Sheena lowered her voice as she looked at my expressionless face.
"Stop pretending. I'm not joking. Take this money—buy a decent place to live, get a better car, find an easier job, or start a small business."
"Stop driving for ride-hailing apps. It's too exhausting, and it's not something you should be doing."
I shook my head, my gaze drifting past her, landing on the mottled bark of the old locust tree in the distance.
"Thanks, but no. I like it this way."
"Charles!"
Her voice suddenly rose, making the stall owner nearby glance over before lowering her head again and returning to work.
Sheena seemed to realize she had lost control. She took a deep breath and lowered her voice once more.
"Don't be stubborn. You know exactly what kind of life you're living now."
"This three million means nothing to me."
"Just take it as... take it as a complete end to our past relationship."
"We're even, okay?"
Clear and settled.
Those words were like an extremely thin needle, gently pricking a corner of memory that had long been sealed away.
Five years ago, the final round of a university debate.
The topic was whether technological development necessarily leads to the alienation of human emotions.
As the main speaker for the affirmative side, I was fully prepared and brimming with confidence.
The opposing team's main speaker was a girl with a neat ponytail and a calm, composed expression.
During the free debate session, my teammates and I launched fierce attacks, presenting carefully prepared data and cases one after another.
When it was her turn, she didn't directly refute the statistics.
Instead, she told a story.
An elderly resident in her hometown lived alone. Her children were away, and she suffered from constant melancholy and illness.
Through a simple companion app developed by community volunteers, she learned to make video calls.
Being able to speak to her grandson daily brought smiles to her face and improved her health.
Her delivery was calm, without flowery words—just plain, sincere narration.
Yet the warmth emerging from everyday life instantly captured the audience's attention.
"Technology is a tool," she concluded, her gaze clear.
"The tool itself is neither warm nor cold. What matters is the heart of the person using it."
"When we use technology to bridge gaps and connect people, it doesn't create indifference—it becomes a different form of companionship and care."
At that moment, it felt as if all the lights on the stage focused on her.
I forgot my prepared rebuttal, staring at her in awe.
Not because she was beautiful, but because of the light in her eyes.
In the circles I was used to—full of wealth and superficiality—I rarely saw anything so real.
I was captivated. I pursued her relentlessly, using every method I could imagine.
Expensive gifts, carefully orchestrated "chance encounters," grand declarations that stirred the entire campus...
To me, they were just ordinary tactics.
To Sheena, they were overwhelming, even burdensome.
She saw me as a typical rich heir, amusing myself with a regular girl for fun.
So she rejected me decisively, even avoiding me whenever possible.
But the more she resisted, the stronger my determination became.
Looking back now, it was almost a borderline obsession.
I even used connections to "dissuade" other boys who liked her.
After a year of relentless pursuit, I finally won her over.
To ease her psychological burden, I suggested we start a business together after graduation.
Half the shares each, sharing risks and profits equally.
