However, on this cold Valentine’s Day, Wu Mangmang didn’t wait for Cheng Yue to show up.

He seemed quite busy lately—Wu Mangmang hadn’t seen him for over a week.

Wu Mangmang called Cheng Yue several times, but he didn’t answer.

Wu Mangmang sat in the restaurant until ten o’clock before receiving a call from Cheng Yue.

“I’m sorry, Mangmang. I probably can’t make it,” Cheng Yue’s voice came through the phone, sounding so distant, as if from another planet.

Wu Mangmang laughed softly. Though somewhat unexpected, it was also within her expectations.

Some things didn’t need to be said explicitly—everyone already understood the meaning.

Cheng Yue probably wouldn’t appear in Wu Mangmang’s world again.

“Cheng Yue,” Wu Mangmang called out. “I wish you happiness.”

Cheng Yue stood across the street, looking through the restaurant’s glass window at Wu Mangmang holding up her phone.

“Thank you.” Cheng Yue’s eyes immediately moistened.

Wu Mangmang seemed to sense something, turning to look out the glass window at the figure standing under the streetlight across the street. She couldn’t see his face clearly, but it was enough.

When Cheng Yue turned and walked away, Wu Mangmang just sat there quietly.

Once upon a time, when he left, she was heartbroken. Now she could sit there quite calmly.

She didn’t even feel regret—just a faint melancholy.

What she once thought was deep love, what she thought was her destined person for life—looking back now, even his shadow had faded to just a vague trace.

Wu Mangmang apologized to the restaurant owner for sitting all evening without making any purchases.

The owner was particularly kind, even giving her a bright red rose.

Wu Mangmang encountered a young couple stamping their feet in the rain and snow, buying roasted sweet potatoes on the roadside. She stood under the streetlight watching them, watching their vivid sweetness, which brought a smile to her face.

Wu Mangmang thought for a moment, then walked over and handed the rose to the girl. “Blessings to you both.”

The girl accepted the flower somewhat bewildered, exchanging puzzled glances with her boyfriend.

The young boyfriend looked at Wu Mangmang’s retreating figure and said, “She must have just broken up.”

Because the loneliness on that person’s face was so deep that even light couldn’t penetrate it.

When people are sad, they seem to have more self-destructive tendencies. Despite the strong wind and heavy snow, Wu Mangmang got out of the car at the foot of the hillside—she wanted to walk a stretch by herself.

The wind blowing through the trees on the hillside made mournful “whooo” sounds. The dark shadows of the villas and trees were cast on the ground by the streetlights, showing a winter’s worth of desolation and bleakness.

Wu Mangmang walked with her hands in her pockets, head down, gently kicking any small stones she encountered on the road.

Her whole heart felt empty—there was nothing left to fear, but also nothing worth lingering over.

Wu Mangmang stopped on the road and gazed toward the Lu mansion. Actually, she couldn’t see anything from here, but she couldn’t help thinking that in that direction lived someone.

Her current feelings toward Cheng Yue were probably what Lu Sui’s feelings toward her would be in the future—faint as a trace of ash that would scatter with the slightest breeze.

Two-thirds of the way home, Wu Mangmang stopped again, looking toward the sea. In the invisible distance was a small island called LW—it would probably be renamed later, wouldn’t it?

Could she go chase Lu Sui back? Wu Mangmang couldn’t help fantasizing. Her feet involuntarily took a step in that direction, but beneath her feet was a cliff—even if she were shattered to pieces, she probably couldn’t catch up.

Wu Mangmang leaned against a tree trunk by the roadside in melancholy, thinking about Lu Sui.

This was a man who absolutely couldn’t be won back. He clearly knew what he wanted and what he didn’t want.

If there had been even a glimmer of hope between them, Lu Sui wouldn’t have let her leave that day when she came to get her documents.

He had already let go.

But fortunately in this misfortune, the last time they met, she had dressed quite beautifully, hadn’t she?

Wu Mangmang rubbed her eyes that had been blurred by the wind and lifted her legs to continue forward.

She said to herself in her heart: It’s okay, she still has a home—a place connected by blood. And what she needs to do from now on is ensure that those who once loved her won’t regret having loved such a person.

She would become wonderful, so he wouldn’t one day be ashamed to mention her and consequently despise his own judgment back then.

She too was someone with her own dreams.

Wu Mangmang looked up at the sky, letting her tears flow back, then quickened her pace toward the hillside villa.

Turning the corner, the hillside villa was not far ahead. Wu Mangmang raised her head and saw a bit of crimson flash in the deep black shadows ahead.

Wu Mangmang rubbed her eyes—before her seemed to be only snowflakes dancing.

Wu Mangmang laughed at herself for still harboring such hopes. She continued walking forward, and that bit of crimson seemed to appear again.

Wu Mangmang could no longer control her feet and ran quickly toward that crimson glow, running so fast it was as if she wanted to rush off the roadway and fly down the mountain.

When she reached that spot of crimson, she had originally thought the person smoking would be A’Shu, but standing before her, throwing the cigarette butt on the ground, was clearly that person who never smoked.

Wu Mangmang stood still without moving. She rubbed her eyes, afraid this was a hallucination. Nine years ago she had experienced this—in her hallucinations, that person had never left.

Lu Sui looked at Wu Mangmang with melted snow droplets reflecting light in her hair, breathed out lightly, then raised his arms and opened them wide.

Wu Mangmang immediately rushed over with such force that Lu Sui staggered back twice, nearly falling on his bottom.

