After the divorce, the aloof CEO begged me not to withdraw my investment.

Tears welled in Liu Qingyi's eyes, filled with pleading and regret, her voice trembling as she said, "Ye Feng, can't we really start over? I...I know I was wrong. Please give me a chance, okay?"

She reached out, wanting to touch Ye Feng, but stopped mid-air, her fingertips trembling slightly. The bitter aroma of coffee filled the air, as if mocking the bitter end of this relationship.

Ye Feng looked at Liu Qingyi, his heart filled with mixed emotions. The love he once felt had now turned into weariness and helplessness. He sighed softly, avoiding Liu Qingyi's gaze, picked up his coffee cup, took a small sip, and felt the bitter taste spreading across his tongue, just like his current mood.

"Qingyi," he put down his coffee cup, his tone calm yet firm, "the problems between us are not something that can be solved by a momentary impulse, nor by a simple apology. I need time and space to think things through."

Liu Qingyi's face turned pale instantly. She bit her lower lip tightly, trying hard not to let the tears fall. The soft music in the coffee shop now sounded like a sad elegy, every note striking her heart.

Just then, Ye Feng's phone rang, breaking the silence. He glanced at the caller ID; it was Qi Xue.

"Hello, Qi Xue." Ye Feng answered the phone, his tone unconsciously softening.

Liu Qingyi's gaze was fixed on Ye Feng's face. She could sense the change in Ye Feng's tone, and a feeling of bitterness and jealousy welled up in her heart.

"Ye Feng, where are you? Let's have dinner together." Qi Xue's voice was clear and melodious, with a hint of concern.

"I'm at..." Ye Feng gave the name and address of the coffee shop.

"Okay, I'll be right there." Qi Xue said and then hung up the phone.

Ye Feng put his phone back in his pocket, looked up at Liu Qingyi, and said with a hint of apology in his eyes, "I have something to do, so I'll be going now."

Without waiting for Liu Qingyi's response, he got up and left the coffee shop. The glass door closed gently behind him, shutting out the warmth of the coffee shop and Liu Qingyi's sorrowful gaze.

Liu Qingyi sat there, stunned, watching Ye Feng's departing figure. Tears finally welled up in her eyes. The aroma of coffee, however, now smelled like poison to her, suffocating her.

She regretted it, deeply regretted it. She had once thought that Ye Feng would always silently stay by her side, and that no matter what she did, he would forgive her.

But now she realizes that she has completely lost him.

The café was bustling with people, but the noise couldn't fill the emptiness in her heart. She felt as if she were trapped on a deserted island, surrounded by an endless expanse of cold seawater that was slowly swallowing her up.

The last rays of the setting sun streamed through the glass windows, casting long shadows on the floor. Liu Qingyi's shadow was lonely and forlorn, much like her mood at that moment. She slowly rose, left the café, and her figure disappeared into the bustling street.

Qi Xue drove her fiery red sports car, the engine roaring arrogantly through the night streets. Ye Feng sat in the passenger seat, watching the neon lights rushing past the window, a vague sense of unease creeping into his heart.

"Where should we eat?" he asked, a hint of doubt in his voice. This direction didn't seem to lead to any restaurants he was familiar with.

Qi Xue smiled mysteriously, her eyes and brows revealing an undisguised cunning. "You'll see when we get there. I guarantee you'll like it."

She turned her head, glanced quickly at Ye Feng, and then quickly looked back at him, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.

A faint scent of perfume mingled with the smell of leather seats in the carriage, making Ye Feng feel inexplicably nervous. He subconsciously touched his phone in his pocket; the screen's light reflected on his face, making him appear even more preoccupied.

An hour later, the car stopped in front of a magnificent manor. The wrought iron gates were tightly closed, and uniformed security guards stood on both sides, serious and vigilant.

"This is..." Ye Feng looked at everything unfamiliar before him, his doubts deepening. This place didn't resemble a restaurant; it was more like a private club.

Qi Xue finally revealed the answer, and she said with a smile, "There's a banquet tonight, and I'd like to invite you to come with me."

"A banquet?" Ye Feng was even more puzzled. "What banquet? I don't know anything about it."

"Oh dear, it was a last-minute decision." Qi Xue's voice carried a hint of coquetry. "There are big shots in the entertainment industry and some investors inside. I'm a little scared to go alone, so I wanted to ask you to be my protector."

As she spoke, she gently took Ye Feng's arm, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Ye Feng felt the warmth from her arm, and his heart skipped a beat. He looked at Qi Xue; under the lights, her makeup was exquisite, her dress shimmering, and she was so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.

“Actually…” Qi Xue’s voice suddenly became very soft, almost drowned out by the wind, “Actually, I just wanted to be with you…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but Ye Feng already understood what she meant.

He sighed softly, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew Qi Xue's feelings for him, but he hadn't fully moved on from his previous relationship.

"Let's go." He finally agreed, his voice tinged with a mixture of helplessness and indulgence.

Qi Xue's face immediately lit up with a bright smile. She took Ye Feng's hand and walked towards the gate of the manor.

The security guard stopped them, saying, "Please show your invitation."

Qi Xue took the invitation out of her handbag and handed it to the security guard, who carefully checked it and then respectfully opened the gate.

"Please come in."

Qi Xue took Ye Feng's arm and walked in with her head held high.

However, Ye Feng was stopped.

"Sir, where is your invitation?" The security guard's voice was icy, leaving no room for leniency.

Ye Feng was stunned. He then realized that he did not have an invitation.

Qi Xue also stopped in her tracks. She turned around and looked at Ye Feng, her eyes filled with apology and worry.

"I...I didn't know you needed an invitation..." She bit her lower lip, at a loss for what to do.

Seeing Qi Xue's anxious expression, Ye Feng felt a pang of guilt. He didn't want to put her in a difficult position, nor did he want to ruin her plans for the evening.

“It’s nothing,” he forced a smile. “I’ll make a call and ask.”

He took out his phone and dialed Mr. Zhang's number. However, a cold, robotic female voice came from the other end: "The number you dialed is temporarily unavailable..."

Ye Feng's heart sank. He realized that tonight's events were probably not so simple.

Just as Ye Feng was about to dial Mr. Zhang's number again, a slightly flippant voice came from the side: "Oh, isn't this Qi Xue? What brings you here?"

Ye Feng looked up and saw a man in a flashy suit with slicked-back hair walking towards him, a smile he thought was charming on his face. It was Xiang Qiang, a minor celebrity in China, whom Ye Feng had seen in some entertainment news.