Better a Short Pain Than a Long One

Nathan Ye's words landed in the crowd like a bomb, instantly causing an uproar.

April stood there, flustered and at a loss. Leonard Liang immediately rushed over to shield his fiancée, placing her safely behind him.

The Liang Family Elders glared warily at the uninvited guest and said, "Minister Ye, please show some respect. April is already betrothed to our family!"

Nathan Ye looked hesitantly at the Liang Family Elders. "This is between me and Miss April. Outsiders, please stay out of it!"

Nathan Ye's behavior frightened April, who shrank behind Leonard Liang.

Seeing the situation, Su Li hurried in to break the tension, desperately signaling Nathan Ye with her eyes. "Minister Ye, if you have something to say, let's go somewhere else. This is not the right place!"

But Nathan Ye was beyond persuasion. He ignored everyone else, his gaze fixed intently on April. Summoning all his courage, he declared, "Miss April, I've liked you for a very, very long time. From the moment I met you, it was love at first sight. I know my old self—with the bald head—wasn't worthy of you, and I'm seven years older than you. But look, my hair is growing back! Give me a few more months and it’ll be long enough—I won’t look like your elder anymore!"

As he spoke, Nathan Ye ducked his head and stretched it forward, frantically tugging at his hair. "See? My hair really is growing! It's true, look! This isn't a wig—it's my own hair, grown from a secret remedy!"

Nathan Ye’s head was right in front of Leonard Liang and April.

The newlyweds stared at the patchy fuzz on his head, utterly speechless.

April was startled by Nathan Ye and said, "Minister Ye, this has nothing to do with your hair. I—I truly love Leonard Liang. He’s the one I want to be with. I’ve told you before, I only respect you like an uncle. There’s nothing more to it."

"I'm only seven years older than you! I don’t want to be your elder—do I look that old!?" Nathan Ye looked up at April, half-crazed and half-heartbroken. "April, tell me, what’s wrong with me? Why don’t you like me? I met you first—why did you choose someone else!?"

April was utterly overwhelmed. She knew a lot of people, but who could have guessed Nathan Ye harbored such feelings?

But with the whole Liang family present, April realized she had to set things straight in front of her future in-laws. Otherwise, it would be a lingering issue and a source of misunderstandings later.

Besides, she was about to get married. She couldn’t let Nathan Ye hold on to any false hope—otherwise, it would only hurt him more.

So April steeled herself and said, "Minister Ye, I think you’ve misunderstood. My interactions with you were purely work-related—nothing more. I don’t understand your feelings, nor am I interested in understanding them. I’m engaged now, and my heart belongs only to my fiancé. Please don’t say such strange things to me again. Our joint project is finished, the Bun Hairpiece Workshop is open, and we won’t have any more collaborations. I hope you can forget about me. Whether you have hair or not, it doesn’t matter—I will never have feelings for you."

Nathan Ye’s face fell as if struck by lightning, so miserable he looked ready to end it all.

But April was resolute: "Minister Ye, I’m telling you this as plainly and clearly as I can—for your own good. Better a short pain than a long one. Please let go of this idea!"