The porcin cupnded on its matching saucer with a sharp tter, sending the crimson tea inside rippling. The study fell into a heavy silence, thick as water, broken only by that brittle sound.


    Jade fixed Forrest with a steely gaze.


    Forrest, however, remained calm and unshaken.


    His voice was unwavering as he spoke. "I won''t give up my work, and as for Mimi -her career is her own path, her passion. I never had the right to interfere."


    Jade''s expression didn''t budge; she sat there, silent and inscrutable.


    Forrest went on, "Mrs. Suthend, to bepletely honest, I want nothing more than to be with Mimi-wherever she goes, whatever she does. I''d give anything not to be apart from her, not even for a moment. We''ve already spent too many years separated, lost too much time we''ll never get back." His gaze dropped, a fleeting sadness passing over his features. When he looked up again, his eyes were resolute. “But, Mrs. Suthend, just as Mimi''s devotion to design is part of who she is, I too have something I can''t give up. I will never walk away from my research. It''s a lifelongmitment-just like mymitment to Mimi."


    "So, you''re here to make some grand deration of love?" Jade''s voice was cool, almost mocking.


    “But it still hasn''t moved you, has it?" Forrest managed a rueful smile. He didn''t try to dodge the question, answering with earnest rity. "Academic research in artificial intelligence-whether I stay in the country or go abroad, I honestly can''t give you a definite answer right now. And I doubt you''d believe me if I tried. But the truth is, I''m leaning toward staying. My country needs me."


    Jade said nothing.


    Forrest pressed on, his tone sincere. "But there''s one thing I have to say, whether you believe it or not. No matter what happens, I''d rather be the one chasing after Mimi than ever let her exhaust herself trying to keep up with me. More than anyone, I want her to enjoy this rtionship-not be worn down by it."


    "Oh, I believe you. Why wouldn''t I?" Jade let out a short, humorless chuckle. Her wrinkled, timeworn face was tinged with resignation. "But like I said, what difference does it make if you convince me?"


    That was her beloved great-niece.


    If anyone knew M, it was Jade. M was never one to handle emotions gracefully; the only time she''d ever made the first move, she''d gotten burned so badly she''d retreated into her shell ever since. If Forrest really could coax her out of that, what more could Jade possibly ask for?


    But she wasn''t na?ve.


    She''d watched it all over dinner-the way Forrest looked at M left no doubt as to who cared more, who loved more. It was crystal clear.


    And maybe that was for the best.


    Rather than have M marry someone she liked more than they liked her, Jade selfishly hoped for the opposite: someone who adored M, who was decent and capable. She''d seen M suffer enough in love. Marriage, after all, was aboutfort andpanionship.


    At least she knew her girl; even if M wasn''t head over heels, she''d take marriage seriously. She''d treat her partner well. That was enough.


    No more heartbreak, and someone by her side who loved her more-Jade could put her mind at ease.


    Time would tell.


    With this thought, Jade''s expression softened. She gestured to the seat beside her and said, "Sit down."


    Forrest had been standing in the study for quite a while before she offered him a chair. Even now, as he finally sat, he didn''t dare rx. If anything, he felt more on edge-Jade wasn''t satisfied yet, notpletely. This was just the beginning of the conversation.


    And Forrest understood perfectly well what Jade hadn''t said aloud. He was the one seeing things most clearly.


    Mimi was only willing to give him a chance.


    She hadn''t truly epted him yet.


    The road ahead would be long.


    "You know M''s been married, and she has a child," Jade said suddenly, voicing what they both knew but had to acknowledge out loud.


    "I know."


    Forrest''s response was simple. "Mimi''s child is my child. Whatever''s important to her is important to me."


    Jade gave a shortugh, neither epting nor rejecting his words. "Well, if the two of you ever do end up together, would you want a child of your own?"


    "No." Forrest didn''t even hesitate.


    "Tell me the truth," Jade pressed, face unreadable.


    "...Yes," Forrest admitted after a pause.


    "I thought you said M''s child is your child?" Jade sipped her now-lukewarm tea, her voice mild.


    "That''s true." Forrest hesitated, then


    decided to be blunt. "I''m just afraid that someday, if we had a child together, and if Mimi ever fell out of love with me, maybe-just maybe-she''d think twice before leaving, for the sake of the child. She


    ve


    might be a little kinder, hesitate a little longer."


    He gave a small, self-deprecating smile. "But honestly, I meant what I said before too. There are so many risks with pregnancy-I''d never want to put Mimi in danger for the sake of a child, not even on the off chance... Besides, she''s always been gentle and good to me. I trust that, if we ever married, she''d never hurt me like that."


    Jade looked at him, surprised for the first time. "You''re quite open about it. Why couldn''t it be you who falls out of love first?"


    She didn''t mince words.


    "Impossible!" Forrest''s answer was firm, leaving no room for doubt.


    He''d waited this long-if he finally got to marry her, how could he ever let go? He


    was no fool. Of course, he kept these thoughts to himself, not letting a trace show.


    After Lysander, who''d been a lesson in heartbreak, Forrest knew exactly how to present himself to Jade:


    show clear affection, but note off as too aggressive or too passive. Either extreme would be the end of him-Jade, from everything he''d learned, utterly despised that type.