Wu Mangmang hugged Lu Sui’s waist tightly, pressing her face against his chest to listen to his heartbeat—strong and steady, each beat miraculously soothing all her anxiety and unease.

Love is like this—one second it makes you feel life isn’t worth living, as if you’re in purgatory, and the next second it takes you to heaven with spring warmth and blooming flowers.

Such changes surprise even yourself, making you wonder how this is even possible.

Wu Mangmang couldn’t help but hold him a little tighter. The hand that fell on her back gently patted her back in comfort.

But this wasn’t enough—completely insufficient. Wu Mangmang wished she could melt her entire being into Lu Sui’s chest, wanting him to hold her tight, but her mouth seemed glued shut and wouldn’t open.

Lu Sui kissed Wu Mangmang’s hair, remembering how she had just stood before him like a helpless child, not daring to move.

So yearning, yet so timid.

With just a slight lift of his hand, she had rushed over.

Forgiving her was certainly difficult, but not forgiving would be a thousand times, ten thousand times more difficult.

And why should he be stubborn with a young girl?

Lu Sui tightened his arms, and Wu Mangmang’s tears came pouring down.

But no matter how passionate love is, it can’t withstand the cold wind of early winter morning for too long. Lu Sui reached out to push Wu Mangmang away, but she clung to him like she’d received a tremendous fright, holding on even tighter like an octopus stuck to his body.

Lu Sui had no choice but to reach out and pry away Wu Mangmang’s hands clasped around his waist.

After several attempts, Wu Mangmang finally loosened her grip.

Finally there was distance between them, allowing Lu Sui to see Wu Mangmang’s face.

Wu Mangmang, looking lost and bewildered, reached out again to grab Lu Sui’s hands, holding them tightly clasped in both of hers.

She looked as pitiful as could be, panicked like a squirrel that had lost all its acorns and couldn’t survive winter—her claws now clutching her last grain of food.

Lu Sui’s emotions flashed briefly. “You left your card at the Lu mansion. I brought it to you.”

Wu Mangmang’s eyes blinked rapidly, tears nearly freezing her eyes shut, but her hands still wouldn’t let go. She just stared blankly and responded with an “Oh.”

No refutation, no attempt to make him stay—just looking at Lu Sui in a daze.

Lu Sui’s heart ached a little. This child before him had learned not to reach for things anymore—no matter how much she wanted something, she no longer dared ask for it.

Truly happy children will directly ask for what they want. You might not usually notice this, but it’s actually a very precious quality.

And children like Wu Mangmang? After experiencing countless rejections and neglect, they’ve long since learned the cruel truth.

She saw every bit of love she deserved as charity from others.

And facing this charity, she was always tearfully grateful.

Getting it would make her particularly satisfied and happy, and when she couldn’t get it, she had learned not to complain or hate, only thinking it must be because she wasn’t good enough to deserve happiness.

Lu Sui loved Wu Mangmang like this in his heart, yet also hated Wu Mangmang like this.

He took Wu Mangmang’s card from his coat pocket and handed it to her. “I’m leaving. Take care of yourself.”

Wu Mangmang’s tears had long been pouring like torrential rain. She was choking up and couldn’t speak, only looking at Lu Sui and nodding, continuously nodding.

Her hands still wouldn’t let go of Lu Sui’s hand, but she could only watch helplessly as he pulled his hand away.

Lu Sui got in the car and started the engine. He turned his head to look at Wu Mangmang outside the window. Wu Mangmang mechanically waved goodbye to him, even trying to force out a smile to maintain appearances.

That is, if her tears hadn’t been flowing so fiercely.

And Lu Sui finally recognized a fact—expecting Wu Mangmang to chase after him would probably have to wait until the sun rose from the west.

Lu Sui turned off the engine, opened the car door and got out, then slammed the door hard, making a loud noise that startled Wu Mangmang.

“Come here.” Lu Sui stood by the front of the car and called to Wu Mangmang.

Wu Mangmang looked at him in bewilderment, obediently shuffling her feet.

Probably finding her too slow, Lu Sui strode several steps toward Wu Mangmang. “Come here.”

Wu Mangmang stood at arm’s length from Lu Sui, looking up into his eyes.

“Hug me.” Lu Sui opened his arms.

Wu Mangmang hesitantly moved closer slowly, pressing her face against Lu Sui’s chest again.

Lu Sui embraced Wu Mangmang and took several deep breaths before he could speak. “Just how stupid do you have to be to think I would wait here for two hours just to deliver a card to you?”

Wu Mangmang didn’t speak. Actually, she wasn’t that stupid either—she just hadn’t come to her senses earlier.

The narrow car interior was like another world—warm, sweet, safe.

Wu Mangmang hugged Lu Sui’s waist tightly, the corners of her mouth constantly turned up slightly. She was reluctant to speak and afraid she might say the wrong thing.

Lu Sui didn’t speak either, just occasionally stroking Wu Mangmang’s back.

Wu Mangmang’s clever streak finally returned a bit. Lu Sui had already taken the most difficult step—he was still waiting for her to kneel down and sing surrender.

Wu Mangmang said softly, “I thought it was A’Shu smoking earlier.”

Lu Sui snorted. “Would I be stupid enough to find another person as an audience for such an embarrassing thing, to watch me make a fool of myself?”

Being dumped twice by a woman and still coming back shamelessly to find her—thinking about it, Lu Sui was kneeling to himself.

“No, I just felt heartbroken.” Wu Mangmang said guiltily. Under any circumstances, Lu Sui never used his body for self-abuse. He had said smoking was slow suicide—you could tell how much his heart must have hurt to make him smoke.

