When Ruan Sixian walked out of the police station, the sun was already shining brightly outside.

Bai Yang followed closely behind and, seeing the red marks on her leg, asked, “Is your leg alright?”

“Just a scrape, it’s nothing.”

Ruan Sixian looked outside. Fu Mingyu’s car was parked by the roadside.

She hadn’t expected that Fu Mingyu was still there.

Ruan Sixian walked over and knocked on the car window.

Fu Mingyu rolled down the window and turned his head to look at her.

“Everything resolved?”

Ruan Sixian nodded, beads of sweat appearing on the tip of her nose.

Summer had arrived suddenly. Yesterday, people were still wrapped in coats; today, everyone had switched to short sleeves.

She wiped the sweat from the tip of her nose, muttering, “The police have taken care of everything.”

Before rolling up the window, Fu Mingyu said, “Get in.”

Opening the car door, the cool air from the air conditioning dispersed the heat on Ruan Sixian’s body.

She and Fu Mingyu sat at opposite ends.

The person beside her spoke in a voice as cool as the car’s temperature: “What happened?”

Having just gone through the procedures at the police station, everything was clear now.

Perhaps due to the failed attempt to catch someone cheating that morning followed by an unexpected trip to the police station, the woman had been too shocked to speak coherently. It took Ruan Sixian quite a while to grasp the key points.

The woman was Yan An’s ex-girlfriend, and they hadn’t been broken up for long. The man was her brother.

Yan An had the common problem many men have—towards the end of the relationship, he’d resorted to cold violence, not answering calls or meeting her, acting as if he was busy all the time.

Naturally, she thought he had another woman. When she couldn’t get answers from him, she and her brother had been staking out Yan An for almost a month.

As an ex-girlfriend, she certainly knew that Yan An occasionally stayed at Ming Chen Apartments, but recently he’d been appearing there frequently, which seemed suspicious.

Later, Yan An went straight to Ruan Sixian’s home after getting off his flight last night, giving his ex-girlfriend the misconception that he was keeping Ruan Sixian as a secret lover.

However, Ruan Sixian thought this brother and sister were quite impressive. They had waited outside the apartment for half the morning and, seeing an old lady returning from grocery shopping, followed her in without changing their expressions as if they were part of the same family.

Such skills were wasted on being internet celebrities—they should have been spies.

“A misunderstanding.”

Ruan Sixian was concise: “They staked out for a few days, saw Yan An come to my place last night, and came up this morning looking for evidence.”

After saying this, Ruan Sixian heard him give a very light snort of derision.

That feeling was the same as when he appeared that morning and said, “Didn’t you say you could solve it yourself?”

Fu Mingyu looked over at her.

The sunlight from the car window scattered across his face, making his eyes appear particularly light. His eyes, usually pitch black, now had an amber-like gentle quality.

For a moment, Ruan Sixian thought he was truly handsome.

“I warned you to be careful long ago.”

“…”

Fine. Ruan Sixian took back her previous sentiment.

Bai Yang turned around from the front seat and asked, “Back to the apartment?”

Fu Mingyu nodded, and the car drove away.

Along the way, Ruan Sixian didn’t speak.

She looked out the window and thought that she should probably thank Fu Mingyu.

Even though she was used to living alone, any woman would have been unable to handle the morning’s situation—strangers suddenly breaking in, including a strong man physically restraining her, showing no reason whatsoever.

When Fu Mingyu appeared at that moment, although accompanied by his Fu-style mockery, Ruan Sixian’s heart had truly settled down.

“Director Fu.”

Ruan Sixian turned to look at him, her expression serious.

But Fu Mingyu had his eyes closed, leaning against the cushion, looking as if he was resting.

“Mm.”

“Thank you for today.”

After she spoke, a few seconds passed. Ruan Sixian blinked her eyes.

?

Some reaction, please?

Yet the person beside her seemed to be asleep, only the corners of his mouth slowly spreading into a smile.

Ruan Sixian knew this was not a kind smile, and the words he was about to say would not be pleasant.

“I can’t believe I’m hearing these words from your mouth.”

Indeed.

“I’m sincerely thanking you, and also…”

She paused, then said, “I’m sorry about last night.”

Fu Mingyu opened his eyes, looking at Ruan Sixian with amusement, the corner of his mouth raised in a smile. “So now I’ve received an apology too?”

“Do you accept it or not?”

Fu Mingyu turned back lazily, looking straight ahead at the rearview mirror.

“I accept the thanks, but not the apology.”

Ruan Sixian pondered for a long time but couldn’t understand what he meant.

Then her phone rang, untimely interrupting her train of thought.

It was Yan An calling.

