"Shi Ying, I want you."

I paused for a good while after Alex confessed like this. I stared at his glimmering eyes. I couldn\'t read minds, but at least, his earnest eyes really told me that Alex was serious about this.

Alexander Priest actually wanted me, a mediocre, leftover woman.

I couldn\'t help but have the urge to ask him, "Why do you want me anyway? Is it only because you think I\'m just a simple woman?"

"Partly because you aren\'t problematic," Alex replied. "But that\'s just one reason, the main reason is… because your aura really shines as a woman that I want to marry. The moment I saw you, I got attracted immediately, like a magnet."

"Do you know that I\'ve stopped seeing other women after I got to know you? I want to show you that I am serious about this, Ying Jie. And I would be the luckiest man on earth to be able to marry you….."

…

I sighed, knowing that I had to break a man\'s heart like this. But these things were just so sudden for me. I was single for my twenty-seven years. And then, I suddenly met the childhood sweetheart that promised to marry me as soon as possible.

And this… a wealthy playboy suddenly fixed his way just so that he could show me all his seriousness about wanting to marry me. Everything was so sudden, I really thought that I\'ve turned into a novel character.

I had no word for this, but at the same time, even with as many sweet words thrown at me, it wouldn\'t change my mind. Because I didn\'t want to date or marry someone that I didn\'t love. I might compensate by saying that love came along the way, and the most important thing was money.

I wouldn\'t say it\'s wrong. But at the same time, I also wanted to have my own sweetheart. The man whom I wanted to see every morning when I woke up.

And that man wasn\'t Alex.

It was Meng Bao, that crybaby bao bun, who was so extra at showing his interest and love, yet it was so lovable in my eyes.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to find a good sentence that was enough to reject Alex, and then pulled my hands from him. I didn\'t want to be the girl who confused a man for my entertainment. I\'m too old for that.

And I wasn\'t a seducer. I just wanted a simple love from someone who loved me back.

Alex looked lost when I pulled my hands, "Alex, I appreciate your interest in me. But I really have someone that I love, and I would marry him as soon as possible."

"I can\'t go with you, but I do hope that you\'ll find someone who loves you back. But that person is not me, please respect my choice…."

I got up, put money on the table, and then bowed my head, "I will pay for my own food. Thank you for your help, Alex. I will be going now."

Alex was still stunned until I turned my back, intending to walk away and leave by myself.

Alex grabbed my hand and said, "I will take you home."

I turned my head and frowned, "You don\'t need to. I can return home by myself."

"At least let me do this for the last time since you\'ve rejected me," Alex said again.

…

I finally yielded and stopped struggling, "Okay, but this is for the last time, okay? I don\'t want my fiancee to find out about us and make the wrong assumption," I said.

Alex and I entered his car, and the car drove slowly to the road leading to my apartment. I had a feeling that Alex drove slowly because he wanted to spend more time with me, which was quite sad if you think about it.

But I had to toughen my heart. I didn\'t want to give him total false hope.

It took a while until we arrived at the parking lot of my apartment. We sat in silence inside the car, staring at the concrete building in front of us, "So… we are here…" Alex said.

"Yeah…"

I had to admit that I got a bit sad thinking how our relationship would get a bit awkward after this. But at the same time, I had to do what it took to ensure that nobody would disturb my relationship with Meng Bao.

"Ying Jie, before you leave… can you kiss me? Just once…"

"A Kiss!?" I gawked at Alex\'s bravery. I didn\'t expect him to actually want a kiss from me even after I rejected him.

"Yes, just a simple light peck on my cheek would be enough…" Alex said, begging for a kiss. "Maybe… a kiss on my lips would be more than enough…."

I didn\'t even think twice about refusing it, "I can\'t. There is no way I\'m going to kiss another man while I\'m waiting for my boyfriend. I need to leave now. Thank you for your help, Alexander Priest."

I opened the car door and left the car. I didn\'t want to talk with Alex after this, afraid that he might try to get even more personal than this. Even if I could just beat him to submission, I didn\'t want to beat up a friend just because of this.

"Wait, Ying Jie, I\'m sorry!" Alex yelled. He opened the car door and tried to chase me.

He caught my wrist and said, "I—I\'m sorry, I didn\'t know that my request will be too offensive. I just…. It\'s just upsetting for me that you choose someone else—"

"I—it\'s fine, Alex, let\'s just drop the matter now," I said. I didn\'t want anybody else to hear our conversation because it was too embarrassing, like airing dirty laundry in public.

"At least say that you forgive me and will continue talking to me. I don\'t want to lose you just because of that stupid request!" Alex begged.

"I—It\'s okay, just let me go now, Alex!" I struggled even harder. There was a struggle between us for a good while because I was powerful enough to struggle, but Alex also had considerable strength to hold me.

I got tired after struggling and then asked, "Fine, I forgive you, Alex. Just drop the matter now, and I will continue talking with you after this. We are still friends."

…

Alex bit his lips and then released me from his embrace. He kept staring at me as I took a step back to separate ourselves.

I stared at him and said, "We\'re nothing more than friends, Alex. I do like your character, but that doesn\'t mean that I like you romantically. I have someone whom I\'ve loved for more than fifteen years, and there is no way I will leave him from someone else."

"And that person still loves you even after fifteen years?" Alex asked.

"Yes, and we\'re going to marry soon. I don\'t want anyone to ruin my wedding with him. That\'s why… I appreciate all your help, but there is no way I\'m leaving my fiancee for you…."

"Then, please, at least… tell me who is this guy you\'re talking about. The lucky man who can win your heart," Alex bit his lower lips. I saw that he was actually heartbroken with my rejection, but… there was nothing I could do.

Of course, I would choose Meng Bao over him and everyone else.

"You already know him for a long time," I replied with a smile. "He is lazy, stubborn, but he is also cute and bubbly… when he is with me, of course."

"Then… please tell me his name…." Alex asked again.

I smiled and then put my hand on his shoulder. I pulled his shoulder, signaling him to lower his back a bit because I wanted to whisper something in his ears. Alex nodded, and then he leaned towards me. I whispered the name of my future husband in his ear.

\'Yang Menghuo, Meng Bao, Mengmeng… he is my childhood sweetheart of mine. And he is the same Mengmeng that you always think as your little brother.\'

Alex jolted a bit, probably because he was surprised. But before I could even whisper more, I suddenly heard a loud gunshot and something that passed me but barely grazed Alex\'s cheek, making his cheek bleed.

BANG!

Both Alex and I were stunned for a second, then we turned our heads to the source of the bullet.

I saw a man holding a gun. His darkened gaze glared at Alex as if he was looking at a dead meat, while he only glanced at me for a second, giving me a cold look.

"I didn\'t expect you to steal my beloved Ying Jie while I\'m busy in New York, fighting against my mother," Meng Bao said with a cold sneer in his voice.

He pointed the gun at Alex\'s head and then said, "Alexander Priest, I will send your head to Aunt Priest tomorrow ."