On the day of her return to China, she was tied up and coaxed by the richest man to get her marriage

The midsummer breeze is dry and scorching, rustling through the branches and leaves of the verdant pines and cypresses, making a series of unsettling sounds.

The two stood facing each other in the shade of the tree, creating a subtle magnetic field that made even the wind blowing on them seem quieter.

Yu Jinzhao reached out and caught a leaf falling in front of her, tracing its verdant veins. Her slightly lowered cheeks were delicate and charming.

"You call me Miss, so should I call you Si Qing, or A Qi?"

Her voice was soft as mist, with a hint of barely perceptible expectation in its cool probing, which was quickly rippled outwards by the wind.

Si Qing didn't look at her. He took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, his expression a mix of indifference and languor, his voice flat and emotionless.

"Today, it can be Ah Qi."

In other words, it's only valid for this one day.

Her breath caught in her throat, a surge of inexplicable emotions welling up inside her. Unconsciously, she clenched her fist, crumpling the leaf in her palm in two, revealing the turmoil within her.

She lowered her head to hide it, her gaze naturally falling on the shadows of the two people diagonally to the ground.

He was such a tall, handsome man, so exceptionally beautiful that even his shadow exuded a cold, noble air, with sharply defined features and an unbelievably handsome appearance.

Like the silhouette of a sacred and inviolable statue, it exudes a sense of aloof sophistication from its very core.

She suddenly laughed, but it was a chilling laugh. Her once sparkling fox-like eyes seemed somewhat dim in the cool shade. She swallowed, her throat feeling dry.

"Ah Qi, are you making it up to me?"

His tone was calm, but upon closer listening, a hint of sarcasm was evident.

Si Qing turned his face, his deep, ink-black eyes reflecting soft light. With a gentle sway, ripples of color flowed, creating a serene and moving scene.

He raised his eyebrows, a hint of satisfaction in his expression. "You've learned your lesson."

Yu Jinzhao detected a hint of mockery in his calm tone.

In just a moment, the memory was pulled back to a certain instant.

At that time, she naively regarded Jiang Xintong as her best friend.

One day when she came home from school, Jiang Xintong came to her crying and complaining that Aqi had hit her.

That was Si Qing's first year in the Yu family, a time when their relationship was extremely hostile.

At the time, she felt that Si Qing was provoking her and bullying her sister, so she angrily questioned Si Qing.

Back then, he wasn't as cold-blooded and aloof as he is now. He exuded a refined and stoic air from the bottom of his heart, mixed with the unruly spirit unique to young people.

Faced with her questioning, he merely gave a cold sneer, his expression unreadable, and replied condescendingly,

"Stay away from Jiang Xintong in the future, or you'll regret it if you make a mistake."

At that time, she felt that he was trying to sow discord between them. Their mutual dislike had dragged the innocent Jiang Xintong into it. She couldn't help but clench her fists, wanting to punch him and avenge her sister.

He easily grabbed her hand, pinning her against the wall, a slight, arrogant smile playing on his lips.

"I'm responsible for protecting the young lady's personal safety. You think you can take me down with your mediocre skills? You're underestimating my abilities."

She was powerless to resist under his control, glaring at him angrily and uttering some curses in a helpless rage.

He listened to her scolding, looking lazy and carefree, staring straight at her, surprisingly not retaliating.

She was puzzled at the time. He was such an arrogant person, yet he never suffered a loss. Even though she was his young lady, every time she confronted him, he would retort with a sharp tongue, leaving the cunning woman speechless.

She could never keep a secret, so she directly asked him why he wasn't saying anything, as if he was in the wrong.

His languid gaze suddenly turned intensely serious. He stared at her for a long time, his expression a mixture of scrutiny and pity, before slowly speaking.

"I'm just wondering, when will the young lady learn to be a little smarter?"