"You’ve helped me so much. Without you, I might not have become the person I am today." Shen Yi held her hand tightly, his gaze fixed intensely on Qin Jiao.

’I can’t confess. I’m afraid I’ll scare her off. But if I don’t do anything, what if someone else sweeps Jiao Jiao away?’

’The best way, of course, is to lock her down first!’

’Not confessing, yet still wanting to secure things... The only solution to these two contradictory goals was this bracelet.’

Mr. Du had given it to Shen Yi just moments ago, saying that if he couldn’t even manage to give this to Xiao Jiao, he was a total failure and wasn’t worthy of being his grandson.

"I can’t take this! It’s too valuable!"

"Jiao Jiao, how about you just hold onto it for me? You don’t know this, but I used to have to see a psychiatrist regularly. The reason I came to study in Ping’an Town was because I had a violent episode back in North City and hurt someone. But ever since becoming your classmate and neighbor, I haven’t had a single episode."

Shen Yi’s gaze was gentle, his expression serious. "And because of the care from Uncle Qin and your family, my grandfather’s condition has improved so much. He even agreed to come back to North City with us for treatment. You have no idea... the doctors originally said that if Grandpa didn’t come back with us, he might not have much time left..."

Qin Jiao lowered her gaze.

’No, actually, I knew all of this.’

’The Shen Yi of this life really wasn’t like the one in her last, who would have an episode at the drop of a hat. And Grandpa Du’s health was also much better than in her previous life.’

’Besides, once he returned to North City, with proper medical treatment and continued doses of the Spiritual Spring Water, while the old man might not live to be a hundred, living another ten or twenty years wouldn’t be a problem at all.’

So, Shen Yi’s gratitude was genuine and heartfelt.

Qin Jiao said, "Saying thank you makes us sound like strangers. Over the past year, Grandpa Du and Aunt Du have also helped my family a lot. And you—you helped me find Xiao Shi even when it might have made you late for your college entrance exams. Even with the pocket dimension, if you hadn’t ridden back on your motorcycle, I probably would have missed the exams too."

"So, please, just accept my gift."

Qin Jiao shook her head. "Our families get along well; it’s only natural that we help each other. If you were giving me a simple gift, like something to eat, I would’ve accepted it without a second thought. But I really can’t take this. It’s far too valuable."

The reason Qin Jiao refused was that she had seen this bracelet in her previous life. Shen Yi had kept it carefully stored away. She saw it once, and though she didn’t touch it, she had asked curiously whose bracelet it was.

At the time, Shen Yi had said coldly, "This was left to me by my grandmother, for me to give to my future wife. Don’t even think about it."

Just imagine how hurtful those words were. After all, at that time, Qin Jiao was already married to Shen Yi.

In her past life, she had truly wanted that bracelet at first, because getting it would have been the symbol of Shen Yi finally acknowledging her status as his wife.

But in the end, even up to her death, she was never deemed worthy of receiving it.

But in this life...

Shen Yi spoke up. "Don’t overthink it. It’s just a bracelet."

"This isn’t an ordinary bracelet. Isn’t it your grandmother’s beq—" Qin Jiao stopped abruptly. She looked up and saw Shen Yi staring at her in astonishment.

Qin Jiao subconsciously took two steps back, but Shen Yi advanced, aggressive and unrelenting, until her back was against the wall, with nowhere left to retreat.

Shen Yi felt his heart pounding furiously. He saw the evasiveness in her eyes and asked, his voice trembling, "How did you know this was an heirloom from my grandmother?"