"Take this document to Mr. Chiba. Deliver it to him now," Yan Tianyou said, tossing a folder onto the desk without looking up at Ding Yixin, who stood silently beside him.
"Do I need to deliver it personally?" Ding Yixin was puzzled. Mr. Chiba’s visit to Taiwan was purely for leisure, so there shouldn’t be any urgent business to discuss.
"Yes, he’s waiting at the Grand Hyatt," Yan Tianyou replied impatiently, waving his hand dismissively. "Don’t drive yourself. Have Uncle Han take you."
"Understood." Without another word, Ding Yixin picked up the folder and left.
When they arrived safely at the hotel entrance, Uncle Han respectfully opened the car door for her.
After watching her graceful figure disappear into the hotel, Uncle Han glanced at his watch to check the time.
The young master had instructed him that if Miss Ding didn’t return within ten minutes, he was to go up to the hotel room to look for her. However, he was also told not to inform Miss Ding of this arrangement.
Hehe! The young master must be shy. Although he pretends not to care about Miss Ding, deep down, he’s actually quite concerned about her. He must be worried that Mr. Chiba would try to take advantage of her.
Ding Yixin found the room and knocked twice. The door opened shortly after, and the man who appeared before her shocked her. She instinctively took a step back, her guard immediately raised.
"Mr. Chiba, this document is from Vice President Yan," Ding Yixin said, not daring to look the man in the eye. She quickly lowered her gaze and handed over the folder.
Chiba Nosa, dressed in a bathrobe, had just finished showering. He made no effort to hide the tanned chest muscles beneath his robe. While he was moderately handsome, his lecherous expression and lustful gaze ruined any appeal he might have had.
"You’re finally here. Come in," Chiba Nosa said with what he thought was a charming smile that could captivate any woman.
Ding Yixin, however, felt only disgust. "I don’t think that’s appropriate. Please just take the document—"
"Don’t be in such a hurry. Come in first," Chiba Nosa interrupted, grabbing Ding Yixin’s wrist and pulling her into the room. After closing the door, he casually draped an arm over her shoulder and guided her further inside, forcing her to sit in a chair. He then handed her a glass of red wine from the small table. "Have a drink. Let’s chat for a while."
Suppressing the urge to frown, Ding Yixin politely set the glass down and stood up to decline. "I’ve left the document here. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now."
"Wait, isn’t your job to stay and keep me company?" Chiba Nosa said with a sly grin, his tone dripping with innuendo. "It’s going to be a long night, and we’ll definitely be busy."
"Mr. Chiba, there must be some misunderstanding," Ding Yixin said, her face tense.
"Of course not. Yan Tianyou sent you here to ''take care'' of me," he said bluntly.
Ding Yixin gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. "What? Tianyou sent me to you?"
"Yan Tianyou agreed to it himself. Didn’t he explain it to you?" Chiba Nosa didn’t care about the details. With a beauty like her in front of him, how could he let her go? "Don’t worry, I’m always gentle. I’ll treat you with the utmost care."
"Don’t touch me!" Struggling to control her disgust, Ding Yixin swiftly slapped his hand away. Before Chiba Nosa could react further, she nimbly broke free and bolted out of the room.
Seeing Miss Ding return quickly with a pale face, Uncle Han grew concerned.
"Miss, are you okay? Did Mr. Chiba do something to you? If he did, I’ll go and demand justice for you."
"Thank you, Uncle Han. I’m fine," Ding Yixin said, taking a deep breath to steady herself.
Demand justice? But the one who had wronged her wasn’t someone else—it was his own young master!
"Where is the young master? Has he gone home?"
"No, he should still be at the office."
"Then please take me back to the office."
Ding Yixin was desperate to see Yan Tianyou. She didn’t doubt the truth in Chiba Nosa’s words because, knowing Yan Tianyou as she did, he was absolutely capable of doing something like this. It was his way of pushing her away.
But even if he had decided to let go and sever their relationship, how could he treat her like this?
Ding Yixin felt as if her heart was being ripped apart. She quickly closed her eyes, holding back the tears of heartache.
The dimly lit office was illuminated only by the golden glow of the crystal chandelier above the bar.
It was long past working hours, but Yan Tianyou, unusually, had not yet left.
Yan Tianyou poured himself a drink and sat on a high stool at the bar, his elbows resting on the counter. His sharp, dark eyes stared out through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the view beyond.
From the 40th floor, the view was indeed impressive. The Taipei 101 building stood tall in the distance, while the bustling streets below shimmered with the glow of neon lights. Looking down from such a height, one couldn’t help but feel a sense of superiority, as if the world lay at their feet.
Yan Tianyou, who had always prioritized his health and avoided alcohol, was now breaking his own rules, drowning his sorrows in drink.
Bored and seemingly waiting for something—or rather, someone—he sat there, the likelihood of that someone appearing as high as 99.9%.
