Don't meet me in your next life.

After saying that, Xiang Yi left without looking back.

Shen Mo stood there, stomped her foot angrily, and said, "Xiang Yiyi, you're so mean! How dare you treat me like this!"

--

When Li Shaojing returned to the company, he happened to run into Gu Yiran, who was coming out of the elevator.

Gu Yiran wore a white shirt with the cuffs rolled up to his elbows. The neat suit made him look exceptionally smart and handsome.

Looking at his handsome and upright back, Li Shaojing suddenly felt a little dazed.

His father was once just as handsome and promising as he was.

At that time, every time he saw Gu Yiran, he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy and resentment.

Why does Gu Yiran always attract everyone's attention?

Clearly, he is far more outstanding than him!

Li Shaojing's gaze dimmed somewhat.

Gu Yiran also happened to catch a glimpse of him.

Their eyes met, and Li Shaojing suppressed his resentment and nodded gently at him.

Gu Yiran nodded politely as a greeting and continued walking forward.

Li Shaojing stood there, watching his departing figure, his feelings somewhat complicated.

......

Gu Yiran's car drove away from the Li Group, but stopped in a small alley on the side of the road.

Gu Yiran opened the car window, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.

The rising smoke obscured his facial expression, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

His deep eyes gleamed with a cold, unfathomable light, like a black hole.

After a long while, he took out his phone and dialed Xiang Yiyi's number.

The phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered.

Gu Yiran's thin lips curved slightly, his voice deep and magnetic, like a captivating vintage wine.

"I live near your house, would you like to meet and talk?"

Xiang Yi was stunned; he was actually at her doorstep!

Didn't he know that she no longer lived in the Li family home?

Xiang Yi hesitated for a moment, then agreed, "Okay."

After hanging up the phone, Xiang Yi quickly changed her clothes and went out to meet Gu Yiran.

The two sat in a private room at the coffee shop, and Gu Yiran ordered a coffee.

His gaze was fixed on the window, not on Xiang Yiyi across the way, while Xiang Yiyi was also looking down at the lemon water in her glass, not looking at him either.

The atmosphere was a bit stagnant.

After a while, Xiang Yiyi broke the silence.

"Just say what you want to say."

Gu Yiran glanced at her indifferently, a hint of sarcasm in his smile. "Xiang Yiyi, are you in such a hurry to sever ties with me because I kissed you just now?"

Xiang Yi frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about! I just don't want to get into trouble!"

"Oh, then I should thank you for your kindness."

"You're welcome, it's what I should do."

Xiang Yi lowered her head, unwilling to meet his gaze any longer.

"Heh, Xiang Yiyi, you're really quite frank."

"Gu Yiran, what exactly do you want?"

Gu Yiran picked up his cup, took a sip of coffee, and gazed leisurely out the window, as if lost in his own memories.

His gaze carried a hint of etherealness, as if he were recalling some past memories.

"What do I want? I don't know. I just want to make a deal with you."

Xiang Yi paused for a moment, then looked up at his profile.

She hadn't expected Gu Yiran to make such a request.

Shouldn't he hate her so much he'd be grinding his teeth in hatred?

Gu Yiran's gaze remained fixed on the window. "I don't want Li Shaojing to continue harassing you, nor do I want to see you still entangled with him. If you cooperate obediently, we'll pretend nothing happened."

Xiang Yi was somewhat surprised, "Why should I cooperate with you? We're not familiar with each other, and I don't even know you. Why should I cooperate with you!"

A dark glint flashed in Gu Yiran's eyes. He turned around and glared sharply at Xiang Yiyi.

"Xiang Yiyi, I'm warning you, whatever I, Gu Yiran, set my sights on, I never fail to get!"

Gu Yiran's gaze turned grim. "I am Gu Yiran."

Xiang Yiyi's face turned pale instantly.

She knew who he was: Gu Yiran, the most powerful, richest, and most influential young master in S City.

Xiang Yi was a little flustered; she hadn't expected him to come to her door.

Xiang Yi felt a little scared, but she was not afraid of Gu Yiran.

She didn't want to have anything to do with Li Shaojing, so even if he came to her door, she would never compromise.

"Young Master Gu, I don't understand what you're saying."

Gu Yiran sneered, then extended his long, slender, white fingers to lift her pointed chin, his gaze fixed on her with the sharpness of a cheetah.

"Don't understand? What exactly is your relationship with Li Shaojing? Hmm?"

Gu Yiran's eyes held a dangerous glint, like a hungry beast ready to pounce and tear apart its prey at any moment.

Xiang Yi felt a pang of panic, but she forced herself to remain calm.

She raised her chin, stubbornly confronting him.

“Gu Yiran, there’s nothing between us! I don’t know you! I just hope you stay away from me from now on and never appear in front of me again. I’m already married, and my husband is Li Shaojing. If you continue to harass me like this, I’ll call the police.”

He threatened Yi.

"Call the police? Are you sure you can take down the Li family?"

Gu Yiran scoffed, "If you don't believe me, you're welcome to try!"

Xiang Yi's heart skipped a beat; she felt a little guilty.

He knew Gu Yiran's strength without even testing him.

If he really wants revenge, Xiang Yiyi really can't beat him.

Xiang Yi felt deflated and looked at him helplessly. "Gu Yiran, we have nothing to do with each other anymore. Please let me go."

"I have no intention of letting you go, Xiang Yiyi. You are the young mistress of the Li family, yet you pretend not to know me. You say your relationship with Li Shaojing is completely innocent, so where is this marriage certificate? You say you two aren't husband and wife? Then how did your marriage come about? Don't forget, you abandoned Li Shaojing and ran away on your wedding day."

"..."

Xiang Yi was speechless, and she lowered her head, no longer speaking.

She also wanted to know why Li Shaojing's parents agreed to let her marry him, and why the two elders of the Li family would acknowledge her as their daughter-in-law.

But she couldn't bring herself to ask.

Xiang Yi gritted her teeth and decided to ignore Gu Yiran.

She lowered her head, picked up her bag, and got up to leave, but Gu Yiran grabbed her arm.

"Xiang Yiyi! Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Let me tell you, even if you don't divorce Li Shaojing today, I won't give you up. I've got my eye on you!"

"Gu Yiran! Don't go too far! I'm warning you, if you touch me again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Xiang Yi's arm ached from his pinching, and she grew increasingly angry.

Gu Yiran glanced at her disdainfully, his gaze sweeping over the half of her snow-white skin that was exposed on her chest.

He leaned down, close to Yi Yi's ear, and whispered, "Whether I want to touch you or not, we'll only know after we try!"

His hot breath sprayed onto her neck, tickling her and causing Xiang Yiyi's body to tremble involuntarily.

Xiang Yiyi's face flushed red, and she glared at Gu Yiran resentfully.