Miles Gu froze.
Five days later?
So, in five days, he and Yina Yin would truly have nothing to do with each other anymore?
Just a few days ago, he was eagerly waiting for the engagement to end, but now he couldn't feel happy at all.
He watched Yina Yin smile radiantly at Gavin Gao, and his heart felt sour.
What's wrong with me?
Why do I feel so awful?
My chest feels tight, like a huge stone is pressing down, making it hard to breathe.
Shouldn't I be happy to finally get rid of an unwanted engagement and a woman I don't like?
So why can't I be happy? Why does it even hurt?
Isn't the person I love supposed to be Elisa?
Who is the person I truly love?
Having spent so much time together, Ethan Yin could sense Miles Gu's mood swings, no matter how well Miles tried to hide them.
As if worried Miles Gu wasn't sad enough, Ethan Yin added, "Yina is only 21, but she's the only daughter of the Yin Family. Everyone wants her. Since news of your breakup spread, our parents' business partners have been asking if there's a favored son-in-law. If not, they're eager to bring their single sons over for a look. So your breakup ceremony with Yina is also a suitor-viewing banquet for our parents."
Miles Gu felt not only his heart ache, but even his mouth turn sour.
He heard himself blurt out, "So soon?"
"How could it not be soon? You saw it yourself, the banquet hasn't even started and Gavin Gao is already here." Ethan Yin said with a hidden smile, "Gavin is three years younger than us, so maybe you don't know him well. After we graduated, he was the star of Saint Diana Academy for two years! All the heiresses liked him, but Gavin only ever had eyes for Yina. He's been devoted for years. If he weren't so outstanding and loyal, Cherry and I wouldn't let him near Yina."
Cherry Miller added, "Yeah, Gavin's pretty great. I heard his father's Ding Realty is getting bigger, almost monopolizing J Province. The Gao family might be the richest in J Province now. They're not as established as the Yin or Mo families, but among the newcomers, they're impressive. Madam has praised Gavin several times—he's lively, but honest and straightforward, never scheming, always open and earnest. He's a good choice."
"Even Mom said that?" Miles Gu felt his mouth grow even more bitter, almost sour enough to spit.
"But Gavin is just one option. Mom and Dad haven't decided yet," Ethan Yin continued. "Unless Yina really likes him, they want to consider more candidates. Oh, Cherry, how many invitations have you sent out?"
Of course it still mattered.
It's never easy to take back a heart you've given.
But no matter how hard, it had to be taken back.
Hopefully, time will wash it all away.
Cherry Miller acted as if nothing had happened, cheerfully inviting everyone to eat: "Don't just sit there, dig in! It won't taste good if it gets cold. After dinner, aren't you all going to play games?"
"Right, right, let's eat." Jing Shaohuai was the first to react, eating quickly and saying to Gavin Gao, "Senior, I'm not bragging, I'm no match for you in showbiz, but in gaming, I definitely won't lose to you."
"Alright, we'll see soon enough," Gavin Gao replied with a smile.
Leo and Theo Mo finished eating and went out to the balcony to enjoy the breeze and the view.
Looking down and seeing Miles Gu daydreaming at the stone table, Leo Mo couldn't help but say, "Miles's Second Persona is really awful. Not only is it rude, it's so narrow-minded."
Theo Mo shook his head and said, "That's why it's called the Second Persona. The Second Persona is often the opposite of the first. Miles's First Persona is too perfect, so the Second can only be full of flaws."
Leo Mo nodded in agreement: "I don't know what those people are thinking. They expect an incomplete Second Persona to lead them to glory. Only the First Persona could do that!"
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"If those idiots were as clear-headed as you, they wouldn't do such stupid things. Miles is already the confirmed next head of the Field Family. Even without the Second Persona, he wouldn't abandon the family. Why bother?" Theo Mo said, "Shortsighted people are always foolish."
"They're greedy. They want Miles to be completely devoted to the Field Family, not always thinking about the Yin Family. Miles has spent most of his time with the Yin Family and rarely returned to England—that's probably why they're unhappy. But now the Field Family has the Duke and the Earl, so why do they need Miles? Besides, the closer the Field and Yin Families are, the better it is for the Field Family. Even the Earl is working hard to maintain ties with the Yin Family, while those fools want to cut them off. Isn't that biting the hand that feeds you?"
"Definitely," came Jing Shaohuai's voice from behind them. "So this is where you two are hiding."
Jing Shaohuai looked down and immediately understood why Leo and Theo Mo were there.
Looking at Miles Gu below, Jing Shaohuai sighed, "This Miles feels so unfamiliar, I don't even want to talk to him. You're right, maybe his First Persona was too perfect, so this Second Persona is like a fool, just being led around. If his First Persona were here, he'd never believe such a lousy lie."
"Us too, we don't want to talk to him at all," Leo and Theo Mo said together. "I wonder when Miles's First Persona will come back. Seeing Yina force a smile really hurts."
Jing Shaohuai put an arm around each of them, saying, "We can't do much, so let's just work with Cherry and Ethan. I'm sure they have a plan."
The two nodded vigorously.
In the afternoon, Gavin Gao called Director Zhou for leave—nobody else could pull that off from a distance.
Director Zhou agreed immediately, saying Gavin only had two scenes left to reshoot, which could be postponed until before the wrap-up.
So Gavin happily brought his assistant and bodyguard and went back to Sunset Manor with Cherry Miller and the others.
As soon as he arrived at Sunset Manor, Gavin first greeted Ethan Yin and Cecilia Grant.
Cherry Miller was right—Cecilia Grant really did like Gavin.
So she chatted with him for quite a while before letting him go.
Miles Gu saw this and felt even more bitter.
Are they really getting ready to choose a son-in-law?
Is he really out of chances?
At dinner, Gavin Gao took the initiative to sit beside Yina Yin and peeled shrimp for her.
"No need, I can do it myself," Yina Yin said.
"No way, I have to keep up with Uncle Yin," Gavin Gao joked. "Uncle Yin has been peeling shrimp for Madam for decades, I'm just getting started."
Ethan Yin, peeling shrimp for Cecilia Grant, gave Gavin Gao an approving look.
Good, kid. You have a bright future.
Cecilia Grant smiled, "You’ve graduated—don’t call me Madam, call me Aunt Cecilia."
"Okay, Aunt Cecilia," Gavin Gao replied readily. "Even after graduation, we’re always proud to be Saint Diana Academy alumni. We have our own circle, helping each other out. Outsiders could never buy their way in, no matter how hard they try."
"Very good," Ethan Yin nodded. "Cecilia really did a lot for you all."
"I’ve heard about your group. You work closely together, take on rivals, and do well?" Cecilia Grant asked.
"We can’t compare to Ethan," Gavin Gao said. "Our group is just a dozen or so top graduates working together. We’ve had some success, but to really make a difference, we still need Ethan’s help." He placed the peeled shrimp on Yina Yin’s plate as he spoke.