“Oh, so you do feel sorry for me?” Lu Sui mocked coldly.

Wu Mangmang knew Lu Sui was definitely going to get angry, but no matter how she listened, she found it sweet. She pursed her lips and smiled without speaking.

Seeing Wu Mangmang like this made Lu Sui angry, and he turned his head away.

“How did you happen to come here at this time?” Wu Mangmang carefully put her arms around Lu Sui’s neck and asked cautiously.

“Because I heard some news and was afraid a certain idiot might do something stupid. Others might not care, but that certain idiot is my most precious person.” Lu Sui said while pulling down Wu Mangmang’s hands that were around his neck.

“I’ll say it again—I’ve never thought of letting you go.”

Wu Mangmang was so moved she could hardly contain herself. Right now, even if Lu Sui asked her to jump off the mountain, she probably wouldn’t hesitate for half a second.

Lu Sui pulled at her hands, but she playfully held on tighter, then pressed her forehead against Lu Sui’s and said softly, “I wasn’t thinking of doing anything stupid.”

“Oh, how capable.” Lu Sui replied sarcastically.

It seemed there were a thousand things to say, but now Wu Mangmang couldn’t say anything.

Any explanation seemed superfluous at this moment. Wu Mangmang leaned against Lu Sui’s chest and asked, “Does this count as us making up?”

“What? Are you still waiting for me to kneel down and sing surrender, begging you to forgive me?” Lu Sui asked, sarcasm practically shooting from his nose.

Wu Mangmang naturally didn’t dare—she should be the one kneeling and singing surrender.

“However, it’s not impossible for me to kneel down for you.” Lu Sui added another sentence, nearly scaring Wu Mangmang to death.

Wu Mangmang sat up straight in disbelief, looking at Lu Sui. She hadn’t misunderstood his meaning, had she?

In the darkness, Lu Sui’s eyes shone so brightly they were heart-stopping. Wu Mangmang didn’t speak. Though completely unprepared, even if given a thousand more chances, she wouldn’t dare say “no” now.

Let fear of marriage and anti-marriage go to hell—first appease Boss Lu.

Wu Mangmang extended her left hand, held it in the air, admired it for a moment, thinking her ring finger was quite slender and would look good with a ring.

But Lu Sui didn’t produce the ring Wu Mangmang had imagined. He said flatly, “I’ll give you a month to think it over. You can still change your mind. I can’t handle the bride running away at the wedding.”

Someone had once been left at the altar twice and was still a laughingstock. Lu Sui didn’t want to be that kind of fool.

“I won’t break the engagement, I swear.” Wu Mangmang immediately raised her right hand.

“You should still think it over,” Lu Sui said.

“I really won’t regret it.” Wu Mangmang anxiously promised.

“Uh, I didn’t expect you to agree, so I haven’t ordered the ring yet,” Lu Sui said.

So this wasn’t a proposal, but a joke?

Wu Mangmang felt somewhat dejected and awkwardly withdrew her hand.

That evening, Lu Sui refused Wu Mangmang’s request to return to the Lu mansion with him. Of course, Wu Mangmang hadn’t explicitly made this request, but her longing little glances had completely betrayed her thoughts. However, Lu Sui ignored her, only escorting her to the front door and ringing the doorbell for her.

The next morning, Wu Mangmang floated downstairs with light steps. Ms. Liu was commanding Wu Dandan to eat a boiled egg when she saw Wu Mangmang and looked her over suspiciously several times before saying, “What’s wrong with you?”

Wu Mangmang looked at Ms. Liu blankly. “Nothing’s wrong with me. I’m fine.”

Ms. Liu squinted. “It’s because you’re too fine that I’m asking.”

Wu Mangmang pursed her lips and smiled without answering Ms. Liu’s question.

“I heard Cheng Yue came back. Are you back together with him?” Ms. Liu said with a snort.

Wu Mangmang, who was getting milk from the refrigerator with her back to Liu Lewei, stiffened in her movements, then turned around. “No, he left.”

Liu Lewei didn’t speak. To say she hadn’t seen Wu Mangmang’s struggles over the years would be a lie, but sometimes she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. Besides, Liu Lewei had never thought highly of Cheng Yue anyway.

“Then what are you so happy about?” Liu Lewei added.

Wu Mangmang looked at her empty ring finger and turned back. “I’m not happy about anything.”

People’s mindsets really change quickly. Wu Mangmang hadn’t thought about getting married someday for many years, but now she seemed desperate to marry.

This was probably what’s commonly called “being difficult.”

Wu Mangmang’s current state was typically “spared the death penalty but not escape punishment.”

Although they had made up last night, Lu Sui’s attitude was sky-high. Wu Mangmang could only behave with her tail between her legs now.

When Lu Sui returned to the Lu mansion, Wu Mangmang, having received the news, was already standing respectfully by the door waiting for Boss to return to the palace.

Speaking of which, Lu Sui had never received such treatment from Wu Mangmang before, so he glanced at her and said, “If you can’t keep this up for a lifetime, don’t try to act cute here.”

Wu Mangmang’s face stung from the slap. It was really difficult to please someone who saw through everything.

But Mr. Lu had really made progress—he even knew internet terms like “cute” now.

Wu Mangmang followed Lu Sui upstairs all the way. When he entered the room, she ran into the bathroom first. “Let me run hot water for your bath?”

Lu Sui didn’t move. His gaze browsed over Wu Mangmang’s deliberately accentuated chest line and slender legs for a moment, then said, “Not interested.”

