Those words struck Nathaniel Fu like blows, one after another, leaving the corners of his eyes bloodshot and the veins in his hands bulging.
He tried to pull Celia back, but she pried his fingers away one by one and walked off without looking back, vanishing from his sight.
Nathaniel stood frozen. Celia was right—he really was sick.
Whenever he saw other men around her, whenever he noticed her adding someone new on social media, his composure would crumble.
Driving all the way here just to find her—what a joke.
Why did he care?
It was over between them. He had destroyed it himself. She had every right to choose someone else, to start over with another man.
Whoever she ended up with, it was none of his concern.
He no longer had the right to treat her as his possession, nor to keep other men away from her.
Yet his hand, hanging by his side, slowly curled into a fist. Letting her go was harder than he had ever imagined. The truth was—he didn't want to let go at all.
Meanwhile, Celia and Lillian Yao had arranged to meet at a bridal studio to customize a wedding gown.
Lillian arrived soon after. Celia picked up her measuring tape and said politely, "Miss Yao, let me take your measurements."
"Yaoyao!" Ji Yunfan came running in, almost breathless with excitement. "Yaoyao, I've got incredible news for you!"
He leaned in and whispered something in Lillian's ear.
Her eyes instantly lit up. "Really, Brother Tangli?"
Ji Yunfan nodded eagerly. "Absolutely true."
Lillian shot Celia a smug look and stood up. "Celia, I'm afraid I don't need your services anymore. I've just hired Little Buddha to design my wedding dress!"
Celia froze. Little Buddha?
She lowered the measuring tape in her hands.
"To be honest, I never gave up on pursuing Little Buddha," Lillian said proudly. "I've been pulling every string I could. Just yesterday, my cousin received a letter from him, promising to design my gown personally!"
Ji Yunfan stepped forward to back her up. "Miss Su, it's real. Little Buddha contacted me directly."
Celia frowned in confusion. She hadn't contacted Ji Yunfan at all. Something didn't add up.
Just then, a message pinged on Ji Yunfan's phone. He glanced down and grinned. "Yaoyao, it's Little Buddha. He says you'll need to pay a deposit first."
"How much?" Lillian asked without hesitation.
Ji Yunfan held up three fingers. "Thirty million."
Thirty million—for a wedding gown deposit. The demand was outrageous.
But Lillian didn't bat an eye. To her, the more expensive, the better. That was what proved Little Buddha's worth. "Fine. I'll have the transfer arranged immediately."
"Wait," Celia interjected firmly.
Lillian turned to her with a faintly mocking smile. "What is it, Celia?"
"Miss Yao, Mr. Ji," Celia said evenly, "are you absolutely sure you're speaking with the real Little Buddha? There are too many scammers these days. I'd hate to see you deceived."
Lillian's red lips curved upward, her tone dripping with arrogance. "Celia, are you jealous? Don't tell me you're bitter about losing to him."
Celia: "…"
"Yes, we held a design competition. By rights, the winner should have been the one to create my gown. But that's Little Buddha we're talking about. Anyone would choose him over you—an unknown with no reputation. Don't let it make you feel small or unworthy."
Celia: "…"
Some people are just rich and reckless. She had only tried to help, but clearly, it was pointless.
Lillian made the transfer without another word. Moments later, Ji Yunfan's phone chimed again. The so-called "Little Buddha" confirmed he would send sketches within two days.