"You just forgot."
"I don't believe you. When was this?" Yun Shunnian stared intently at the other person, searching for a flaw in their expression.
"Anytime. He never had feelings for you."
The man in the moon-white robe spoke coldly, but his gaze towards Yun Shunnian was incredibly tender.
His deep affection was not deliberately hidden, but seemed to await Yun Shunnian's recognition.
Unfortunately, a thorn had fallen into Yun Shunnian's heart, and all her energy was focused on finding guilt on his face.
"You don't need to play such a clumsy trick on me. What is your purpose?" Yun Shunnian's beautiful, innocent crescent eyes narrowed, looking extremely sharp.
"After so long, your pretense of composure hasn't changed at all."
The man in the moon-white robe was unfazed by Yun Shunnian's icy glare. Instead, his eyes remained tender, with a hint of tears welling up.
"A baseless claim? Is that what you think?" Yun Shunnian retorted sarcastically.
The man in the moon-white robe didn't respond to this, nor did Yun Shunnian care about his reaction.
"In short, this Imperial Capital cannot accommodate you. I advise you to leave on your own today, lest you lose face by being thrown out of the city by me."
Yun Shunnian's words were sharp, leaving no room for negotiation.
"For two lifetimes, Mu Qi has been devoted to you. Have you ever considered that such obsessive feelings might not be of his own will?"
Just as Yun Shunnian turned to leave, the man in the moon-white robe suddenly spoke again.
Yun Shunnian paused, then straightened her posture and strode away in her high heels.
Soon, Yun Shunnian gradually disappeared from the alley where she had found the man.
The man in the moon-white robe, with his black hair, watched Yun Shunnian's retreating back with a slight smile and a gentle gaze.
"You hold your back so straight, yet your heart must be even more tumultuous, right?"
Mu Qi was, of course, unaware that this man was Yun Shunnian's own idea.
Now that she had left the alley, Yun Shunnian realized the area was far from the bustling Imperial Capital. Surrounded by mountains and towering ancient trees, the air was fresh, and the people on the street walked at a leisurely pace.
This should have been a tranquil paradise, but Yun Shunnian could not appreciate its natural beauty.
Undeniably, the words of the man just now had disturbed her peace of mind.
The phrase "not of his own will" echoed in Yun Shunnian's mind like an eternal melody.
Yun Shunnian was a person with a very strong sense of self. She always knew exactly what she wanted, so she easily comforted herself.
Regardless of whether Mu Qi liked her or not, Yun Shunnian could confirm that she was deeply in love with Mu Qi.
Therefore, she would continue to love him deeply.
If Mu Qi were to suddenly awaken one day...
She would lock him up.
On a small island, where only the two of them existed, who else could he see but her?
-------------------------------------
After days of continuous rain, this morning, the tranquility was broken by the sudden sunlight.
With the sun shining, the previous days of rain seemed to have vanished without a trace.
However, when Ning Jing, still groggy, finished washing up and came out of her room, she felt a shock as she met Ning Chen's eyes unexpectedly.
"Brother, aren't you going to the company today?" Ning Jing glanced at her watch, confirming that it had been about two hours since Ning Chen usually left for work.
"I'm accompanying you today."
Ning Chen's gaze was as soft as a pool of water, and Ning Jing lowered her head, not daring to look too long at those seemingly glowing eyes.
"Oh," Ning Jing replied and hurried downstairs.
At the dining table, Ning Jing, who had used a knife and fork for over ten years, now made the plate ring with each movement.
Just as Ning Jing was becoming increasingly flustered, Ning Chen took her plate and helped her cut the steak into small pieces.
With her hands free, Ning Jing picked up her milk and sipped it slowly to avoid awkwardness.
"I'll take you to see a movie today."
Ning Chen looked very serious as he cut his steak. Ning Jing hadn't expected him to suddenly say this and, startled, spat out the milk she had been drinking.
"I didn't mean to," Ning Jing said, putting down her milk and apologizing awkwardly.
What Ning Chen had said was not particularly surprising, but Ning Jing, who was already tense around him, was easily startled.
Ning Jing's mind buzzed. Before she could relax, she felt a smooth sensation on her lips.
Ning Jing lifted her eyelids and saw Ning Chen's Adam's apple and his neatly fastened collar.
"Little princess needs to be clean."
Ning Chen used his handkerchief to wipe away the milk stain from Ning Jing's lips.
Then, he knelt on one knee and cradled Ning Jing's foot.
"Brother, I can do it myself."
As soon as Ning Chen touched Ning Jing's foot, she instinctively tried to pull it away, feeling uncomfortable.
However, Ning Chen used just enough force to avoid hurting Ning Jing, but also to prevent her from breaking free.
"Sweetheart, we'll be married soon." Ning Chen placed Ning Jing's foot on his knee with one hand and wiped away the milk stain with the other.
Hearing Ning Chen's words, the tension in Ning Jing's eyes lessened, and then was replaced by a deep melancholy.
She disliked their marriage certificate. In Ning Jing's eyes, it was a shackle that trapped Ning Chen.
Ning Chen didn't let Ning Jing dwell in her thoughts for too long. After cleaning her foot, he directly picked her up and placed her in his own seat.
Ning Jing clutched the sides of her skirt tightly, her lips pursed.
Ning Chen: "Eat."
Ning Chen took a chair and sat beside Ning Jing.
Ning Jing looked at the steak close at hand and instinctively shied away.
"Brother, I can eat by myself."
"Can you?" Ning Chen's hand, holding the fork, did not lower, and he glanced indifferently at the milk on the table.
Ning Jing caught his gaze from the corner of her eye and, embarrassed, quickly ate the piece of steak Ning Chen brought to her lips.
Ning Chen smiled and fed Ning Jing with relish.
Ning Jing could only eat quickly, trying to shorten the uncomfortable moment.
"Slow down," Ning Chen said, worried she might choke.
"Cough, cough, cough..." As soon as Ning Chen finished speaking, Ning Jing coughed, her face turning red.