixture of sourness and tightness.

He immediately took off his suit jacket and gently draped it over her slender shoulders.

"You'll catch a cold wearing so little."

Yan Ning's shoulders trembled.

She instinctively tried to break free, but his warm palm gently pressed her down.

The warmth from her palm soothed her slightly cool skin.

This made her forget what she was doing for a moment.

"sorry."

Xie Huaiye's voice was so deep it seemed to be soaked in the night.

"I was wrong tonight. I shouldn't have taken the liberty of bringing you to that kind of place, and I shouldn't have... let others bully you like that."

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing as if he were swallowing something bitter:

"Seeing you all alone like this, I feel so..."

He took her hand and gently pressed it against his left chest. "It hurts a lot."

Yan Ning's fingertips trembled.

I could feel his firm, rapid heartbeat beneath his shirt.

She tried to pull away as if she had been burned, but he held her even tighter.

She bit her lower lip and turned her head away from him.

I'm afraid that if I look at it, the hard shell I've been holding up will crumble.

Xie Huaiye squatted down to be at eye level with her figure sitting on the stone steps.

His gaze was intense, leaving her no room to escape.

“But Yan Ning.”

His tone was more serious than ever before, even carrying a hint of pleading:

"You said you want to break off the engagement, I absolutely disagree with that."

"Why do you disagree?"

Yan Ning turned around abruptly, glaring at him with red eyes, "We shouldn't have had any relationship in the first place!"

"Just because..."

Xie Huaiye took a deep breath.

Those deep, unfathomable eyes were now crystal clear.

There was only one of her inside.

He tightened his grip on her hand slightly and said in a deep voice:

"I like you."