"You never used to say such grandiose things," Lu Lingchuan spoke.
"Really?" Shen Nian paused for a moment, then smiled. "Well, I'm saying them now."
Like old friends who hadn't seen each other in years, they wanted to talk more but, lacking common topics, they kept searching for conversation starters.
They'd touch on a subject, discuss it briefly, then let it fade. After a few moments of silence, they'd find another topic and chat about it for a while.
"I've met a few people recently," Lu Lingchuan found a new subject.
Shen Nian listened quietly.
"Their companies are all in coastal cities," he added.
"When the time comes, see if there's a city you like. If there is, let me know, and I'll help arrange things. Once everything's wrapped up here, you can go straight there to start work. With all your years of experience working with me, job hunting shouldn't be too difficult for you."
All these years of working alongside Lu Lingchuan had given Shen Nian considerable experience and skills. Her youth, capability, and diligence would likely land her a vice president position in any company, so Lu Lingchuan wasn't worried about that aspect.
Though he said he wasn't worried, he still paid special attention to it.
"..." Shen Nian remained silent.
Lu Lingchuan rarely talked this much. Even without getting a response from Shen Nian, he continued speaking.
"Once you've decided on a city to settle in, I'll gift you a seaside apartment. You can go there for a few days during your time off to relax and cultivate your mind."
"Your taste has always been on the milder side. A little spice is fine, but stay away from overly spicy foods, okay?"
"And alcohol. In the future, whether it's voluntary or not, take care of yourself. Don't force yourself to drink. Be smart, use fruit juice as a substitute."
"If... one day you get married, send me an invitation. I'd like to see it."
As he said this, Lu Lingchuan's voice trembled slightly.
Beside him, Shen Nian had already crumbled. She gripped the blanket tightly, tears welling up in her eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
Hadn't they agreed to break up?
Shouldn't they be burning bridges and never speaking to each other again?
Why was he still saying so much?
Why did he still care so much?
Lu Lingchuan kept talking. In a short time, he had already planned out Shen Nian's future life.
Food, housing...
Shen Nian kept telling herself to restrain her emotions, to hold back.
Finally, her emotions collapsed. Shen Nian suddenly turned over and straddled Lu Lingchuan, lowering her head to bite his lips fiercely.
Today, she had taken the initiative three times.
She had taken the initiative to ask Lu Lingchuan to stay with her.
She had taken the initiative to tell Lu Lingchuan "I love you."
She had taken the initiative to kiss Lu Lingchuan.
"..." Lu Lingchuan was stunned for a few seconds. When he came to his senses, the thread of sobriety he had been desperately clinging to instantly snapped.
He immediately took control, holding Shen Nian tightly, one hand pressing against her lower back, pulling her firmly into his embrace.
After tonight, she could belong to anyone, but she would no longer belong to him.
The entanglement of six years was finally coming to an end tonight.
"..." Shen Nian frowned slightly, her arms wrapped around Lu Lingchuan's neck.
Feeling pain, she lowered her head and bit his collarbone hard, without any tenderness. This bite used all her strength.
"I hate you," she suddenly said.
"..." Lu Lingchuan's movements stiffened.
"I hate you," Shen Nian repeated like an emotionless robot, over and over.
"Lu Lingchuan, I hate you."
"I hate you."
Yes, she had lied. She loved Lu Lingchuan, but that didn't stop her from hating him too.
The root of hate is love. Perhaps it was because she loved him too much, but not purely enough. Too many complicated factors had developed in between, giving birth to hatred.
But it didn't matter anymore. Whether it was love or hate, after tonight, they would be familiar strangers.
She had no right to be part of his life.
And he no longer had the right to step into hers.
...
When Shen Nian woke up, Lu Lingchuan had already left.
Feeling the cold side of the bed next to her, Shen Nian's hand lingered there for a long time before she sat up.
She had lived here for so long, yet it felt like she had never really walked through the entire house properly.
Getting up, she first went to the bedroom's balcony, then walked back into the bedroom, past the dressing table, the chest of drawers, the walk-in closet, and into the bathroom.
Then she went to the living room balcony, the living room, dining room, guest bathroom, kitchen, storage room... She walked through every corner of the house.
Shen Nian realized for the first time how big the house was, so big that it felt lonely with just her living in it.
Back in the bedroom, she opened the wardrobe's glass door.
Her clothes and Lu Lingchuan's were stored separately. On this side were Lu Lingchuan's various shirts, neatly arranged in a row.
She had personally ironed and hung each shirt. She could name the style of each shirt with her eyes closed.
From left to right, her finger glided over each shirt. With each touch, she could picture Lu Lingchuan wearing them.
He hadn't taken any of them with him. Not the clothes, not the daily necessities.
It was just like before, as if... they hadn't broken up at all, as if they had just had a big fight over some disagreement and were now in the midst of a cold war.
But with Lu Lingchuan's wealth, he probably didn't care about these things. Perhaps he simply didn't want the hassle of taking them.
Looking at the shirts, Shen Nian gave a low laugh and murmured.
"It's dawn."
No matter how beautiful the dream, it was time to wake up.
Over the next few days, Lu Lingchuan and Shen Nian didn't see each other.
It seemed Lu Lingchuan had gone on a business trip without Shen Nian. She had an important project on her hands, and the partnering company greatly valued Shen Nian's abilities. They had specifically requested her to handle the project personally, refusing to sign with anyone else.
This was Shen Nian's last project before leaving the company. Once it was successfully completed, she would resign and leave.
So she personally oversaw every detail, allowing no room for error.
"None of these proposals will work. Redo them all," Shen Nian said, looking at the proposals in her hand. Not one of them met her standards.
All the proposals were sent back, leaving the employees discouraged.
One employee meekly said, "Assistant Shen, those requirements are a bit high. It might be very difficult to achieve."
Shen Nian kept her head down, writing, and replied coolly, "If you can't do it, that's due to your limited ability. It has little to do with how difficult the task is."
"..." The employee was at a loss for words but persisted, "Actually, Plan A is really quite good."
Without looking up, Shen Nian retorted, "Don't pick trash out of the garbage bin and try to display it in my showcase of fine products."
"..."
The staff couldn't help but wonder if it was just their imagination, but their former Assistant Shen, while always professional and meticulous, seemed to have become noticeably... colder and more ruthless in the past couple of days.