Ding Yixin walked straight to the vice president’s office, her hand hovering over the door handle. She hesitated.
What would she say when she saw Yan Tianyou? Would she question his intentions or scold him for his cruelty?
If she laid everything out in the open, there would be no turning back.
What if Yan Tianyou rejected her outright, cutting off all ties? How would she cope afterward? How could she continue to stay by his side?
But what was the difference now? Wasn’t he already doing everything in his power to push her away? Perhaps he had been waiting for her to confront him, so he could reject her outright and make her give up completely.
What could she do to break through his defenses, to make him believe in her love and truly accept her?
Ding Yixin sighed heavily in her heart. She had worked so hard for so many years, silently waiting by his side, believing that time and perseverance would prove her feelings and eventually open his heart to her.
Unfortunately, things hadn’t gone as planned. Their relationship hadn’t progressed at all; in fact, it had only grown more strained.
Perhaps continuing to avoid the issue wouldn’t solve anything. Maybe facing it head-on was the only way to overcome the obstacles.
Taking a deep breath, Ding Yixin knocked on the door and entered. She saw Yan Tianyou sitting upright, his back unmoving, not even turning his head to acknowledge her. It was as if he had been waiting for her arrival—or as if he didn’t care at all.
Standing at the doorway, Ding Yixin hesitated.
The long-awaited guest had finally arrived. Yan Tianyou narrowed his eyes leisurely, gazing at the slender figure casting a long shadow on the floor. He remained silent, as if it was finally time to end their relationship.
Ding Yixin moved her heavy feet, struggling to stand beside Yan Tianyou. She stared unblinkingly at his icy profile. Despite having so much to say, all that came out was a single, heartbroken question: "Why?"
Hearing this, Yan Tianyou turned to meet her sad, suppressed, yet longing eyes. Though her distress tugged at his heart, he remained indifferent, determined to sever ties with her once and for all.
"Leaving like that will offend Chiba Corporation," Yan Tianyou said coldly, his gaze sweeping over her slightly pale face before he scolded her harshly.
Ding Yixin was taken aback by his heartless response. She retorted with a hint of anger, "Do you really want me to serve that Mr. Chiba?"
"If I said yes, would you go back and make amends?" Yan Tianyou’s sharp eyes bore into her.
"I’m not a hostess," she shot back, her beautiful eyes filled with resentment.
He shrugged indifferently. "Isn’t entertaining clients part of your job?"
"That doesn’t include sleeping with them!" she blurted out, her eyes welling up with tears.
Yan Tianyou, however, looked disdainful, his scornful gaze mercilessly directed at her. "Stop pretending. No one can force anyone into intimacy. You should know that better than anyone."
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His mockery felt like a searing slap across Ding Yixin’s pale face. She knew he was reminding her of the past, forcing her to remember how she had once humiliated herself.
Back then, when Yan Tianyou had taken advantage of her purely to hurt her, he had given her the chance to resist. But she hadn’t refused or struggled.
At the time, Ding Yixin had loved him so much that she didn’t mind giving him everything. She had used her actions to prove her feelings, even though she knew Yan Tianyou was only using her as an outlet for his anger. She had no regrets, willing to sacrifice her body, mind, and pride if it meant easing his pain. That had been true then, and it was still true now. Her unwavering devotion to Yan Tianyou had never changed.
"Even if you hate me, you can’t just push me into the arms of another man!" Even though her heart had been torn to shreds by Yan Tianyou, every fragment still bore his mark, impossible to erase.
"I don’t hate you," Yan Tianyou suddenly reached out, wiping away the tear at the corner of her eye.
Ding Yixin’s heart leapt with joy. Had she heard him correctly? Was this just her imagination?
But it was all an illusion, a cruel setup to deepen the hurt.
Yan Tianyou withdrew his hand, his face filled with disgust and impatience.
"I’m just tired of you," he said with a cold smirk. "But I’m a generous person. If someone wants my old toy, I don’t mind handing it over. After all, I have no interest in touching it again."
No! That wasn’t true. He had always been possessive, unable to tolerate sharing what was his!
Pain—sharp, searing pain—ripped through her heart. Even though she had known Yan Tianyou for so long and had experienced his venomous tongue before, it still hurt. It still wounded her deeply!
Tears of heartache and委屈 silently streamed down Ding Yixin’s cheeks. "I know you’re not being sincere. You’re not a cold, heartless man. Stop lying, stop pretending to be a bad guy…"
"Enough!" Her tears were driving him mad! Yan Tianyou turned his face away, refusing to look at her. "Don’t act like you understand me. I’ve always been a bad person with a terrible heart. Haven’t you seen that clearly yet?!"
Yan Tianyou suddenly turned back, his gaze dark and menacing. "Let me be honest with you. I’m completely fed up with you, this boring, uninteresting woman."
