"Are you interrogating me, Ethan Yin?" Cherry Miller retorted.
"I wouldn't dare," Ethan Yin replied immediately. "I'm just curious, that's all."
Cherry Miller lowered her eyes and said, "Since you know my studies are easy, of course I've devoted my energy elsewhere. Even while studying abroad, I was Yina's Chief Special Assistant. You know how Yina is—she's not patient with business matters, so as her assistant, I have to manage her assets. Some things I can delegate, but some I must handle myself. People only have so much energy."
"So for those four years, you used work as an excuse to brush me off. And now you use Tang De as an excuse." Ethan Yin nodded. "Got it."
A hint of embarrassment flashed across Cherry Miller's face. "Ethan, didn't we agree not to talk about this anymore?"
"Alright, then let me tell you what I've been doing these past four years." Ethan Yin picked up his wine glass, a smile playing on his lips. "Besides school, Gu Miao and I had to deal with company matters, and we also had to make time for the base assessments. After all that, we took down someone who threatened the Yin Group, making sure he'd never recover. The year we graduated, we restructured all the Field Family's assets and set them on the right track."
"After all that, every other moment, I spent thinking about you." Ethan Yin suddenly blurted out.
Cherry Miller was almost caught off guard by his words.
"When you told me you wanted to break up, I felt like my world collapsed. I never imagined we'd be apart. I may seem carefree, but I've never been fickle in love. When you're busy, I wait for you quietly. When you leave, I chase you back." Ethan Yin said.
Cherry Miller looked uneasy. "Ethan, let's not talk about this anymore."
"Why not talk about it? I'm just telling you how I feel, I'm not forcing you to accept it," Ethan Yin said softly. "The first few days after you left, I felt like my world had collapsed. Even when I've been cheated in business, it never felt like this. But after you left, it did. Later, I threw myself into work to numb the pain. At first it worked, but nobody can work forever. The moment I had downtime, I'd start wondering—did I do something wrong? Did I do something to make you unhappy?"
"I heard you went to Sunset Manor. More than once, I almost went straight there to find you. But I forced myself to hold back. I didn't want to trouble you. You're not the kind of person to be unreasonable or throw tantrums. If you did this, you must have your reasons." Ethan Yin said, "I want to hear your reason, from you."
"There's no reason," Cherry Miller replied quietly. "I don't really have a reason to give you."
Ethan Yin looked helpless. "You really... won't even brush me off a little, huh?"
"If I just brush you off, it's the same as saying nothing," Cherry Miller said. "So it's better not to say anything at all."
"Alright, but even so, don't think you can scare me off." Ethan Yin laughed softly. "But don't worry, I'm not the clingy type."
Of course Cherry Miller knew that.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have come along.
"I'll say it again—if you ever run into trouble, just come to me." Ethan Yin said, "Luckily, we're both still young. We have time. And you don't need to bring up my parents—they're more open-minded than anyone. Even if I stay single at thirty, they wouldn't mind. Besides, there's Nora! Nora's child is also an heir to the Yin family."
With that, Ethan Yin had blocked all of Cherry Miller's excuses, leaving her with no way to refuse.
"Gu Miao and I already talked it over. If I never get married, he'll have another child with Nora and give that child to my parents, so the Yin family line won't end. So you don't have to worry about us being left without an heir. If I can't marry someone I truly love, I'd rather stay single forever. My child will only call the woman I love most 'Mom.' No one else is worthy of having my child."
"Do you remember a few years ago, when we visited Grandma together? She said the men of the Yin family are passionate, but also ruthless. Once we choose someone, we never change. Grandpa was like that, Dad was like that, and so am I."
"I'm not telling you this to guilt-trip you. I'm just letting you know my attitude and my decision. If one day you meet someone you truly love and marry him happily, I won't stand in your way or meddle. I'll give you my blessing, make sure your wedding is grand, and be your support so no one ever bullies you."
As Cherry Miller listened to Ethan Yin, her heart was in turmoil.
How could she ever love someone else?
She wasn't the type to fall in and out of love so easily!
After all these years together, childhood friends growing up side by side—how could she just let go?
Cherry Miller's heart wavered. She almost blurted out the real reason she left Ethan Yin.
Just then, her phone buzzed on the table.
A message popped up.
Cherry Miller glanced at the sender, and all her excitement was instantly doused like cold water poured over her head.
