Don't meet me in your next life.

"Sister!" Xiang Yi cried and threw herself into Shen Hanqian's arms. "I feel so bad. I feel like I'm going to die. I'm so sad."

"Silly girl." Shen Hanqian gently patted Xiang Yiyi's back. "Don't be sad, it's alright. I'm here. I won't let you die."

"Waaah... Sister, tell me, why was I so stupid? I clearly like him, so why can't I let go?"

“You’re still young,” Shen Hanqian comforted her. “You’re too young right now, that’s why you’re so anxious. When you’re older, or when you meet the right person, you won’t be so anxious anymore.”

"Really?" Xiang Yi looked up at Shen Hanqian. "You and your brother-in-law are so lucky. You met someone you love, and you got married and had children. But me..."

Xiang Yi lowered her head, her eyes filled with tears, unsure of what to do.

How ridiculous it is that she falls in love with someone who doesn't love her at all, and then forbids him from marrying another woman.

She doesn't even dare to recall what happened that day.

That scene haunted her like a nightmare, making her heart pound and suffocating her.

Seeing her expression, Shen Hanqian knew that Xiang Yiyi was feeling distressed.

"But..." Xiang Yi still found it hard to accept this fact, "I really can't do it."

"I know it's hard for you to accept, but I hope you can learn to let go," Shen Hanqian said firmly. "To love someone is to generously support them, not interfere in their life, and not force them to do things they don't want to do."

"Don't force him?" Xiang Yi murmured.

Shen Hanqian patted her shoulder, "Yes, don't pressure him. You two are from different worlds, so please stop torturing each other, okay?"

Xiang Yi looked up at Shen Hanqian, "What if he likes someone else?"

Shen Hanqian smiled, looking at Xiang Yiyi with a warm and kind smile. "Yiyi, you're a very sensible and well-behaved child, so I believe in him. No matter who he likes, as long as it's genuine, I support them being together because I want him to be happy."

"Sister," Xiang Yi suddenly hugged Shen Hanqian tightly, "Why are you always so magnanimous? Why do you help others but not yourself?"

Shen Hanqian patted Xiang Yiyi's head. "Because I love him, just like you love your brother-in-law."

“But the difference in your social status is so great, there’s no way he could accept you.” As Xiang Yi spoke, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"So, Yi Yi," Shen Hanqian grasped her shoulders, her face serious, "I have something to tell you. The men in the Song family are all heartless. Song Qingyan's father was like that, and his mother was like that too. So, he could never accept you, sister, do you understand?"

"not understand!"

“Because my sister is different from you.” Shen Hanqian smiled and patted her head. “My sister never asks him for anything; just being by his side is enough for her.”

She loved him, so she didn't want him to be lonely.

She loved him, so she was only willing to protect him silently.

"sister......"

Xiang Yi bit her lip, feeling a pang of bitterness in her heart.

She knew that what Shen Hanqian said was true. Song Qingyan would not easily accept a woman other than his mother. Therefore, Shen Hanqian's existence was superfluous.

However, she still couldn't control her emotions.

Seeing her cry, Shen Hanqian hurriedly wiped away her tears, "Don't cry, my silly little sister, don't cry anymore. It breaks my heart to see you like this."

"Sis, am I...am I really that useless?"

"No, my sister is great."

"But I feel like such a failure. I don't even have the right to pursue love. I... I'm so pathetic." Xiang Yi felt more and more upset as she thought about it.

"Yi Yi, don't overthink it. I've said it before, loving someone doesn't necessarily mean you have to reciprocate their love. As long as they're happy, that's enough."

"Really?"

"Of course, as long as he's happy, you'll be happy."

"What...what if he's having a terrible time? What if he's unhappy? What will I do then?"

Xiang Yi became increasingly upset as she thought about it.

"No, no, I believe in him. He will definitely be happy."

"Okay." Xiang Yi forced a smile. "Let's not talk about him anymore, let's eat."

"Okay, I won't say anything, let's eat."

Shen Hanqian placed a piece of braised pork in Xiang Yi's bowl, saying, "Eat more meat, gain some weight."

Xiang Yi looked at the bright red chicken in the bowl and couldn't help but chuckle, but she had to put on a helpless expression.

"Sis, stop treating me like a little kid. I'm not a child anymore."

Seeing Xiang Yiyi's expression, Shen Hanqian couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, alright, Yiyi isn't a child anymore. Then Yiyi, grow up quickly, get married, and even if you marry the person you love most, you should still think about the person you love most."

"I don't want to marry anyone else!" Xiang Yi said, pouting.

Looking at her like this, Shen Hanqian couldn't help but think of her past with Su Yubai.

Isn't she and Su Yubai just like Xiang Yiyi and Shao Ting now?

Although the two had a relationship, they eventually went their separate ways.

With that thought in mind, Shen Hanqian gathered her thoughts.

Seeing that Shen Hanqian remained silent, Xiang Yi asked, "Sister, are you unhappy?"

"No." Shen Hanqian shook her head, then smiled and patted Yi Yi's head. "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Let's eat."

Xiang Yi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Shen Hanqian glanced at the wall clock; the hour hand had already pointed to six o'clock. She said to Xiang Yi, "I'll take you to the company; it's on my way."

"No need, I'll take the bus."

Xiang Yi declined Shen Hanqian's offer, saying, "It's not the weekend; there must be something going on at the company."

"Then wait for me."

Shen Hanqian got up and walked out of the restaurant. She went to the garage to get her car, while Xiang Yi went to the elevator.

Upon reaching the floor, the elevator doors opened, and Xiang Yi was about to step inside when she suddenly heard someone call her name from behind.

"To Yi Yi?"

Xiang Yi turned around at the sound of the voice and was stunned to see Lu Yun Shen. "Senior Lu? What are you doing here?"

Lu Yun Shen walked towards her. "What, can't you come if there's nothing wrong?"

"...Of course not."

Xiang Yi smiled sheepishly.

"Oh right, you just cried." Lu Yun Shen frowned as he looked at Xiang Yi Yi's red and swollen eyes.

"what?"

Xiang Yi blinked, then covered her eyes with her hands. "Were you crying?"

Why doesn't she remember?

“Yes.” Lu Yunshen looked at Xiang Yiyi. “What happened? You look so sad.”

"No," Xiang Yi quickly denied, "It's just... just some sand in my eyes."

Lu Yun Shen looked at her thoughtfully, and suddenly, he reached out and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"you......"

"Don't move," Lu Yun said in a deep voice, tightening his grip to wipe away her tears before letting go.

Xiang Yi was extremely embarrassed.

"Thank you, Senior Lu."

"You're welcome."