Miss Si's feigned innocence went too far, and the aloof Mr. Bo was easily swayed.

The matter between the Xiang and Si families has become so big that the quickest way to quell public opinion is to get Xiang Mingche and Si Yingying married as soon as possible.

The Xiang family indeed attached great importance to the couple's marriage and sent many nice gifts.

Si Yingying was immersed in happiness every day, and she couldn't suppress the smile on her face.

Si Qingwan was afraid that Si Yuan would be embarrassed and hurt, so she didn't let her participate in this matter.

This gave Si Yuan quite a few opportunities to go out.

morning.

After Si Yuan finished breakfast, she was about to leave when Si Yingying stopped her at the door.

"Sister, I have something to tell you. Can we talk in your room?"

Si Yuan knew without even thinking what Si Yingying wanted to say.

She refused outright, saying, "No, thank you. I don't really want to hear it."

"Ha—you don't not want to listen, you're just afraid to listen, aren't you?"

Si Yingying looked at Si Yuan provocatively, a smug smile on her face. "You lost our bet."

In the eyes of others, Si Yuan is the most outstanding and accomplished daughter of the Si family.

Everyone praises her and flatters her.

But what's the use?

Si Yuan still lost to her!

"Didn't you swear before that Mingche loved you and would never betray you? Now you've proven yourself wrong, haven't you?"

Si Yuan calmly looked at the arrogant Si Yingying, without the slightest anger, only smiling slightly, "Did I lose? Not necessarily..."

Every time Si Yuan gave that ambiguous smile, Si Yingying felt uneasy.

Si Yingying's smugness and arrogance vanished instantly. "What do you mean?"

"Xiang Mingche and I were together for so many years. He used to love me very much, but he can betray me so easily. Men... they're all driven by their lower instincts. You don't really think he'll be devoted to you forever, do you?"

Si Yingying snorted coldly, "That's because you don't have the ability to capture his heart."

"Really? Then I wish you success—"

Si Yingying had expected to see a Si Yuan who was tormented by love, collapsed in despair, and became utterly despondent.

Surprisingly, Si Yuan was completely unaffected, which made her wonder if Si Yuan had ever truly loved Xiang Mingche.

"Heh—Si Yuan, no matter what, you're still my older sister. On the day of my wedding with Brother Mingche, you have to sit at the head table, unless—"

"You don't want to stay in the Si family, you don't want to be your mother's daughter."

Si Yingying is jealous of Si Yuan and dislikes Si Yuan.

She not only wanted to steal away from Xiang Mingche, but also wanted to rub salt into Si Yuan's wounds.

The more pain and discomfort Si Yuan felt, the happier she became.

But Si Yuan never did what she wanted.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely give you a big red envelope when you get married. I wish you a long and happy marriage and that you have eight children in one pregnancy."

Si Yingying: "..."

Si Yuan pushed Si Yingying away and left. At the Si family's gate, she ran into Xiang Mingche again.

Si Yuan didn't even pause in her steps, acting as if she hadn't seen him at all.

Xiang Mingche's heart tightened, and he grabbed Si Yuan's arm. "A Yuan..."

"Let go!" Si Yuan's eyes were icy. "You don't want Si Yingying to see us arguing at the door and cause a scene, do you?"

Xiang Mingche was momentarily speechless, and slowly released Si Yuan's hand.

He has achieved his goal; the Xiang and Si families are now preparing for his wedding with Si Yingying.

He is about to get everything he wants.

Only Ah Yuan felt guilty.

"Ah Yuan, I'm sorry..."

Aside from this, Xiang Mingche didn't know what else to say.

Ah Yuan is so understanding; she'll surely understand his thoughts and forgive his helplessness.

However-

Si Yuan resolutely gave him four words: "I don't accept."

Xiang Mingche felt as if he had been struck hard by a hammer, and for a moment, he almost couldn't breathe.

He looked as if he had suffered a great blow; his face was pale and ashen. "Ah Yuan..."

"If you like Si Yingying, you can just tell me. We can calmly annul the engagement. Why did you have to make such a fuss and turn me into a laughingstock?"

"I'm sorry, A-Yuan... I know this hurt you a lot. Whatever you want, I will make it up to you."

"No."

Seventeen-year-old Xiang Mingche had already apologized to her; she no longer needed the apology from the person in front of her.

"I don't need any compensation from you. From now on, we'll go our separate ways and sever all ties."

Severing all ties and breaking off relations—

Si Yuan's voice was calm and undisturbed, yet it stirred up a storm in Xiang Mingche's heart.

He stood frozen in place, his blood seemingly freezing instantly, his fingertips trembling uncontrollably.

Watching Si Yuan's retreating figure, showing no sign of lingering, he felt as if a large part of his chest had been emptied.

Something precious was slowly flowing away from the gap, which filled him with apprehension, unease, and fear.

"Ah Yuan—"

He instinctively wanted to rush forward and grab the girl he once loved most, but Si Yingying's voice rang out, "Brother Mingche..."

Si Yingying knew that Xiang Mingche was coming and was afraid that if Xiang Mingche and Si Yuan confronted each other, their feelings for each other would not be over, so she immediately came out to check.

The result was a sight of Xiang Mingche looking utterly dejected and pale.

"What's wrong with you?"

Pulled back to his senses, Xiang Mingche chuckled, "It's nothing... let's go in."

Si Yingying happily took Xiang Mingche's arm, "Okay."

Since the day of the banquet, Si Yuan has not contacted Bo Yusen.

Bo Yusen never contacted her.

But as soon as Si Yuan arrived at Huanyu Group, the receptionist immediately called Lan He, who then came to pick her up in person.

Lan He led Si Yuan to the president's office.

"Ms. Si, Mr. Bo is in a meeting. Please wait a moment."

Afterwards, they brought Si Yuan a cup of hot milk.

"Thanks……"

Si Yuan took the milk, but she didn't drink it. After Lan He left, she put it on the table.

It has to be said that Bo Yusen is quite bold. He just puts her in his office like that. Isn't he afraid that she will steal the secrets of Huanyu Group?

Si Yuan stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the rows of tall buildings outside, her mind heavy with worries.

A moment later, the office door opened, and Si Yuan turned around at the sound—

I saw Bo Yusen, dressed in a black suit and wearing frameless glasses, looking both abstinent and handsome.

After a three-hour meeting, Bo Yusen loosened his tie and looked at Si Yuan.

She stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, teetering on the verge of falling and being smashed to pieces.

Bo Yusen frowned. "Come here."

Si Yuan stood still. "That day... I saw you. You saw my performance too, right? What did you think? Wasn't I amazing?"

Bo Yusen lost his patience. "Come here..."

"I packaged myself as an innocent and pitiful white lotus, successfully broke off my engagement with the scumbag who betrayed and schemed against me, and even gained everyone's sympathy and pity, including Gu Yinhe..."

Si Yuan was smiling, but her smile was more unsightly than crying.

Bo Yusen stood up, walked over to her, and pulled her into his arms. "Does saying these things make you feel better?"

Si Yuan leaned against Bo Yusen's chest, feeling her body temperature and heartbeat.

She shook her head, her voice muffled, "No..."

"Then why say it?"

"I……"

She wanted Bo Yusen to see the real her, but she was also afraid that if he did, he would think she was scheming, treacherous and cunning.

"Please, don't hate me..."