"Sorry."
The words slipped out before Yu Jinwen could stop them—but he didn't regret them.
For three years, she'd cared for him, while he'd failed her at every turn. He owed her this.
Nan Song froze.
No one knew better than her how stubborn, how prideful this man was. For him to utter "sorry"—it was like iron blooming into flowers. Unprecedented.
But she'd never wanted an apology.
She'd wanted *"I love you."*
A wry laugh echoed in her heart, though her face remained impassive. "Apology accepted."
Then she turned and stepped into the car.
Her indifference was a stark contrast to the past—as if every shred of feeling for him had vanished.
Was she really… over him?
The engines hummed to life. Just as the cars began to move, Yu Jinwen suddenly knocked on her window.
Nan Song suppressed a sigh. What now? Since when was he this clingy?
She rolled down the window. "Something else, *Mr. Yu*?"
"Why did you pretend to be a nurse three years ago?" His voice was low, urgent. "I chose you, but you could've refused. Why say yes?"
That was the heart of it.
Nan Song studied his face—the sharp angles, the uncharacteristic vulnerability. He genuinely seemed to need this answer.
"It doesn't matter anymore." Rain misted through the window, cooling her skin as her voice softened. "If we meet again, let's pretend we're strangers."
The window closed. The black cars glided away.
Yu Jinwen stood motionless under his umbrella, watching until the taillights disappeared. An unfamiliar ache spread through his chest—as if something vital had been ripped away.
A hand clapped onto his shoulder.
He turned to see Fu Yu's grinning face, damp hair clinging to his forehead like he'd just emerged from a fog.
"Miss her already?" Fu Yu teased.
Yu Jinwen shoved him off. "None of your business."
"Oh, but it is." Fu Yu draped himself over Yu Jinwen again, undeterred. "Brothers don't poach. But now that she's single…" He waggled his brows. "Fair game."
Yu Jinwen stopped walking. His gaze turned glacial.
"You're serious?"
Fu Yu straightened, suddenly solemn. "Deadly. Got a problem with that? You don't even like her." He studied Yu Jinwen's expression. "Unless… you've changed your mind?"
Yu Jinwen's jaw tightened.
Under the shared umbrella, the two men locked eyes—no longer allies, but rivals.
"You're not right for her," Yu Jinwen stated coldly.
Fu Yu shrugged. "Won't know till I try. Besides, you barely know her. Remember—I'm the one who uncovered her identity."