Chapter 22 :"No! We're Done!"
Lin Ruoshui sat in her dormitory, fuming with frustration. Her roommate and best friend, He Xuan, analyzed the situation with a sharp tone:
"Think about it. Ever since your cold war started, he hasn't reached out to you once. That means he probably wanted to break up with you a long time ago but didn't want to be labeled as the bad guy. So, he's using silence to push you into making the move first, so he can walk away without guilt."
Hearing He Xuan's analysis, Lin Ruoshui suddenly felt that it made sense.
Then, as if adding fuel to the fire, He Xuan continued, "Or… have you considered that maybe, during this silent period, he's already found someone new?"
Lin Ruoshui's face darkened instantly. Irritation surged through her as she grabbed her phone once more. Without hesitation, she dialed Fang Hong's number, switching to speaker mode before tossing the phone onto the table.
After a few rings, the call connected.
"Fang Hong, what is the meaning of this?" Lin Ruoshui's angry voice filled the room.
At that moment, Fang Hong was in his dormitory, meticulously drafting the minutes for a business proposal. Holding his phone to his ear with one hand, he responded calmly, "If you have something to say, just say it."
Lin Ruoshui's frustration only grew. She snapped, "Why didn't you say anything when I brought up breaking up? Not even a word to stop me?"
Fang Hong's response was composed, as if discussing a mere business deal.
"When you first mentioned it, I asked if you had thoroughly considered your decision. You answered yes. If that's the case, then what's the point of me trying to change your mind? Any partnership, whether in business or relationships, requires mutual agreement. If one party firmly refuses to continue, then the deal is bound to fail. So tell me, why should I waste my energy on something that has already been decided?"
His logical response left Lin Ruoshui momentarily stunned. She opened her mouth but couldn't find the words to refute him. Even He Xuan, who had been so confident earlier, found herself caught off guard by his reasoning.
After a few seconds of silence, Lin Ruoshui snapped back to her senses and demanded, "So, you're not even a little sad?"
Fang Hong's reply was devoid of any emotion. "Why should I be sad? You made the choice to break up, and I accepted it after careful consideration. Since we both agree on this decision, there's no reason for sadness. Even if I feel something, it wouldn't be sadness—just acceptance."
Lin Ruoshui's eyes widened in disbelief. She turned to He Xuan, who was equally speechless.
From the other side of the call, Fang Hong continued working on his proposal, unaffected by the conversation.
Then, Lin Ruoshui's voice returned, laced with suspicion. "I get it now! You must have another woman behind my back. That's why you're so indifferent! You ignored me on purpose, making me take the first step, just so you could walk away guilt-free. You're nothing but a scumbag!"
Fang Hong remained composed, his tone unwavering. "First, I don't have any other woman besides you. Second, even if I did, I wouldn't need to hide it. Third, during this period, I was simply busy making money and focusing on my business. That's all."
For the third time that night, Lin Ruoshui and He Xuan were left completely speechless.
Lin Ruoshui stared at her phone in shock. Was this really the Fang Hong she knew? His words were precise, calculated—nothing like the person she had been in a relationship with.
He Xuan leaned in, whispering to Lin Ruoshui, "Your ex-boyfriend… he's completely heartless!"
What neither of them knew was that the Fang Hong they had once known was gone. The man speaking to them now was someone who had battled through the ruthless financial world—an individual who had survived the international capital markets, where emotions held no value.
For a man like Fang Hong, nothing mattered except risks and rewards, rational and irrational choices.
However, that didn't mean he was devoid of emotions. He simply refused to let them control him. He could cherish someone, but he would never spoil them.
Feeling that the conversation had dragged on long enough, Fang Hong spoke directly, "Is there anything else?"
Lin Ruoshui's temper flared again. She shouted into the phone, "No! We're done!"
With that, she ended the call.
Frustration overtook her as she hugged her legs, burying her face in her knees. She didn't want to say another word.
For the first time since their cold war started, Lin Ruoshui had spoken to Fang Hong again. But this conversation left her feeling lost—like she no longer understood the person she had once dated.
Just then, her phone rang again.
Still resting her head on her knees, she muttered, "Xuan, just hang up. Even if he wants to apologize now, it's too late."
But He Xuan glanced at the screen and hesitated. She nudged Lin Ruoshui. "It's not Fang Hong. It's your family. Are you sure you want to ignore it?"
Lin Ruoshui lifted her head slightly. Her eyes were slightly red.
She hesitated before taking the phone, calming herself before answering.
"I'll go grab something to eat," He Xuan said as she left the dorm, leaving Lin Ruoshui alone to take the call.
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Meanwhile, back in the 303 dormitory, Fang Hong placed his phone aside. Their relationship had officially ended, and he had already moved on mentally.
However, there was still another issue to handle.
He couldn't keep going to internet cafés every day just to trade stocks. That wasn't sustainable.
Picking up his phone again, he dialed a number—his first employee, Cao Chenghui.
As soon as the call connected, Cao Chenghui's eager voice came through, "Boss! What can I do for you?"
Fang Hong wasted no time. "Prepare yourself. Tomorrow, you're taking me to look at houses."
Cao Chenghui was taken aback. "Boss, are you planning to buy a place?"
"Yes," Fang Hong confirmed. "I can't keep making you run back and forth to my university every other day."
Cao Chenghui immediately responded, "Understood, boss! I'll arrange it right away. What time should I pick you up tomorrow?"
"Nine o'clock."
"Got it!"
After ending the call, Cao Chenghui rubbed his chin in thought.
"It just so happens that my wife and I have been planning to upgrade to a new home… Maybe I should find a place near the boss's."
For him, staying close to Fang Hong wasn't just about convenience—it was about securing a strong connection with a rising financial powerhouse.
And in the business world, relationships like that were priceless.
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