"What an excellent idea!" Yun Zhen removed the thick blue scarf wrapped around his neck. Su Jingyi recognized that it was the same scarf she had given him on his birthday seven years ago, much to her surprise.

  She didn't know that Yun Zhen still had it or that he had been using up to this day. It didn't even look overworn and was still in the best condition, as if it had only been yesterday when she gifted it to him.

  Was she supposed to be moved and happy with this? Su Jingyi pondered, but she also reminded herself that Yun Zhen was also good at taking care of his things and wasn't a wasteful person.

  "Then that's settled. Let's all retire for the night then." Father Su agreed before turning to leave, going to the master bedroom, leaving his children and wife with Yun Zhen in the living area.

  "Mr. Yun, where's your luggage? Should I help you bring them up?" Su Jingli threw the core of the apple he was eating earlier into the trash bin in the kitchen and washed his hand over the sink.

  "Please. If you don't mind." Yun Zhen answered him and followed Su Jingli outside to retrieve the luggage he had forgotten in his trunk as his mind was too preoccupied with how he should approach Su Jingyi earlier.

  "Alright, dear." Mother Su pulled Su Jingyi's arm. "While the boys are busy with his luggage, why don't you help me tidy up the guest room first?" She winked playfully at her daughter.

  Su Jingyi could only sigh and follow her mother to the guest room, helping her to tidy it up before Yun Zhen returned with her brother.

  "He came here to see you and yet you wouldn't even talk to him. Did you have a fight with Mr. Yun?" Mother Su questioned her.

  "Not that I know of. We might have some arguments after I filed my resignation, but I didn't think it would be a big issue for him."

  Mother Su gave her a knowing smile, telling Su Jingyi that she truly didn't need to deny her attraction with her former boss.

  "You know, dear. I think the two of you are suited for each other. It isn't because he came from a wealthy family that made him stand out from the rest of your prospective husbands, but I can see how he looks at you."

  "Mom, he was my boss." Su Jingyi wanted to argue that this might be improper for her and Yun Zhen.

  "Used to. Not anymore, so what's stopping you from accepting him?" Her mother retorted.

  Su Jingyi crossed her arms in front of her and looked away. She couldn't tell her mother that she'd been in love with him for as long as she could remember and was trying hard to move on from it. However, it didn't seem like Yun Zhen wanted her to.

  A few minutes later, Yun Zhen came back with Su Jingli and his luggage. They placed it down on the floor while Yun Zhen looked around the guest room curiously.

  "If you need something, just tell me or Jingyi, okay?" Mother Su said, patting Yun Zhen's arm before turning to leave with Su Jingli, leaving her daughter with their guest.

  "Darling, if you are going out with Mr. Yun tomorrow, then you don't have to accompany me for my appointment tomorrow. I'm sure your brother would be a dear and join me instead." She told Su Jingyi before leaving with her brother in tow.

  Yun Zhen steadied her by holding her waist, pulling her towards him.

  "Are you alright?" He asked, his hold loosening to let her go but his gaze remained at her.

  "Y-yes…" She said as she pulled away from him.

  "I didn't mean to surprise you. I just didn't know how to face you earlier."

  Dear lord, if Su Jingli hadn't opened the door earlier, Yun Zhen was sure he wouldn't be able to muster enough courage to ring the bell on his own. He would have stood there with a bouquet of flowers in his hands, not knowing what to do next.

  "You said you are on vacation? Why? You never took any before." She pointed out. The only times when Yun Zhen didn't go to work was when he was too ill to do anything.

  "So did you." Yun Zhen replied. "But unlike me, you've chosen to resign and leave me for good."

  Su Jingyi's face flushed at those words. Why did he have to put it that way? So he realized now that she wasn't leaving because of her work but because she wanted to be parted from him?

  They both looked at each other's eyes, trying to gauge and predict what was on the other's mind. Su Jingyi could feel her heart thumping loudly inside her c.h.e.s.t as she finally understood what her mother was saying earlier.

  Never did she see Yun Zhen look at her like this before. It was intense and laced with complex emotions she didn't dare to recognize.

  "Su Jingyi, I know I can be oblivious and slow witted at times, and I haven't been good to you all these years…." He paused, trying to find the right words to express himself clearly.

  "I must admit that I've been a fool clinging onto an empty promise of a child, thinking that she would remain the same, but she didn't. I can accept and get over with the fact that I can never be with Tang Moyu but you… You are someone I refuse to part with."