It seemed Wu Mangmang’s “fight at the head of the bed, make up at the foot of the bed” tactic was a complete miss.

Lu Sui was now like a smooth stone—Wu Mangmang couldn’t find anywhere to bite.

“Should we talk then?” Wu Mangmang was brave now. Before, she would curl up in her shell like a turtle, thinking that by not asking or looking, she could pretend nothing had happened. But Lu Sui clearly wouldn’t give her that opportunity.

“You speak.” Lu Sui responded, then walked to the wardrobe and began unbuttoning his shirt to change clothes.

Wu Mangmang’s thoughts were interrupted by Lu Sui’s movements. She hadn’t touched his abs for a long time, and seeing them now made her mouth dry—just like how Lu Sui had felt when he watched Wu Mangmang emerge from the sea all wet.

At that time, the diamond belly button ring on Wu Mangmang’s navel had sparkled brilliantly, perfectly focusing his gaze.

Lu Sui didn’t hear Wu Mangmang start speaking. He turned his head and caught Wu Mangmang’s heated gaze. He stopped what he was doing, grabbed a T-shirt, and went into the bathroom. When he came out, he was fully dressed.

“Didn’t you have something to say?” Lu Sui sat down across from Wu Mangmang.

Actually, Wu Mangmang didn’t really have anything to say. She just felt Lu Sui should have many questions to ask her. She was now like an employee waiting for an interview, racking her brains to guess the examiner’s questions.

“Do you have anything you want to ask me?” Wu Mangmang asked.

Lu Sui stood up. “I have nothing to ask you. Let’s go downstairs to eat.”

Wu Mangmang stared at Lu Sui’s back in a daze, then had a sudden inspiration and rushed over to hug Lu Sui’s waist from behind. “You’re angry because I didn’t go to the Christmas banquet, right?”

In Lu Sui’s view, she had chosen Cheng Yue. In Wu Mangmang’s view, even without Cheng Yue, she wouldn’t have gone at that time.

But looking back now, Wu Mangmang felt that if time could be rewound, she would crawl there if necessary.

Everyone is wise after the fact. Why had she been so pretentious and difficult back then?

Lu Sui turned around and cupped Wu Mangmang’s face, examining it carefully. “Oh, so your IQ does exceed 80 after all.”

Wu Mangmang struggled hard to resist the urge to roll her eyes.

She pulled Lu Sui back, and they sat on the sofa together.

Since she had figured out where Mr. Lu’s hang-up was, Wu Mangmang was determined to explain clearly.

Wu Mangmang understood Lu Sui too well. Although the outcome was already under his control, if the process wasn’t clarified, his methods of dealing with her would be systematic.

Last night when she was so heartbroken, Lu Sui had still played the “I’m here to deliver a card” game with her.

Thinking back now, she had been so stupid then. Wu Mangmang was being wise after the fact again.

Wu Mangmang took Lu Sui’s hand seriously and said, “I didn’t go to the Christmas banquet that day not because of Cheng Yue. Even if he hadn’t come back, I wouldn’t have gone.”

Lu Sui quietly pulled his hand back, and Wu Mangmang immediately grabbed it again.

This matter hadn’t been discussed last night because last night’s tone was sweet forgiveness. Today was about resolving the knot in their hearts on the basis of confirmed reconciliation.

“I was always afraid I wasn’t worthy of you, afraid that we would eventually separate someday.” Wu Mangmang looked into Lu Sui’s eyes and softly analyzed herself.

This sentence was simple to say but extremely difficult to voice.

“What about now?” Lu Sui asked.

Wu Mangmang thought before saying, “Still scared to death.”

“But I feel like you’ll hold my hand all the way.” Wu Mangmang said. Her eyes were like stars in the cold night, with Lu Sui’s image reflected in her pupils, so brilliant.

Lu Sui gripped Wu Mangmang’s fingers back, and their hands gradually intertwined tightly with ten fingers interlocked.

“Then what if someday I let go of your hand?” Lu Sui asked.

Saying such words, his grip gradually tightened until Wu Mangmang nearly had her hand crushed by Lu Sui. She groaned softly in pain before Lu Sui relaxed his grip a bit.

“Would you kneel down and beg me to come back?” Lu Sui pressed his forehead against Wu Mangmang’s.

This sentence would undoubtedly tear open Wu Mangmang’s wounds, but some people cared about this from the bottom of their hearts.

People deeply in love can’t help but compare. For him, she could do this and that, but for himself, Wu Mangmang was terrifyingly decisive. Just thinking about this could make Lu Sui want to strangle Wu Mangmang.

Wu Mangmang anxiously scratched the back of her head. How could she explain to Lu Sui that at the time she felt life wasn’t worth living, only hoping he would be well, Cheng Yue would be well, everyone would be well, while she would go lick her wounds alone in a corner and never like anyone again for the rest of her life?

Such words would be extremely awkward to say now because she also felt she had been temporarily out of her mind then. Why hadn’t her brain worked properly?

Later, during a casual chat after one of their intimate moments, Wu Mangmang accidentally let slip something that got her a harsh reality check from Lu Sui.

Lu Sui had said then, “Do you think I’m stupid? When you broke up with Cheng Yue, didn’t you also feel life wasn’t worth living and that you’d never like anyone again? What about now?”

Wu Mangmang was completely bewildered. What Lu Sui said seemed to be true—too embarrassing.

“So would I be stupid enough to give you another chance to date someone else?” Lu Sui had asked.

Anyway, back to the present moment, Wu Mangmang didn’t answer Lu Sui that way. She went through several drafts in her mind—all heartfelt words from the bottom of her heart, but facing Lu Sui, she always had to think thrice before answering, or she’d easily dig her own grave.

