Even If It Means Being Shattered to Pieces

Seeing Fu Hanjiang staring at her dress, Yao Leyi couldn't help but smile, "Does it look familiar? It's the one you picked for Xiang Si, isn't it?"

"Yes." Fu Hanjiang hesitated and nodded. Only similar?

"Not similar!"

Yao Leyi laughed, "This is that very dress."

Then, she recounted her encounter with Xiang Si today.

"Xiang Si is really something. I just mentioned I liked it, and she let me have it."

Xiang Si gave up the dress?

Fu Hanjiang narrowed his eyes slightly. Then what was Xiang Si wearing?

And where was Xiang Si?

Fu Hanjiang raised his eyes, scanning the banquet hall again.

Yao Leyi noticed and her smile faded, "Are you looking for Xiang Si? I haven't seen her. Maybe she hasn't arrived yet."

Hasn't arrived yet?

Fu Hanjiang glanced at his watch, frowning.

"You wait here for her."

Yao Leyi awkwardly smiled, "I need to go to your brother. If he doesn't see me soon, he'll get mad."

"Okay."

"Second Master!"

Rong Zheng hurried over. He had just been looking for Xiang Si, but he didn't find her.

"She hasn't come?"

Before he could speak, Fu Hanjiang saw he was alone and understood.

"Second Master," Rong Zheng said, "It's snowing outside. There might be traffic. Should I call her? She might be close."

Fu Hanjiang found a quiet corner and called Xiang Si.

The phone rang as Xiang Si just got on a shared bike. She answered.

"Hello?"

"Xiang Si."

Fu Hanjiang rubbed his forehead, "Where are you? It's snowing outside. Is there traffic?"

"Huh?"

Xiang Si was taken aback and apologized, "This is my fault. I forgot to tell you... I can't attend the banquet tonight."

"? ?"

Hearing this, Fu Hanjiang was stunned, "Why?"

"It's like this."

Xiang Si explained, "When I was trying on the dress today, I met Yao Leyi. She really liked the dress, so I let her have it. I don't have anything else to wear. I can't go in my practice clothes, can I? That would be embarrassing for you, right?"

What?

Fu Hanjiang was shocked. He knew letting the dress go wasn't that simple!

So, Xiang Si wasn't coming?

He had a feeling and blurted out, "You don't want to come, do you? You don't want to appear in public with me?"

He hit the nail on the head!

Xiang Si's intentions were clear, but she wouldn't admit it.

"No." Xiang Si laughed evasively, "Why would I? Didn't you see Yao Leyi? Seeing her in the dress, you should know I'm telling the truth..."

"Xiang Si!"

Fu Hanjiang spoke through gritted teeth, anger rising.

"You did this on purpose! You let her have the dress just so you wouldn't have to attend with me!"

Xiang Si resolutely denied it, "I really didn't..."

"Heh." Fu Hanjiang sneered, his eyes darkening.

"Why are you angry?"

But before he could say more, Xiang Si spoke first, "I'm just doing what you wanted, right?"

"What?" Fu Hanjiang was bewildered.

"You said it."

Xiang Si's tone was light, "I owed her, so giving her the dress she liked, what's wrong with that?"

Hearing this, Fu Hanjiang's breath caught.

Was this him hoisting himself by his own petard?

"Don't be upset."

Xiang Si silently smiled, "In the future, I'll choose my own dresses. After all, you always pick what she likes. If it happens again, I'll have to 'return it to the rightful owner,' right?"

"!"

Fu Hanjiang was shocked, his pupils dilating. "What nonsense are you talking about? Return it to the rightful owner?"

"Huh?"

Xiang Si almost laughed out loud, "Just like the pearl hairband, the dress, and even the time we wore the same dress. Second Master Fu..."

She paused, teasingly, "You actually chose them for her, didn't you?"

Beep beep!

A car honked behind her.

Xiang Si hurriedly said, "I have to go. Talk later! Bye!"

She quickly hung up and rode her bike away from the intersection.

"Xiang Si!"

On the other end, Fu Hanjiang was furious! Was this what she thought of him? Did she take everything he said as nonsense?

She threw away the hairband he gave her, let go of the dress, and constantly brought up him and Yao Leyi!

Did she not feel his care at all? Or did she not care?

If she didn't care, why should he?

If he continued, he'd be a fool!

…

Xiang Si put away her phone and rode her bike towards Wenchang Road.

Turning the corner, a car silently passed.

"!"

Xiang Si was startled, braking urgently. She almost didn't crash, but because of the slippery snow, the bike tilted, and she slid out with the bike!

"Ah—"

The car that turned also braked urgently.

"What's going on?" Zhong Pei abruptly opened his eyes, looking at the road ahead.

"Young Master, someone fell. We didn't hit her; she fell on her own!"

The person lying in the snow…

Zhong Pei recognized her immediately. How could he not?

Xiang Si, it was Xiang Si!

Zhong Pei's breathing quickened. He opened the car door, his steps unsteady.

"Young Master!" The driver hurriedly said, "You forgot your cane!"

His injury from Philadelphia hadn't healed; he still needed a cane.

"No need!"

Zhong Pei only thought of Xiang Si, disregarding everything else. At this moment, even if he shattered to pieces, he only saw her!

Xiang Si, sliding out with the bike, coincidentally hit her head on a lamppost.

"Uh."

She barely had time to groan before losing consciousness, slumping to the ground.

"Xiang Si!"

Zhong Pei's knees buckled, falling into the snow. He reached out and gently patted Xiang Si's face.

His heart raced, breathing labored.

"Xiang Si, wake up! Don't scare me! It's Zhong Pei. Can you hear me?"

Xiang Si, in his arms, was unresponsive.

"Xiang Si, Xiang Si!"

Panicked, Zhong Pei lifted her, standing up as his injured leg creaked.

"Young Master!" The driver was terrified, "Let me take her. Your leg..."

"Get in the car!"

Zhong Pei couldn't hand Xiang Si to the driver, a stranger. He wouldn't, even at the cost of his leg!

The driver had no choice but to watch him struggle to carry Xiang Si into the car.

"Drive to the nearest hospital!"

"Yes, Young Master."

Zhong Pei looked down at the person in his arms, not daring to hold her too tightly or too loosely, fearing she might fall or be in pain.