Beijing Colors Lingering

After a long while, dinner ended, and the three of them left the restaurant.

Song Yubai walked to Qiao Yunshu's side and said gently, "Yunshu, I'll take you home."

Before Qiao Yunshu could answer, He Sinian put his arm around her shoulder, glanced lazily at Song Yubai, and said in a low voice, "No need, I'll take her home."

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere froze for a moment.

Qiao Yunshu could naturally sense the strange atmosphere. She then looked up at Song Yubai and smiled, "You don't need to see me off. I'll take He Sinian's car home."

Song Yubai nodded upon hearing this, "Alright, I'll be going to the Qiao family's old residence tomorrow. See you then."

"Mmm," Qiao Yunshu replied softly. Her mother had sent her a message today, asking her to go back to the Qiao family's old house tomorrow.

After Song Yubai left, He Sinian took Qiao Yunshu's hand and walked to the roadside.

The car then arrived at the gate of the villa area where Qiao Yunshu lived.

As usual, He Sinian got out of the car and accompanied her inside.

When they were almost at Qiao Yunshu's door, He Sinian stopped.

He suddenly asked, "Why don't you want to really date me? I remember you said before that you had someone you liked. Do you still like him? Is that why you don't agree to be with me?"

Qiao Yunshu was stunned upon hearing this, and that familiar face flashed through her mind. She then shook her head decisively, "I stopped liking him a long time ago."

He Sinian's brows furrowed slowly, and he asked with a puzzled look, "Since you no longer like him, why don't you want to be with me?"

Qiao Yunshu lowered her eyes and remained silent for a long while before asking softly, "If you ever feel that we're not a good match, will you break up with me immediately?"

He Sinian replied decisively, "I have never felt that we are incompatible, and I will never think so in the future."

Qiao Yunshu pursed her lips and calmly asked him, "I'm talking about hypotheticals. Didn't you break up with your ex-girlfriend before because you felt it wasn't right for you? Can you guarantee that you won't have similar thoughts again in the future?"

He Sinian was speechless for a moment, his expression suddenly becoming complicated and indescribable. This was the first time he had experienced the feeling of shooting himself in the foot.

He Sinian quickly organized his explanation and said, "I broke up with her not just because I felt we weren't compatible. I only started dating her because I had some feelings for her."

He Sinian paused for a few seconds, then recounted what his ex-girlfriend had done.

After hearing this, Qiao Yunshu looked up in slight surprise and stared at He Sinian, not expecting there to be another reason.

He Sinian continued, "I have no feelings for her. Even without all these upsetting things, our relationship wouldn't have lasted. And I also regret that I was too soft-hearted to accept her advances back then."

Immediately afterward, He Sinian grasped Qiao Yunshu's hand and said with utmost sincerity, "Yunshu, I like you, and I truly want to be with you. Please give me a chance."

Qiao Yunshu's gaze fell on He Sinian's palm, her heart stirred slightly, and she couldn't help but recall what he had done during this period of time.

It would be a lie to say that I have absolutely no feelings for him.

After a moment, Qiao Yunshu moved her lips, her ears turning slightly red, and whispered, "I'll think about it some more."

He Sinian's lips curled up slightly. "Alright, then give me a chance to pursue you?"

After a long while, Qiao Yunshu nodded gently, withdrew her hand, and walked forward.

He Sinian's eyes were filled with a warm smile as he stepped up to follow beside her.

-

The next afternoon, Qiao Yunshu arrived at the Qiao family's old residence. As soon as she entered the hall on the first floor, she saw Song Yubai and her sister Qiao Yunran.

Song Yubai looked at her and smiled gently, "Yun Shu."

Qiao Yunshu looked at Song Yubai, smiled at him, then walked to Qiao Yunran's side, affectionately took her arm, and called out, "Sister."

Seeing this, Song Yubai sat down on the sofa opposite, leaving the two sisters some space to chat.

