The oppressive feeling emanating from Yan Tingli was like dark clouds pressing down, similar to his state before every episode of madness.

Shi Sui’s spine trembled slightly.

She didn’t know what kind of storm she was about to face.

She didn’t want to fight—it was exhausting and hurt their relationship.

For a moment, only the tick-tock of the clock filled the room.

Suddenly, Yan Tingli got up.

With his movement, light and shadow flickered past, seemingly dispersing the thick, dark fog overhead.

Seeing his expressionless face as he stepped toward the door.

Shi Sui felt uneasy and couldn’t help calling out: “…Where are you going?”

Yan Tingli didn’t turn back: “Going home.”

Then, with a “bang,” he closed the bedroom door.

Shi Sui was stunned in place for several seconds.

She heard the front door opening.

Just as Yan Tingli was about to close the door, Shi Sui opened the bedroom door and asked in confusion: “We haven’t finished talking, why are you going home?”

Shouldn’t he continue entangling with her and have another big fight?

Yan Tingli didn’t even look at her.

His steps paused slightly, his expression cold and distant: “I temporarily don’t want to see you.”

Though he was saying harsh words, his voice was completely different—muffled, like coming through thick clouds.

Not aggressive at all.

Shi Sui opened her lips, wanting to say something.

Yan Tingli added, “Put away your fake nice words, I don’t want to hear them.”

“…”

Shi Sui hadn’t planned to coax him either.

She pressed her lips together and managed: “My mom asked you to stay for dinner tonight.”

“This isn’t my home.”

Shi Sui: “…?”

“I was the one throwing myself at you, coming here to sleep with you.”

After saying this, with a “bang.”

The door was closed in her face, and Yan Tingli left.

Shi Sui stood in place.

She was still in a state of confused and unfamiliar emotions, unable to react.

…What did this mean?

Though she and Yan Tingli often fought, they rarely had cold wars.

Every time, Yan Tingli had to determine a winner, either firmly suppressing her or forcing her to bow her head and coax him.

Unreasonable yet confident.

At that level just now, it had reached Yan Tingli’s breaking point—problems couldn’t be solved without going a bit crazy.

Shi Sui returned to her room.

The space was empty, and his warmth gradually dissipated.

Dusk had arrived, and the room was increasingly dim.

Shi Sui sat in the computer chair.

Before her were constantly jumping pop-ups—Li Tingyan asking if she hadn’t seen the messages yet.

Shi Sui felt irritated and had no mood to reply patiently.

She directly said the cafe wasn’t convenient and to call online if there was business.

Li Tingyan replied politely, saying online communication was fine too.

Shi Sui received the work files and prepared to start editing images.

But she couldn’t calm down at all, her mind full of Yan Tingli’s last few words.

Why didn’t he continue fighting? Could it be that she had gone too far?

Just as she was feeling restless, sounds came from outside—her parents had returned.

Shi Yue entered carrying groceries. Li Yin approached the bedroom, seeing Shi Sui working, and asked curiously: “Working overtime again?”

Shi Sui nodded helplessly.

Li Yin: “Then your dad and I will cook first. You can call Little Li over—”

“He’s not coming.”

“Eh?” Li Yin was puzzled, “Didn’t he tell me yesterday evening that he wanted to eat my spare rib and corn soup?”

Shi Sui didn’t respond.

But her fingers tightened, unconsciously scribbling on the tablet, then erasing.

Li Yin knew this gesture indicated irritation. She softened her voice and guessed: “…Did you fight?”

Shi Sui mumbled: “Sort of.”

Li Yin: “About what?”

Their real situation was something her parents never knew about and couldn’t be explained in a few words.

Shi Sui simply said petulantly: “He’s too petty.”

Li Yin laughed, not taking it seriously.

She ruffled Shi Sui’s hair: “Then let me ask Little Li again if he’s coming.”

Shi Sui refused: “Don’t call him, I don’t want to see him.”

Anyway, she wouldn’t take the initiative to make peace again.

In this relationship, she was always the one to bow her head first, while Yan Tingli had only slightly compromised until now.

Shi Sui held her breath.