“Director Yan?”

It was very noisy on Yan An’s end; clearly, he had just gotten off a plane.

He had just learned about the incident and immediately called to inquire about the situation.

“They didn’t do anything to you, did they? What’s the situation now? Should I send someone to help you?”

“No need, it’s already resolved.” Ruan Sixian thought for a moment but still decided to tell him what she had just learned. “The two have been detained for ten days. Your ex-girlfriend is crying and making a scene in there.”

After all, she was an internet celebrity, and the news of her detention would get out.

Unlike celebrities who have professional PR teams—even if they did, they wouldn’t have the strong fan base that celebrities have. So if news broke that she had illegally entered a private residence and was detained for ten days, her public image would be completely ruined.

Hearing this, Yan An fell silent for a while, then said, “I’m really sorry, it’s my fault for not handling things well. I just got off the plane, and I’ll be back tomorrow to apologize to you in person.”

“There’s no need, Director Yan.” Ruan Sixian remembered something and added, “Also, the gift you sent me last night is too valuable. I’ll return it to you.”

“No, no, no, don’t return it to me. It’s okay that you didn’t accept it last night, but today you must accept it as my apology.”

“A verbal apology is enough, Director Yan. I said this matter is over, and I won’t hold it against you. I’m not a petty person; you don’t need to be so concerned.”

As Ruan Sixian was saying this, she didn’t notice Fu Mingyu glancing at her.

—A very disbelieving look.

“There’s no need to give me this, Director Yan…” Ruan Sixian said, almost losing patience. “Besides, I don’t like these things.”

—”Then what do you like?”

Hearing this question, Ruan Sixian was startled.

She covered the phone and looked at Fu Mingyu.

Fu Mingyu was also looking at her.

So she hadn’t misheard—he and Yan An had asked the same question simultaneously.

With the phone connected to Yan An, Ruan Sixian looked at Fu Mingyu with confusion and said word by word:

“I like airplanes.”

“The Airbus 380, the double-decker big airplane.”

Both the other end of the phone and the car fell silent for a moment.

Their eyes met, and Fu Mingyu was the first to avert his gaze, turning his face away with a hint of speechlessness in his eyes.

As for Yan An, although he knew she was joking, the conversation couldn’t continue. He simply said, “We’ll talk when I get back to Jiang City.”

After hanging up, the car fell silent again.

Ruan Sixian quietly looked out the window.

Fu Mingyu’s face was reflected in it.

She wondered why Fu Mingyu had suddenly asked what she liked.

Words people speak are driven by motives. For example, Yan An asked what she liked because he wanted to give her a gift to apologize.

What about Fu Mingyu?

Did he also want to give her a gift?

That didn’t align with his character.

Ruan Sixian was completely puzzled and, as if possessed, turned her head to see his expression.

—And then unexpectedly met his gaze.

“…”

“…”

Both of them tactfully averted their eyes, tactfully remained silent, and pretended that nothing had happened.

The air in the car flowed very slowly and was exceptionally quiet, with even breathing sounds audible.

The entire morning was ruined. Ruan Sixian took a nap at noon, and when she woke up, she didn’t feel like going to the gym anymore.

Lying in bed with nothing to do, she called Bian Xuan to chat about the matter.

After listening, Bian Xuan rolled her eyes several times on the other end of the phone.

“Really? I thought he was quite nice when I met him last time.”

“As a person, he’s indeed not bad, but this aspect is too troublesome. Nothing has ever happened between us, yet something like this occurred. If we had some progress, wouldn’t his ex-girlfriends give me enough trouble?”

“Right, such men can be friends, but not boyfriends. So how do you plan to handle your relationship with him?”

“What else can I do? I need to make things clear as soon as possible and get a standing ticket out of here overnight.”

Ruan Sixian felt that in such matters, the worst thing was to be ambiguous. The sooner things were clarified, the better. It was best to keep the relationship at the level of friendship to avoid complications.

The next evening, Ruan Sixian met with Yan An at the same place they had dined before.

The atmosphere during the meal was also natural, since both parties knew the other’s intention when they arrived.

She knew Yan An wanted to apologize, and Yan An knew she wanted to cut losses in time.

However, since Yan An had never explicitly mentioned the word “pursuit,” Ruan Sixian also wouldn’t explicitly say “I reject you.” The implication in their conversation was that their relationship would remain at the “friend” level in the future.

Yan An wasn’t a fool; this was already said in a way that saved his face.

And when Ruan Sixian wanted to return his gift, he had no reason to refuse again.

This meal was passably harmonious, Ruan Sixian thought.

At least Yan An showed no intention of persisting, though there was regret in his eyes.

