Hearing this, a trace of amusement flickered in Durrell Landon's eyes, but more was confusion:
"Since I'm treating you well, why do you still want a divorce?"
Is divorce really necessary...
Quiana Sutton seemed a bit weary as she lay back on the sofa, her gaze momentarily vacant and devoid.
Perhaps she thought she might have actually started to like him a little, which is why she felt she had to get a divorce.
Love makes a person greedy and weak, both things she can't afford.
She chuckled, a hint of self-mockery: "Who knows, maybe because I feel you might like me a little."
Durrell: "???"
He likes her a little, so she wants a divorce?
What on earth was she thinking?
"What about you? Do you like me?"
Quiana glanced at Durrell, knowing what he meant to say; their relationship was just a game, and since there was a deviation, it couldn't continue.
She occasionally felt grateful for Evelyn Windsor's return, waking her up before she fell too deep.
She shed a brief moment of gentleness before wrapping herself up again, returning to her usual cold demeanor, faintly replying:
"Don't like."
On hearing this, Durrell's expression immediately darkened, the air filled with an indistinct chill.
At this moment.
Xiangbei Hospital.
Oliver Gale pushed open the door to the director's office, Julian Haworth was pruning a potted plant. Seeing him, Julian asked indifferently:
"What brings you here?"
Oliver found a comfortable spot and lazily sat down:
"Durrell wanted to be alone with Quiana, I'm just here because I had nothing better to do."
Upon hearing this, there was a snapping sound as Julian unconsciously broke off a branch, asking with a poker face:
"Surely Durrell hasn't really fallen for Quiana, has he?"
Oliver shrugged: "Who knows..."
Looking around: "By the way, where's Knight Tamworth? Haven't seen him."
Julian looked at the pruned plant, imagining it to be Quiana, and cut another branch forcefully before calming down:
"He went back to The Raven to fix the surveillance footage of Durrell's car accident."
Having heard before from Knight Tamworth that Durrell's accident wasn't simple, it now seemed serious enough to require the footage to be retrieved, Julian's expression grew solemn.
"Repairing footage should be easy for Knight Tamworth, why does he need to return to The Raven for it?"
Julian: "The footage was deliberately damaged, fixing it is not that easy."
Oliver remained silent, feeling an eerie tension, like a storm brewing that might tear the sky and earth apart.
"Julian, in about a week, Durrell's injuries will heal, why don't I become your hospital's lead in surgical operations once that's done?"
Julian replied humorously: "Didn't you always find this place too small to hold your greatness?"
"I've changed my mind now."
"Suit yourself..."
Oliver's willingness to come to Xiangbei Hospital was welcomed by Julian.
*
*
Three days later.
Ever since the unhappy conversation three days ago, Durrell and Quiana hadn't spoken for three whole days.
Yesterday's rain left the air damp, making the atmosphere more oppressive.
Oliver was unaware of what happened after he left that day between the two, but knowing their personalities, he's sure they're not the type to speak frankly, leaving him hesitant to speak, gently swirling his tea as his gaze wandered between Quiana and Durrell.
Durrell slowly finished his breakfast and stood up, speaking coolly:
"Let's go, wear the mask and go to Capital University."
Quiana didn't stand up, she didn't even raise her eyelids: "What's there at Capital University?"
Durrell: "I've arranged with Professor Ye to collect the original 'Starry' today."
After speaking, he left without a backward glance, looking cold and fierce.
Quiana hesitated a moment before following him.
The two remained silent along the way, the car ride oppressively quiet, the driver feeling anxious for the first time, a journey lasting a seemingly endless century, finally reaching Capital University.
The driver cautiously spoke: "Sir, we've arrived at Capital University."
Capital University's offices and teaching buildings aren't in the same place but connected by three stone bridges across flowing rivers shaded by willows.
Durrell had sent a message to Professor Ye earlier, learning he was in class and suggesting he wait in the office.
He turned to glance at Quiana, gazing out the window, a strange thought crossed his mind that he'd overlook everything if she'd just say something gentle, but she left him only coldness and her turned back.
Suppressing his anger, he opened the car door without looking at her, dropping one line: "Wait in the car."
Then he left.
The two seemed to revert to the state when Durrell first lost his memory, filled only with wariness and coldness towards her.
Quiana watched his departing back, feeling slightly relieved yet unexplainably saddened.
...
After waiting for over an hour, Durrell still hadn't returned, Quiana grew bored in the car and decided to go for a walk.
On the stone bridge, she leaned against a column, admiring the fish swimming below.
At that moment, a senior searching for campus beauty saw Quiana from afar, and froze.
Even masked, with her face half-hidden, he sensed the presence of her poetic elegance, everything around seemed just a backdrop for her.
Instinctively, he raised his camera and captured the moment.
Quiana keenly felt a flash and instinctively looked up.
Caught in the gaze, the scene felt dreamlike; her one glance etched an unforgettable mark in his heart.
He hurriedly posted to the school forum.
[SOS Help needed, does anyone know which batch, department, or major this student is from?]
The thread quickly gathered replies.
[Help! Why have I never seen such an angel on the bridge before?]
[Simply envious of the thread starter.]
[Envy won't help, the starter is too timid, only dared to ask online instead of personally.]
...
After hundreds of replies, someone suddenly said:
[That person is definitely Quiana Sutton!]
[???]
[???]
[But she's masked; how can you be so sure the girl in the photo is Quiana?]
[I'm a Quiana anti-fan, I'd recognize her even as dust.]
The thread starter weakly asked: [Why do you dislike her so much?]
Anti-fan: [She always wears makeup and clothes resembling Actress Evelyn; I am Evelyn's true loyal fan.]
The thread starter searched online for Quiana's photos, his heart pounding, feeling the stirrings of love even as a non-fan male.
He was now convinced the person he captured was Quiana Sutton, the resemblance to the photo was uncanny.