Sean Kerr looked at Cecilia Gu, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Cecilia Gu sighed softly. "I’m not trying to stir up trouble. I’ve never liked doing things like that. But, President Kerr, aren’t you at all curious about the real reason they broke up back then? I don’t know how Sylvia Ran explained it to you, and honestly, I don’t want to know. I just think, since you’re such a wise person, you wouldn’t look at things so one-sided, right?"
Sean Kerr’s expression suddenly changed.
Cecilia Gu finished what she had to say and summed up, "President Kerr, if you really care about Rona, then show her where you stand. As her friend, I want her to be happy. If you can give Rona happiness, and if you still resent me, I’m willing to step back from her life for her sake. Of course, that’s only if you can truly make her happy. But if you don’t honestly love Rona, then please, leave her world."
Sean Kerr’s eyes trembled with shock.
He seemed to finally understand what Rona Muir meant by her words earlier.
"Cecilia isn’t the type to meddle in other people’s relationships. So, when Charles Yin’s feelings for Sylvia Ran started to waver, I chose to step away. But as I was leaving, Charles kept coming closer. He told me the one he loved was me, not Sylvia Ran. It was only because Charles made his feelings clear that I didn’t leave. But what happened next was beyond our expectations. My mother-in-law fought tooth and nail to keep me and Charles apart, just like you, forcing Sylvia Ran onto Charles. But let me ask you this: President Kerr, are you really Charles’s good friend?"
"If you’re really Charles’s friend, why do you keep ignoring his feelings and pushing him to accept a woman he doesn’t want? Why do you keep disregarding your friendship and deceiving him? Using him?"
"If you’re Charles’s friend, why do you only see Sylvia Ran’s grievances but not Charles’s? If you’re his confidant, why have you never asked Charles who he loves? If you’re truly his best buddy, why haven’t you ever asked him what kind of life he wants?"
"You only see Sylvia Ran’s pain and suffering, but you ignore Charles’s pain and suffering. Why? Just because Sylvia Ran is a woman and Charles is a man, does that mean Charles should just endure it? If you judge who deserves happiness or pain based on gender, then I’m a woman too, so why should I sacrifice my own happiness and interests for Sylvia Ran?"
"President Kerr, after all this analysis, do you still think you’re being fair and impartial? Do you still think you only see Sylvia Ran as a little sister? If you’re willing to hurt your brother just to protect your sister, then how much is your friendship really worth?"
Cecilia Gu’s words hit the mark, leaving Sean Kerr completely stunned.
"I never knew you could be so sharp-tongued," Sean Kerr stared blankly at Cecilia Gu.
Yeah, sharp-tongued—Sean Kerr was left utterly defenseless by her words.
Cecilia Gu smiled faintly. "Sharp-tongued? Not really. I just told the truth. Since President Kerr wanted to talk, I was willing to talk. I just pointed out what you couldn’t see."
Sean Kerr was dazed for a long time before he slowly replied, "I’ll seriously think about what you said today."
Cecilia Gu slowly stood up. "I hope next time we meet, it won’t be so tense between us. After all, there’s no direct conflict of interest between us, right? I’d like to get along with you, President Kerr. What about you?"
Sean Kerr’s eyes flickered intensely. "I’ll think about it."
"Alright then, President Kerr, enjoy the view. I’ll take my leave now." Cecilia Gu smiled slightly and got up to leave.
The entire conversation between Cecilia Gu and Sean Kerr was relayed word for word to Charles Yin.
Just wait a few more days, just a few days!
I won’t let go and let you leave!
Cecilia Gu returned to her room, feeling utterly drained after talking with Sean Kerr.
She had to muster all her energy just to hold her own against Sean Kerr’s imposing presence.
Anyone who grew up with Charles Yin isn’t easy to fool.
So, she had to be sincere and persuasive enough to pull Sean Kerr from the enemy camp to a neutral position.
After all, having people constantly look at you with hatred is really a bit creepy.
As soon as Cecilia Gu entered her room, she saw a recipe on the table.
How strange, who put this here?
Could it be that Rona and the others got the recipe?
