On a circular island in northern Europe.
The azure sea, with a gentle breeze, occasionally punctuated by the cry of seagulls gliding over the water, causing ripples on the clear waves.
Lin Lin pushed Yi Ye, who was in a wheelchair, out to bask in the sun.
In the sunlight, his skin was almost transparently fair.
A few strands of dark hair fell over his forehead, and his beautiful phoenix eyes were slightly narrowed.
He tilted his head slightly, revealing a straight nose and a smoothly sculpted profile. His innate boyishness made him appear young and innocent.
Yi Ye flexed his wrists and crossed his legs, completely unconcerned with being a patient.
He let out a deep sigh, his tone ingratiating, "Little Lin Lin, can I have my phone now?"
Lin Lin's eyes curved into a smile, "Don't rush. The doctor said you can have it after you've finished sunbathing."
"Then I'm finished now."
Lin Lin pouted, displeased with his attitude, "No, sunbathing helps you recover. You can't be so perfunctory."
"Alright, I'll listen to you." Yi Ye tutted. This was the downside of dealing with young girls; he couldn't be forceful.
The warm and gentle sunlight on his skin was so comfortable that he couldn't help but close his eyes.
"President Ye, if you leave in the future, will you still come to Wu Xing Island to see me... and Doctor?" Lin Lin asked softly.
She knew he wasn't asleep.
"Leave? Why would I leave?" he asked lazily, his voice as bright and pleasant as the sunlight.
Every year, he had to come to the island for treatment.
His acquaintance with Dr. S was an accident.
He lost his mother in his youth; she was disheartened in her middle age.
Yi Ye sometimes wondered if, had he met Dr. S earlier, his mother wouldn't have died.
But then he chuckled self-deprecatingly. No, this hereditary disease was discovered too late.
The probability was only tens of millions to one globally.
Yet, he and his mother were two of those cases.
At first, it was manageable. But as he aged, his memory would fade, his limbs would weaken, and his bodily functions would deteriorate.
He might even lose the ability to speak or hear.
With Dr. S's help, his mother had passed away relatively peacefully.
Seeing Dr. S's genuine passion for researching rare clinical diseases, Yi Ye funded the purchase of an island in Finland.
It was for his research, and he provided all research funds.
Dr. S did not disappoint. Although a solution had not been found,
He provided Yi Ye with treatment for a period each year, preventing the illness from worsening.
Counting from when Yi Ye was diagnosed at fifteen, ten years had passed.
He was accustomed to visiting Wu Xing Island every year.
Sometimes, it was good to be here, quiet and isolated from the outside world.
Only this time, he missed Jiang Mian immensely.
He remembered every sparkling moment of her on stage.
At their first meeting, he found her amusing. He hadn't expected her to be so unyielding in the face of a rival.
She accurately identified the opponent's weakness, remaining calm and rational, which piqued his interest.
He had originally just intended to see Ji Zhi Xiu.
"Do you... have someone you like?" Lin Lin asked, biting her lower lip.
Although she had never been in love, her decision to study diseases with Dr. S here was voluntary.
But that didn't mean she didn't understand love.
She hadn't expected that asking this question would elicit such a deep, affectionate smile from him.
No wonder he was so eager for his phone; he was afraid she would worry, she mused.
Yi Ye pulled himself back from his thoughts, his lips curving into a roguish smile, "Little Lin Lin, don't overthink. I will definitely come back here often."
"However," he changed tack, openly admitting, "I do have someone I like."
"I like her very much, the kind of person I'll only like her in my lifetime," he added seriously.
He had always been frivolous and irreverent. His teasing of her was just playful banter.
This was the first time Lin Lin had seen such a serious expression on his face.
She suppressed the pang of sadness. She had known all along that even if he didn't like anyone else, there was no possibility between them.
Regardless, Lin Lin was happy for him.
"Does she like you?"
Yi Ye lowered his head to ponder for a second, then looked up, "No."
Lin Lin was shocked, "She doesn't like you? And you still like her?"
Yi Ye shrugged, "Perhaps my charm isn't enough."
Lin Lin said anxiously, "How could that be? You're so good, kind, attentive, and handsome! It's her lack of vision if she doesn't like you!"
Yi Ye's light-colored eyes stared at her, a playful smile on his lips. He drawled, "I like to hear that. I'm too handsome, what can I do? Little Lin Lin, you don't happen to like me too, do you? Honestly, are you taken with my handsome face?"
"Hate! I don't like you at all!" Lin Lin retorted quickly, her cheeks flushing.
Doesn't like him.
If she didn't like him, that was the best.
He closed his eyes again.
The atmosphere became quiet.
After a long pause, Lin Lin whispered, "It's okay. If she doesn't like you, then pursue her. Let her discover your good qualities."
With that, she scurried away.
Yi Ye sensed the movement and didn't have time to call her back.
He saw her run back, holding his phone and thrusting it in front of him, strands of hair flying from her forehead, "Here."
Yi Ye raised an eyebrow, "What does this mean?"
"Send her a message! You've been here for a week; she must miss you, right? Go for it!" Lin Lin looked at him expectantly.
Yi Ye took the phone and turned it on, "She won't miss me."
"Why?"
"Because she's a married woman," he said casually.
Lin Lin's expression was complicated, and she hesitated, "You..."
Yi Ye chuckled. Her expression was too amusing.
Teasing young girls was so much fun.
