"Come in," Celia said softly.
Secretary Song opened the door, ushering in a female doctor. "Miss Su, the president asked us not to disturb your rest. Did you sleep well?"
Celia sat up, blinking in confusion. Nathaniel was nowhere in sight. Where had he gone?
"Yes, I slept fine," she replied.
"Good. The doctor will examine you, just to be sure you weren't injured."
"All right."
The doctor performed a thorough check. Aside from the bruise on the back of her neck, nothing serious was found—she only needed rest. After the doctor left, Celia asked, "Secretary Song, where's your president?"
"Miss Su, the president carried you in last night, but he left shortly after."
Celia raised an eyebrow. So he hadn't stayed? That was… surprisingly gentlemanly of him.
Secretary Song continued, "Miss Su, the president has been monitoring your situation even while overseas. He had someone shadow Li Chong in secret. According to his schedule, he wasn't supposed to return until tomorrow. But after two sleepless nights of rushing work, he cut his trip short. Just as he heard Li Chong had escaped, he caught the first flight back—and that's how he managed to rescue you in time."
So that's what happened…
But if they had already broken up, why was he still so concerned about her?
When Secretary Song left, Celia messaged Lin Jiaojiao on WeChat.
Lin Jiaojiao: "Nathaniel clearly doesn't want to end things with you. He's already taken ninety-nine steps forward—he's just waiting for you to take the last one."
Celia bit her lip. Did he really not want to let go?
Lin Jiaojiao: "Cici, he's serious this time. If you don't actually want to break up either, then go take that last step and win him back."
Celia didn't reply.
Instead, she weighed their relationship carefully. He still carried Bai Yueguang in his heart. That day, she hadn't opened the photo, so she couldn't be sure whether she resembled Bai Yueguang or not. But most likely, she was just a substitute.
In the end, she couldn't escape the fate of being someone else's shadow.
So no matter what he did for her, she dared not be tempted. She dared not fall, dared not surrender to his charm.
But the jade pendant was still in his office lounge. She had to get it back.
So the cycle continued, their entanglement with no end in sight.
That evening, Celia arrived at the exclusive Paradise on Earth club. Nathaniel was inside drinking, and she had come to find him.
But the waiter stopped her at the door. "I'm sorry, miss, you can't enter this room."
"I'm here to see Mr. Fu."
The waiter gave a polite but practiced smile. "Miss, every night at least eight hundred women say the same thing. If you really have an appointment with Mr. Fu, you'll need to call him."
"..."
Helpless, Celia pulled out her phone and dialed Nathaniel's number. But he didn't answer.
Since he refused to take her call, she had no choice but to turn and leave.
Just then, she spotted a group of girls carrying wine trays into the private room. Inspiration struck. She quickly slipped in among them.
The ruse worked. The door to the lavish suite opened, and Celia followed the servers inside.
Two card tables were set up, the air thick with cigarette smoke. Nathaniel and Song Zilin sat at one table with two CEOs.
Each CEO had brought a woman with him. Only Nathaniel sat alone, cigarette between his fingers, his expression cold and detached as he held his cards.
Song Zilin glanced at him curiously. "Second Brother, why did you fly back so early?"
Wen Shaoqian studied his hand. "The Su family scandal has been making headlines all over the city. Your Second Brother must have been eager to come back and see it for himself."
Nathaniel's face betrayed nothing.
Celia steadied herself and began walking toward him.