Su Yue stared blankly at the phone, which had just been hung up.
Everything that had happened since their first meeting flashed through her mind.
She had been attracted to his appearance but then he had disliked her for her careless words.
He had specifically attended her debate competition, and they had dinner together that evening.
He hadn't rejected her various attempts to flirt.
He had educated her like a gentleman about self-respect.
Then, before she could even make a move, he had turned the tables on her.
He had said he would give her a chance, but before she could react, he had taken her home.
She had been taken to the police station, assigned to a separate mediation room, and despite everyone else being processed, she was made to wait until six in the morning…
Some words suddenly echoed in her ears.
"You want to come with me?"
"I've given you many chances, now… no."
"On a personal level, I should take care of you."
"Why didn't you accept my friend request."
"Move in with me, as my girlfriend."
…
No wonder he had bought that expensive necklace the day after they spent the night together…
No wonder he rejected others so thoroughly but remained unfazed by her flirtations.
So… he had been targeting her all along.
He had appeared like prey, luring her forward.
But who would have thought, the real hunter…
Was him!
Her eyes instantly filled with surprise and dawning realization.
This explained all the things that had seemed strange to her.
Had she underestimated her own charm, or overestimated her own level of play?
In any case, in just two months,
She had willingly walked into the net he had woven, just as he intended.
She was living with him, had met his friends, and had even introduced him publicly on her account.
Even more critically, psychologically, she had begun to depend on him…!
Su Yue put down her phone, her heart pounding.
She suddenly remembered the mysterious jar he had put her suitcase in that morning, so she dug it out.
It was a beautiful candy jar, unlike any she had seen in stores.
She opened the lid to find soft candies wrapped in shimmering candy paper.
Her hand trembling slightly, she picked one out.
Upon opening it, there seemed to be nothing unusual.
She popped the candy into her mouth, the chewy sweetness calming her a little.
She rummaged through the rest of the contents and indeed found an unusual paper ball.
It was a sticky note.
Holding her breath with a hint of nervousness, she slowly unfolded it—
It was a ring!!
Her mind reeled, and she slowly raised the ring, catching the last rays of the setting sun to examine it carefully.
It was a pair of K-gold wedding bands from a well-known brand, studded with tiny diamonds.
A beautifully designed piece.
As if possessed, she slipped the ring onto her ring finger.
The size was perfect, making her fingers look exceptionally fair and slender.
Her hand holding the sticky note still trembled slightly. She looked at the note, the sky growing dark, requiring her to strain her eyes to see clearly.
In elegant handwriting, it said:
This is a gift to reward my brave darling.
A gift to reward bravery…
She stared at the ring, somewhat dazed.
It felt as if his hunter's net had already ensnared her.
…
Because Baili Qing still had to go to the local reporter station the next morning to collect video footage, they didn't depart until the afternoon.
It was already four o'clock when they arrived in the capital.
Chen Ziming had indeed come to pick her up, but seeing him made her feel uncomfortable, so she hardly spoke to him the entire way.
She had already taken off the ring.
The man seemed to sense her displeasure and also remained largely silent on the drive.
Finally, they arrived home.
"Explain yourself," Su Yue said, slipping into her slippers and sitting on the sofa, her pretty face set in a slightly aggrieved expression as she stared at him.
Seeing her like this, he smiled, walked over, and sat beside her, reaching out to take her hand.
Su Yue immediately pulled away and shifted a bit further.
"What do you want me to explain?" He was still smiling, looking at her angry expression, and asked softly.
"Chen Ziming," she said, not wanting to engage in pointless back-and-forth, and looked at him directly.
"When did you start liking me?"
The smile on the man's face gradually faded as she posed the question.