After being dumped by the diva, I was picked up by her arch-enemy.

The elevator doors slowly closed.

Jiang Yichen didn't see it.

Xu Zhiyou took another room key from her handbag and handed it to the hotel manager next to her.

"Suite Zero One".

"Lock it from the outside."

The hotel manager was stunned.

"Mr. Xu, if the people inside want to come out..."

"We won't let them out for now."

Xu Zhiyou watched the elevator numbers rise steadily.

Her sweet smile gradually faded.

"There are some things they'll never be able to explain without special methods."

The door to the penthouse suite is open.

Gu Ruanxing walked in, wearing high heels.

As soon as she stepped into the entrance hall, her body swayed to the side.

Jiang Yichen reached out to support her. "Slow down."

"Let go." Gu Ruanxing slapped his hand away. "I'm not drunk."

Jiang Yichen glanced at the high heel that she had kicked away.

One is on the left.

One of them went under the shoe cabinet.

"Um."

"The shoes drank too much."

Gu Ruanxing looked up and glared at him.

A few seconds later, she laughed first.

"Your mouth is getting more and more annoying."

She walked barefoot into the living room and sank into the sofa.

The suite is very large.

The Bund's night view is visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

On the coffee table were hangover soup, mineral water, and a fruit platter.

Clearly, someone had prepared in advance.

Jiang Yichen picked up the hangover soup and tested its temperature.

"I drank it."

Gu Ruanxing turned her face to the window.

"I won't drink it."

"Then I'm leaving."

Jiang Yichen put down the bowl, turned around and walked towards the door.

Gu Ruanxing immediately turned around.

"Stop right there."

Jiang Yichen stopped in his tracks.

"What's wrong now?"

"You really don't want to be with me?"

Gu Ruanxing stared at his back.

The alcohol made her eyes glisten with tears.

Jiang Yichen turned around.

"You've had too much to drink."

"I didn't add any more."

"There are usually many people who can say that."

"And what about you?"

Gu Ruanxing sat up straight.

"You're perfectly sober now, aren't you?"

"right."

"Then tell me."

She asked, word by word.

"That night at the Beijing Hotel, after you realized nothing had happened, why did you breathe a sigh of relief?"

Jiang Yichen remained silent.

Gu Ruanxing's lips twitched slightly.

"Afraid of letting Yuzu down?"

"Yes."

"Are you just afraid of letting her down?"

Jiang Yichen looked at her.

no answer.

The air conditioner in the room was blowing cold air.

Gu Ruanxing picked up the water bottle on the table and tried to turn it on twice, but couldn't.

Jiang Yichen walked over, took the bottle, and opened it for her.

Gu Ruanxing didn't drink it.

She held the bottle of water and spoke softly.

"Jiang Yichen, you're such an annoying person."

"I know."

"you do not know."

Gu Ruanxing's fingernails pressed against the bottle.

"I hated grapefruit when I was in college."

"She's beautiful, her family spoils her, and she can laugh and make a fuss whenever she wants."

"If she likes someone, she'll boldly and openly pursue them."

Jiang Yichen sat down next to him.

There was a person's distance between the two.

"You're not bad either."

"Of course I'm not bad."

Gu Ruanxing raised her chin.

Even when drunk, she refused to back down on this issue.

"I'm no less attractive than her, and I'm no less capable than her."

"I'll take what I want myself."

She paused for a few seconds.

But this time, I can't take it.

Jiang Yichen did not respond.

Gu Ruanxing turned her head and looked at him.

"Because she is a pomelo."

"I can compete with anyone."

"We can't argue with her."

After she finished speaking, she tilted her head back and took a big gulp of water.

A few drops of water slid down his chin to the side of his neck.

Gu Ruanxing raised her hand to wipe it away.

"So you don't need to worry."

Nothing will happen tonight.

"I'll take a nap. Tomorrow I'll still be Gu Ruanxing."

"If I see you, I'll still call you a dead straight man."

Jiang Yichen reached out and took the water bottle from her hand, then put it back on the table.

"Gu Ruanxing".

"what?"

You don't need to keep pretending to be strong.

Gu Ruanxing's eyes flickered.

"Who's showing off?"

"you."

"I don't."

"Then why are you crying?"

Gu Ruanxing was stunned for a moment.

She raised her hand to touch the corner of her eye.

My fingertips are wet.

She stared at the water stain for a few seconds, then immediately turned her face away.

"It's from the air conditioning."

Jiang Yichen looked up at the air vent.

"Mr. Gu, does your air conditioner have a tear-inducing function?"

"Shut up!"

Gu Ruanxing grabbed a cushion and threw it at him.

Jiang Yichen raised his hand and caught it.

She picked up a second one.

Jiang Yichen did not dodge.

