Nothing lasts forever...

Raelle had engraved this statement not only on the deepest part of her heart but also on her soul. Whether it be anger, hatred, sadness, happiness, or love. None of these emotions could affect you forever. Every emotion tends to wane in the current of time.

And since nothing was believed to last forever, Raelle resolved to be content with 'Nothing'. Because as long as she felt nothing, these vain emotions couldn't shake the harmony of her life. Human emotions had always been too difficult to understand for her brain.

She had seen people destroying each other in the name of love, jealousy, hatred. She had seen people stuck in the endless cycle of revenge. All of this was considered counterproductive to her.

Even though she never understood any of it, every nerve, every sinew, every thought of hers was hell-bent on the sole purpose of finding that 'Nothing' that would last forever. Because in her opinion, emotions would only make a person impulsive and then people would become slaves to their own emotions.

However, this simple logic was something she couldn't make her grandfather understand. While her grandfather strongly believed that her lack of emotions was keeping her from enjoying life to the fullest, she didn't agree. She didn't believe in things she couldn't explain with reason; just like emotions that went beyond the logic one's brain could comprehend.

Nonetheless, she could never bring herself to hurt her grandfather or go against his words. And that was the reason, she was sitting in this cafe with her new blind date.

Seriously, she had even lost the count of how many times she had come to such blind dates. This was supposedly a never-ending cycle. She was tired of it but apparently, her grandfather definitely wasn't tired of arranging such meetings.

She blinked her black peach blossom eyes at the man sitting before her with a smile plastered on her naturally red lips. Her eyes were charming with rows of thick, long, curly eyelashes that looked like densely packed black feathers of top-quality. Whenever she blinked, they seemed to flutter like butterfly wings -- alluringly, making one's heart itch.

She elegantly picked up the glass of water before her to take a sip. The remnants of water stuck on her soft red lips making them look like rose petals being caressed by the dewdrops.

Unbeknownst to her, each and every gesture of hers was making someone's heartbeat quicken. Although Mr. Blind date only came here under the pressure of his family, he was now entranced. The girl before him had a beguiling face, her smooth jade-like skin, and her sharp features gave her a tempting vibe.

He really couldn't bring himself to look away. He opened his mouth to introduce himself, "I'm..." But before he could continue, the girl before him slid a document towards him. His brows furrowed up as he looked at her inquisitively, "This is...?"

Raelle's lips curled into a beautiful arc as she answered, "I heard Mr. Zhang wants to spread his wings and venture into the field of Augmented and Virtual Reality. However, your family isn't very supportive of your ambitions."

Mr. Blind date or Mr. Zhang whatever you'd like to call him, squinted his eyes at her, "Your point is?"

"I'm willing to be the supporter you need to spread your wings and soar high in the sky," was her carefree response but her tone was very determined. She definitely wasn't fooling around. Although her lips had a smile playing on them, her eyes left no room for argument.

Something flickered through Mr. Zhang's eyes as he said, "There is no such thing as free meal... And I don't think there is anything I can offer Miss Xiang."

Raelle crossed her one leg over the other as she leaned back in her chair, "I don't have the habit of making deals that aren't beneficial to me. As it so happens, there is something you can offer me in return." She took a brief pause and just as the smile on her face widened, she went on, "You just have to tell my grandfather that we are not compatible with each other."

Doubt flashed through Mr. Zhang's eyes or maybe it was disbelief. The girl before his eyes was offering him his biggest dream and only wanted him to say one thing to her grandfather? What game was she playing? He really couldn't understand.

Seeing his hesitation, Raelle sighed out, "You can read the contract. I definitely won't go back on my words."

Mr. Zhang had just picked up the document when in a blink of an eye, someone splashed the glass of orange juice before him onto the face of the girl sitting opposite him. By the time he came back to his senses, he was being pulled out of his chair.

"You shameless little witch! How dare you try to seduce my boyfriend with this bewitching face of yours?!" The woman shrieked like a madwoman. "Just because you're rich doesn't mean you can steal my boyfriend from me."

Unlike what one would expect, Raelle was rather calm in this situation as she took a napkin and dabbed her face. She even looked at this pair of lovers as if she was looking at something very amusing.

But her gaze made Mr. Zhang feel unsettled so he tried to pull the madwoman back saying, "Xinxin, stop causing trouble!"

"I'm causing trouble?" the woman was enraged. "We have been together for years and yet I am not allowed to stop this? What right does she have to come out of nowhere and steal my love just because she has power and money? Are those the only things important in life? Does my love and sacrifices for you amount to nothing?" Tears had trickled down the woman's supple cheeks as she cried her heart out miserably.

Raelle yawned lazily and stood up at a languid pace. Her eyes settled on this pair of lovers and she spoke in a calm voice, "Ms. Whoever-you-are, you asked a question, let me give you the answer..." Her voice got dangerously low as she continued, "Love and sacrifices, people only use these terms to shackle others. To imprison them in the cage of guilt in the name of love." She raised her hand and the woman cowered back and hid in her boyfriend's arms. However, Raelle only raised her hand to snatch the contract documents from Mr. Zhang's hands as she concluded, "Now, let me prove to you what money and power can do. Trust me, it'll bring an even magical result than your so-called love and sacrifice."

