Chapter 284: A Heroine’s Heart Twisted

Not...

Remember this.

Just...

I know.

Tang Meilin looked down.

Her cheeks became pink.

"Thank you."

Shen Tian smiled.

"You’re welcome."

Gu Qingya watched.

Something small twisted in her chest.

Not anger.

Not exactly.

She looked away.

Then...

Immediately became annoyed with herself.

Why did she care?

She wasn’t jealous.

Obviously.

That would be ridiculous.

Then Shen Tian looked toward her.

"You want one too?"

Gu Qingya froze.

"What?"

He pointed toward the plate.

"Pastry."

Her face warmed.

"Oh."

Silence.

Then...

"Yes."

Shen Tian picked one up.

Placed it on her plate.

Gu Qingya stared at it.

Rose looked between them.

Lin Yue did too.

Tang Meilin slowly smiled.

Gu Qingya’s cheeks became pink.

"It’s just food."

Rose immediately nodded.

"Of course."

Lin Yue added...

"Just pastry."

Tang Meilin smiled.

"Completely normal."

Gu Qingya narrowed her eyes.

"I hate all of you."

Shen Tian laughed.

. . .

Then...

Xu Ning appeared.

Her expression became serious.

A golden panel opened.

[Host.]

Shen Tian’s smile faded slightly.

"What?"

[Lu Chen made a decision.]

A new Fate route appeared.

Protagonist: Lu Chen

Current Fate Value: 306,000

New Route: Overseas Reclamation

Destination: Middle East

Purpose:

Rebuild mercenary influence

Recover former contracts

Recruit surviving Black Wolf affiliates

Obtain battlefield resources

Potential Fate Recovery: 80,000

Shen Tian stared.

Xu Ning continued.

[He leaves tonight.]

Rose’s smile disappeared.

She couldn’t see the system panel.

But she immediately noticed Shen Tian’s expression.

"What happened?"

He looked toward her.

"Lu Chen’s leaving China."

Silence.

Rose’s face changed.

Lin Yue stopped eating.

Gu Qingya’s eyes narrowed.

Tang Meilin looked surprised.

Shen Yan remained calm.

Rose spoke first.

"Where?"

"Middle East."

Her expression became complicated.

Old memories.

Black Wolf.

Operations.

Blood.

The version of Lu Chen she used to know.

Lin Yue slowly placed her cup down.

"He’s going back."

Rose nodded.

"Looks like it."

Gu Qingya became visibly relieved.

"Good."

Everyone looked toward her.

She didn’t apologize.

"I don’t want him near my company."

Fair.

Tang Meilin nodded slightly.

"Same."

Lin Yue stared at the table.

Then...

She sighed.

"He’ll probably rebuild."

Rose looked toward her.

"Maybe."

Shen Tian leaned back.

Calm.

Far too calm.

Rose noticed.

"You aren’t going after him."

"No."

She raised an eyebrow.

"I expected you to."

"Why?"

"Because..."

She paused.

Then...

"You’re you."

Shen Tian smiled.

"Very detailed."

Rose rolled her eyes.

"You’ve taken nearly every opportunity he’s had since coming back."

Shen Tian’s eyebrow rose.

"Have I?"

She stared.

"Yes."

He smiled.

"Then let him have this one."

Silence.

That answer...

Actually surprised all four heroines.

Lin Yue frowned.

"You’re serious?"

"Yes."

Tang Meilin looked suspicious.

"Why?"

Shen Tian reached for his coffee.

"Because he’s angry."

He took a sip.

"Humiliated."

Another.

"Obsessed."

His green eyes sharpened.

"And right now..."

"...he’s desperate."

Rose listened.

Shen Tian continued.

"If I chase him overseas..."

"He gets to pretend I’m still playing his game."

Silence.

"I’m not."

Gu Qingya looked toward him.

"So you’re letting him rebuild?"

"For now."

Rose’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Then...

Understanding.

"You want him comfortable."

Shen Tian looked toward her.

A smile appeared.

"Good girl."

Rose froze.

Completely.

Her face turned bright red.

The entire table went silent.

Lin Yue slowly looked toward her.

Tang Meilin covered her mouth.

Gu Qingya’s eyebrow rose.

Shen Tian realized what he’d said.

Rose stared at him.

Her heart was hammering.

"Did..."

She cleared her throat.

"...did you just call me good girl?"

Shen Tian smiled.

"Apparently."

Her face became even redder.

Yin Suyi looked extremely pleased.

Shen Yan stared at Shen Tian.

Then Rose.

Then...

Very slowly...

Reached for tea.

Progress.

Rose finally looked away.

"You..."

Her fingers tightened around her fork.

"...cannot just say things like that."

"Why?"

"Because..."

She stopped.

No answer.

Tang Meilin smiled.

"Because she likes it."

Rose’s head snapped around.

"TANG."

Tang Meilin laughed.

Rose’s entire face became crimson.

Shen Tian looked toward her.

Rose refused to meet his eyes.

Which...

Made his smile widen.

Lin Yue stared at Shen Tian.

Then...

A tiny bit of competitive impulse surfaced.

She leaned slightly closer.

"So..."

Shen Tian looked toward her.

"Yes?"

Lin Yue’s courage instantly decreased.

But she committed.

"If I figure something out..."

Her cheeks warmed.

"...do I get praised too?"

Silence.

Rose looked at her.

Gu Qingya stared.

Tang Meilin’s eyes widened.

Lin Yue immediately realized how that sounded.

Her face became red.

"I mean..."

Shen Tian smiled.

"Maybe."

Lin Yue froze.

He leaned slightly closer.

"Earn it."

Her entire expression broke.

Rose covered her mouth.

Tang Meilin laughed.

Gu Qingya looked away before anyone saw her own cheeks warming.

Lin Yue stared at Shen Tian.

Then...

Slowly sat back.

"...I hate you."

Shen Tian smiled.

"No, you don’t."

Her eyes met his.

Then...

She smiled too.

"No."

She admitted quietly.

"...I don’t."

. . .

Several hours later...

Lu Chen stood inside a private hangar.

A military transport aircraft waited.

Viper stood near the ramp.

Several mercenaries loaded equipment.

Weapons.

Cases.

Supplies.

Lu Chen approached.

No Rose.

No Bear.

No Ghost.

No Lin Yue.

No Black Wolf core.

That reality sat heavily on him.

Viper noticed.

"Traveling light."

Lu Chen’s expression darkened.

"Speak carefully."

Viper smiled.

"Touchy."

Lu Chen ignored him.

He walked toward the aircraft.

Then...

His phone vibrated.

One final message from Rose.

He froze.

Stared.

Then opened it.

Rose: Heard you’re leaving.

Pause.

Another.

Rose: Don’t get yourself killed.

Lu Chen stared.

His expression softened slightly.

For half a second...

The old connection returned.

Then...

His thoughts became bitter.

[She still cares.]

Rose heard it from across the city.

Her expression changed slightly.

Lu Chen continued.

[Of course she does.]

Rose’s face cooled.

Then...

[Once I come back stronger...]

She closed her eyes.

Please don’t.

[She’ll remember who I am.]

There it was.

Again.

Not...

I’ll fix things.

Not...

I’ll apologize.

Not...

I’ll become someone worth trusting.

She’ll remember who I am.

Rose sighed.

Then...

Lu Chen typed.

Lu Chen: I’ll be back.

Rose stared at the message.

No apology.

No acknowledgment.

Nothing.

She locked her phone.

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(Author’s Note: IMPORTANT!)

SEND POWESTONES!!!

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