Wu Mangmang said, “No. I learned from Cheng Yue that love can’t be obtained through begging on your knees.”

Lu Sui was about to pull his hand away again. Wu Mangmang wailed internally—could Mr. Lu not be such a proud little princess? But Wu Mangmang couldn’t show any attitude now and had to continue working on her sweet-talk skills.

“Regarding you, what I think is that even if you don’t want me anymore, I must still be well. I don’t want you to look back at me someday and think, ‘How did I ever fall for such a person? I was really blind.’ I just thought I couldn’t burden you psychologically. I wouldn’t make a scene or threaten suicide—I would only bless your happiness.”

Lu Sui snorted coldly. “Thanks, but don’t worry. When I stop loving someone and turn to leave, I won’t have any psychological burden. Whether you live or die, I won’t feel guilty. So you don’t need to be so considerate of me. Everything you said is nonsense—none of it is as practical as you kneeling down and begging me not to leave.”

Wu Mangmang said seriously, “I will never kneel down to love someone again. I think the only situation that could make me kneel and beg you to come back would be that one scenario.”

Wu Mangmang was throwing back the words Lu Sui had said to her last night.

Lu Sui thought about it. “You must never do that.”

Wu Mangmang pouted, feeling somewhat disappointed. She felt she needed to work harder, so she continued holding Lu Sui’s hand and pouring out her heart. “Anyway, I just want to tell you that I’ve matured. What I think is that truly mature love only makes people better—otherwise, why would we so eagerly anticipate love, right?”

Honestly, Wu Mangmang’s expression was somewhat clumsy.

She actually just wanted to say that because she loved him, she had become better. She wouldn’t get sick again, and she would strive to become someone worthy of him.

There are actually two ways to overcome fear. Being fearless is just the passive one—not obtaining something because you’re afraid of losing it.

This is the love of the weak.

The other way is to make it impossible for anyone to take away the person or thing you love, to fight for it, and never retreat even if shattered to pieces.

This is the love of the brave.

Lu Sui smiled faintly—it was unclear whether he had been convinced by sweet-talker Miss Wu Mangmang.

“Are you still mad at me?” Wu Mangmang asked.

Lu Sui rubbed Wu Mangmang’s head. “I’ve never blamed you because you’ve never encountered good role models.”

Wu Mangmang quietly looked at Lu Sui’s face, then said, “Now I have you.”

Lu Sui said somewhat arrogantly, “Then you’d better learn well.”

Since the words were out in the open, Lu Sui didn’t continue being difficult. Actually, he really hadn’t understood Wu Mangmang’s mindset at the time. In his eyes, Wu Mangmang’s choice had been incredibly terrible and stupid—the so-called harming others without benefiting oneself described people like her.

“Were you crying so hard yesterday because Cheng Yue left you again?” Lu Sui asked.

“Of course not.” Wu Mangmang said. Although she didn’t want to admit it, she actually felt it was a relief.

How ironic—he had once been the person she loved most deeply. Rather than saying Wu Mangmang was devastated by Cheng Yue, it was more accurate to say she was struck by this cruel fact, and when she applied it to Lu Sui, she couldn’t bear it.

She couldn’t imagine that someday Lu Sui would feel that not seeing her was a relief.

“Then what made you think that not attending the Christmas banquet meant we had to break up? Or were you determined to get back together with Cheng Yue from the start?” Lu Sui asked.

“Uh…” Wu Mangmang was stunned. Hadn’t the breakup been hinted at by Lu Sui?

But Wu Mangmang really didn’t have the courage to say such things now.

She immediately took all the stupid mistakes upon herself. “I never thought about getting back together with Cheng Yue. Cheng Yue said I was just a fragile piece of porcelain, a broken piece of porcelain. No matter how precious it once was, even if repaired, it’s still a flawed item and no longer precious. I just felt you deserved to have your own perfect piece of porcelain.”

Wu Mangmang had expressed her meaning very clearly. Lu Sui cleaned out his ears and frowned. “Did I hear something a normal person would say? Are you having another acting addiction? So pretentiously literary.”

Wu Mangmang glared angrily at Lu Sui. She had really thought that way, okay? Although it was a bit stupid, he couldn’t crush people like this.

“Wu Mangmang, don’t live life like a drama. If you were honest and down-to-earth, you’d know that people aren’t porcelain. It’s not that after loving one person, you’re no longer qualified to love others.” Lu Sui said, “Following your logic, since I’ve been with other women, should I castrate myself because I’m also imperfect and flawed?”

“Of course not!” Wu Mangmang immediately surrendered. “I never minded that.”

She was being strict with herself and lenient with others.

“Oh, so you don’t mind the fact that I’ve had girlfriends before? And you don’t mind that Zhao Xinyun existed?” Lu Sui asked.

Wu Mangmang really wanted to cry. Why was it that Lu Sui, who had once lived it up and quickly found new girlfriends when breaking up, had somehow become the victim when he turned around, as if she, Wu Mangmang, was the vicious one?

“I do mind.” After Wu Mangmang said this, she felt something was wrong—she wasn’t suggesting Lu Sui should castrate himself. “That’s not what I meant. Do you understand?”

“I understand. You’re just being idle.” Lu Sui summarized for Wu Mangmang.

Wu Mangmang could only nod awkwardly.