The sender was her deadbeat dad.
Whenever her dad messaged, it was always about money.
She'd just given him a sum of money, and now, just a few days later, he'd already blown through it?
Hold it in. Hold it in.
Just a little longer.
Once she found his weakness and struck the fatal blow, she'd never have to be held back by him again!
Cherry Miller quickly flipped her phone over and pressed it down on the table. "I remember what you said. If that day ever comes, I'll tell you."
After speaking, Cherry Miller hurriedly lowered her gaze, unable to meet Ethan Yin's eyes.
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She felt guilty. She felt ashamed.
Ethan Yin just smiled and said lightly, "Eat before it gets cold."
"Okay." Cherry Miller said nothing more and quietly focused on her meal.
Meanwhile, at a bar, Kuisheng was drinking with his buddies, glancing again and again in the direction of the hotel.
"Kuisheng, what are you looking at? It's rare for you to come out with us. Who's got you so distracted?" one of his friends asked, curious. "Is it your crush?"
Kuisheng replied immediately, "What are you talking about? I'm just worried about my boss, whether he'll get what he wants tonight."
"Your boss—that's... Wait! Ethan Yin is here too?" someone exclaimed in surprise.
"Yeah."
"So if you're out, who's with him?"
"Don't go poking your noses into this! My boss's business isn't something you guys can just gossip about!"
The group immediately fell silent—no one dared ask any more questions!
Back in the academy days, nobody could outshine Ethan Yin.
"Alright, alright, let's drink! We haven't seen each other in years—tonight, we drink till we drop!" Everyone quickly changed the subject, and the atmosphere became lively again.
But in the hotel, Ethan Yin and Cherry Miller couldn't match that energy.
Even if Ethan Yin wanted to lighten the mood, it was pointless if Cherry Miller wouldn't cooperate.
Just as Cherry Miller finished her meal and was about to leave, someone suddenly rang the doorbell.
With Kuisheng gone, Cherry Miller took on the job of answering the door.
She opened the door and saw Tian Mengmeng, whom she'd met earlier at the exhibition, standing outside looking shy.
"What are you doing here?" Tian Mengmeng's shy expression instantly turned to anger when she saw Cherry Miller.
"That's funny, Miss Tian. Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Cherry Miller looked at her, speechless. "Can I help you with something?"
"I'm not here for you! Move aside! I want to talk to him!" Tian Mengmeng puffed up like a proud rooster, glaring into the room at Ethan Yin.
Cherry Miller replied, "Sorry to disappoint you! Not only will I not move, but I have every right to hold you accountable for following us. Miss Tian, we booked this room. If you barge in, I can press charges!"
"What's your problem, old woman? You think just because you're clinging to him, he's yours?" Tian Mengmeng shamelessly declared, "Let me be honest—I've got my eye on him! Move!"
"Not moving." Cherry Miller might be petite, but her presence was anything but small.
Tian Mengmeng tried to push Cherry Miller, but Cherry grabbed her wrist and pressed it back with ease.
"Ow, ow, ow! Let go, old woman! My hand's gonna break!" Tian Mengmeng had thought Cherry Miller would be easy to bully, given her delicate looks.
But Tian Mengmeng never expected Cherry Miller to actually fight back.
It was like she'd seen a ghost!
Who would've thought a cute, soft girl could actually be tough?
Of course, Tian Mengmeng had no idea—Cherry Miller was Yina Yin's Chief Special Assistant. How could she possibly be weak?
Cherry Miller might not be a match for Yina Yin or Ethan Yin, but she could easily handle a social media influencer.
Martial arts were a basic part of the Yin family's curriculum from childhood!
"If Miss Tian can't understand plain language, I don't mind letting the hotel staff deal with you." Seeing Tian Mengmeng's face go pale with pain, Cherry Miller finally let go. "Or, maybe you'd like to talk to my legal team about compensation for damages?"
"You... you..." Tian Mengmeng stomped her foot in frustration.
She couldn't win the argument, and she couldn't win the fight.
How could she be so unlucky?
Tian Mengmeng didn't dare push Cherry Miller any further. She looked past Cherry, and with teary eyes, cried to Ethan Yin, "Are you just going to stand there and watch this old woman bully me? I only wanted your help, and she treats me like this! Aren't you afraid of having nightmares with such a vicious woman around you?"