He turned his head, his voice tinged with sadness, "Alas..."
Lin Lin's heart churned with mixed emotions upon hearing his sigh.
She never expected he would experience unrequited love.
Logically, she should advise him not to interfere in someone else's marriage...
But emotionally, she couldn't bear to see him so heartbroken...
Lin Lin's face turned red with anxiety, unsure of what to say.
President Ye was already pitiful enough. Why did this have to happen? Heavens!
Seeing her silence for so long, Yi Ye said mournfully, "It's okay, you don't need to persuade me. I understand. People like me don't deserve happiness."
"No, that's not true!" she countered. "President Ye is the best person I've ever met! Even Doctor says so!"
Yi Ye was even more amused.
Was he good?
Why did everyone think he was a good person?
Did that brat Jing Yi Yi say the same thing?
Strange, why was he thinking of that feisty girl?
Yi Ye frowned and tried to push her out of his mind.
"Don't be sad. If you miss her this much, call her," Lin Lin said cautiously.
"Okay," he agreed and dialed Jiang Mian's number.
The call was answered within seconds.
"Yi Ye, are you back in the country?"
Yi Ye curved his lips, "Not yet. What, miss me?"
Jiang Mian pouted and replied directly, "No."
"You don't miss me, but I miss you," he said plaintively.
Jiang Mian ignored his remark, "Last time I saw Ye San, he said he was almost worked to death, saying that if you didn't come back soon, he wouldn't be able to hold on."
"He complained about me to you?"
"What's your point? Isn't the point that the company is very busy now?"
"What does that have to do with me?" he said indifferently.
"You're the boss."
"I don't want to be the boss anymore."
Did they really think he had nothing better to do?
Any of his assets alone earned more than this company.
If it weren't for Jiang Mian, why would he bother going through all the trouble of being a proxy president?
Jiang Mian hesitated for a moment, ending the flippant conversation and changing the subject, "Did something happen to you abroad?"
She felt Yi Ye's tone was unusually weak.
Yi Ye paused, "What could happen to me?"
"We're friends. If you need help, you can tell me," Jiang Mian said earnestly.
Unknowingly, she and Yi Ye had known each other for some time.
The seemingly carefree Yi Ye had never faltered at crucial moments and had helped her a lot.
In her heart, she had long considered Yi Ye a friend.
Not just a boss and subordinate relationship.
Yi Ye savored her words for a moment. Just friends? He really didn't like hearing that.
He raised an eyebrow and smiled, looking at the water birds on the sea, "Nothing's wrong, I'm doing great. You should take care of yourself."
"It's good that you're fine. I won't talk anymore, we'll talk when you get back. I have a shoot, I'll hang up now."
"Okay, you be busy."
Lin Lin, who had listened from beginning to end, breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing her like this, Yi Ye raised an eyebrow, "What does that mean?"
She stammered, "It doesn't mean anything..."
She couldn't possibly say she was afraid he would steal her man.
"Are you afraid I'll say something I shouldn't?"
"I didn't say that," she quickly denied.
Yi Ye sneered, "Your thoughts are written all over your face."
Lin Lin blushed, "I... I was just scared."
Saying this, she stared at her feet and said softly, "I believe you really like her."
"Is it that obvious?"
"Your tone with her is so gentle; only a fool wouldn't notice. The smile in your eyes is so obvious!" she thought enviously, though not with jealousy.
Yi Ye smiled faintly, "Really? Then I'll have to restrain myself. Little Lin Lin, I'm leaving tomorrow."
"So soon?"
"The treatment is finished, why else would I stay? If I get old, I might consider retiring here," he grinned.
Wu Xing Island was not large, but it was beautiful.
With lush flowers and vegetation, it was like a paradise, offering everything one could desire. It was by no means inferior to the outside world.
Lin Lin also knew it was time.
She nodded, her heart conflicted, unsure whether to speak.
But Dr. S hadn't finished his research. If she spoke now and it didn't work, it would only lead to more disappointment.
Lin Lin thought to herself, forget it! She wouldn't say anything! If it was successful, they would tell her anyway!
"Okay, then I'll wait for you to come to Wu Xing Island next time! By then, the vegetables I planted should be edible."
Yi Ye sighed, "Little Lin Lin, you can manage the household and entertain guests. Whoever marries you will be truly blessed."
"I'm not getting married! I'm staying here with Doctor for life."
Yi Ye shook his head, "If you don't get married, then I can't give you a wedding gift."
"Who wants your wedding gift? I just want you to get better soon," she said sincerely.
For once, she didn't blush.
"It sounds like I'm dying. Don't worry, good people don't live long, but villains have a thousand-year lifespan. I belong to the latter."
"Pah pah pah! Don't say that! You didn't mean it, you didn't mean it!" she repeated several times, as if saying it could make the careless words vanish and prevent them from coming true.
Yi Ye stretched lazily, "Little Lin Lin, thank you!"
He was generally carefree and irresponsible.
Free-spirited and unrestrained, he did as he pleased.
But he knew who was good to him.
Every time he visited, the girl's undisguised smile revealed her feelings, and even he, foolish as he might seem, could see it.
But it wouldn't work. He, Yi Ye, wasn't a good person.
A moment of sadness today would be a new day tomorrow.
How wonderful.
"Thank you for what?" Seeing that time was almost up, Lin Lin pushed him back.
"Thank you for taking care of me," he said nonchalantly.
"It's my duty."