Yan Qiubai didn't notice Pei Jiangmu's sneer.
His chest heaved violently. His eyes, which always carried a hint of arrogance, were now misty with tears.
He stared fixedly at Meng Ruozhao, his voice hoarse from trying to suppress his emotions.
"Meng Ruozhao... Is this how you treat me?"
He took another step forward, his gaze pained.
He really didn't know what he had done wrong.
He had yearned for her for so many years. Finally... finally she was back by his side.
But what about her? She was always so polite and distant towards him, keeping him at arm's length.
He admitted that he had been a bit petty. He had deliberately ignored her and got close to Du Xixi.
But all he wanted was for her to care about him more, to look at him more.
Was it wrong to want her to rely on him like an ordinary girlfriend relied on her boyfriend?
Was she really going to break up with him just because of Shen Xinyin?
She wouldn't even listen to his explanation, as if she had been waiting for this opportunity to break up for a long time.
She had ended their relationship so cleanly and resolutely.
The more he thought about it, the more aggrieved he felt. There was a sob in his voice that he didn't even notice.
"Why would you rather break up, rather get involved with some... some poor student who came out of nowhere, than be a little nicer to me?"
Since he saw the photo yesterday, he had asked his assistant to investigate the man named Pei Jiangmu.
A graduate student at Haicheng Academy of Art, working part - time in Meng Ruozhao's studio. His background was as clean as a blank sheet of paper.
His family was a bit well - off, but their relationship was strained, so he himself was short of money.
The only thing that made his heart skip a beat was the surname "Pei".
But seeing that the other person was just an ordinary student, his doubts were dispelled.
What he didn't know was that the moment he used his connections to conduct the investigation, Qi Yu had already reported the situation to Pei Jiangmu.
Pei Jiangmu only replied calmly, "Let him investigate. Give him what he wants to see."
He was just worried that Yan Qiubai wouldn't come to him on his own initiative. This was a chance for him to completely settle the old score between Meng Ruozhao and Yan Qiubai.
He had rushed here after finishing work early today just to firmly occupy the position beside Meng Ruozhao before Yan Qiubai arrived.
Meng Ruozhao looked at Yan Qiubai with red - rimmed eyes and sighed softly in her heart.
She didn't hate him. She even felt a bit guilty, but there was absolutely no romantic love.
She had always hoped for a good break - up.
"Qiubai, sit down first," she said in a softened voice, with a hint of exhaustion. "Let's have a good talk."
Then she turned to Pei Jiangmu, who had been standing quietly beside them but whose eyes had turned cold. Her tone softened unconsciously.
"Pei Jiangmu, could you go to the attic and rest for a while?"
Calling that bastard "Qiubai" and him "Pei Jiangmu"?
A strong sense of uneasiness and jealousy welled up in Pei Jiangmu's heart instantly. He almost wanted to throw Yan Qiubai out immediately.
But on his face, he showed a well - behaved and even worried expression and nodded.
"Okay, sister..."
He paused for a moment and glanced meaningfully at Yan Qiubai.
"If you need anything, just call me. I'll be right upstairs."
He turned around and walked up the wooden stairs leading to the attic. His footsteps were clear, but he quietly stopped in the blind spot around the corner and perfectly concealed his figure.
Like a lurking leopard, he silently listened to the movement below.
Meng Ruozhao went to pour a glass of water. She motioned for Yan Qiubai to sit down, then pushed the glass of water in front of him. Her attitude was sincere but firm.
"Qiubai, I'm really grateful that you didn't mind my amnesia, and I'm also grateful for your care before."
"However, I haven't changed my mind about breaking up. The problems between us have been there for a long time."
Yan Qiubai didn't touch the glass of water. He seemed to be stabbed by her words and suddenly looked up.
"Why? Why on earth? Is it because I'm not good enough for you?"
"Or is there someone else in your heart?"
He clenched his fists tightly, trying to find a hint of wavering on her face.
"Tell me who he is?"
He guessed chaotically. Once the seed of suspicion was planted, it spread wildly under the nourishment of jealousy.
He had heard from Du Feng that she had had a high - profile boyfriend abroad.
But no one knew who it was.
He had spent a lot of effort investigating, but the other person had protected their information very well.
After much effort, he only knew that it was an old - money family. The man was a Chinese - American with industries all over the world.
The last time he took Meng Ruozhao to a dinner party, when Pei Jingdu came to say hello, a crazy thought popped into his mind -
Could it be someone from the Pei family?
She had gone missing from the Du family and lived in Haicheng before going abroad to study.
Although he couldn't find out the specific information, he could tell that the person who adopted her should not be a very powerful person.
The Pei family in Haicheng was quite far from his social circle, not to mention Meng Ruozhao, who had gone missing at a young age.
Moreover, although Pei Jingdu had come to say hello on his own initiative, he didn't show any special reaction to Meng Ruozhao.
He didn't seem to have known her before.
So he dispelled that crazy thought.
He just didn't expect that this Pei Jiangmu also had the surname Pei.
"My decision to break up has nothing to do with anyone else," Meng Ruozhao said. Seeing that he was emotionally unstable, she frowned even more.
It was clearly a matter between the two of them. Why did he have to involve irrelevant people?
There was no one in her heart, neither him nor anyone else.
"Then what is it related to? Is it related to that kid upstairs?"
Yan Qiubai said without thinking. Anger and sadness made him lose his composure.
"How long has he known you? What does he have? What can he give you? A poor student who has to rely on you for his salary!"
"Yan Qiubai!" Meng Ruozhao's tone became more serious as she emphasized again.
"This is a problem between us. Please don't involve others."
"I'm breaking up with you because we're not suitable."
"What you want, I can't give. What I want, you never understand."
He wanted a well - behaved and presentable socialite wife.
Unfortunately, she wasn't.
She didn't like the socializing in the upper class.
She preferred to stay in her studio and be an ordinary person.
"I don't understand? What do you want? Tell me!"
Yan Qiubai suddenly stood up and looked down at her, trying to intimidate her with his imposing manner.
"Freedom? Independence? Or is it like this now, running this shabby little studio and hanging out with all sorts of people? Is this what you want?"
His controlling nature was fully exposed at this moment.
He liked her, but he wanted to mold her into the obedient and submissive partner he wanted.
In the shadow of the stairs, Pei Jiangmu's lips curled into a cold arc.
Every question from Yan Qiubai was pushing Meng Ruozhao further away.
Because that was exactly how he had "lost" his Ruozhao back then.
His Ruozhao seemed gentle, but in fact, she was more stubborn than anyone else.
If she didn't like something, no matter how much you forced her, she wouldn't accept it.
Meng Ruozhao looked at Yan Qiubai's excited state and suddenly felt extremely exhausted.
Communication was useless. He always lived in his own logic.
This scene seemed to have happened before, but she wasn't sure if it was with Yan Qiubai.
"Yan Qiubai," she looked at him, her eyes clear and firm, with an unwavering determination.
"It's over between us. Really over. Please don't come again in the future."
These words were like a heavy hammer, hitting Yan Qiubai hard in the heart.
He looked into her clear eyes that showed no trace of nostalgia. A huge, cold sense of panic finally overwhelmed his anger and instantly gripped him.