Page 4

Xie Ran thought for a moment before remembering that there had indeed been such a thing.

In the original owner's memories, he had already decided to get back together with Fang Huiwang by this point. Before the concert, he had accepted Fang Huiwang's invitation and agreed to go to Fang Huiwang's home with him after the performance to ring in the New Year.

Fang Huiwang had also carefully decorated his home in advance, giving the original owner a surprise. The two then naturally got back together.

Fang Huiwang looked at Xie Ran, his eyes brimming with unspoken tenderness and anticipation.

He knew Xie Ran well. Since Xie Ran had agreed to perform with him and accepted his invitation, he must have decided to accept his pursuit again.

Although Xie Ran had seemed somewhat off ever since the performance ended, Fang Huiwang remained full of confidence.

He had made thorough preparations at home in advance. He would give Xie Ran a surprise shortly, and Xie Ran would surely get back together with him.

At that thought, Fang Huiwang's smile deepened. He had even figured out what they would do after his confession.

Then he saw Xie Ran casually glance at him and say blandly, "I'm not going."

Fang Huiwang's smile immediately froze. He instinctively assumed Xie Ran was joking, but after waiting a while, he realized Xie Ran had no intention of explaining himself.

Instead, seeing that he said nothing, Xie Ran continued, "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

Without the slightest hesitation, he turned and started to leave. Fang Huiwang immediately frowned, reached out to grab his sleeve, and said in a low voice, "Xiao Ran, what do you mean?"

Xie Ran looked at him with the expression of someone caring for an idiot. "You can't understand?"

Fang Huiwang's expression tightened. Of course he understood. It was precisely because he understood that he had asked. He stared fixedly at Xie Ran, his gaze turning dangerous. "But Xiao Ran, we already agreed."

Xie Ran was concise. "I changed my mind."

His tone was so thoroughly justified that Fang Huiwang did not know how to refute him for a moment. After quite a while, he came back to his senses, sounding somewhat displeased. "Xiao Ran, you can't be like this."

"Why can't I?" Xie Ran looked at him as though he found the question baffling. "Did we sign a contract?"

As a business elite moving through the industry, Xie Ran had always recognized only written contracts in black and white and accepted no verbal promises.

Fang Huiwang: "..."

Was that even something a person would say?

Who signed a contract before going on a date?

Fang Huiwang felt his temples throbbing. It took tremendous effort for him to suppress the breath that had surged into his throat. "Xiao Ran, what's wrong with you? Did I do something to make you unhappy?"

Xie Ran did not care what Fang Huiwang thought. His patience had run out, and his tone turned two degrees colder. "I'm sleepy."

His impervious manner ignited Fang Huiwang's anger, but he still restrained himself. Forcing a smile, he patiently guided him, "I've already prepared everything in advance. I was just waiting to spend tonight happily with you... Aren't you looking forward to it?"

He had originally planned for the decorations at home to surprise Xie Ran, but he had not expected Xie Ran to change his mind so suddenly. Fang Huiwang had no choice but to reveal a little first, hoping to move him.

Given Xie Ran's personality, once he knew Fang Huiwang had prepared in advance, he would surely feel too embarrassed to let him go to all that trouble for nothing.

Yet Xie Ran was completely unmoved, even seeming slightly impatient. "I'm not."

With that, he tugged free the sleeve Fang Huiwang was holding and turned to leave.

This time, Fang Huiwang could no longer suppress his anger. He had humbled himself before Xie Ran for some time now, believing he had shown more than enough patience and made every possible concession.

Xie Ran clearly wanted to reconcile with him too, yet at the very last moment, he was putting on airs again.

Fang Huiwang could not help sneering inwardly. Though he had always been the one pursuing Xie Ran, he had actually been the one in control of this relationship all along.

Ten years ago, he had been the one to dump Xie Ran first. Ten years later, with only a little effort, Xie Ran had been so dazzled that he agreed to perform on the same stage with him.

He must have treated Xie Ran too well lately, letting him develop the illusion that he could act willfully.

"Xiao Ran." Fang Huiwang called out in a deep voice, his tone carrying anger. "Have you thought this through? It hasn't been easy for the two of us to get where we are today. I sincerely want us to continue together. If you leave like this today, I'll be very hurt, very disappointed... I don't know whether I can keep going."

He was advancing by retreating. On one hand, he blamed Xie Ran for being cold-hearted; on the other, he was frantically hinting that if Xie Ran simply left today, he might not continue chasing after him.

He wanted Xie Ran to understand that his patience was limited too. Although he had been the first to ask to reconcile, that did not mean Xie Ran could manipulate him however he pleased.

If Xie Ran did not want to ruin things completely, he needed to know when to stop.

As Fang Huiwang said this, his eyes remained locked on Xie Ran, waiting for him to panic and then compromise.

He refused to believe Xie Ran would dare keep acting aloof at the risk of losing him completely.

But the other man's reaction far exceeded his expectations. Xie Ran showed none of the panic he had anticipated. He merely pinched the bridge of his nose lightly, looking genuinely sleepy, his voice carrying a rare hint of languor. "Got it. If you can't keep going, then don't force yourself."

He sounded thoroughly

relaxed.

Fang Huiwang: "???"

Fang Huiwang's heart suddenly jolted.

Did Xie Ran not care at all? Was he not afraid?

All along, Fang Huiwang had believed he had a perfect grasp of Xie Ran's mind. Whether it had been their breakup in the past or their current reconciliation, everything had steadily progressed according to his plan.

But at this moment, seeing Xie Ran's indifferent appearance, he suddenly felt a trace of uncertainty and... panic unlike anything he had ever experienced.

What if Xie Ran truly did not want to reconcile?

Fang Huiwang realized that he had never even considered that possibility, much less how he should face it.

Too stunned, Fang Huiwang forgot how to speak for a moment. He could only watch blankly as Xie Ran, his eyes dull and utterly indifferent, walked away.