“Also, I don’t think you’re a piece of porcelain. If you insist on objectifying yourself, why can’t you think of yourself as a blank sheet of paper? At first, someone drew a stroke and stopped. Then someone else drew a stroke and left. These are precious experiences in your life—blank paper isn’t worth much. Then you finally met me, and I integrated and arranged everything others had drawn before, completing the final artwork.” Lu Sui said.

“Do you know how much one of my paintings sold for at the last charity auction?” Lu Sui asked Wu Mangmang.

Wu Mangmang nodded. It was very expensive. Although people were probably bidding for Lu Sui’s reputation, the landscape painting he had created was actually quite good, with the bearing of a master.

“So you should have confidence in yourself. You’ve also joined the ranks of famous paintings, at least in terms of value.” Lu Sui patted Wu Mangmang’s little face.

Then Lu Sui seemed to suddenly remember something and pinched Wu Mangmang’s cheek. “Cheng Yue said you were a piece of porcelain, so you chose to major in porcelain restoration in college. Now that I’m comparing you to a painting, should you consider switching to traditional Chinese painting?”

Wu Mangmang blinked, thinking Lu Sui was joking with her, but his expression was unusually serious. Was this guy competing with Cheng Yue?

Wu Mangmang said, “I’ll consider it.”

“Why don’t I get you a traditional Chinese painting teacher to cultivate your temperament?” Lu Sui asked.

“Of course, that would be good.” Wu Mangmang was about to cry from laughter.

“So let’s summarize now. You felt you were a broken piece of porcelain, so you weren’t worthy of me, and you’d rather spend your whole life as a pile of waste fragments on the side, right?” Lu Sui said.

Wu Mangmang blinked again. How was it that when Lu Sui expressed it this way, the reasoning she had once found completely logical and the decision she had felt was absolutely correct now seemed so ridiculous?

Wu Mangmang couldn’t help but defend herself a bit. “Not exactly. I was also worried that I would inevitably compare you to Cheng Yue, and with Cheng Yue’s shadow lingering, we would eventually break up.”

Suspicion and jealousy would come one after another, and even the deepest feelings couldn’t withstand such erosion.

Lu Sui raised his eyebrows, pulled Wu Mangmang up from the sofa to stand face to face with him, then stepped back three meters, spread his arms and said, “Look at me. Does Cheng Yue seem like someone who could cast a shadow over me?”

Wu Mangmang shook her head.

“Then look at me again. Is there anything about me that’s inferior to him?”

So narcissistic!

Wu Mangmang shook her head again.

“So your reasoning doesn’t hold,” Lu Sui concluded.

Wu Mangmang covered her face, already too devastated to say anything.

Lu Sui walked over and put his arm around Wu Mangmang. “Now that we’ve talked, what are your thoughts?”

Her thoughts were very complicated, Wu Mangmang mused.

At the time, she had really, truly felt she was absolutely right, and she even had a kind of fearless spirit of self-sacrifice. But today, when everything came out of Lu Sui’s mouth and he systematically refuted each point, it had completely become an absurd argument.

“Do you feel particularly stupid?” Lu Sui asked.

Wu Mangmang rolled her eyes at Lu Sui but still reluctantly nodded.

Lu Sui smiled and kissed the corner of Wu Mangmang’s lips. “That’s good. People who have self-awareness aren’t that scary.”

“Alright, now go run me a bath,” Lu Sui said.

“But it’s almost dinner time,” Wu Mangmang hadn’t snapped back to reality yet.

“But I want to bathe first now.” Lu Sui’s palm stroked up and down Wu Mangmang’s back.

So he was interested now?

Wu Mangmang was actually still immersed in the devastating blow and hadn’t recovered. She really wasn’t very interested, but she didn’t dare resist, so she could only turn and go to the bathroom.

Then she heard Lu Sui say behind her, “Mangmang, let me leave you with one last thought. Since you know you’re stupid, don’t make any decisions on your own anymore, understand?”

Wu Mangmang thought for a moment and finally responded after a long time, “You’re not allowed to help me play games anymore.” She hated Mr. Lu who could speak internet slang.

Understand my ass!

One bath took two hours. The rampant NPC big boss in the game always loved to say, “You foolish humans,” and then unleash a barrage of attacks.

Wu Mangmang watched her health bar whoosh down rapidly, finally curling up on the bed, enjoying the sweet feeling of being fed by Mr. Lu.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t yet the moment when things would turn around.

Two days before school started, Wu Mangmang was driven nearly to suicide by an unexpected email.

Lu Sui came out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel while looking at the pale-faced Wu Mangmang. “What’s wrong?”

Wu Mangmang immediately shook her head, then stood up and said, “Let me dry your hair for you.”

She gently and patiently dried Lu Sui’s hair and even gave him a shoulder massage.

Lu Sui squinted his eyes but didn’t expose Wu Mangmang’s suspicious behavior of being overly attentive without reason.

But there are no secrets that don’t leak out eventually. Lu Sui soon threw that email in front of Wu Mangmang.

“What is this?” Lu Sui asked.

Wu Mangmang was particularly cowardly. She didn’t even dare accuse Lu Sui of invading her privacy. This person had definitely secretly logged into her game account again and incidentally seen her email.

Wu Mangmang was now frantically trying to make an “innocent” defense for herself. “When I applied for this, I had no idea we would get back together. I was just afraid that if I stayed at A University, I’d continue to be entangled with Cheng Yue, so I asked Professor Cheng to recommend me for this archaeological project.”

Lu Sui completely ignored Wu Mangmang’s explanation and said bluntly, “I only look at results.”

“How many months is Miss planning to be away this time? Three months? Six months? Or a year? When you come back, should I send you an invitation to my wedding, or invite you to my son’s hundred-day celebration?” Lu Sui’s sarcasm mode was fully activated.

