Chapter 13

In the sunset, Su Yichen knelt on one knee in front of Shi Yi, his face humble and solemn. A pair of deep blue pupils emitted a faint light, as deep as the ocean.

The crowd of onlookers not far away immediately erupted into whispers.

"Isn't that Su Yichen, Dr. Su from the Cardiology Department?! The school grass of our hospital!"

"It really is him! Is he... proposing?!"

"Wow, what kind of century-level gossip am I seeing! Isn't he a thousand-year ice block who doesn't get close to women?"

"Yes, he has never had a girlfriend, he's just a workaholic. It's said that even the dean's daughter took a fancy to him, but he didn't agree! So... he had someone in his heart all along!"

"I like such a handsome and dedicated man so much, it's a pity he's already taken!"

"Curious about what kind of girl the other party is? To be able to capture Dr. Su's heart..."

The chattering discussions fell into Shi Yi's ears word for word. Shi Yi only felt a sense of trouble, helplessly bending down to pull Su Yichen up:

"Su Yichen, what are you doing? There are people watching behind us!"

Su Yichen stood up and approached Shi Yi, looking at her with burning eyes:

"So what if there are people watching? I am proposing to you openly. Xiao Yi, actually... I had prepared this ring long ago, and originally intended to find a suitable opportunity to tell you, but... I couldn't wait."

Saying this, he opened the box in his hand with a "snap," revealing a shining ring.

The ring was made of platinum and inlaid with a crystal gemstone in the middle, and the shape of the gemstone was very special—it was the shape of an apple.

"An apple?"

Shi Yi frowned.

"Yeah, Xiao Yi, do you remember the apple you gave me on the first day we met?"

Shi Yi remembered. Her first meeting with Su Yichen was during the period when she had just been sent to the orphanage.

There were many apple trees on the back hill of the orphanage, and in autumn, they were full of red fruits. However, those fruits were planted by nearby fruit farmers.

One day, Shi Yi secretly ran to the back hill and climbed up an apple tree to steal fruit, only to be discovered by a group of little hooligans from the orphanage who also went to steal fruit. This group of little hooligans had never liked Shi Yi and wanted to find an opportunity to bully her. This time, they caught a good opportunity! Taking advantage of Shi Yi picking fruit in the tree, they stood under the apple tree and shook the trunk frantically, wanting to make Shi Yi fall down.

That was a very tall apple tree, and Shi Yi was only 8 years old at the time; falling down would mean death or injury.

Shi Yi was terrified, holding onto the branches with both hands and feet, shouting "Help! Help!"

Just then, Su Yichen ran over from not far away. He was alone, but he had a courage he didn't know where he got, shouting at the group of little hooligans, "Stop!"

The leader of the group of little hooligans was a half-grown, reckless boy. Seeing Su Yichen as thin as a hemp stalk, he laughed and kicked him directly.

But he didn't expect Su Yichen to dodge it flexibly like a swallow.

Then he turned around, picked up a large stone from the ground, and smashed it at the boy's head.

"You bastards! Bullying a girl, what kind of hero are you!"

The group of people soon started fighting, and just then, the teachers from the orphanage rushed over and forcefully pulled the boys who were fighting apart.

As a result, that night, Su Yichen was punished and locked in a dark room with Shi Yi to reflect.

The so-called dark room was actually an abandoned warehouse, piled with dense debris and covered in spider webs, but it had a small window with anti-theft bars.

Shi Yi and Su Yichen had to squeeze tightly together in the chaotic debris. Su Yichen's face was dark and gloomy; he had originally acted bravely and stood up for justice, but he didn't expect the teachers not only not to praise him but also to lock him here and punish him together with the girl who stole apples!

Just then, Shi Yi leaned over quietly, curled her lips, and smiled, revealing two shallow dimples.

"Don't be angry anymore... here... take this!"

Saying this, she took out something round from her bosom like a magic trick and handed it to Su Yichen.

"An apple?" Su Yichen frowned.

Shi Yi nodded with a curled lip, "Yeah, but... this is the only one left, hurry up and taste it, is it sweet."

The moonlight shone in obliquely through the window lattice.

Shi Yi's small face, raised up, was like the apple in her hand—red and round. And her eyes were beautiful amber, the light in her pupils flickering lightly, as if they were wine glasses filled with moonlight.

A certain place in Su Yichen's heart suddenly softened. He took the apple blankly.

That apple didn't know how long it had been held in Shi Yi's bosom, already carrying her warm body temperature, and had been wiped bright by her.

Su Yichen took a bite, and a clear, sweet taste filled his entire mouth.

"Sweet."

"If it's sweet, then we'll be good friends from now on, okay?" Shi Yi looked at him expectantly, her eyes full of anticipation.

Su Yichen finally nodded.

"Okay."

Shi Yi pulled herself out of the memory. Although the past was simple and beautiful, it had long been sealed in her memory. She had once liked Su Yichen and had truly wanted to be with him, but so what?

The moment Su Yichen chose his future over her and betrayed her, she had nothing to do with him anymore.

Her life might not be worth any money, but it wasn't that cheap either!

"Su Yichen, have you forgotten what you once did to me? Do you have the qualifications to say you like me?"

Shi Yi pointed out mercilessly.

Su Yichen's face turned white suddenly; he knew that what should come had finally come.

"Yi'er, I know I let you down, I sincerely apologize to you, please forgive me. I know that saying anything now is useless, the harm has already been done, I will use the actions of the rest of my life to prove it to you, please give me a chance..."

Su Yichen said in a humble tone, almost begging.

Shi Yi shook her head lightly.

"Su Yichen, it's impossible. A nail has been driven into the heart; even if you pull the nail out, so what? The hole is always there. I don't like you anymore."

Hearing the words "I don't like you" from Shi Yi's mouth, Su Yichen only felt his heart being cut by a knife.

"Yi'er, I know you resent me, hate me, I admit all of this, and I don't expect you to be able to forgive me now. But, what you've always wanted, isn't it to escape the Shi family? Marrying me can help you completely escape the Shi family, and, I will give you a stable life, give you the happiness you want! Why do you still have to be so stupid to go take risks in Africa?!"

Thinking that he might really lose Shi Yi forever, Su Yichen simply steeled his heart and said fiercely:

"You will die!"