Evening, CEO office of Yang Group.
Golden sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a soft hue across the room.
Yang Tian sat behind his desk, flipping through the latest project analysis report. Suddenly, his phone buzzed.
He glanced down. A familiar name flashed across the screen—Liu Ruyan.
His brows furrowed slightly. That name, once responsible for his downfall, now felt strangely unfamiliar.
He hesitated for half a second, then answered the call.
"Well, well, isn't it our campus belle?" His tone was casual, even playful. "Calling me now—feeling guilty?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end before Liu Ruyan replied with a faint sigh,
"Can we talk like normal people? I... want to have dinner with you tonight. To talk."
Yang Tian leaned back in his chair, voice still laced with teasing:
"Business talk or... something more personal?"
"Both." Her voice was soft but firm.
"Alright then. Seven o'clock. Tomorrow Restaurant."
"Okay."
After hanging up, Yang Tian stared at his phone, lost in thought.
He stood slowly, walked to the window, and lit a cigarette. Wisps of blue smoke curled around his sharp features.
That once-proud, untouchable girl was now the one reaching out. He knew: the balance in her heart had begun to shift.
He murmured,
"Four days left until the college entrance exam... Once that's over, my real stage begins."
His gaze sharpened, eyes glinting with quiet resolve.
Meanwhile—
Liu Ruyan sat at her desk, staring at her reflection—tired but still beautiful.
She stood, dabbed her dry lips, and took out a pale pink lipstick. From the vanity, she chose a clean white dress and a pair of understated pearl earrings.
This wasn't to impress anyone—it was about sincerity. About facing a version of Yang Tian she no longer fully knew.
"I need to know... the truth about that day on the rooftop. And who that girl, Shen Xue, really is."
She whispered to herself, eyes steeled with determination.
Tonight's dinner would not be just a casual meeting.
7 PM. Tomorrow Restaurant.
The restaurant's entrance shimmered under the city lights.
Liu Ruyan, clad in a flowing white dress and heels, approached gracefully but nervously. Her eyes landed on a familiar figure—Yang Tian, leaning against the wall, a cigarette nearly burned to its end between his fingers.
"Yang Tian," she called softly.
He looked up, then casually snuffed the cigarette like it was second nature.
What she didn't know was: that habit remained unchanged. No matter how cold he seemed now, he still remembered her preferences.
She noticed the gesture, and the corners of her lips curled into a subtle, nostalgic smile.
"Let's go in," Yang Tian said calmly.
"Mm." Her reply was soft, tinged with unease.
They sat by a window. The waiter began the standard menu introduction.
Yang Tian cut in:
"Just bring your signature dishes. Mildly spicy."
"Of course, sir."
Once the waiter left, silence settled between them—quiet, but not uncomfortable.
Liu Ruyan broke it gently:
"Can I ask you something? Why did you suddenly start helping the Shen family?"
Yang Tian took a sip of water, eyes on his glass.
"Are you trying to meddle in Yang Group affairs?"
She frowned slightly, tone tinged with complaint:
"Do you have to talk like that? I'm just... curious. You've changed. You never used to be so forceful with me."
Finally, he looked up, his gaze serious.
"Have you really not remembered?" he said, voice low, like a key unlocking a long-lost memory. "All the things you overlooked... all the things you were a part of."
She froze, confused:
"What are you talking about?"
"The rooftop," he said sharply. "And Ji Xiaolan."
The air thickened.
Her face paled. She gripped her glass tightly:
"You... what do you know?"
Yang Tian didn't answer. He leaned back, voice chilling:
"You haven't remembered everything yet. But you better hurry. Once you recall what you were part of—you'll understand. What you call 'change' in me... is actually the last of my mercy."
She stared at him, as if falling into a frozen lake.
Just then, the waiter returned with the dishes, breaking the tension.
"Enjoy your meal."
They began eating in silence, the mood heavy.
Liu Ruyan tried to ease it:
"I've been looking into things... about Ji Xiaolan."
Still no response from Yang Tian. He ate slowly, expression unreadable.
"I pulled the surveillance footage from that day," she continued. "Blurry, but I saw him—he was on the rooftop, talking to someone called 'Uncle Yang.'"
Yang Tian finally set down his chopsticks and gave a cold chuckle:
"So, you're finally suspicious?"
"I just... want the truth." Her voice trembled with stubbornness.
"Truth?" He leaned back, gaze cold. "That truth became incomplete the moment you chose to trust him—and pushed me into that trap."
Pain flickered across her face.
"I didn't know... I really didn't."
"Of course you didn't," he said flatly. "And you never wondered—every time Ji Xiaolan approached you, was she acting alone?"
Her head jerked up:
"You mean... she wasn't alone?"
Yang Tian didn't answer directly. He stood slowly.
"This dinner was to show you: some things are beyond your understanding now."
His gaze cut through her.
"Don't talk to me about feelings or kindness anymore. The only thing you can do now—is choose a side."
Her face went pale. She gripped the tablecloth tightly.
"Yang Tian... do you really not trust me anymore?"
"Trust you?" He laughed once, cold and hollow, and turned to leave. "I didn't get reborn just to fall in love again."
His silhouette disappeared into the warm restaurant lights, leaving her alone.
She stared at the untouched dishes, hands trembling. Tears welled up but were stubbornly held back.
"Yang Tian... I really don't want to make the same mistake again."
She whispered, eyes filled with new resolve.
Meanwhile—
Ji Xiaolan stood on the rooftop of a tall office building. A system prompt echoed in her mind.
[Warning: Target heroine "Liu Ruyan"'s trust level has dropped][Urgent Suggestion: Initiate high-intimacy interaction to restore trust]
Her eyes turned cold:
"So... he's making his move again."
"But you're not the only one who can rewrite time."
[Host, shall we initiate Plan B?]
"Yes," she smiled faintly, lips curling. "Time to make her feel real 'heart flutter'."
That night, Yang Tian stared at his screen, watching data graphs shift and spike.
"Shen family's project is progressing well. Next: destroy Ji Xiaolan's foundation of trust."
Bai Nuoxue entered:
"Boss, Liu Ruyan's emotional state changed significantly after tonight's meeting."
Yang Tian smirked:
"Exactly what we need. The more shaken she is, the more cracks we'll find."
"What's next?" Bai Nuoxue asked.
"Keep up the pressure. Ji Xiaolan... it's your move."
The next morning.
Liu Ruyan walked into class, eyes shadowed from a sleepless night.
Ji Xiaolan, sitting in front of her, turned and passed her a note:
"After school. Rooftop."
Her heart skipped a beat.
"The rooftop again?"
It was as if fate's gears were turning once more, and the mystery was about to unravel again.
Yang Tian, seated in the back, watched the two silently. He couldn't hear them, but their expressions told him enough—something was about to break.
Shen Xue walked over and sat beside him, whispering:
"You're watching them like a hawk. Something about to happen?"
Yang Tian chuckled:
"Let's go watch a movie. Should be a romance. We'll follow them later."
Shen Xue blinked, briefly hopeful it was a date. But hearing the last sentence, her smile faltered slightly.
"I thought... maybe you were finally being romantic."
He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. His gaze never left the couple ahead.
The "movie" was about to begin.