"When are you coming?"

"I'm stuck in traffic, might be a little late. Order a coffee for yourself and wait patiently."

Shui Xian combed his fingers through his lush black hair and replied monotonously, "Fine." Then he raised his hand to order a cup of cappuccino for himself. His lean figure clad in a form-fitting suit looked dignified and he definitely looked out of place in this cafe. He seemed to have an air of domineering masculinity about him.

If it wasn't for his sister insisting to meet at a cafe, he'd not have been sitting in this place at this time. His deep and calm amber-colored eyes carelessly looked out the glass window at the passerby clad in coats and thick clothing in this early autumn. His eyes weren't focused, in fact, he looked to be lost in his own world when his daydreaming was suddenly disturbed by the commotion. The center of his fine eyebrows furrowed slightly.

As soon as he heard, 'Just because you're rich doesn't mean you can steal my boyfriend from me.' He figured out which drama was playing. Coincidently, this whole charade was happening right behind him and he could hear everything. But he wasn't like other gossipy people and would never turn around to see.

He had seen plenty of rich ladies trying to use the money to sow discord between two lovers or seducing other men. It was rather common in this so-called elite circle where anything was possible. Even the most impossible was possible. He thought it was just another lady trying to steal someone's boyfriend, nothing new. Maybe that's why he wasn't really affected by this scene.

Or at least, he thought he wouldn't be affected until...

'Love and sacrifices, people only use these terms to shackle others. To imprison them in the cage of guilt in the name of love.'

This voice sounded pleasant - mellow and charming.

As those words fell into his ear, his whole being stiffened. Numerous memories flooded his brain making him clench his fists until his knuckles turned white. He turned his head to see who said those words but all he caught was the back of a girl who flipped her hair and walked away without even looking back.

The lines of his cold, hard jaw pulled tautly. Those words made him recall the pain he had been in back then. She had also said those words to him...

'I love you, why don't you believe me?' he had tried his utmost to hold her back.

'If you love me, why don't you set me free? Why do you have to imprison me in this cage of love? No matter how much you love me, it'll still be just a cage to me!'

His heart hurt but she didn't take pity on him as she ruthlessly pierced through his heart with her words repeatedly.

'I gave you everything you asked for. Why can't you just stay with me?'

She sneered, 'You'll keep reminding me what you did for me or for us. But let's face it, you did everything for yourself. You did it to make me feel guilty. You did it so that I'm not able to leave you!'

He shook his head repeatedly, 'No! That wasn't my intention.'

The woman before him held his hands and pleaded in a soft voice, 'If you really love me then let me go. Set us free from this love that is only hurting us now. Please, sign the divorce papers and let me go!'

As he opened his eyes, his eyes had cleared up again. There was that familiar cold blankness emitting from his eyes again. He stood up, dialed his sister's number again.

"Gege[1], I'm on my way! Just have some patience."

His cold but monotonous voice rang out, "There is no need to hurry now. I've got something important to do. So, I'm leaving early."

"What? You called me out to meet and now you're ditching me? How could-"

The person on the other end was still shouting loudly but he had hung up without any care. He paid for his coffee that he didn't even touch and went to get his car from the parking lot.

....

"Chief, how can you walk out like this?"

He heard the voice as soon as he came close to his car and looked over to see that the girl from earlier had been leaning against the limited edition Bentley while another woman was wiping her dark red satin blouse as she lamented, "This stain won't go." One look could tell people that the girl wasn't from just any rich family. Although he could only see her side profile it was enough to show her elegance.

She had matched her satin blouse with marsala pants, black shoes, and a black belt. Although she wore red, she didn't ostentatious. It made her look glamorous.

"This Mr. 49 really lacked some screws in his brain. No wonder he came to a blind date even though he had a girlfriend. Who would want to live with a madwoman?"

Raelle looked at her assistant in amusement, "Cloe, you even count my blind dates?"

Cloe shrugged her shoulders, "After two years of watching you suffer through these blind dates, It has become a habit now." Her expressions hardened as she went on, "But seriously, you aren't gonna let this go easily right? They not only splashed orange juice on you, they even slandered you in public. Also, I've been learning about the culture here, and apparently, splashing someone with water is a form of humiliation and insult! We can't take this lying down!"

Raelle's expression didn't change as she said, "Why does it seem you're more agitated than me?"

Cloe sighed out, "Chief, that's because you don't even know how to get agitated. I have to carry all these emotions for you. And I know you think revenge is below you but are we really not gonna counterattack? I know you don't do anything unless it brings you benefits but..."

"Ahem! Ahem!"

Hearing that intentional cough, Cloe turned her head to look at the handsome man standing before her. Oh, no! Calling him handsome might be a little understatement. She couldn't even turn her eyes away from his face. He was perfectly carved into the image of her imaginary male god.

Shui Xian's eyes showed his impatience as he clicked his fingers before Cloe's face and said, "That's my car. Can you move your car so that I can get to mine?"