This time, she absolutely wouldn’t actively reconcile.

Shi Sui focused and dismissed distracting thoughts, preparing to finish all work that evening instead of dragging it into tomorrow.

Her efficiency was always high, and Li Tingyan cooperated quickly. They managed to finish everything in one night and send it to Zhao Sheng.

Li Tingyan finally sent a cheerful message: [You’re truly my soul partner, we’re so in sync]

Shi Sui initially wanted to casually reply with two words to end the chat.

Suddenly, she recalled dormitory chats from years ago, when roommates wondered why she avoided all males like the plague, having no normal relationships.

Shi Sui suddenly felt wronged.

Her finger, about to send a perfunctory response, paused and instead sent a warm emoji.

After finishing everything, Shi Sui’s mood turned from cloudy to partly sunny.

After showering, she lay in bed scrolling through her phone.

Her fingertip paused on the 3.0 app, then inexplicably clicked in.

Shi Sui’s heartbeat awkwardly quickened.

She didn’t want to see what Yan Tingli was doing—she just wanted to see Ping An.

Every time she saw Yan Tingli’s mansion with its giant panoramic glass, Shi Sui was always shocked.

But the living room was grayish.

She switched scenes to the study.

Only the computer was on, and no person was in sight.

On the desk, Ping An was stepping on the keyboard, jumping around happily.

Just as she was about to continue changing perspectives, suddenly the study door opened.

He must have just showered and dried his hair—Yan Tingli’s hair was soft.

As soon as he entered, Ping An immediately jumped down from the desk with a “thud.”

Its hind legs knocked over a picture frame on the desk.

Yan Tingli’s steps paused, seemingly angry.

He grabbed Ping An by the scruff of its neck.

Staring at it coldly.

With his other hand, he picked up the frame and put it back on the desk.

Shi Sui squinted to look—

Wasn’t this the photo she used to keep in the old house bedroom?!

It was from when Shi Sui was fifteen, doing field sketching, and Shi Yue used his newly bought camera to photograph her behind the easel.

No wonder Li Yin often muttered about not being able to find this photo, thinking she’d taken it abroad.

Turns out there was a thief in the house!

Shi Sui continued watching the phone screen with aching teeth.

Ping An’s ears were already flattened against its head.

Yan Tingli held it while sitting in the computer chair.

He stared at the computer, obviously seeing Ping An’s masterpiece on the keyboard, his face cold as frost and snow.

“You and your mother,” Yan Tingli flicked Ping An’s nose, suddenly saying, “are both no good.”

Shi Sui, scolded for no reason, slowly developed question marks above her head.

In the next second.

He looked up, meeting Shi Sui’s gaze through the screen.

“Having time to voyeuristically watch me,” he was expressionless, his tone sharp, “finish your sweet connection with your good colleague?”

Stubborn as a mule.

Shi Sui’s anger was instantly provoked, her hand moving.

She directly closed the app.

The old Yan Tingli was sick.

Now he was unreasonable.

Sunday morning, Shi Sui received a message from Su Han asking her out for afternoon tea.

Not having met for a long time, Shi Sui readily agreed.

When leaving, traffic wasn’t congested, so she arrived twenty minutes earlier than expected.

When Su Han arrived, Shi Sui was surprised to see a particularly handsome young man beside her—with deep eye sockets, who by Shi Sui’s experience was probably mixed-race.

The young man attended to Su Han attentively, escorting her over, then gentlemanly and warmly greeting Shi Sui before reluctantly leaving.

Shi Sui couldn’t help being curious: “…Is this your boyfriend? When did you start dating?”

Su Han winked playfully: “Just tell me if he’s handsome?”

“Handsome.” Shi Sui gave a thumbs-up in confirmation.

“Compared to Yan Tingli?” She still held a grudge about past events.

Shi Sui was very diplomatic: “He’s handsome.”

Su Han was immediately pleased, covering her mouth and laughing.

“How did you two meet?”

Su Han said she went on an Antarctic expedition tour last year, where she met Axel, a German-Chinese mix with a Germanic bloodline.

“Uh, adults, dry wood and fire, you understand.” Su Han hinted explicitly.

