Chapter Twenty-One: The Heart Revealed

Thinking of this, Su Mian frowned and looked at Qin Yunzheng.

"What kind of madness are you suffering from now?"

Su Mian’s tone caused Qin Yunzheng’s expression to freeze for a moment. However, as if remembering something, he looked at Su Mian earnestly and said, "It is clear to me that this investment was made because you saw how hard I was working and couldn't bear to see me struggle, so you decided to help."

Su Mian was amused by his self-righteous demeanor. "Are you serious? The reason I was willing to help was for Uncle and Auntie Qin. Also, have you forgotten that I still hold shares in the Qin Group?"

Su Mian’s icy words crushed the hope Qin Yunzheng had built up. He refused to believe it, becoming stubborn. "Impossible. I don't believe you don't care about me."

Su Mian raised an eyebrow at him. "Why would you think that I care about you?"

Ignoring the people around them, Qin Yunzheng began to recount everything that had happened in the past. "Back when I was paralyzed, everyone avoided me like the plague. Even my parents were disappointed in me, but you never left my side. You encouraged me, took care of me, and stayed with me day and night."

"You even said you would be with me forever, that you would never leave me, and that you would always love me."

He grew more agitated as he spoke, but Su Mian’s expression turned increasingly cold.

Yes, people only make vows when they are most in love. But a vow is like a glass of clear water; once it is contaminated, it spoils. Just like their relationship.

"I was just speaking in the heat of the moment back then. I don't believe that you can just stop loving me because you say so. Let's just consider the past as over. I can apologize to you—come back with me, Mianmian."

Watching him act as if he were bestowing a favor upon her, Su Mian laughed in anger. "Qin Yunzheng, I am not your slave, nor am I an object you can summon or discard at will. The moment a third person stepped between us, we were finished. I am a person; I have a heart, and I can feel pain!"

Su Mian looked at Qin Yunzheng with deepening coldness. "You are right, it is impossible to just stop loving someone, but love is found in the details."

Su Mian’s tone was sorrowful. She looked up again, her eyes filled with determination. "And where do you get the nerve to think I would waste my life on you? Three years was already foolish enough; I don't want to waste the rest of my time on you."

These words stunned Qin Yunzheng. In his memory, Su Mian was always soft-spoken and always put his feelings first. During the time they had been apart, he had lived in a daze. When he received the call about the partnership today, he felt it was a signal from her. He believed that, as always, no matter how much of a temper he threw or how harsh his words were, as long as he offered a suitable compromise, they could return to the way things were.

But now, Su Mian’s words left him at a loss. She had summarized their time together as… a waste.

"If you are here to talk about work, you can go see Manager Lin. If you are here for personal matters, I’m sorry, but I don’t have the time."

Su Mian ignored Qin Yunzheng, pulled out her chair, and sat down to continue her unfinished work. After standing there for a moment, Qin Yunzheng walked out of Yintai in a daze.

Back home, he stared blankly at the ceiling. Su Mian’s words still echoed in his ears, leaving a bitter taste in his heart.

By nightfall, he called Zhang Tao again.

"What is it, ancestor?" The other man, having just finished a meeting and seeing the seven or eight missed calls, called back immediately.

"Come to the usual place."

He hung up the phone and drove to the bar where they used to hang out. He had already downed two drinks by the time Xu Yao and Zhang Tao arrived.

"Why are you two so slow?" He looked up at them with blurred vision before downing another glass.

"Brother, slow down. What happened today?"

Qin Yunzheng never kept secrets from his close friends. After a brief pause, he recounted what had happened.

Zhang Tao sighed after hearing the story. "I’m telling you, you’re just sabotaging yourself. If you truly didn't like Su Mian, then fine, treat this as a boring pastime, but you clearly do like her."

Qin Yunzheng didn't seem to want to explain. He kept pouring drinks, his eyes unfocused as if lost in memories. "I just want to know what happened. Why did your attitude toward Su Mian change after you turned eighteen?"

Hearing that key number, Qin Yunzheng’s thoughts drifted back to the past. He seemed to recall something. His expression dimmed, and he filled his glass again.

"What are you doing?" Zhang Tao was startled by his actions and tried to stop him. "Don't blame me for being blunt, but no one stays in the same place forever. Su Mian is so outstanding—if you don't speak up, you really won't have a chance."

But no matter what Zhang Tao and Xu Yao said, Qin Yunzheng remained unmoved. Within half an hour, he was completely unconscious.

"Alright, stop drinking for today."

Seeing Qin Yunzheng’s state, Zhang Tao said with exasperation, "I don't know why this guy is so stubborn."

"Su Mian..." Qin Yunzheng kept calling her name.

"Alright, stop calling. Say it to her face when you wake up," Zhang Tao said helplessly while trying to lift him.

However, when Qin Yunzheng looked up and realized the person near him wasn't Su Mian, he shoved him away. "Don't touch me. You're not Su Mian."

He waved his arms, swaying as he stood. Fearing he would fall, Zhang Tao and Xu Yao had to protect him and help him back onto the sofa.

"What do we do now?" Zhang Tao was speechless. He took out his phone. "What else can we do? Call Su Mian."

Once the call connected, he quickly identified himself. "Su Mian, it’s Zhang Tao."

Su Mian remained indifferent toward Qin Yunzheng’s friends.

"It’s like this, Qin Yunzheng is drunk and keeps calling your name. We can’t get him to leave..." His tone was apologetic, but Su Mian responded coldly: "And what does that have to do with me?"

Su Mian hung up and went to take a shower, but as soon as she finished, the phone rang again.

"I’m really not trying to disturb you, but he’s being too disruptive. If I don't get him out, I’m afraid the bar will..."

"Then call the police, or find another way." Su Mian remained firm in her refusal.

But within ten minutes, a third call came through. "Su Mian, I’m begging you. Just take pity on him. I don't think calling the police will help at this point..."

Su Mian was exhausted, but she eventually got dressed and went to the bar. She met Zhang Tao at the entrance.

"You’re here. Come inside with me."

Zhang Tao led Su Mian to the private room, where Qin Yunzheng was still swaying, with Xu Yao guarding him to keep him from falling.

Su Mian walked over and looked at Qin Yunzheng with extreme impatience. "I’m here. Can we go now?"

"Su Mian, you finally came." Seeing her, Qin Yunzheng reached out and clung to her arm, refusing to let go.