"Why are you deliberately torturing yourself, forcing yourself to play the villain?" Even though her heart and body were riddled with wounds, Ding Yixin refused to retreat. She met his cruelty head-on. "Didn’t you once promise to cherish me for a lifetime? I beg you, stop hurting me. Let’s go back to how things were, okay?"
"You actually believe a man’s sweet words?" Yan Tianyou laughed mockingly, his eyes devoid of warmth as they regarded her like a stranger. "Don’t be naive. Who can guarantee anything for a lifetime? Maybe I did like you once, but now I feel nothing for you. Everything has changed. How can we go back to how things were?"
Would this finally make her give up? But the pain wasn’t hers alone to bear.
Rather than saying love was unreliable, it was more accurate to say that human hearts were too fickle, too complex, filled with contradictions and conflicts.
Ding Yixin felt as if all the blood in her body had turned to ice. She shivered. No! She didn’t believe it. She hadn’t lost his love. He still loved her!
"I don’t believe it. This isn’t true," Ding Yixin grabbed the front of his shirt, urgently pouring out her heart. "I know you’re worried about your illness, afraid you can’t give me happiness. That’s why you’re pushing me away. But I really don’t care. For so many years, I’ve been trying to prove my feelings to you. Don’t you understand?"
Yan Tianyou knew, of course. He understood her intentions, her love, better than anyone. But precisely because he loved her, he genuinely wanted her to find happiness—and her happiness wasn’t with him.
"The one who doesn’t understand is you. Can’t you tell the difference between truth and lies?" Yan Tianyou gritted his teeth, pulling her hands away and shoving her off. "Do you think I’d let my feelings be dictated by this illness? Whether I like you or not has nothing to do with my condition. Why can’t you accept the fact that I don’t love you?"
Ding Yixin closed her tearful eyes. Memories of their time together flooded her mind. She trusted her feelings. He couldn’t be indifferent to her. He loved her. He was the one refusing to admit it!
When she opened her eyes again, Ding Yixin no longer felt anxious or lost. Her unwavering love hadn’t faltered in the slightest. "I know you’re stubborn. Once you’ve made up your mind, you won’t change it easily. But I’ll wait for you. I’ll wait for you to come back to me, to open your heart to me again. No matter how many years it takes, I’ll keep waiting. I’ll never give up."
Yan Tianyou was stunned. This stubborn woman—her determination was no less than his. But he couldn’t let all his efforts go to waste, allowing them to remain stuck in the same place. He clenched his teeth and roared in frustration.
"Where do you get the confidence to think I’d love you? Don’t think just because I’ve slept with you that you can stay by my side, dreaming of being my woman."
But Ding Yixin, with her heart of steel, turned a blind eye and a deaf ear. "Even if you don’t love me, I won’t change. I’ll love you for the rest of my life."
Too angry to deal with her any longer, Yan Tianyou turned away, picked up his glass, and drained it in one go. He slammed the glass down but continued to grip it tightly. "Stop pestering me. It’s really annoying…"
Yan Tianyou’s complaints suddenly stopped as his attention was drawn to the soft body pressing against his back and the small hands wrapping around his waist. Feeling the slight tremble of the person behind him, he lost focus, his mind wandering. He wanted to push her away but couldn’t bring himself to do it. Unconsciously, he tightened his grip on the glass—
Crash! The glass, unable to withstand the pressure, shattered into pieces, just like their broken hearts, ruthlessly crushed into fragments that could never be mended or restored to their original state.
After receiving a platelet transfusion and having all the glass shards removed, Yan Tianyou’s hand was finally bandaged. Exhausted from the ordeal, he was admitted to the hospital for observation.
For him, the hospital room was like a second home.
Ding Yixin sat in a chair by the bed, confirming that the man was sound asleep. She quietly buried her face in Yan Tianyou’s uninjured hand, tears silently streaming down her cheeks as she felt utterly drained.
Why had things come to this? They clearly loved each other. They had shared so many happy moments. She had once believed she was the happiest woman in the world. Why had it all turned out like this?
If it hadn’t been for that incident back then, Yan Tianyou wouldn’t have suddenly changed. They would still be close, still in love.
Ding Yixin had realized that Yan Tianyou was more than just a childhood friend—he was a man—when they entered university together…
During their university years, Yan Tianyou had grown into a tall, elegant figure, standing a head taller than Ding Yixin. His graceful and handsome appearance, paired with the slightly tousled bangs that occasionally obscured his eyes, made him look even more dashing and charming.
With his striking looks, Yan Tianyou instantly became the prince charming in the eyes of many female students the moment he stepped onto campus. Girls often gathered outside the classroom just to catch a glimpse of him. However, they soon discovered that he was a man of contradictions.
