My girlfriend, whom I’d been in love with for many years, was going to be sent abroad for three years. “If I leave, will you always wait for me?”

“No! I’ll find the next woman and the one after that. I won’t waste my youth clinging to a single promise.”

Because of that sentence, Yumi called me every morning, noon and night, afraid that I might forget her even for a moment.

In order to give her a birthday surprise, I pulled every string I could to get an overseas visa.

On her birthday, I rushed over to see her, only to witness her blowing out candles with another man.

The two of them held each other tightly and kissed passionately, while I stood frozen as if stabbed by a knife, unable to move at all.

She saw me, comforted the man and only then walked out.

“I drank too much last night, so I didn’t call you for a day and you came chasing after me? That guy is just my eating companion. Eating alone is too lonely…”

I sneered. “Not a bed companion, then?”

I was the son of the richest man, the crown prince of the city’s elite circle, yet I was actually replaced by a pale, frail pretty boy— it’s kind of embarrassing to say out loud.

I immediately pulled out my phone, found the woman who used my photo as her profile picture and called her. “Anne, stop fantasizing over my picture. Come pick me up.”

——

Yumi’s eyes carried a hint of grievance. “Yale, don’t make trouble. Everyone knows Anne has been pining after you for more than ten years. Using her to get back at me isn’t very interesting. I’m not saying I won’t come back. Ryan is just a temporary way to kill time. Once I return to Calvessan, we’ll get married, okay…”

I raised my hand and, summoning all my strength, slapped her across the face. “Don’t disgust me, or I can’t guarantee what I’ll do next.”

I had been restraining myself all this time to avoid overturning the restaurant and taking down that man.

The crisp slap immediately drew the attention of many people.

The man who had been kissing Yumi passionately suddenly rushed forward in long strides. He raised his hand and touched Yumi’s rapidly reddening face, his eyes red as he said, “Yumi, does it hurt?”

Then he turned to scold me angrily, “Who are you? What gives you the right to hit someone?”

His Calvessanesse pronunciation was precise, yet the tone unmistakably carried Yumi’s unique inflection.

I couldn’t help but laugh and looked up at Yumi. “How long have you two known each other?”

“About two months?” Yumi answered casually.

My expression grew even darker.

If we weren’t together all the time, I wouldn’t have believed that this puny guy could speak Calvessanese so well in less than two months.

“During these two months, you didn’t immediately answer my video calls at night because you were busy teaching him Calvessanesse in bed, right?”

Yumi denied it vigorously.

Ryan, however, smugly raised his left hand, chin up in a provocative gesture. “In just eight hours it’ll be the 100-day anniversary since your sister and I met! I know you Calvessian men are macho and possessive, but that’s no reason to hit your own sister! I’m calling the police!”

Sister?

I froze in place.

Yumi, guilty and avoiding my gaze, pulled me aside to explain. “Yale, Ryan misunderstood. I told him you’re my brother. Give me some time to sort this out…”

I glanced at Ryan, who had already called the police and I didn’t think he would give Yumi any time or opportunity to handle things.

I pushed Yumi aside and rushed over, snatching Ryan’s phone and smashing it on the ground.

As I raised my hand again, Yumi anticipated my move and grabbed my wrist tightly, not letting me strike.

“Yale! I told you I’d give you an explanation!” she said. Then she turned to Ryan and gently coaxed him in French. “Darling, go home and wait for me. I’ll buy you the latest model of iPhone as soon as I finish dealing with this phone.”

But Ryan wouldn't listen.

He raised his hand and slapped me twice, then — out of habit — spoke to Yumi in French, “Darling, how dare he hit you—it’s outrageous! Let alone smashing my phone! Since he doesn't like me as a brother-in-law, I’ll return the favor the way you Calvessian do and teach him a proper lesson! I absolutely won't allow anyone to ruin the birthday party I carefully prepared for you! Besides, tonight I'm planning to wear a butler outfit to celebrate our 100 days together…”

Yumi glanced at me, her brows and eyes soft with warmth and replied in French, “Be good. He came all this way to see me; it's not appropriate to send him in — wait until I send him back to his country, then I’ll tear off the butler outfit for you later, okay?”

Ryan curled his lip, clearly displeased. He reached straight into Yumi’s pocket, took out her phone, unlocked it with the passcode and immediately called the police — all in one go.

Yumi did not stop him. “All right, then let your sister give him a scare. Later, when I put on a show with him, you know what to do, right?”

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. I’ll teach him a lesson properly in one go! How will you repay me?” Ryan said.

“Be nice. Clean yourself up and wait for me tonight!”

Ryan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed and an expectant look flashed in his eyes as if he couldn’t wait to put his plan into action. “No cheating, got it? Even if he’s your real brother, I won’t let him ruin our important day!”

I stood frozen in place.

I had gone to great lengths, traveled all the way here to give Yumi a birthday surprise — and she let that jerk slap me and worse, she was going to send me away so she could celebrate with him?

What Yumi didn’t know was that after she went abroad, I’d been working hard to learn French. I understood every pet name and teasing line between her and Ryan. Feeling me tremble, Yumi let go of my hand, shrugged helplessly and sighed at me.

