Pei Nianchen was silent for a good while. He looked at Gu Jiayin, with a myriad of emotions surging in his eyes. His handsome, dark eyebrows knitted slightly, and he felt very sorry for never noticing. Finally, he asked calmly, "Is it because of Xiya?" Is it because of Lu Xiya that she’s rejecting him ? Gu Jiayin couldn’t help frowning, unsure of how to explain. Just as she hesitated to organize her words, she saw him pick up his phone and dial a number. "Xiya, please come to Yuxiang Garden, there’s something I need to clarify with you in person." It wasn’t until Pei Nianchen hung up the phone and placed it back on the table that Gu Jiayin reacted. She stood up awkwardly, "Brother Nianchen, you..." How could he directly ask Xiya to come, that would make Xiya feel embarrassed. Pei Nianchen, however, remained seated, expressionless, looking at her very calmly, "Jiayin, I will resolve every reason you have to reject me." Gu Jiayin involuntarily bit her lower lip and sighed deeply, "Brother Nianchen, I don’t want you to treat Xiya ." As she spoke, she grabbed her bag and was about to leave, but her wrist was caught, and Pei Nianchen stood up as well. He spoke without much fluctuation in his tone, "Jiayin, go sit down. If you keep pushing me, I don’t mind forcing you to sit down." Gu Jiayin turned her head, a bit helpless, "Brother Nianchen, it should have ended between us. Even if you don’t accept Xiya, you don’t have to embarrass her ." Pei Nianchen was unmoved, "It’s not about embarrassing her, it’s about making everything clear between the three of us so that you won’t have any psychological barriers, and we can all be more comfortable." His gaze was sharp, like the brightest starlight at midnight, clear and undeniable as he uttered three words, "Go sit down." Gu Jiayin’s whole face flushed with anger. Her Brother Nianchen would never force her to do anything, but after two months apart, upon seeing him again, he had changed, becoming so domineering. Even though he had always treated her tenderly, his tone was much softer than before. Yet, he wouldn’t allow her to refuse any of his demands. She didn’t like it and wasn’t accustomed to it. So, she turned her face away, not looking at him, silently protesting. Pei Nianchen quietly watched her, his handsome eyes deep and silent, holding too much desolation she couldn’t comprehend. Sixteen years together, seven years apart, two days reunited, and she proposed a breakup, choosing Sheng Qianchi, and now that she and Sheng Qianchi had broken up, she still wouldn’t choose him again. Could anyone wield a divine brush to draw a bridge between them, allowing him to enter her heart once more? Even at the cost of death. Through countless youthful years, her image was etched deeply in his mind. His little Jiayin could not belong to another man, she should have been with him. His whole being exuded a chilling aura. While the two were at a stalemate, the door was pushed open, and Lu Xiya appeared at the entrance. Upon seeing the two people in the room, she froze momentarily. Although she still didn’t know why Pei Nianchen had called her, there was an undeniable feeling of discomfort. Her gaze slowly moved from the two hands tightly clasped together to their faces, her lips moved but no words came out. Too awkward, she could only smile awkwardly. Even a fool could understand that Pei Nianchen didn’t want to let go, yet she had agreed to Gu Jiayin to love him well on her behalf. Gu Jiayin felt very troubled, she wanted to step forward and grab Lu Xiya’s hand to lead her away, but Pei Nianchen was holding onto her hand tightly. She feared him saying any word, but he didn’t give her a second to ease the tension, immediately questioning, "Xiya, Jiayin said you like me, is that true?" Lu Xiya felt a prickle on her back. Her feelings for him were always hidden in her heart, and now being questioned so directly by him, with such an emotionless gaze, was outright embarrassing. Lu Xiya smiled and lowered her head, looking worse than crying. Her slender white hand gripped a small black purse, hanging in front of her, curled tightly, her gaze unfocused on the zipper of the purse. Time began to stall, the space sank into silence. Gu Jiayin also felt faintly stuck, glancing at Pei Nianchen to let go, but he remained unmoved. His hand always held hers, his eyes fixed on Lu Xiya, "Xiya, answer me!" Xiya’s affection for him made him angry because she was Gu Jiayin’s best friend, yet she secretly covets her man, even letting her know. Lu Xiya felt more embarrassed, her head hanging lower. Even at the hardest times in life, when being chased by debt collectors, she never felt the urge to escape like she did now. "Brother Nianchen, please stop," Gu Jiayin’s tone and eyes almost pleading. Yet Pei Nianchen continued to stare at Lu Xiya, each word crystal clear and resolute, "Speak, Xiya." Silence returned to the space. Ten seconds later, Lu Xiya seemed to muster up immense courage, lifted her head, "Yes," she looked at Pei Nianchen, her beautiful eyes shimmering with tears, "I do like you, but I never wanted to ruin you and Jiayin, I..." "Enough," Pei Nianchen interrupted her, "I don’t want to hear any of your reasons, I just want to tell you, I have no feelings for you beyond sibling affection, not before, not now, not ever." He held Gu Jiayin’s hand tighter, raised it to his chest, "Look clearly, I am the man of your best sister." Lu Xiya’s tears were brimming, almost overflowing. Gu Jiayin, however, could no longer maintain, she forcefully shook off Pei Nianchen’s hand, "Brother Nianchen, that’s enough!" "Jiayin," before Pei Nianchen could do anything, Lu Xiya spoke first, her tears finally started to fall, her voice choked with sobs, "Brother Nianchen is right, I shouldn’t have liked him, even secretly loving him is sinful, because he belongs to you." Gu Jiayin wanted to say something but was stopped by Lu Xiya raising her hand, "Jiayin, although Brother Nianchen’s actions made me uncomfortable, his way is correct, we’ve all grown up together like family, speaking it clearly, directly is best." For more chapters visit novel~fire~net She wiped away her tears, adjusted her smile, and looked up at Pei Nianchen, "Brother Nianchen, I admit I’ve always liked you since we were young, but I never hoped for more. Liking someone is involuntary, giving up on someone emotionally is also beyond one’s control." Her smile, under the cover of tears, became desolate and blurred, "Jiayin always said, liking someone isn’t a crime, Brother Nianchen, don’t you think so?" Affinity may only take a moment to begin, but it may require many knots to unravel and end. It may only take a glance to like someone, but it can take a long emotional journey to let go of someone.