The Security Bureau, a small room temporarily vacated.

The lights were dim, with only a low-wattage incandescent bulb overhead emitting a faint glow, barely illuminating a paint-chipped iron table in the middle of the room and two wooden chairs placed opposite each other.

The air was filled with a faint smell of mold and tobacco.

Jiang Yubai was escorted in by two guards. He had handcuffs on his wrists, and there was a slight metallic clash sound as he moved.

He lowered his head, staggered a little, and was forced to sit on the chair opposite Lin Jianxue.

Lin Jianxue sat there quietly, her back straight, her eyes fixed on him calmly.

After just one night apart, this man who always tried to be gentle and polite in front of her seemed like a completely different person.

He had an unshaven beard, a haggard face, dark bags under his eyes, and a listless look.

He sat there, nervously twisting his handcuffed hands, silent for a moment, then slowly raised his head and looked at Lin Jianxue.

She was wearing a plain shirt and her hair was neatly tucked behind her ears, revealing her smooth, full forehead and graceful neck.

The dim light seemed to favor her particularly, outlining her delicate profile and her skin so white that it was almost transparent.

Except that her face was a little paler than usual, she looked no different from usual and was still beautiful.

The moment their eyes met, Jiang Yubai's lips moved a few times, as if he wanted to say something, but before he could say anything, his eyes turned red and tears rolled down without warning.

"Woo..." A suppressed whimper came from his throat. He raised his handcuffed hands and wanted to wipe them, but he looked clumsy and embarrassed.

Lin Jianxue looked at him like this, without any extra expression on her face. She reached out and pulled out a tissue from the tissue box beside the table.

She handed the tissue to him and said calmly, "Wipe it off."

Jiang Yubai looked at the tissue in front of him and was stunned for a moment.

Then his tears flowed more and his shoulders began to twitch.

He stretched out his trembling hands, took the tissue, and wiped his face carelessly, his voice choked with sobs: "Thank you... Thank you..."

Lin Jianxue withdrew her hands, folded them on her knees, and straightened her back.

She looked at his embarrassed appearance and spoke lightly.

"I heard you wanted to see me."

"Is there something you want to tell me?"

Jiang Yubai raised his bloodshot eyes and looked at the woman sitting opposite him.

The dim light softened the contours of her face, but could not conceal her stunning beauty.

She is like a rose with thorns. Even in such a depressing environment, she is still so dazzling that people can't take their eyes off her.

But this rose no longer belongs to him.

He lowered his head, his voice hoarse and full of regret: "Jianxue...I'm sorry for you."

Lin Jianxue suddenly laughed softly.

"If that's all you want to tell me, then there's no need." Her tone was as calm as if she were discussing the weather. "Stop the nonsense and talk about the divorce agreement. Sign it as soon as possible and complete the paperwork. It will be better for you, me, and everyone else."

Just give up and leave no room for maneuver.

Jiang Yubai's heart sank suddenly, his eyes turned red again, and more tears rolled down uncontrollably.

He wiped his face carelessly with the back of his hand, and said anxiously with a thick nasal tone: "No, it's not just this..."

"Jianxue, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry... Divorce... Don't worry about the divorce. I'll definitely leave the house with nothing! I don't want anything!"

"My passbook is in the inside pocket of my blue Zhongshan jacket. There's... some money in it, though not much... The password is your birthday. Remember... go to the bank and withdraw it..."

Lin Jianxue nodded, still looking calm and collected: "Well, I understand."

Jiang Yubai looked at her stubborn expression and felt a surge of despair in his heart.

But like a drowning man grasping at the last piece of driftwood, he reluctantly opened his mouth, trying to evoke a trace of her old feelings:

"I know... I know you won't believe anything I say now... These words may mean nothing to you... But, but I still have to say... Jianxue, I... I really loved you! No, I loved you! I've always loved you!"

He raised his eyes and looked at Lin Jianxue with burning gaze, trying to find a trace of emotion in her heart-poundingly beautiful face.

"I still remember it clearly... the first time I saw you... I was only a teenager at the time, and I followed my mother... to the city. She said your family was short of help, so she brought me to help with the cleaning..."

"It was a sunny day, and you were wearing a white dress with what seemed to be tiny gardenias embroidered on the hem. You came out of the house, opened the door, stood in the light and shadow of the porch, and asked us with a smile who we were... At that moment, I was completely stunned... My mind went blank..."

"You were so beautiful back then, Jianxue, just like a fairy from a magazine... so beautiful that I... I didn't even dare to raise my head, dared not look at you for even a second..."

He spoke incessantly, every word full of "affection", and every detail was described vividly, as if that pure throbbing was still burning in his heart.

Lin Jianxue listened quietly, her long eyelashes drooping, hiding the emotions in her eyes.

First meeting? White dress?

To her, these were things that happened in her previous life, as vague as a faded old dream, and she had long forgotten many details.

She only remembered that Jiang Yubai at that time always kept his head down, looking shy and honest, and Tong Caihe always praised him for being sensible and capable.

Now that I think about it, was that so-called "not daring to look up" a sign of inferiority or guilt? Was that so-called "heart pounding like a drum" a sign of amazement at her or excitement at the Lin family's wealthy life?

It's no longer needed.

Lin Jianxue listened to his "affectionate confession" with tears in her eyes, and felt nothing in her heart. She even found it a little funny.

Noticing that Jiang Yubai had finished speaking, he was secretly observing her expression with an expectant and nervous look.

Lin Jianxue raised her eyelashes slightly, met his gaze, and finally a very faint smile appeared on her lips, as if it was a casual question.

"Really?"