"But I am unwilling to accept it."

Upon hearing this, Xia Mengge suddenly lifted her head to look at Shen Yuchen sitting across from her. Memories long buried beneath the dust of time surged fiercely into her heart.

Back then, she was just awakening to love, firmly believing that her future husband must be outstanding in every way. She took a long time choosing, but none met her standards. Then she met Shen Yuchen, and her heart—dormant for so long—began to race wildly. It was decided. Just those three simple words sealed her choice for fiancé.

Once they completed the courtship and engagement, and then the marriage rituals, they would be husband and wife. Unfortunately, just as the Xia family was about to publicly announce their heiress’s boyfriend, she was taken away by the system. For seven whole years, she never saw Shen Yuchen again.

After all, he was the man she had fallen for at first sight, so when she first arrived in the mission world, she dreamt of him every night. But later, determined to complete the mission and return home sooner, she forced herself to let go completely and devoted her heart to winning over Wei Xunzhou.

Seven years later, when she saw Shen Yuchen again, the initial flutter of her heart was gone.

Unlike Xia Mengge’s calm reaction, Shen Yuchen’s eyes reddened the moment he saw the girl he had adored since youth after seven years apart. His hands trembled uncontrollably at his sides, yet he dared not take a step forward, fearing that if he embraced her, she would shatter and disappear just as before.

For a long time, they simply gazed silently at each other, neither daring to break the stillness.

At last, Xia Mengge sighed deeply. “Shen Yuchen, why must you be like this?”

She had read countless news reports about parents who lost hope and gave up after their children were taken by the system. Shen Yuchen, a stranger with no connection to her, had waited for her for seven long years.

Had he ever considered the possibility that she might never return? Had he thought that even if she did, she might no longer love him?

Shen Yuchen understood the meaning behind her words but said nothing. Instead, he cautiously stepped forward and held her in his arms. Only when he was certain she wouldn’t vanish like before did he pull her tightly to his chest.

“I know,” he whispered, “but I just wanted to wait for you to come back, to wait for your answer.”

“But Shen Yuchen, we are no longer the people we once were,” Xia Mengge replied gently. “You know I’ve married and had a child these past seven years.”

She had intended to push him away, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t break free from his embrace. In the end, she surrendered herself to his hold. “I endured a very unhappy marriage in that world. I have no strength left to build another.”

“I know,” he answered softly.

“But I’m unwilling to give up.”

No one wishes for the girl who originally belonged to them—the bride who was meant to be theirs—to be taken away by the system into another world, forced to win over another man, marry him, and bear his child just to return home sooner.

Moreover, he had loved her for seven years and waited for her all that time. He could not bear to see their story end before it truly began.

Xia Mengge was momentarily stunned, then smiled tenderly. Tears slipped down and soaked Shen Yuchen’s shoulder.

“But there’s no other way. We really have no future together.”

“I’m sorry, Shen Yuchen.”

“N-no, don’t apologize, Mengge,” Shen Yuchen hurriedly interrupted. “It’s not your fault.”

He gently wiped away her tears and smiled with resignation. “I’m just happy you came back.”

They spoke at length, but tacitly avoided the subject of love.

Xia Chenxuan, seeing their demeanor, said no more and simply invited Shen Yuchen to stay for dinner.

The meal was sumptuous, but Xia Mengge, whose stomach had suffered through those years, ate very little. Shen Yuchen noticed but said nothing, though a flicker of pain crossed his eyes.

When evening came and guests were leaving, Shen Yuchen quietly spoke a few words to his assistant. Soon, the assistant returned with two small boxes and handed them to Shen Yuchen.

He then presented the two exquisite boxes to Xia Mengge.

“These are some herbal teas I often drink to soothe the stomach.”