Chapter 3

After saying that, I left without even looking at Shen Ruyan.

When I got to the company, my apprentice immediately came over and said with a smile, “Master, did you see today’s group messages?”

I shook my head.

“I heard the company has reached a partnership with NW overseas, and they’re going to send a few designers there for further training. That’s NW, a huge international brand. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Opportunities like this for further training came once every three years. Although the companies we’d partnered with before weren’t as famous as NW, they still had a pretty big name.

Several times before, the boss told me to go out and see the world, but I had turned him down.

Because designer training meant three years away, and I couldn’t bear to leave Shen Ruyan. I also wouldn’t do a long-distance relationship across countries, so I gave it up for her.

Now that I thought about it, the first half of my life had really only been about two things: loving Shen Ruyan, and design.

At thirty, I had somehow failed at both.

Emotionally, I was always the one fooling myself. I had chased Shen Ruyan for ten years, proposed fifty-two times, and she wouldn’t even give me a promise. Her answer was always that she wanted to marry Xue Heng together with him, year after year, without ever changing.

My career had been stuck in place too. If I didn’t go for further training, I couldn’t get into headquarters, and I had just been drifting along.

I thought that at this point, I should start thinking about myself.

I went to the leader’s office and wanted to sign up for this training. After he heard what I said, surprise flashed across his face.

“You’re serious?”

I nodded.

“You talked it over with your little girlfriend this time?”

I was silent for a moment before saying, “I’ve thought it through. At this age, I should really start working hard on my career.”

The leader smiled. “You should’ve thought like this a long time ago. I’ve recommended you for every training round, but you always turned it down. This time it’s a partnership with NW, and I’m really looking forward to your performance.”

I smiled and nodded. “Okay.”

After chatting with the leader for a few more minutes, I left the office and started preparing my design drafts. All day long, I never thought about Shen Ruyan again.

I also didn’t care whether she had sent me any messages today.

I thought that from now on, I probably wouldn’t have any expectations of her at all.

Near the end of the workday, Shen Ruyan sent me a message.

She said: Let’s have dinner together tonight.

I froze for a few seconds. This seemed to be the first time Shen Ruyan had ever invited me out, and the first time she had ever made an exception for me.

I agreed. Since I already had this chance tonight, I wanted to tell Shen Ruyan clearly that I was going abroad for further training.

When I left the company, I saw a Range Rover parked outside the building. I opened the back door without hesitation and got in.

Through the rearview mirror, I could clearly see Shen Ruyan’s brow furrow.

“Why aren’t you in the passenger seat? You’re really getting full of yourself now. Do you think I’m your driver?”

I didn’t say anything. My eyes were fixed on the men’s watch on the passenger seat.

Shen Ruyan probably forgot that before, whenever we went out and Xue Heng was there, I was always the one sitting in the back.

Later on, whenever Xue Heng was around, I would automatically avoid running into him, just so I wouldn’t feel awkward.

I never expected that even something as small as a watch, something you wear with you all the time, could be left in the car.

I wouldn’t believe for a second that Xue Heng had “accidentally” left it there.

I turned to look out the window, not caring.

Anyway, in my mind, Shen Ruyan and I were already over.

Seeing me like this, Shen Ruyan glanced at the watch on the passenger seat and said slowly, “Xue Heng got drunk last night. He accidentally left his watch in my car.”

I gave an “mm.” “That’s not even the first time this has happened. Xue Heng is forgetful. I can understand.”

She turned to look at me. Maybe because I brushed it off so casually, she found it hard to believe.

After a while, the car started moving slowly.

On the way, Shen Ruyan said quite a bit. I responded only here and there.

She must have sensed my mood, because in the end she stopped talking about anything. The car didn’t stop until we arrived in front of a Western restaurant.

Shen Ruyan got out and handed the keys to the valet.

“This restaurant tastes really good. I never had a chance to bring you here before.”

“You and Xue Heng have pretty similar tastes. You should like what he likes too.”

After saying that, Shen Ruyan looked at me a few times. Seeing that I had no reaction, she let out a breath and went on, “I know you’re unhappy that I rejected your proposal. I came to apologize, didn’t I? Don’t be mad, okay?”

Shen Ruyan pulled me inside and sat me down. The waiter quickly came over and asked her to order. She just gave a number and said to keep everything the same, and the waiter immediately understood and left.

Clearly, Shen Ruyan came here often.

But it was my first time.