This matter naturally ended unpleasantly. No matter how hard Wu Mangmang tried, she couldn’t make Mr. Lu happy. The fixed entertainment program at nine o’clock every evening had already been suspended for three days.

Of course, Wu Mangmang was unwilling to give up her career, but you can’t have your cake and eat it too. This was also a sensitive period—she didn’t even have a ring on her finger yet. If she really left, she might actually receive Lu Sui’s wedding invitation when she returned.

Wu Mangmang decided to first coax Mr. Lu into her hands before anything else. As for her career, she wouldn’t give up on that either.

After doing some psychological preparation, Wu Mangmang took advantage of Mr. Lu going to work and flew directly to A City.

It was clearly a project she had actively applied for and had asked Professor Cheng to use his connections to get her accepted. Now going back to say she couldn’t go was embarrassing just thinking about it.

Wu Mangmang sat in front of Professor Cheng and told a difficult lie: “I’m sorry, Professor Cheng. Because I’m getting married, I probably can’t participate in this project.”

Professor Cheng looked at Wu Mangmang and smiled. “I understand. You young women nowadays keep talking about being leftover women. I naturally can’t let my student become a leftover woman. But let’s agree—this is the only time, no exceptions in the future.”

If she could, Wu Mangmang really wanted to jump up and kiss this kind old man. “Thank you, Professor Cheng.” Wu Mangmang was so excited she was practically dancing.

After solving this tricky matter, Wu Mangmang practically skipped to Lu Corporation to find Lu Sui.

Peng Ze didn’t dare stop this future boss lady with explosive girlfriend power at all. He just sighed slightly in his heart—this lady was really good at causing trouble. Would Lu Corporation have to establish temporary headquarters wherever she went to work in the future?

When Wu Mangmang slipped into Lu Sui’s office, she happily threw herself into his arms and said, “I have good news to tell you.”

Lu Sui’s gaze naturally swept toward Wu Mangmang’s lower abdomen.

Wu Mangmang quickly covered her stomach. “I’m not pregnant.”

Then Lu Sui showed an attitude of “what good news could you possibly have.”

“I told Professor Cheng that I can’t go on this project, and he agreed.” Wu Mangmang was so excited she applauded herself first. “Isn’t that very surprising?”

Lu Sui’s face finally showed a hint of a smile. “How did you explain it to him?”

Wu Mangmang shrugged. “I just said my boyfriend doesn’t like me going on such long business trips. Professor Cheng understood and agreed.”

This time Lu Sui actually laughed out loud. He lifted Wu Mangmang up and had her sit on his desk, then placed his hands on either side of her, encircling her in his arms. “Tell me, did you ask for miscarriage leave, or…”

Wu Mangmang pretended to be shocked and opened her mouth wide. “Miscarriage leave? That’s too ridiculous. How could I possibly use such a lame excuse?”

Lu Sui raised his eyebrows. “I heard you asking your friend on the phone if she could help you get a certificate.”

Wu Mangmang immediately deflated. “I didn’t use that excuse.” Miscarriage had such a bad reputation.

“Then what reason did you use?” Lu Sui asked. “Tell me, let me see if eating walnuts for so long has made you any smarter.”

Wu Mangmang was forced into a corner and could only mumble, “I asked for marriage leave.”

Lu Sui’s loud laughter came from above. Wu Mangmang felt her whole body burning with embarrassment, feeling utterly ashamed.

“Then we’d better hurry up, so Professor Cheng doesn’t think you’re lying,” Lu Sui said.

This certainly didn’t count as a proposal. A proposal was the most romantic moment in a woman’s life, and Wu Mangmang was determined to preserve her right to be proposed to.

But since Lu Sui and Wu Mangmang had decided to get married, they naturally had to inform their friends and relatives.

When Lu Lin learned the news, she wasn’t surprised. She just sighed to Wu Mangmang, “Your romance has been quite tumultuous. How many times have you broken up? You drove Lu Sui to smoking and drinking like some decadent youth. How did you get back together this time? Who begged whom to come back?”

Lu Lin was really very gossipy.

When people are happy, they can’t help but want to share with the whole world. Wu Mangmang was no exception. She naturally liked to show off, but now to maintain Mrs. Lu’s low profile, she had completely stopped updating her Weibo, so she could only share her happiness in real life.

Wu Mangmang shared the whole story with Lu Lin, who just shook her head and sighed one sentence.

“Girl, I think you’re still too sweet.”

Lu Lin glanced at Lu Sui, who was chatting with their uncle not far away, and quietly pulled Wu Mangmang onto the balcony.

“Have you ever thought about why your first love happened to appear in Lu Corporation so coincidentally?” Lu Lin asked the “sweet girl” Wu Mangmang.

Wu Mangmang had thought about this question but hadn’t dared ask Lu Sui.

“If I’m not mistaken, your little lover must have received an olive branch from Lu Corporation. The conditions offered were particularly good, and your little lover happened to want to return to the city. Both sides hit it off, which led to that scene.” Lu Lin patted Wu Mangmang’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Even if you hadn’t gone to Lu Corporation that day, Lu Sui would definitely have found a way to let you see your little lover.”

Wu Mangmang didn’t speak. She didn’t want to suspect Lu Sui.

But Lu Lin was getting more enthusiastic with her speculation. “Besides, look at your current situation. Aren’t you already firmly in Lu Sui’s grasp?”

“Let me tell you, Lu Sui’s greatest skill is selling you out while making you so grateful that you’d burn incense for him three times a day, praying for his well-being.”

