The engagement was with the younger brother, but I've fallen for the older brother.

He Sichen's Adam's apple bobbed, but he couldn't utter a word.

The fingers that were holding her chin froze for a moment, the knuckles tightened from a slight bend, and then relaxed again.

Si Yimian's question was like a bullet, fired from his own gun barrel and hitting him squarely between the eyebrows.

She made the right decision to study at MIT.

She also chose the perfect timing; she went out to gain experience now, and when she came back, she could take over her father's job.

From the very first day she met him, she was on the right track, and not a single step she took was a blunder.

Studying abroad is the next step, it's logically consistent, the direction is correct, and he should even be happy for her.

But he just couldn't be happy.

Three months.

Application, interview, admission, visa, airfare.

Every step takes time, and every step gives her countless opportunities to speak.

She didn't.

Not even once.

He Sichen suddenly felt something stuck in his throat.

He had fought countless tough battles in his life, but he never expected that after she stood on her tiptoe, she would even remove the ladder.

He really fell for a little lamb that he had personally brought home, a lamb that looked so sweet and soft.

A wise man must have a loss if he is worried.

His mistake was that he thought he was the one making the moves, but in the end, he was just a piece being moved around on the board.

"You had this planned all along."

"My MIT application was in the system from the very first day I moved into the apartment across the hall."

"They didn't even tell me that the visa was approved and the plane tickets were booked."

"So you're planning to let me know with a candlelight dinner the night before you leave."

"What if I don't come back tonight?"

Si Yimian was stunned for a moment.

She didn't expect him to say that.

She was about to open her mouth when he continued speaking.

"Are you planning to just send me a WeChat message and leave?"

"Then I came back and saw an empty room, and you were already in the cabin at 30,000 feet in the air."

He moved his thumb from her chin to behind her ear, his fingertip gently pinching the soft skin on the side of her neck.

"Si Yimian, what do you take me for?"

Si Yimian found this problem even more difficult than the last big question in advanced calculus.

She suddenly realized that their relationship over the past three months was like a pot of soup without salt.

It looks like it has everything, but after taking a bite, I realized it's missing the most crucial element.

"Can't answer that?"

"I'll answer for you: a tool that can be canceled with one click after use?"

Si Yimian immediately denied it, saying, "Not entirely."

"Project Lighthouse was a pleasant surprise; I didn't expect you to give it to me for free."

"But sleeping with you was definitely an unexpected perk."

She leaned closer, her nose almost touching his, her breath carrying the scent of red wine.

"Dr. He, you are very cost-effective, I can't bear to waste your time."

As He Sichen watched her reaction, the two dark flames in his eyes slowly subsided.

He suddenly calmed down, his hands sliding down from the back of her neck to support himself on either side of the back of her chair.

He leaned down, trapping her between the chair and himself.

"So you're saying you're breaking up now because the cost-effectiveness isn't good enough?"

"Is it because the distance is too far and the logistics costs are too high?"

Si Yimian rubbed her chin, which had been pinched red, and looked up at him.

"Dr. He, are you angry?"

He Sichen looked at her, the two dark flames in his eyes slowly fading away.

"no."

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing down before rising again with difficulty.

"Si Yimian".

When he called her by her full name, his voice sounded different than usual.

It's like having an unprepared answer stuck in your throat, not knowing how to begin.

"Is it because I didn't give you a definite answer?"

Si Yimian was stunned for a moment.

After all the calm questioning, a corner of the question suddenly came to light.

She looked up at him.

From this angle, the shadow cast by his brow bone makes his eyes appear very deep.

She suddenly felt a soreness in her throat, but she couldn't afford to lose.

Not entirely.

She leaned back against the chair, creating a little distance between herself and the chair.

"It's mainly because of myself. Once I miss the opportunity to get to MIT, it's gone forever."

She raised her eyes and looked straight into the depths of his eyes.

"But you really didn't give me a reason to continue."

As soon as he finished speaking, He Sichen's fingers, which were braced on either side of the back of her chair, slowly curled up.

The edge of the wooden chair back dug into his knuckles, causing a bluish-white layer to protrude from his joints.

He neither retreated nor pressed closer.

The candle burned halfway down, the wick collapsed, and the flame shortened.

He Sichen suddenly loosened the back of his chair and straightened up.

Si Yimian thought he was going to back away, but he swept across the middle of the table with one hand.

He swept all the dishes off the table to the farthest point.

The water from the lisianthus vase splashed out, wetting the candle wick, and the flame hissed and went out.

A large, clean tabletop was left empty in the middle of the dining table.

Looking at the mess on the table, Si Yimian felt a pang of heartache.

"He Sichen, what are you doing?"

"I spent an hour setting up this table!"

She tried to stand up by holding onto the armrest, but as soon as she straightened her knees, he grabbed her waist and pressed her back onto the chair.

"Sit still."

No matter how beautifully this meal is presented, it's still a cold dish.

"How about we make something hot?"

"Since you're treating me to a farewell dinner, you should at least make sure I'm full."

Si Yimian's pupils widened slightly.

What kind of inappropriate and lewd words are these?

"Si Yimian, you say it's over and it's over, I accept it."

He Sichen's voice deepened.

Si Yimian was about to speak, but before she could utter a sound, she was still speaking.

His palm was already on the back of her neck, his fingertips pressing against her cervical vertebrae, lifting her up from the back of the chair and pressing her onto the table.

"But tonight I'm in charge."

He tilted his head, his lips brushing against her earlobe.

"For the past three months, whenever you want something, I'll give it to you; the pace is entirely in your hands."

"Now that you're leaving, isn't it my turn to collect my debt?"

Before Si Yimian could even respond to those words, his kiss had already landed on her lips.

She turned her head to avoid his breath, but his hand gripped the back of her neck, his fingers digging into her hair, just enough to make her tilt her head back.

In the past, when he kissed her, even in a rush, there was always a method to it.

Tonight, there's no set pattern; it's like a wall being pushed in.

He bit her lower lip, his teeth grinding against her soft flesh, and he didn't stop, causing her to groan in pain.

He let go, then chased after her, sucking until her scalp tingled.

Si Yimian gripped the front of his shirt with her fingers, the fabric crumpling in her palm.

She tried to push, but also tried to reach the edge of the table to maintain her balance; both her hands were in disarray.

Finally, he grabbed my wrist and pressed it against the edge of the table, pressing his fingertips against my pulse.

"He Sichen, you bit me..."

Before he could finish speaking, he swallowed his words and pushed her up from behind her knees with his other hand.

She turned her head away from his lips, but he looked down and followed, biting her shoulder lightly with his teeth.

"What are you hiding from?"

His low, husky voice came through my skin.

"You don't need to go anywhere tonight."

He lifted her by the back of her head and flipped her over. Her upper body was pressed against the table, and a napkin was pressed against her cheek.

His fingers touched the protruding vertebrae of her spine, following the indentation downwards.

"You calculate for yourself how much you've spent on me over these past three months."

Finally, he struck the back of the waist with the heel of his hand.

"I'd like to pay the bill now."