The cushion hit his shoulder and floated lightly to the ground.

Gu Ruanxing looked at him, and suddenly couldn't stop her tears.

Why didn't you dodge?

"I'm afraid you'll miss and get even angrier."

"asshole."

"Um."

"That dead straight man."

"I've heard that title before, let's try something else."

Gu Ruanxing laughed through her tears.

She lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Jiang Yichen.

"I like you."

I finally said it.

There were no tests, no jokes. There was none of the feigned flirtation of that night at the Beijing hotel; only a single, honest confession.

Jiang Yichen sat there, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He is not slow-witted.

He had long been aware of Gu Ruanxing's intentions.

However, once some things are brought to light, there's no going back.

"I know."

Jiang Yichen spoke.

Gu Ruanxing suddenly looked up.

"You know?"

"President Gu's acting skills are not very good."

"Then why are you pretending to be stupid?"

"Some things are better left unsaid, rather than said outright."

Gu Ruanxing stared at him.

Tears were still on her face, but her expression was already angry.

Do you consider yourself very understanding?

"no."

"That's called running away!"

"Yes."

Jiang Yichen did not refute.

This time, it was Gu Ruanxing's turn to be stunned.

All the words she had prepared were shut down by that one word.

Jiang Yichen leaned back on the sofa and slowly exhaled.

"I admit it, I've been running away."

"Because I don't want to hurt you."

"I don't want to hurt the pomelo."

"Do you like me?"

Gu Ruanxing pressed for an answer.

Jiang Yichen remained silent for a few seconds.

"Humans are not machines."

"After spending a lot of time together, you'll develop appreciation for each other and even develop feelings for one another."

"But being attracted to someone doesn't mean you can be irresponsible."

Gu Ruanxing's breath caught in her throat for a moment.

This answer is more painful than a rejection.

It's a little more hope than rejection.

She slowly leaned back onto the sofa.

"So, you also had feelings for me."

"Gu Ruanxing".

"Don't change the subject."

She looked at Jiang Yichen.

Answer me.

Jiang Yichen rubbed his temples.

"It's been moved."

Two words were uttered.

Tears welled up in Gu Ruanxing's eyes again.

This time, however, she smiled.

That's enough.

"These two words are enough."

She stood up.

"You can leave now."

Jiang Yichen also got up.

"Are you sure you can manage on your own?"

"rest assured."

Gu Ruanxing walked towards the bedroom.

"I'm not the type to die over a man."

She took two steps, then stopped.

"Forget about tonight, just pretend I was drunk after dawn."

Jiang Yichen did not agree.

He walked to the door and turned the doorknob.

It's not open.

I twisted it again.

The door remained completely still.

Jiang Yichen frowned.

He took out his room card and swiped it at the sensor area.

red light.

Gu Ruanxing turned around. "What's wrong?"

"The door is locked," Jiang Yichen replied.

"Impossible." She walked over barefoot, took the room key, and tried it twice.

It's still a red light.

Jiang Yichen took out his phone and dialed the front desk.

"The door to Suite 01 cannot be opened."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Jiang."

The room is locked.

Who locked it?

"Mr. Xu."

Gu Ruanxing sobered up halfway.

"Xu Zhiyou?"

"Yes."

Jiang Yichen closed his eyes.

He knew it.

Tonight's events are not that simple.

Gu Ruanxing snatched the phone.

"Let her answer the phone!"

The receptionist spoke more cautiously.

"Ms. Xu said she is not available to answer at the moment."

"But she left you two with a message."

Gu Ruanxing gritted her teeth.

"What did you say?"

The staff member coughed.

"Mr. Xu said—"

"Xingbao, I've created an opportunity for you."

"Don't let the good stuff go to outsiders."

The room fell into dead silence.

Gu Ruanxing's face turned red from her ears all the way down to her neck.

"Xu Zhiyou!"

She yelled into her phone.

Outside.

Xu Zhiyou was eavesdropping by pressing her ear against the door.

Hearing the roar, she shrank back.

Then, she took out her phone and pressed the voice message button.

In the suite.

Gu Ruanxing's phone rang.

Xu Zhiyou's sweet voice came out.

"Xingbao, stop scolding me."

"I have access to the door lock; it will be automatically deactivated at 8:00 AM tomorrow."

"There's only one bed in the suite."

Gu Ruanxing suddenly turned around.

Jiang Yichen also subconsciously looked towards the bedroom.

Their eyes met.

next second.

With a soft "snap," all the lights in the suite went out without warning.

The world was plunged into complete darkness.

"what!"

In the darkness, Gu Ruanxing, who had suddenly lost her sight, panicked. She slipped on something and lost her balance, falling straight into the firm, warm embrace in front of her.