“You child, you’ve been sold and are still counting the money for the seller.” Lu Lin sighed. She had been tricked by Lu Sui countless times in her life and was only now getting a bit smarter.

“That’s not right. Why would Lu Sui bring Cheng Yue back? He has no motive,” Wu Mangmang said.

Lu Lin pulled Wu Mangmang outside to sit down. “Come, let big sister analyze this for you.”

“When Cheng Yue came back, Lu Sui suddenly became cold toward you, right?” Lu Lin asked.

Wu Mangmang nodded.

Lu Lin sighed. “Are you stupid? If you hadn’t gotten back together with Lu Sui now, I might believe this had nothing to do with him. But look at your current situation—it’s clear that Lu Sui would absolutely never let go. He’s such a smart person. When he knew your first love was coming back, logically he should have been even more gentle and considerate toward you, making you feel guilty and not dare to mention breaking up, right?”

Wu Mangmang didn’t speak.

“Or do you think Lu Sui is really the type who would be blinded by jealousy and nastily push you away, pushing you toward your little lover?”

Wu Mangmang shook her head.

“Exactly. You’re just a kite, and the string is in Lu Sui’s hands. I’d bet my life that Lu Sui deliberately acted cold toward you, misled you, and pushed you toward your little lover,” Lu Lin said with conviction.

“That’s impossible.” Wu Mangmang felt cold to her bones. “What benefit would he get from doing that?”

Lu Lin looked at Wu Mangmang without speaking. Soon Wu Mangmang understood Lu Lin’s point.

Seeing the dawn of realization on Wu Mangmang’s face, Lu Lin continued, “Your little lover whom you’d been thinking about for almost ten years came back. If you didn’t spend some time with him, wouldn’t you think about him for the rest of your life? He was your white moonlight, your red rose.”

“How long did you spend with your little lover? Don’t you feel now, looking back, that it was just so-so? That sweet potato that smelled so fragrant back then wasn’t actually that delicious when you ate it.” Lu Lin continued her interrogation.

There was a bit of that feeling.

“Then let me ask you, are you still thinking about your little lover now?” Lu Lin asked.

Wu Mangmang shook her head again. She had completely let go.

Lu Lin spread her hands. “See? Lu Sui has achieved his goal. And he showed his biggest flaw, didn’t he? You know it yourself, right?”

Wu Mangmang thought about it and heavily nodded.

“Your little lover left, and immediately after, he appeared at your door. Isn’t that too much of a coincidence?” Lu Lin asked.

“Exactly, so I think this has nothing to do with Lu Sui. He’s not that stupid,” Wu Mangmang was still defending Lu Sui.

“Ha.” Lu Lin sighed. “You’re really just a little girl. Lu Sui’s possessiveness is so strong—he simply cannot tolerate the fact that you’ve been harboring another person in your heart all these years. Just like he couldn’t tolerate you and your little lover spending Valentine’s Day together again. Do you understand?”

Lu Sui wasn’t that generous.

“If you don’t believe me, go investigate. Your little lover was definitely driven away by Lu Sui. And I dare say that if Lu Sui dared let him come back, he must have already collected dirt on your little lover and dug a big pit waiting for him to jump into.” Lu Lin said with exasperation. “You two naive sweethearts have been treating him as the victim all along.”

Lu Lin was wrong about this part though—Cheng Yue was no naive sweetheart.

It’s just that Lu Sui had the advantage of preparation versus no preparation. Cheng Yue had more important people and things in his life than Wu Mangmang. Having let go once, the second time wasn’t so difficult.

On the way to the airport, Cheng Yue unwillingly made one last phone call to Lu Sui. “Don’t get too happy too early. Mangmang and I have six years of feelings. You can never erase that or surpass it.”

“It doesn’t matter. She and I will have sixty years of feelings. You don’t need to worry about it,” Lu Sui said.

“You’re really despicable,” Cheng Yue cursed.

Cheng Yue’s words had no effect on Lu Sui. “I’m different from you. When it comes to her, I would never choose to let go, even if it means going to hell together.”

And what right did someone who chose to give up have to play the saint?

“But I still don’t understand. After going around in circles, isn’t everything the same as before? If Cheng Yue hadn’t come back, Lu Sui and I wouldn’t have broken up, and there wouldn’t have been so much trouble,” Wu Mangmang said.

That was because Lu Sui had deceived Wu Mangmang.

With such deep love and Lu Sui’s domineering nature, how could he not mind Cheng Yue’s existence? Moreover, Wu Mangmang’s mental state had always been a ticking time bomb.

If Wu Mangmang had encountered someone else in this lifetime, they might not have had Lu Sui’s confidence or Lu Sui’s madness.

For Lu Sui, he had to take this gamble.

To untie the bell, one must find the person who tied it.

Look how good things are now—Wu Mangmang’s mind is clear, Cheng Yue’s influence has disappeared, Wu Mangmang is no longer afraid of marriage, and Lu Sui’s absolute authority in Wu Mangmang’s heart has been established.

Who was the biggest winner?

Lu Lin looked at Wu Mangmang and replied, “Lu Sui—he’s an arrogant madman.”

For Lu Sui, his love meant never letting go.

For Wu Mangmang, her love meant asking the other person to always hold her hand.

Neither of these two could be considered normal, so normal people who encounter people like them should definitely, definitely stay far away.

But fortunately, in this world, no matter how excellent or how terrible you are, there’s always someone who perfectly matches you.

And for these two perfectly matched people, let’s wish that they never come out to harm others again.