Qiao Yunran smiled slightly and asked, "How have you been lately? Is the dessert shop doing well?"

Qiao Yunshu replied with a smile, "Everything is fine."

Qiao Yunran then asked her, "How is your relationship with He Sinian? You two will be getting engaged soon. If you don't want to get engaged to him, I'll talk to Mom and Dad."

Qiao Yunshu couldn't help but recall what He Sinian had said to her last night, then shook her head, "No need, I get along with him quite well."

Qiao Yunran nodded in relief and patted the back of her hand. "That's good. If you don't want to be with him anymore, just tell me."

Qiao Yunshu: "Okay, sister, I understand."

After dinner, Song Yubai and Qiao Yunran told Qiao's parents about their plan to break off their engagement.

Mr. Qiao's expression suddenly turned cold and stern. His sharp gaze swept over Qiao Yunran, and he said unhappily, "Why do you suddenly want to break off the engagement? I don't agree."

Qiao's mother earnestly advised, "Your relationship has been very good over the years. If any problems arise, then resolve them properly. There's no need to dissolve the engagement directly. Marriage is not a game."

Qiao Yunshu sat quietly to the side, offering no opinion. She knew her sister well; she always thought things through carefully before making any decisions.

Song Yubai stood up at the right moment and bowed slightly to Qiao Fu and Qiao's mother.

With an apologetic look on his face, he spoke slowly, "Uncle Qiao, Aunt Qiao, it's all my fault. I've been abroad for the past few years and busy with work, so I've neglected Yunran a lot and haven't shown her much care. Our relationship is just like that of friends now, so I decided to cut my losses and stop delaying Yunran."

After speaking, Song Yubai bowed slightly to Qiao's parents again.

Upon hearing this, Mr. Qiao looked at Song Yubai, his brows furrowed, and questioned him in a deep voice: "You want to separate from my daughter with just a few casual words? Do you think you've done right by the help our Qiao family gave you back then?"

Before Song Yubai could speak, Qiao Yunran stood up, her expression calm, and spoke slowly and deliberately:

“Dad, the Qiao family’s initial assistance to Song Yubai was merely a choice made after weighing the pros and cons. In recent years, we have cooperated with the Song family many times, and you are well aware of how much profit and benefit we have gained from it.”

"Also, I am only informing you that I am breaking off my engagement with Song Yubai, not discussing it with you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Qiao's face darkened completely, and he said coldly, "Now you think you're all grown up and don't even listen to me anymore."

"Dad," Qiao Yunran smiled and said calmly, "I will have my assistant announce this to the public in a few days, so you don't need to worry about it."

After she finished speaking, she looked up at Song Yubai and said, "There's nothing for you to do here. You can go back now."

Upon hearing this, Song Yubai nodded to Mr. and Mrs. Qiao, "Uncle Qiao, Aunt Qiao, I'll head home now. I'll come visit you again next time."

After Song Yubai left, Qiao's mother continued to persuade Qiao Yunran: "Yunran, you should think it over again. Yubai is a very suitable marriage partner. After all, you have been together for several years. If outsiders find out that you have suddenly broken off your engagement, who knows what they will think of you."

"Mom, I'm going back to my room to rest now," Qiao Yunran replied calmly, then turned and walked into the internal elevator.

The reason she agreed to the marriage alliance with Song Yubai was simply because she wanted to take control of the Qiao family as soon as possible. There was never any affection between them; it was merely a business relationship where each got what they wanted.

Now that she is the heir to the Qiao family, she naturally doesn't need this marriage.

Seeing Qiao Yunran leave, Qiao Yunshu also wanted to go back to her bedroom upstairs. Just as she was about to get up, her phone vibrated.

She unlocked the phone and checked the message, then paused, realizing it was from Song Yubai.

[Yunshu, do you have time now? I want to talk to you about something. I haven't left yet; I'm standing at the door.]