The rain was pouring heavily.
Even with the villa’s excellent soundproofing, the drumming patter of rain still managed to seep through.
Su Nian sat alone on the sofa, staring blankly at the television.
Her phone rang, and she glanced at the screen.
Her hollow eyes finally lit up with a spark of life.
She answered quickly. “Brother Yinchen, did you receive my gift?”
His voice came through, cool and indifferent. “I did. I like it very much. Thank you.”
Just then, another woman’s sultry voice drifted over the line. “Lying to the poor little girl again? Honestly… if you don’t like her, just say so. You didn’t even unwrap it…”
The voice cut off abruptly. Gu Yinchen must have covered the microphone.
A moment later, he spoke again. “Niannian, go to bed early. I have things to attend to. Goodbye.”
Su Nian bit her lip, her eyes stinging with heat, yet she forced a smile into her voice. “Brother Yinchen… where are you? If you truly don’t like the gift… I’d like to come fetch it myself.”
“Mm.”
The call ended.
Not long after, an address arrived via text message.
So it was true he truly did not want it.
She stood up at once, took an umbrella, and stepped out into the night.
By the time she reached Gu Yinchen’s residence, the rain was falling in torrents. Water seeped beneath her umbrella and soaked the hem of her dress. From the car to the villa entrance barely fifty meters she was already soaked through in many places.
She stood at the gate. Inside, the air rang with laughter and cheerful chatter.
A party? For his overseas studies starting tomorrow? She hadn’t been invited.
Su Nian pressed the doorbell.
Her cousin Su Jin opened the door. With her big wavy curls and flowing burgundy gown, she looked striking and alluring. She eyed Su Nian as though watching some amusing spectacle, yet called out sweetly, “It’s pouring out there don’t catch a chill. Niannian, come in quickly.”
Su Jin took her umbrella with exaggerated hospitality.
The Su family had never treated Su Nian warmly; feeling ill at ease, she drew in on herself, guarded and reserved.
No sooner had she stepped into the living room than Su Jin’s voice rang out loudly: “The literary talent has arrived! Everyone, come and learn how to write love letters seek instruction from the master!”
Laughter erupted from the guests.
Someone jeered, “Amidst the bustling world, to whom does your heart belong, little lady?”
Su Nian’s face burned crimson, blood rushing beneath her skin.
That line… it was from the letter she had enclosed with the gift her confession to Gu Yinchen.
Su Jin gestured toward the bar. “Everyone’s been admiring your beautiful writing, Niannian.”
Su Nian clasped her hands tightly together. There, taped to the bar top, was her letter.
A mere five hundred words yet she had spent three days writing it, polishing every phrase, typing it out first and then copying it carefully in her own hand.
Two guests stood beside it, taking photos then turned the cameras toward her.
Overwhelmed with shame, she buried her face in her hands.
From across the room, someone laughed aloud: “This robotic dog is rather cute too! My little ZhuZhu is quite fond of it!”
Peering through her fingers, Su Nian saw the small robotic dog she had given Gu Yinchen now being teased by a drunken man alongside his pet Pomeranian. The dog kept climbing over it, treating the machine as if it were a female.
Her eyes stung. Her throat tightened.
Gu Yinchen loved electronics. She had spent two months writing its programming, staying up night after sleepless night, commissioning the finest design firm in the country pouring every penny she had saved since childhood into its creation.
She had been certain he would cherish it. Instead… he had put it on display to be mocked and defiled.
Her heart laid bare meant nothing to him. Less than nothing.
Gu Yinchen stepped out of the study, drawn by the commotion, a poised, elegant woman walking beside him.
Through her fingers, Su Nian looked at him still handsome, still striking. He had once been the star she gazed up at, the hero of her dreams.
Now… he had trampled her feelings into the mud.
Her love, fragile as an overstretched balloon, shattered completely burst to pieces right there in that room.
Gu Yinchen sighed softly. “Have you all had your fun? Put it away. Return it to her.”
The woman beside him giggled behind her hand. “It’s hardly their fault you left it lying about. Naturally someone found it. She’s far too modest to say so go and apologize properly.”
Su Nian recognized that voice the woman from the phone call.
Gu Yinchen tore the letter from the bar without even glancing at its contents. He walked over to Su Nian and patted her head lightly.
“My apologies. Since you said you were coming to fetch it, I left it there. I never expected these fools to behave so foolishly.”
Su Nian lowered her eyes and snatched the letter from his grasp.
She said nothing. Turning on her heel, she hurried for the door only for Gu Yinchen to catch her gently by the wrist.
“Niannian…”
He spoke her name softly, just as he always had.
She paused. From the corner of her eye, she saw the woman approach, wiping the robotic dog clean with a cloth.
Gu Yinchen accepted the machine and held it out to her. His smile was gentle, effortless. “Didn’t you come to fetch it yourself? Don’t leave without it.”
At that, Su Nian’s heart died completely.
She pulled her hand free. She did not take the dog. She only clutched the letter tight in her fist. The pink paper crumpled beneath her grip.
She held her voice steady yet a tremor escaped her. “It’s… soiled. Throw it away.”
With that, she turned and fled into the rain forgetting her umbrella entirely.
Gu Yinchen hurried a few steps after her only to be pulled back by the woman’s hand upon his arm. He stopped.
Outside, raindrops hammered against the pavement, drumming a relentless rhythm.
Su Nian walked blindly through the downpour. She tore the letter into shreds and cast them into a roadside bin. Her phone rang and rang, but she did not answer. She walked aimlessly along the road, until exhaustion overtook her. She huddled beneath the shelter of a tall wall.
Suddenly the rain beating down upon her ceased. Yet everywhere else, it still poured.
She lifted her head. Above her stood a large black formal umbrella. Beneath it stood a tall, upright man, his features indistinct in the mist of the storm.
He looked down at her. His voice was deep, smooth laced with lazy amusement. “Poor little rabbit. All soaked… would you like to come home with me?”
Su Nian’s heart gave a sharp, terrified lurch. Out here, at this hour… crying for help would likely do little good.
He saw her fear and gave a low scoff. “Shall I add… ‘scream all you like no one will hear you?’”
The jest broke the tension hanging in the air.
As his voice faded, a sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled up beside them. A man stepped out from the driver’s seat, sharply dressed in a tailored suit. He bowed respectfully toward the man beside her.
“Mr. Zhou… fresh clothing is ready for Miss Su.”
“Good.” The man spoke calmly. “You may leave now.”
The assistant nodded, returned to the car, and drove off quickly.
Su Nian knew who he was.
Zhou Beiming.
Head of the Zhou family. Chairman of Yongtai Group.
In the entire city of Yucheng… there was no one who did not treat him with the utmost deference.
The Su family had fallen into trouble recently. At a reception, Zhou Beiming had told her father he had taken a liking to her and her father had begged her… to make this sacrifice, to save their family.
Zhou Beiming held out one hand toward her. “Get in.”
It was not a question.
Su Nian looked at her own hands dripping wet. After a long moment… she wiped the dampness from her skin, and placed her hand into his outstretched palm.
Zhou Beiming’s hand was cool yet large enough to wrap entirely around hers, firm and steady.