Shi Feng grabbed Shi Yue’s hand that was wiping his blood, the corners of his mouth all stained bright red, and said in a desolate tone, "She’s actually that ruthless, won’t even give me the slightest chance. How could there be such unwavering, unbreakable love? Does she really believe so firmly that she’ll never regret it for the rest of her life? A lifetime is obviously so long..."

Shi Yue was so anxious she started crying. "Bro, big brother, don’t be like this. Stop liking Chu Nianyang, that cold-blooded, heartless woman. She’s not worth you doing this, she’s not worth it!"

"But I just like her. I like her so much, what am I supposed to do?"

"Bro, she already has someone. She loves her boyfriend so much, she’s never going to be with you. Don’t be so obstinate anymore. And besides, I think what she said all makes sense..."

"Makes sense? Haha, you think it makes sense too?"

Agitated, Shi Feng started coughing, scaring Shi Yue so badly she completely panicked. "I...I...Big brother, don’t get worked up..."

"But I just don’t believe it. There’s no love in this world that can’t be destroyed, and no relationship you can’t pry your way into. I’m really jealous that she has that much faith in that man, that she’s willing to endure grievances and suffering for him. Can there really be a love in this world that’s so free of resentment and regret?"

Shi Feng closed his eyes for a moment, then let out a low, chuckling laugh. "She’s so funny. As if I’ve never been in love? She even tried to trick me, saying love has to be sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy. Love is clearly supposed to be sweet—who would willingly choose bitterness? She was just brushing me off, humoring me. She’s really bad!"

Shi Yue looked at her brother, her face full of heartache. If she weren’t afraid of upsetting him, she really wanted to say: if love were only sweet, then why would you be in so much pain, so heartbroken?

When you’re in it, you’re lost; on the sidelines, you see clearly.

"She clings to Li Tingyan with such conviction, but will Li Tingyan be the same as her? Definitely not, right? Why don’t we test it out..."

Shi Yue’s heart jumped wildly as she asked, "Bro, big brother, what are you talking about?"

"Xiaoyue, I’m fine. Help me with something."

Shi Feng rested for a long while, calmly wiped the blood clean, and sat up straight, as if he’d thought it over carefully before saying this.

"What is it?"

"From the first day I met Nianyang, I knew she didn’t want to see me. Every time we meet is one less time we’ll have. So, in order to keep every minute and every second I had with her, I arranged for a Photographer to follow us and take pictures of me and her. That day, there were a few photos of me holding her. Help me send those photos to Li Tingyan. I really want to see whether there truly is a love in this world whose mutual trust is unshakable."

Shi Yue froze. "Big brother, isn’t this...a bit too despicable?"

Shi Feng let out a self-mocking laugh. So what if it’s despicable? In front of Nianyang, he’d already been humble, trampled on, pitiful and pathetic—what’s one more layer of baseness?

He was the proud Second Young Master Shi; how could he accept that his wholehearted devotion couldn’t stir even the slightest ripple in Nianyang’s heart, that she didn’t even deign to look his way? That was simply too unfair.

Since he couldn’t have her, he was going to interfere. He just wanted to see whether their relationship could withstand his attempt to wreck it.

If it could, then he’d admit defeat. He’d give up.

★

In front of Shi Feng, Nianyang had strung together all kinds of pretty words to defend herself and Li Tingyan, but the moment she left, that inexplicable tension and unease that had been brewing since last night surged over her like a tidal wave, suffocating her until she almost couldn’t breathe...