Chapter 1435 - The Yacht (1/2)

Zhu Yuchen nodded. Failure and defeat bled through his poised countenance. ”Hah... Ah Ning, you are the bravest girl I've ever met. Why are you so unsure of yourself when it comes to Yin Zhihan?”

”Maybe it has something to do with my personality...”

”Ah Ning, it doesn't have anything to do with your personality. It's because you don't just like Yin Zhihan. You are in love with him. You are afraid of rejection because you love him so deeply. Your love for him has merely drawn out your deepest insecurities - it has nothing to do with any defect of character on your part.”

Could Yuchen be on to something?

Lu Ning's heart skipped a beat. Was she in love with him?

When had she fallen in love?

Diving into the memories of her past was not a complicated matter. One memory, in particular, stood out. It was around the time she was 15 years old. She remembered injuring her leg and how Zhihan had taken it upon himself to bandage her wound, going so far as to bring her books to read so she wouldn't be bored. Lu Ning felt the first stirrings of her heart were then.

Gratitude gave way to intrigue, and before she knew it, it had transformed into the beginnings of love. Since then, she never managed to put aside her feelings for him, regardless of how she tried.

Subconsciously, Lu Ning rejected him. She was afraid of love. For a burgeoning young girl of her nature, love was a foreign concept. Like many others of her disposition, she shunned it, too afraid her passionate love would consume her; More so in the unfortunate event should Zhihan fail to return her feelings.

”Ah Ning, Yin Zhihan is already dating Ann. If he can throw you to the back of his mind so soon after falling out, I'd advise you to reconsider. In terms of marriage, I'm a much better candidate than Yin Zhihan.”

In her heart of hearts, Lu Ning knew, without a doubt, that Yin Zhihan would not be a suitable marriage partner. One might compare him to a work of art in that regard. He was an object to be admired from a distance, nothing more.

Yet, what the mind proposes, the heart often disposes.

She wanted to follow her heart.

”Yuchen, thank you for your kind consideration, but I must humbly decline your affections. Yin Zhihan and I will let nature take its course...”

Three months later...

During these three months, Yin Zhihan did not return to the company. Lu Ning had not seen him for a very, very long time, and the two of them did not have any contact.