Cecilia Gu didn’t think too much about it. She picked up the recipe and flipped through it—it was full of simple, easy-to-learn dishes.
Most importantly, there were many styles, combining elements of Chinese, Western, Japanese, and Korean cuisine.
Several dishes were circled in red pen.
Could these be the dishes Rona and the others picked out?
Cecilia Gu focused on the circled recipes. Hmm, they really weren’t that hard to make—as long as she followed the instructions step by step.
When Cecilia Gu reached the end, she saw a line written in bold, powerful script: Wise as you are, foolish as I am.
What does this mean?
Cecilia Gu closed the book and noticed another line written on the last page: Caring too much leads to anxiety over gains and losses. Are you holding back and protecting yourself because you don’t love enough?
The handwriting was strong and vigorous—clearly written by a man.
Who was it?
Who would say something like this to me?
Cecilia Gu lowered her gaze, once again staring at that line.
Yes, caring too much about someone or something always brings anxiety.
But if you grit your teeth and let go, you may escape the pain, but you also lose the right to love.
Just then, her phone buzzed.
When Cecilia Gu checked her phone, she was suddenly shaken to the core.
The message was from Charles Yin.
“People always say those in love lose their intelligence. I never believed it before, but now I do. In this game of love, I lost. I can’t be as carefree as you, nor can I retreat so easily. Wise as you are, you know how to judge the situation. When you see something you can’t control, you cut ties and sever the relationship. Foolish as I am, even knowing you’re avoiding me, running away, I still want to hold your hand. Because I’ve lost the ability to turn back. I can only be a foolish person waiting for you to come home. In this game, I love more, but I don’t blame you. I know you have childhood shadows, your own helplessness, things you can’t control. No matter when or where, no matter the time, I’ll always be here, waiting for you to come back.”
After reading the last word, Cecilia Gu covered her mouth with her hand.
Five days.
A full five days.
Charles Yin hadn’t called or messaged me once.
I’d lost hope, stopped expecting him to remember anything good about me.
But today, right now, he used this recipe book and a message to tell me he’s always been watching over me.
Charles Yin, why do you do this?
Why can’t you let me go, and let yourself go?
I don’t know how you managed to get this recipe book into my room, and I don’t want to know how many eyes and ears you have around me.
But no matter what you do, the outcome won’t change, will it?
If you can’t give up your mother, then you’ll have to give up on me!
I’m not being cruel, I’m just making the hard choice for you.
I don’t want our breakup to leave you with a reputation for abandoning me.
I’d rather leave on my own than see your troubled face.
You say I’m wise, and you’re foolish.
But really, I’m the foolish one.
Even though I know I shouldn’t fall for you, I still couldn’t help myself.
Charles Yin, I used to think you were invincible.
But today I realized you have things you can’t get, too.
Family can’t be replaced, so please, just stay where you are and watch me leave, okay?
Please don’t shake my resolve anymore, okay?
Do you know what kind of torment I suffered the moment I turned away?
No, you don’t know. Because I couldn’t let you know.
Call me heartless or cold if you want.
All I ask is that everyone can live peacefully for the rest of our lives.
After sending the message, Charles Yin fell into a long silence.
After a long time, Charles suddenly stood up, gazed at the sea, and said softly, "It’s about time. Let’s reel it in."
A quietly reported beside him, "The chairman lost his temper at noon and called Mrs. Yin directly."
"What did Grandma say?" Charles Yin asked calmly, still looking at the horizon.
"The chairman said, if Mrs. Yin likes meddling so much, why not…" A hesitated.
"Why not what?" Charles Yin raised an eyebrow.
"Why not bring Siyang back from outside and let her indulge her motherly instincts?" A finished nervously.
"Grandma actually brought up Siyang?" Charles Yin’s smile didn’t escape A’s notice.
"Yes, President." A replied calmly.
Siyang, that name is taboo in the Yin family.
In the Yin family, no one but Grandma Yin dares mention that name.
That name was the cause of the previous family head’s disappearance and Mrs. Yin’s amputation. It also led Grandma Yin to become estranged from her daughter-in-law.