Shi Sui nodded silently.

After sleeping together and the trip ending, Su Han coolly left.

Two months after returning to China, recently, Axel had traveled far to pursue her, pestering her to make it official.

“But I wouldn’t agree to a long-distance relationship. So he agreed to come develop his career in China, and we got together.”

“He’s a year younger than me, just graduated.” Su Han’s meaning was unclear, “Very big, very fierce.”

Shi Sui choked on her juice.

Pulling the topic back to proper matters, she said seriously, “He prioritizes you and would compromise to come here for you. That’s good.”

Su Han carelessly played with her hair: “Of course, what use are disobedient men? It’s not like we’re short of ancestors at home.”

Shi Sui felt hit by an arrow in her heart: “…Yeah.”

She had just happened to date an ancestor.

Su Han observed her expression and asked curiously: “What about you two? How are things recently?”

Su Han was still stuck in the memory of wanting to be a bridesmaid at their wedding, wrinkling her nose: “Is he still forcing you to marry?”

Shi Sui shook her head: “A bit better.”

“But he’s still disobedient.”

Su Han laughed coldly: “Can the words ‘obedient’ even be associated with him?”

Shi Sui sighed: “We fought again yesterday.”

She briefly explained what happened.

Su Han: “He left by himself in the end?”

Shi Sui nodded.

“God, this isn’t just ‘a bit better,'” Su Han, as an outsider, was shocked, “Not only didn’t he go crazy, he just went home to sulk by himself.”

“The revolution has achieved major success, comrade still needs to work hard.”

…It seemed that way.

Shi Sui still said dissatisfiedly: “But I don’t want to look for him this time. I’ve always been the first to bow my head before.”

“Why can’t he actively apologize and clear things up?”

Su Han looked at her and suddenly raised her eyebrows, laughing: “You two stubborn mules have collided.”

“If you want him to actively bow his head, what use is just being stubborn? You need to lure him.”

Shi Sui: “…Hm?”

“Are you sure he’s not monitoring you anymore?”

Shi Sui: “…Mm.”

“Quick, give me your phone.” Su Han extended her hand.

Shi Sui handed it over.

She watched Su Han take photos of the desserts and drinks in front of them. “Do you have work pictures?”

Shi Sui: “Yes, look in the photo album.”

She watched Su Han operate the phone expertly.

Then proudly handed the phone back: “Now just wait.”

Shi Sui curiously scrolled through the phone interface.

Until she saw her WeChat Moments had a new post: [Mission accomplished!]

The pictures showed today’s afternoon tea and a work illustration.

Even specifically tagged the cafe’s location.

Then.

Visible only to Yan Tingli.

Shi Sui: “……”

Su Han smugly raised her eyebrows: “Let’s see if he gets anxious.”

After speaking, she crossed her arms and leaned back, unable to wait to appreciate Yan Tingli rushing over and then looking deflated.

Shi Sui’s heartbeat quickened: “Will this really work?”

Su Han: “You’ve dated too little. These little tricks used occasionally are harmless.”

Shi Sui had been struggling recently to figure out some techniques, thinking she was quite clever.

Compared to Su Han, she was still amateur.

She couldn’t help but prostrate herself, seriously sighing: “Military advisor.”

The two continued chatting casually.

Feeling it was about time, Su Han sensed pressure from afar and immediately messaged Axel to pick her up: “When that little pervert Yan comes, I’ll show my face then immediately escape.”

In just over ten minutes, Axel rushed over, like a big dog wagging its tail, stickily clinging to Su Han.

The sweet bubble between them almost overflowed.

Su Han: “How did you come so fast?”

“I didn’t leave, I was in the parking lot.” Axel’s tone was muffled, “You said when you’re with your sisters, I can’t disturb you.”

She giggled, pointing his nose with her finger, chiding: “Such a pitiful little dog.”

Her voice was soft as silk, easily making Axel dizzy.

Shi Sui watched from across the table, utterly amazed.

A silly thought suddenly popped into her mind.

—Could Yan Tingli ever be this obedient in her lifetime?

Before this thought fully formed, it was interrupted by a seemingly mocking voice.

