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

"Don't speak," Ye Feng interrupted her, his voice low and hoarse. He carefully picked up Liu Qingyi, his movements as gentle as if he were holding a fragile treasure.

The nauseating scent of Qian Yu still lingered on Liu Qingyi's body. Ye Feng suppressed his nausea and quickly walked out of the room. The dimly lit corridor, filled with the smell of disinfectant, made him feel suffocated.

He put Liu Qingyi in the car and fastened her seatbelt. Liu Qingyi gradually regained consciousness, and tears silently streamed down her face.

"Ye Feng, let me explain..." she choked, trying to grab Ye Feng's hand.

Ye Feng avoided her touch and started the car. The roar of the engine broke the silence of the night, and like a sharp blade, it severed the remaining warmth between the two.

Along the way, Liu Qingyi explained intermittently, her voice trembling and on the verge of tears. Ye Feng, however, remained silent, his face as gloomy as the clouds before a storm.

The car stopped downstairs at Liu Qingyi's apartment building. Liu Qingyi, sobbing, grabbed Ye Feng's sleeve, "Ye Feng, why...why can't you forgive me?"

Ye Feng looked at her, his eyes filled with complex emotions—heartache, anger, and above all, helplessness. "We...can't go back." He gently pulled his sleeve back, his tone so calm it was heartbreaking.

Liu Qingyi wanted to say something, but he interrupted her, "Get out of the car."

Despairing, Liu Qingyi got out of the car and stood by the roadside, watching Ye Feng's car speed away, tears blurring her vision. The night wind blew by, bringing a chill, and making her realize even more clearly that it was truly over between her and Ye Feng.

She staggered to Ye Feng's car, wanting to explain again, even wanting to kiss him and beg for his forgiveness. But Ye Feng turned away, his eyes cold and unmoved.

Just as Liu Qingyi was about to struggle, a clear, cold voice rang out, "Ye Feng."

Qi Xue stood not far away, quietly watching this scene, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

The night breeze was cool, and the glow of the streetlights cast dappled shadows on Liu Qingyi's face. Her eyes were red, and tears trembled on her eyelashes like pearls that might fall at any moment.

Qi Xue's appearance made the explanations and pleas that she wanted to say stuck in her throat, like a fishbone, making it difficult for her to breathe.

She gave Ye Feng a deep look, then turned and staggered away. The crisp "tap-tap" of her high heels on the asphalt was particularly clear in the quiet night, as if it were pounding on Ye Feng's heart.

Qi Xue walked up to Ye Feng, the streetlights casting long shadows behind her, enveloping her in a hazy glow.

The night breeze stirred her long hair, carrying a faint fragrance that contrasted sharply with the strong perfume lingering on Liu Qingyi's body, making Ye Feng feel inexplicably irritated.

"Ye Feng." Qi Xue's voice was soft, yet carried a slight, almost imperceptible tremor. She looked at Ye Feng, her eyes filled with complex emotions, like a bottomless lake, making it impossible to discern her thoughts.

Ye Feng took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He rubbed his temples, his voice tinged with weariness, "Thank you, Qi Xue."

Qi Xue's gaze fell on Ye Feng's clenched fist, which still bore clear bruises and bloodstains—the marks left from his earlier beating of Qian Yu. She remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "Do you... still have feelings for her?"

Ye Feng paused, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. He looked in the direction Liu Qingyi had left. Under the streetlights, her figure had become blurred, just like their relationship, shrouded in mist, with no clear future.

"I don't know." Ye Feng's voice was low and hoarse, as if he were talking to himself.

Qi Xue sighed, her tone tinged with helplessness, "If you still can't let go, try to let go of the past. Some things, once they're over, are over, and no matter how much you dwell on them, you can't go back."

"I know." Ye Feng's tone remained calm, without any discernible emotional fluctuation.

Qi Xue said nothing more and turned to leave. Her high heels clicked crisply on the pavement, gradually fading into the distance and eventually disappearing into the night.

Ye Feng stood there, watching Qi Xue's departing figure, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He got back into his car, started the engine, and the car slowly drove away. The scenery outside the car window rushed past, just like his chaotic thoughts, which seemed lost and directionless.

The carriage was filled with a faint smell of tobacco, mixed with the lingering scent of Liu Qingyi's perfume, making him feel suffocated. He opened the window, letting the cold air rush in, trying to dispel the irritating atmosphere, but he couldn't shake off the lingering unease in his heart.

Liu Qingyi, Qian Yu, Qi Xue... These names swirled in his mind, weaving into a dense net that bound him tightly, making it hard for him to breathe.

He scratched his head in frustration, then slammed his fist on the steering wheel with a dull thud. He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself, but he couldn't control the turmoil in his thoughts.

Finally, he took out his phone and dialed Liu Yunfei's number.

"Hey, Yunfei, do me a favor." His voice was deep and hoarse, carrying an unquestionable command.

"What is it?" Liu Yunfei's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Help me find someone to follow Qian Yu, find the right opportunity, and detain him."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone before Liu Yunfei's hesitant voice came through, "The Qian family is our mortal enemy; it's not good to provoke them..."

"So what if I've messed with them?" Ye Feng's tone was icy, carrying a hint of resoluteness. "Anyway, I don't want to continue the relationship."

Liu Qingyi stumbled back home. The crystal chandelier in the entryway emitted a cold light, which made her face appear even paler than paper.

She mechanically changed her shoes, the sound of her high heels hitting the floor echoing in the empty room, like a dull, painful tap on her heart.

She leaned against the wall, slowly making her way to the living room. Waves of pain washed over her, making her almost unable to stand. She slumped helplessly onto the sofa, her delicate makeup ruined by tears, like an oil painting soaked by rain, utterly disheveled.

She raised her hand tremblingly, touching the shocking bruises on her neck and arms. Tears welled up again, silently streaming down her face and dripping onto the expensive cashmere carpet, staining it with dark patterns.

"Ye Feng..." she murmured the name softly, her voice hoarse, filled with endless regret and despair. She knew that perhaps there was truly no going back between her and Ye Feng.

She hugged herself tightly, trying to draw warmth, but only felt a bone-chilling cold. The room was filled with the faint scent of lilies, her favorite perfume, but now it made her feel nauseous.