"Hu Ming..." When Li Yue stood before him, Hu Ming finally understood why Han Shuyi’s words had held such weight.

Li Yue wore a noticeably shortened skirt, her long hair—once hiding the mark on her face—now tied back with a ribbon. She revealed her features openly, radiating a confidence she’d never possessed before.

Hu Ming crossed his arms, eyebrows slightly raised as he studied her. Surprise flickered in his gaze.

"Huh? Li Yue. You’re... completely different from before."

"Really? I guess I’m just more confident now." She flicked her hair with pride.

Ever since taking Han Shuyi’s advice, the atmosphere around her had shifted. Though the mark on her face remained unattractive, Li Yue’s natural beauty was undeniable. Boys who’d once called her "ugly duckling" now addressed her by name. To Li Yue, this change felt like unimaginable euphoria. *Finally, I can show my true face to the world!*

Yet as she looked at her fiancé, new thoughts stirred within her. She’d heard about today’s events—how even Hu Ming’s own parents disowned him. No wonder Han Shuyi had warned that Hu Ming might reject this truth. Facing him now, her resolve hardened.

"Hu Ming, I wanted to ask you something."

"Go ahead."

"Do you... truly hate Han Shuyi?" She bit her lip, forcing the words out as if they pained her.

She knew how petty this sounded coming from her own mouth. But the man before her no longer shone with the light she’d once worshipped. For years, she’d trailed behind him, believing she’d forever live in shadow—until Han Shuyi changed everything. It was his doing that she now dared to bare her face.

Hu Ming’s lips curled into a faint smile, his expression unchanged. He’d anticipated this. *Li Yue thought she’d found the sun,* he mused. *She never realized it was just a flame. Rush toward it, and you’ll only get burned.* But what did it matter to him? He’d already done more than enough for her. Her choices were hers alone.

"Li Yue, just say what you mean. Hiding it would make you no different from before."

His words struck a nerve. Her hesitant expression twisted into anger. She glared at him, the mark on her face tightening near her eyes.

"Hu Ming! I’m not the same person anymore! I’m more confident now!"

"So what? How does that change what you’re about to do?"

"I..." The words died on her tongue. She knew this was her fault. But thinking of her future, she steeled herself. "Hu Ming, let’s end our engagement!"

She met his gaze, jaw set with determination. Hu Ming had never seen this look on her—even the original owner of this body probably hadn’t. Passersby drifted around them, but silence hung thick between the two. Li Yue’s throat tightened as she swallowed hard, eyes locked on him. Part of her hoped he’d refuse; after years at his side, his presence had become her anchor. Yet rejecting him would betray Han Shuyi. Torn between loyalties, only tension remained.

She’d forgotten how, when the world shunned her, it was the original Hu Ming who’d first treated her like a human being. Now, her words felt like a blade severing the past—and he was the first thread she cut.

Hu Ming stood motionless, his thoughts unreadable.

"Hu Ming?" she whispered.

He suddenly laughed—a sound laced with bottomless sarcasm.

"Honestly, Li Yue? I don’t care about this. That engagement should’ve been dissolved long ago."

Li Yue froze, staring at him uncomprehendingly.

Hu Ming exhaled slowly, his tone calm. "The one bound to you by that engagement was Han Shuyi—not me. What you do next is none of my concern. Goodbye."

As he turned to leave, her voice stopped him.

"Hu Ming... can’t we at least stay friends?"

"Friends? Didn’t you just make new ones? Losing one more won’t matter. Cherish the life you have now—it’s rare."

*[What happens after that is none of my business.]*

Hu Ming strode toward his classroom, only to find Ye Qiuxue blocking his path. She narrowed her eyes, suspicion in her voice.

"You and Li Yue had an engagement?"

She knew of Li Yue—the girl with the striking red mark on her face, whispered about across campus. Others called her ugly, but Ye Qiuxue had seen her quiet kindness, how she tiptoed through life to avoid bothering anyone. *Why break it off with Hu Ming now?* she wondered. *Doesn’t she know he’s at his most vulnerable?* For the first time, she felt resentment toward Li Yue. But it wasn’t her place to interfere. She only ached for Hu Ming. *He’s being abandoned by everyone.* Yet he kept smiling. She couldn’t fathom how.

"It wasn’t with me," Hu Ming corrected lightly. "It was between the Khan Family and hers. And the Khan heir is Han Shuyi—not me. So technically, she was never meant for me."

"Your families actually do this? I thought engagements were rare nowadays."

"Well, yours with me just happened, didn’t it?" Hu Ming teased, eyebrows lifting playfully.

Ye Qiuxue’s cheeks flushed crimson before she shot him a glare.

"Report cards come out soon. Bring yours to me tomorrow!"

"Then we’ll be like *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*!"

"*Condor Heroes*?"

"Guo Jing and Huang Rong were teacher and student!"

"Go die!"