“This is a cafe, not your bedroom.”

As the words fell, the newcomer sat beside them, his aura cold, his voice like thin, cold frost, completely rude.

Now, he was so brazen he was too lazy even to pretend on the surface.

Disturbed by the unwelcome guest.

Axel unhappily lifted his head from Su Han’s shoulder, coldly looking across: “Who are you?”

Yan Tingli’s gaze directly skipped over him, expressionlessly looking at Su Han.

He could instantly connect the entire chain of events.

Su Han immediately felt a needle-like stare.

Though guilty, she felt more satisfied, unable to resist being sarcastic: “Half an hour from the company, did the wheels start smoking?”

“Su Han,” Yan Tingli slowly smiled at her, asking with a grin, “Are you sure you want to continue making me angry?”

Su Han shivered.

His gaze told her that if he wanted.

He could mess with her in ten thousand ways.

Pressure plus.

Su Han broke out in cold sweat, immediately looking at Shi Sui: “Sui Sui, look, he’s threatening me!”

Shi Sui pinched Yan Tingli’s lower back, lowering her voice: “Restrain yourself.”

He frowned, looking at her coldly: “She’s mocking me, and you’re protecting her?”

Shi Sui met his gaze without flinching: “Yes.”

Yan Tingli’s eyes narrowed. Shi Sui gripped his arm, whispering: “We’re closer, aren’t we?”

One second, two seconds.

Yan Tingli expressionlessly lowered his eyelids.

Though his whole body still released piercing thorns.

He ultimately said nothing more.

Like being restrained by a short rope around his neck, unable to bare fangs and claws.

Su Han was amazed and clicked her tongue.

If Yan Tingli weren’t still present, she would have asked Shi Sui what lost martial arts dog training technique she’d used.

“We still have things to do, leaving first.” Su Han grabbed her little boyfriend, nodding at Shi Sui, “See you next time.”

Shi Sui also got up: “It’s about time, I’m leaving too.”

She picked up her bag, directly ignoring Yan Tingli.

Brushing past his knee as she walked out.

As she passed, his breathing became uneven.

Like he was suppressing anger.

Shi Sui walked ahead, catching some of Axel and Su Han’s whispers: “Is that Shi Sui’s boyfriend?”

He commented: “Really a disobedient dog.”

Su Han nervously glanced back, making sure Yan Tingli hadn’t heard, then pinched her boyfriend’s arm, still coaxing: “So our Axel is the most obedient little angel.”

One sentence made Axel dizzy again.

Outside the cafe, Shi Sui’s arm was immediately grabbed and pulled into the parking lot.

Until she was pulled into the back seat.

In the private space, Yan Tingli looked at her without saying a word: “You succeeded in tricking me here.”

“What’s my purpose?” Shi Sui asked back.

Yan Tingli looked down at her.

This gaze reminded Shi Sui of that year at the Yan family villa, when he stood on the stairs looking down.

Proud, contemptuous of everything.

She didn’t like it.

Yan Tingli: “You want me to become like that mixed-blood blonde just now, a spineless dog.”

He deliberately spoke harshly and exaggerated.

“I’ll never become like that.”

Shi Sui didn’t know why his temper could be so bad.

A small matter, being stubborn for so long.

Clearly caring so much, yet unwilling to talk it out, to step back slightly.

Clearly Shi Sui could get along harmoniously with everyone, yet easily had her anger provoked by him.

She spoke honestly: “Yes, I just like gentle, respectful, obedient people.”

“Why should I always be the one coaxing you and making you happy?”

“If you can’t learn to actively give me emotional value, don’t ever think about marrying me.”

With these words.

Even the air in the car became thin.

Without looking up, Shi Sui could feel Yan Tingli’s heavy gaze pressing down.

He was very, very angry.

And forcibly restraining himself from going crazy and lashing out at her like before.

He could only remain stuck in his chest.

Simply put.

He couldn’t win the argument.

Frustrated.

He suddenly pinched her chin, biting her lips like venting.

From lips to neck.

Biting all the way.

After Shi Sui dissatisfiedly slapped his head, he got out of the car and “banged” the door shut.

Going to the driver’s seat.