After they finished eating and walked outside, Yan An looked up at the sky. It seemed like it might rain.

His father was furious about the ex-girlfriend incident, and his mother was also very angry. To ease the family relations and show that he was repentant, Yan An had been returning to the villa at Star Bay No. 1 recently at night.

“Let me drive you.”

Yan An said naturally.

Ruan Sixian had believed until now that he regularly stayed at Ming Chen Apartments, so she didn’t refuse. It was on the way anyway.

Today, Yan An had driven here himself.

The two didn’t talk much on the way.

No matter what, Yan An knew he had been rejected today, and it was a bit difficult to put on a brave face.

He drove to the building where Ruan Sixian lived, applied the brakes, and sighed.

“We’re here. Get some rest.”

Ruan Sixian nodded, unfastened her seat belt, and as she was getting out, said, “Mm, you get some rest too.”

Yan An’s gaze remained on her until she was about to enter the first-floor lobby. Unable to restrain himself, he called out “Ruan Sixian.”

She turned back, saw that he seemed to have something to say, and walked back.

Yan An rolled the window down.

Ruan Sixian bent over to look in. “What is it?”

For the first time, Yan An looked at Ruan Sixian so seriously. After a long moment, he said, “If I handle all those matters well, would I still have a chance?”

They’d been indirect all evening, and Ruan Sixian thought the matter was over.

She hadn’t expected that at the last second, he couldn’t help but make it explicit.

If these things hadn’t happened to Yan An, or if he promised to handle them well.

Would she want to be with him?

Ruan Sixian seriously thought about it.

It seemed… perhaps… she wasn’t very interested either.

She didn’t know if she originally had no strong feelings for him, or if yesterday’s incident had dispelled any interest.

In any case, this was Ruan Sixian’s most immediate thought at the moment.

When the impulse wasn’t strong, let alone this was just a hypothesis.

Ruan Sixian smiled. “Director Yan, let’s forget it. I think we’re good as friends.”

Yan An didn’t say anything more.

A person like him wouldn’t show a defeated expression even when rejected.

Sitting in his luxury car, he lightly waved his hand and left just like that.

Ruan Sixian watched him leave, lost in thought for a moment.

The flowers he sent, the jewelry, the luxury car—all triggered memories she was unwilling to recall.

Those memories she had buried for more than a decade.

Until Yan An’s car disappeared, Ruan Sixian turned and entered the lobby.

She lowered her head, rummaging through her bag for her phone, walking quickly forward, until she raised her head at the elevator door.

“Director Fu?”

Fu Mingyu had one hand in his pocket and the other holding his phone.

He glanced at Ruan Sixian for a second, then continued looking at his phone casually.

Just when Ruan Sixian thought she was being ignored, he spoke: “What is it?”

“…?”

Ruan Sixian was a bit confused.

She had just greeted him, and he only needed to respond. What could she possibly need?

But with his question, Ruan Sixian remembered something.

Why had Fu Mingyu suddenly appeared yesterday morning?

Although they lived in the same building, the elevator went directly to their floors. Unless Fu Mingyu had a screw loose and liked to take the stairs, he shouldn’t have appeared.

But before Ruan Sixian could ask, Fu Mingyu suddenly walked up to her and said, “I’m curious about something.”

“Hmm?”

The two stood face to face, with the overhead light shining down, making Fu Mingyu’s eyes particularly bright.

Yet somewhat aggressive.

Ruan Sixian recalled yesterday morning when she had been momentarily entranced by the gentleness reflected in those eyes.

But now…

Fu Mingyu seemed reluctant to speak, impatience evident between his brows, his tone naturally somewhat overbearing.

“If you like North Aviation University so much, why did you come to World Airlines?”

“?”

Ruan Sixian was taken aback, thinking, wasn’t it you who begged me to come?

Seeing her not speak, Fu Mingyu asked again, “If you wanted a double salary, wouldn’t Yan An agree if you asked him?”

The elevator had arrived just now, the door slowly opening, then slowly closing again.

Ruan Sixian didn’t know what had suddenly come over Fu Mingyu. Yesterday, he had been quite normal, but today he started being sarcastic.

The two still stood motionless, face to face at the door, with quite a confrontational atmosphere.

“He would.” Ruan Sixian looked up and said, “He would agree to give me a quadruple annual salary if I asked.”

After saying this, Ruan Sixian suddenly realized.

Had Fu Mingyu seen it just now?

Did he think her body was at World Airlines but her heart was at North Aviation?

Hearing her words, Fu Mingyu snorted through his nose and again displayed his Fu-style cold smile.

“Then why did you come to World Airlines? For me?”