Raelle didn't even turn to look at him as she simply opened the door of the Bentley and got inside. Taking the cue, Cloe gave Shui Xian a nod of acknowledgment and said her sorry before taking her position behind the steering wheel. After all, it was her fault for parking at the wrong place. As the car drove away, Shui Xian couldn't help looking in the direction it went.

His eyes were complicated. The calmness, coldness that he had cultivated for the past six years was all wasted as someone managed to tear open his old wounds.

It seemed he had read the situation wrong earlier.

Love is all-consuming...

It's an amalgam of joy and sorrow. It holds the power to damage you or mend you which is equally frightening and yet tantalizing. It's addictive even if it burns your soul.

Love is like an untamed passion.

It's like a hushed but devastating hurricane. And yet you're inclined to bear the typhoon that it brews in your heart; repeating the cycle with the same words... Just one more chance... Just one more breath... Just one last time...

Love for Shui Xian was just futile and incurable longing. He had seen many forms of love around him from ridiculous love to heartwarming ones. From inconvenient love to selfish love. From can't-live-without-you love to consuming love. However, his love was still defined as endless torture of hate and love intertwined together.

He drove back to his office with a myriad of thoughts running through his mind. He had gone out to relax but came back exhausted. He felt exhausted of this love that had lived in his heart for years and he equally felt exhausted of the hate that shaped him into who he was today. It was ironic how he couldn't let go of this love or this hate. But it was very painful as well.

*Knock! Knock!*

Shui Xian lifted his eyes as a knock was heard and soon after, the door was pushed open, and in walked his father whom he hadn't seen in over a week now. He respectfully stood up and came around to greet his father.

"Bà,[1]" he called out softly. "What brings you to the company at this hour?"

His father, Shui Koshing had a complex gaze directed towards his son before replying, "My son hasn't been coming home for days. I thought I should pay him a visit myself."

As Shui Xian sat down with his father in the sitting space, he showed an apologetic expression before saying, "Sorry! I had been busy with work."

Shui Koshing hummed in understanding. How could he not know why his son hadn't been coming home? He knew very well how his son was trying to work himself to death.

"Did you have dinner?" Before Shui Xian could make an excuse, he went on, "I knew it." He waved his hand and someone brought the dinner he had personally brought from home to eat with his son. "I know you have a habit of forgetting to eat. So, I asked the kitchen staff to cook everything according to your liking and personally brought it here."

Shui Xian looked at the table full of a piping hot meal and the coldness on his face thawed a little. He would only show this softened expression to his family members. "You didn't have to."

Shui Koshing shook his head and personally served the meal to his son saying, "If I don't do this, how else would I get to enjoy a meal with my only son?"

Shui Xian couldn't refute those words so he chose to silently eat the food before him. He hadn't eaten a homecooked meal in days.

Seeing his son eat with gusto, Shui Koshing's eyes showed a gentleness. He still couldn't believe the change he had seen his son over the years. Once, his son was like a warm and lively person. Even though he grew up in an affluent family, he had always been a humble person. But he was arrogant when it came to his love. And he was also impulsive for that love.

It was a pity that that love eventually trampled on his arrogance. That love asked him for great sacrifices which he didn't hesitate from and yet he got nothing in return except for a harsh slap of reality. He and everyone around him had to pay a hefty price for his love. At that time, he didn't want to inherit his family business but when everything was about to slip away from their hands, he finally chose to shed his youthful naivety and vowed to become the perfect heir.

He put all his time and energy into his career and became the strong and powerful person that he was today. But Shui Koshing had seen how he had treated himself the harshest in the previous years as if he was punishing himself for everything his family had to face because of his love.

Shui Koshing's heart hurt seeing his son like this.

"Bà, why are you looking at me like this?" asked Shui Xian when he noticed how his father's food was untouched. "Aren't you hungry?"

Shui Koshing nodded his head and took a bite before saying, "You know, you don't have to work so hard anymore."

Shui Xian pressed his thin lips, "I don't think I have anything else to do." He gave a bitter smile to his father and continued to eat. How could he not see his father's worries? It was very clear to him. Even though he possessed everything now, his heart still felt the bitterness and unwillingness to accept which welled up in dark and lonely nights.

Shui Koshing took a moment to contemplate, "What do you think about getting married?"

"Again?" retorted Shui Xian in surprise. "As if I have any good memories from the first time."

"So what are you planning? Are you gonna spend the rest of your life alone?"

Shui Xian stayed silent in reply.

"I've never questioned your decisions and I have never tried to force you into anything. I just always wanted to see you happy. And even now, I only want to see you happy."

Shui Xian felt complicated listening to his father's words. He knew he had lived his life willfully. He always did everything that he felt was right. In the process, he hurt and disappointed his parents, plenty of times. Even now when he thought he was working hard for the honor of his family, he was just lying to himself. He was just trying to atone for his sins by burying himself in work like this.

Listening to his father, he realized one thing...

"If you have someone you like and you want me to marry her, let me know."

Shui Koshing was startled. "Are you serious?"

Shui Xian nodded his head, "Yes. I'm very serious."