The rest of the way, neither spoke.

Yan Tingli had earphones connected, discussing work with someone.

Dropping her off at the door.

Shi Sui also said nothing, learning from him and “banging” the door shut heavily.

Walking into the elevator without looking back.

That evening Su Han specially called to ask about follow-up progress: “How was it? Did that stubborn mule give in to you? You didn’t see him—normally a forty-minute drive, he made it in half an hour. He cares so much.”

Shi Sui shook her head expressionlessly: “We fought again.”

“Still fighting? About what?” Su Han cursed, “Didn’t I give him a way out? Doesn’t he know to take it?”

Shi Sui knew how stubborn Yan Tingli could be about absolute forbidden zones.

“He’s unwilling to compromise.”

“Good god.” Su Han sighed for the ten thousandth time in her heart, “The ultimate poor student in love.”

Good thing there was Shi Sui, otherwise if she had really gotten together with Yan Tingli back then, her life would have been over.

“So what do you plan to do?”

“Give him the cold shoulder.”

Shi Sui was certain that now Yan Tingli really wouldn’t randomly go crazy again. Coldly walking away and sulking was the last resistance he could manage.

These bad habits, she had to make him correct bit by bit.

For the next half month, Shi Sui was buried in the company. The project schedule was tight, requiring overtime every few days.

Every day she woke up and went to work. Yan Tingli didn’t contact her, and Shi Sui wouldn’t pay attention to him either.

But Shi Sui could still learn of his business trip to America from 3.0 and Lady Li.

Shi Sui responded with a flat “oh.”

Believing it would soon reach his ears.

Thursday morning, Shi Sui’s desk was tapped by Zhao Sheng’s knuckles.

“You’ve worked hard recently. This weekend through next Wednesday, the company has new employee training in Suzhou. I’m recommending you and Li Tingyan from our team.”

This kind of employee training was basically a company-paid vacation.

Receiving Zhao Sheng’s goodwill, Shi Sui smiled gratefully: “Thank you, team leader.”

“Mm, relax well.”

After Fu Ze left, taking several old-timers with him, since this group left, with Zhao Sheng as team leader, the entire project team’s environment had become much cleaner.

Everyone focused on work, without so much interpersonal drama. Though sometimes busy, at least they worked happily.

Coincidentally, her parents were also going on a business trip to a neighboring city this week, leaving Thursday.

Friday evening, Shi Sui packed alone at home.

The next morning, she punctually boarded the company bus to Suzhou.

Arriving at noon, after lunch, the afternoon was packed with training classes, even inhumanely confiscating phones.

Shi Sui spent a busy day.

Not knowing that in the evening.

Someone knocked on her front door.

“Knock.”

“Knock knock.”

After a long while, the door unlocked. Someone brazenly stepped inside, expressionlessly surveying the cold, empty rooms.

Dialing a number.

Li Yin answered: “Little Li?”

“Isn’t Sui Sui home?”

“Not home?” Li Yin was busy and dizzy, momentarily forgetting Shi Sui’s whereabouts, “Didn’t she tell you where she went?”

“No.”

Li Yin suddenly remembered they seemed to still be fighting.

She felt somewhat helpless, about to say a few conciliatory words when someone called her. She could only hurriedly say: “Maybe she went out to eat with colleagues? Call and ask her.”

“Mm.”

Hanging up, he dialed again.

Ring ring ring.

No one answered.

He patiently dialed again.

Still nothing.

On this end, Shi Sui finished her busy day—it was already evening.

Originally thinking it was a company vacation, who knew this year’s requirements suddenly became strict. Not only were there many scheduled classes, but there was assessment after completion.

She lay exhausted on the hotel bed after showering, wishing she could immediately take a car home.

Taking out her phone that had been silent for ages.

Seeing over twenty missed calls from Yan Tingli.

Besides Yan Tingli indirectly getting her parents and 3.0 to reveal her itinerary, they hadn’t had direct contact for nearly half a month.

What was this about now…?

Shi Sui’s eyes widened, her heart suddenly pounding.

An ominous premonition grew stronger.

He wouldn’t think she’d run away again, would he?