Jiang Ning pursed her lips.
Xi Yue watched Jiang Ning, only to find her lost in thought again.
From the moment they met until now, Jiang Ning hadn’t asked a single question about him.
She hadn’t even asked why he appeared at her homecoming party or why he was here now.
Sometimes, he truly felt like he was just a dog to Jiang Ning—someone she could summon or dismiss at will. She broke up with him without hesitation, left the country without a second thought, and left him alone, haunted by the memories of those six years.
Even during their happiest times, Jiang Ning always seemed to have something weighing on her mind.
Jiang Ning didn’t respond to Xi Yue’s remark. Her thoughts were distant, and instead of answering, she evaded the question and issued a dismissal.
“We’re done talking. You can leave now.”
The expression on Xi Yue’s face slowly faded, and his gaze toward Jiang Ning grew complex and inscrutable.
He stood up, as if preparing to leave.
Before Jiang Ning’s tense nerves could relax, she saw Xi Yue walking toward her.
Before she could react, he suddenly reached out and snatched the medicine bottle she had casually placed behind her.
Jiang Ning’s pupils contracted, and she instinctively reached out to grab it back.
But Xi Yue raised it high above his head, causing Jiang Ning’s attempt to fall short. Leaning forward, she lost her balance.
She even stumbled awkwardly, falling against Xi Yue.
Jiang Ning: “Give it back.”
“I thought nothing could stir your interest except in bed,” Xi Yue said, his tone malicious as he gripped her waist. “Why so nervous?”
The warmth and softness beneath his hands finally gave Xi Yue the sense that the person in his arms wasn’t an illusion.
He held Jiang Ning’s waist tightly, refusing to let go. Watching her struggle in vain brought him an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.
Xi Yue lowered his gaze to look at her. “What kind of medicine is this?”
Without waiting for Jiang Ning to answer, he continued on his own. “Is it the vitamins you used to take during your studies?”
Jiang Ning tried to push him away but was firmly restrained by Xi Yue.
“Let go,” she said, her brow furrowed. The unfamiliar scent of smoke on him made her inexplicably uncomfortable.
Xi Yue glanced at the product name on the medicine bottle. “Did you break up with me back then because of depression?”
As soon as Xi Yue finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room seemed to fall silent, as if someone had pressed a mute button.
Even the air felt frozen.
After a long pause, Jiang Ning finally spoke. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’ve had depression since I was a child. It wasn’t because of you.”
Jiang Ning took a slightly labored breath. “Isn’t Young Master Xi capable of finding out anything? Why didn’t you look into this instead of asking me?”
Xi Yue’s voice was stiff. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Jiang Ning: “It wasn’t necessary.”
Jiang Ning knew her words had angered Xi Yue, because he released her the very next second.
But his eyes remained fixed on her. His high brow bones gave his gaze a profound intensity, yet his expressionless face made his eyes appear exceptionally cold.
Jiang Ning repeated herself. “You can leave now.”
Jiang Ning truly knew how to provoke people. Most of the time, she was in a passive, silent state. When faced with questions she didn’t want to answer, she would either evade them or simply remain silent.
The young lady of Hong Kong’s top aristocratic family, aside from the oblivious Xi Yue, basically no one could force her to say anything she didn’t want to.
To put it bluntly, Jiang Ning had a kind of reckless, couldn’t-care-less attitude, like a soft ball of cotton—anyone who punched it would have all their force dissipated.
Xi Yue: “You enjoyed yourself that night too. I had to take care of things in the bathroom, yet you insist on reciprocating even just having a meal with a blind date.”
Xi Yue leaned closer to her and smiled, though the smile carried no emotion.
“I should make you reciprocate too.”