While Yan Tianyou’s appearance could captivate anyone, his temperament was unpredictable. The girls who tried to get close to him eventually gave up, realizing that he was a noble prince who could only be admired from afar, not approached.
Of course, there was one exception—Ding Yixin, who often accompanied him as his protector. She was the only woman who could get close to the prince, thanks to their deep connection, something others could only envy.
It was during this time that Ding Yixin began to see Yan Tianyou as a charming man and found herself unconsciously drawn to him.
Ding Yixin often followed Yan Tianyou around campus, staring at his tall figure in awe, wondering when he had grown so much taller and when the height difference between them had become so pronounced...
"Ouch!" She accidentally bumped into his back, letting out a small cry.
Yan Tianyou turned around and scolded her softly. "Why don’t you watch where you’re going?"
"I wasn’t not watching," Ding Yixin replied, feeling embarrassed under his gaze.
"Lately, you’ve been distracted and blushing a lot. What are you so shy about?" Yan Tianyou had been paying close attention to the girl by his side.
Caught off guard, Ding Yixin touched her nose awkwardly. "I’m not shy. I just bumped my nose, and it hurts!"
"Let me see." Yan Tianyou pulled her hand away and leaned in closer to her face.
Feeling her cheeks burn, Ding Yixin quickly stepped back. "No, it’s fine."
Her unusual reaction piqued Yan Tianyou’s curiosity. Noticing her flushed face, his gaze lingered on her rosy lips, wondering what they would taste like.
Feeling a surge of desire, Yan Tianyou gave in to his instincts and slowly pressed his lips to hers, savoring the softness of her mouth.
Shocked and unprepared, Ding Yixin stood frozen, her eyes wide open as she let him kiss her. The only thing she could feel was the warmth and softness of his lips, and the rapid pounding of her heart, as if it might leap out of her chest.
Finally, their lips parted. Ding Yixin touched her burning cheeks, her eyes dazed, while Yan Tianyou’s bright, dark eyes gleamed with amusement. Her flustered and shy expression was utterly adorable, and he wanted to see more of it. He pulled her hands away from her face.
"Don’t look!" Ding Yixin protested cutely, her face turning even redder.
"I like seeing you blush," Yan Tianyou said, holding her wrists firmly. A mischievous smile played on his lips as he gazed at her with affection. Unable to resist, he leaned in for another tender kiss, completely disregarding the time, place, or the people around them.
At that moment, Ding Yixin realized she had fallen in love. Or perhaps she had already fallen for this domineering yet gentle man without even realizing it...
It turned out that not only did love make women more beautiful, but it also made men more gentle. From that sweet, defining kiss onward, Yan Tianyou and Ding Yixin were officially together. Though they didn’t make a big announcement, it was clear to everyone that they were a couple.
Yan Tianyou, in particular, suddenly became more approachable. His once stern face softened, his sharp gaze mellowed, and he became more amiable. This change stirred the hearts of many female classmates, who began approaching him under the guise of asking for help with their studies.
One day, while Yan Tianyou and Ding Yixin were searching for materials in the library, a girl came over to ask him for help. To make matters worse, the girl leaned in close, taking the opportunity to flirt with him.
Ding Yixin watched coldly as the petite classmate tugged at Yan Tianyou’s sleeve, while he remained polite and friendly. Unable to bear it any longer, she turned and walked away.
"What’s wrong? You seem upset," Yan Tianyou quickly caught up to her and blocked her path.
"Nothing. I just need to find some materials over here," Ding Yixin pretended to focus on the bookshelf, avoiding his gaze.
"Let me guess," Yan Tianyou suddenly turned her around, placing his hands on the bookshelf and trapping her between it and his arms. "Are you jealous?"
"Why would I be jealous for no reason?" she denied immediately.
He smirked, pointing out the obvious. "You’re upset because you saw a girl getting close to me."
"Don’t flatter yourself," Ding Yixin rolled her eyes.
"Actually, you don’t need to be jealous," Yan Tianyou tapped her nose lightly. She had a habit of wrinkling her nose when she was upset, though she might not have noticed it herself. "I don’t remember any girl’s face or name. In my eyes, there’s only you. You’re the only one I like." He said this without a hint of embarrassment, his confession bold and straightforward.
Ding Yixin bit her lower lip lightly, trying to suppress a smile, her eyes sparkling with quiet joy.
Yan Tianyou was mesmerized. He realized his self-control was slipping. He found himself increasingly unable to resist this adorable woman, always wanting to be close to her. Without hesitation, he leaned in to kiss her again.
"Stop it, someone might see," Ding Yixin pressed her hands against his chest, nervously glancing around.
"Who cares?" Yan Tianyou said nonchalantly, capturing her lips once more, instantly stealing her thoughts and senses as he deepened the kiss...
Sigh! What could she do? She had fallen for him. When it came to this willful and reckless man, Ding Yixin could only accept her fate.