“Yale, you need to stop behaving like a spoiled rich boy! Ryan can’t accept you hitting him. If the police come, show remorse and have a better attitude. But don’t be afraid — I’ll make sure you’re fine.”

The one who hit me was Ryan and yet she wanted me to apologize. It was completely upside-down.

If she was going to be unjust, then don’t blame me for being heartless. I wound up my arm and owned the charge. In a few moments I slapped Ryan a dozen times.

“First, I’m not her brother — I’m her boyfriend! Second, I don’t only beat trashy women, I beat homewreckers too!”

Ryan’s pale face swelled quickly; blood streamed from his nose. His legs went weak from dizziness and he could hardly stand.

Yumi’s reflexes were fast. She scooped him into her arms and the worry and tenderness in her eyes were plain to see. "Ryan, are you okay?"

She looked up and yelled at me, "Yale! Are you crazy? I already told you he's my dining buddy! I'll handle everything, so why did you have to hit him? Apologize to Ryan!"

Apologize? She was about to get me thrown in jail and expected me to apologize?

"In your dreams!"

I was not an idiot. If Ryan really thought I was Yumi's brother, he wouldn’t have called the police blindly.

He wouldn’t even be surprised at all when I said I was Yumi’s boyfriend.

Clearly, he knew exactly who I was. After all, on Yumi’s phone, whether it was the lock screen or the wallpaper—it was all my picture.

But that didn’t stop him from collapsing into Yumi’s arms, crying. "Yumi, how dare he hit me? My chest hurts so much…"

After saying that, he started rolling his eyes.

Yumi didn’t even bother about me apologizing; she helped Ryan into a car and drove straight to the hospital.

Before leaving, the way he looked at me was so cold and distant that I stood frozen in place for a long time.

I didn’t even know how I ended up at the hotel.

Soaking in the warm bathtub, my entire body still felt icy.

Shivering, I used my resources to investigate Ryan’s background and also checked all of Yumi’s information since she went abroad.

While waiting, Yumi kept calling me incessantly, but I rejected all her calls.

She sent me messages again.

[Yale, why are you so unruly? Why can’t you rein yourself in even after going abroad? This isn’t like back home—no one here will indulge your spoiled temper!]

[As your future wife, it’s my duty to make you fully aware that mistakes come with consequences!]

[Get lost!]

I didn’t even want to say the word breakup to her. She was not worthy.

My phone vibrated. Files about Yumi since she went abroad kept arriving. Even though I’d steeled myself, I was still furious enough to smash a wall.

Yumi had only been abroad for four months. But she and Ryan had already been living together for three months. That meant less than a month after we split, she was already with that scumbag.

I didn’t hesitate to call Anne. “Bring your mercenary squad! Right away!”

"Yes, sir!"

But before Anne could get there, the police burst in and took me away.

A real man didn’t let himself be wronged lightly, so I cooperated completely and went with them. As I stepped out, I slipped on a banana peel at the doorway and tumbled forward into a cop.

The next second, my hands were cuffed behind my back.

They forced me to the ground and a woman who looked strikingly like Ryan pressed her foot onto the back of my hand, grinding it repeatedly.

Pain shot through me and tears streamed down my face as I tried to explain. “I slipped… it was an accident…”

But the woman squatted down, pulled out a gun and slammed the butt hard against my mouth.

The metallic, bloody taste instantly filled my mouth.

She pressed the gun against my temple and hissed. “You intentionally hurt someone and you still dare to attack the police?”

I shook my head.

In response, I was punched again and again. Blood gushed uncontrollably from my nose.

Just as my consciousness began to blur, Yumi appeared, dragging a pale-faced Ryan with her.

She looked down at me from above, her face full of grief and indignation. “Yale, you hit Ryan so hard that he had a heart scare—someone has to take the responsibility for this! Don’t look at me like that. I’m doing this for your own good! After all, the world is big; there will always be people richer and more powerful than you. Not everything can bend to your will!”

“Yumi, if you treat me like this, you’ll regret it sooner or later!”

My threat only made Yumi chuckle.

She stifled her laughter and continued to lecture me from her lofty position. “Behave and be sensible and you won’t suffer losses like this again! I’ll come pick you up in ten days.”

She was surprisingly precise.

My visa would expire in ten days. That meant as soon as I got out of prison, I’d be deported. Even if I wanted revenge on Ryan, there’d be nothing I could do.

Ryan’s sister snorted coldly, dragging me into the police car like a dead weight.

Before leaving, Yumi tried to wipe the blood from my face—but no matter what, she couldn’t get it clean.

Instead, my cold, calm stare seemed to make her feel rather guilty.

"Take him away! What a hassle!"

Before the car door closed, I heard Yumi softly coaxing Ryan. “Darling, he’s been pampered since childhood. After going through such a hard time now, can you calm down? Tonight, whatever you want to do, I’ll follow your lead!”

Through the glass, I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye—Ryan pulled a small leather whip from his pocket and lightly flicked it against the back of Yumi’s hand.