Bitter Sweet Hatred

As someone who firmly believed in neither love nor marriage, I decisively rejected the advances of a professor of alternative medicine.

"I don't want to date or get married, so please don't waste your time on me."

He paused for a moment and said, "Yvonne, you may not want to date or get married, but you can think about me."

Later, I found myself not only thinking about him but also wanting to win him over completely.

1

I watched as the man in front of me pulled out a five-carat diamond ring from his pocket and slowly closed the folder in his hand.

My name was Yvonne. I was twenty-nine years old and served as the vice president of Ascentia Group. I was a well-known single career woman in the local business circle and was often referred to as the most difficult rose to pick.

Being likened to a rose wasn't just because I was prickly; it was also due to my good looks. I had a face that didn't match my usual decisive and efficient manner. In the words of my best friend, I was an absolute beauty that embodied elegance and prosperity.

The man in front of me is Tobias, my business partner, whom I've known for less than a month.

I came that day to sign a contract with him, but judging by the situation, he seemed to be heading straight for a proposal.

I was quite familiar with this scenario.

As the most difficult rose to pick, there were always some people who wanted to skip the stages of courtship and confession and vainly attempted to marry me directly and win me over.

Before Tobias could speak, I interrupted, "Mr. Elliott, I'm not interested in men or marriage. If you sign this contract, I'll be delighted. If not, I look forward to our next collaboration."

Tobias chuckled, "Yvonne, don't be so quick to refuse. Don't you think we're a perfect match? Besides, you're already twenty-nine. Where else will you find a man as outstanding as me? Why should a woman like you be so career-driven? Marry me, live a comfortable life as a wealthy wife, and bless me with a house full of children. Doesn't that sound wonderful?"

I smiled slightly, "Mr. Elliott, you're indeed successful and excellent. Being your wife would be great, but unfortunately, I do not deserve it."

"Heh, Yvonne, you're too modest. You're the rose everyone in our business circle wants to pick. How could you not deserve it?"

I continued to smile, but my gaze gradually turned cold, "Mr. Elliott, roses have thorns. Are you sure you want to prick your hand for this flower? Once Yvonne's thorns prick someone, it's not just a little blood."

Tobias's smile stiffened.

I picked up the folder in my hand, "It seems you aren't genuinely interested in discussing cooperation. In that case, Ascentia and your company won't be forming a partnership. Mr. Elliott, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

As I just stood up, I noticed a girl in a pink puff dress with curled hair at the next table. She abruptly stood up and closed the laptop in front of the man across from her.

"Adrian! I've had enough! It's been a whole hour! I'm here for a date, not to watch you work on your paper!"

The man opposite her wore a clean white shirt, blue jeans, and had short, cropped hair. His back was straight, and he exuded a fresh and clean aura.

After putting away his laptop, he finally looked up at the girl, his voice equally clean and clear, "Sorry, what did you just say? Could you repeat it?"

I couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Such men were destined to remain single for life.

Sure enough, the next moment, the girl stormed off in anger.

Perhaps my laughter caught the man's attention, as he instinctively turned his head towards me. Our eyes met for a moment, and I was momentarily stunned.

At my current stage, besides ability, experience and perspective are also essential. I've met many men, but none like him. He carries an indescribable and elusive elegance, a purity that subtly reflects the spirit of chivalry.

As for his age, he seemed to be around twenty-five or twenty-six.

I nodded politely at him, smiled slightly, then turned away and left the restaurant under Tobias's angry gaze.

At the entrance of the restaurant, the girl flung a business card onto the ground and then stamped on it furiously with her high heels.

"Adrian, you might as well live out your days in loneliness!"

The girl stormed off in a huff. As I passed by the card, I bent down to pick it up and headed towards the trash can.

As I was about to throw it away, I noticed a few striking words on it.

Adrian. Alternative Medicine Practitioner. Evergreen Apothecary.

Two days later, I ran into Adrian again.

I was shopping in the supermarket at the time. Just as I reached the household goods section, a familiar pain swept over me.

My period had arrived.

People supposed that childbirth was a life-or-death ordeal for women, but for me, my monthly period was no less daunting.

Clutching the shopping cart, my face turned pale. Just as I was about to take out my phone to call my assistant, a faint herbal scent wafted over.

"Miss, are you feeling unwell?"

I turned my head to see Adrian standing beside me, holding a kitchen knife in his left hand and a spatula in his right.

To be honest, Adrian is really tall. Even with my five-centimeter heels, I only reached his lips.

A 6-foot-2 alternative medicine practitioner? That's quite rare.

I instinctively asked him, "Do you cook?"

Adrian nodded, "Yes. I specialize in natural dietary therapies. For those who are ill, we use food to heal; for the healthy, to strengthen the body. You seem to have poor circulation, and a tailored herbal diet could help restore your body's natural balance."

"...Um, thank you."

This man is quite in line with the aesthetic standards of modern women. He is no less attractive than any young heartthrob in the entertainment industry. However, the way he talks always makes one think of doctor in vintage-style clothing.

Rigid and dull.

I turned my head, "However, I'm not interested in cooking."

As a businesswoman, my time was money. Spending time cooking was a waste of money.

Adrian tucked the spatula under his left arm, then pulled a business card from his shirt pocket and handed it to me. "If you need alternative medicine treatment, feel free to call me."

Taking the business card from him, I pinched it with my fingers and gave a casual wave while saying, "I'll call you when necessary."

When I got back home, I changed into clean clothes and made myself a cup of hot coffee. Then I noticed that my boss, Kayce, had sent me a document.

In recent years, Ascentia Group had begun engaging in women's skincare products. Recently, relevant departments reached an agreement after deliberation that aimed to combine women's skincare products with alternative medicine to create a model product. Since it was to be a model product, there were specific requirements for the alternative medicine ingredients in the skincare products. As a result, Mr. Norris sought a renowned expert in the field of alternative medicine to lead the team in product development.

I saw the name and photo of the alternative medicine expert. It was Adrian.

In the photo, Adrian was wearing a vintage-style clothing, seated in an alternative medicine hall, with shelves full of herbal supplements behind him. Compared to his gentle and elegant look in the daytime, there had been an extra sense of charm and depth in that scene.

Moreover, the document contained impressive information about Adrian. At thirty-one, he was a well-known figure in the domestic alternative medicine field, hailed as a leader of the next generation. He was even a specially appointed professor of alternative medicine at Wellington University.

With both talent and looks, it's no wonder Kayce wanted to invite him to develop women's skincare products.

As for why Kayce reached out to me, the reason is simple. "Yvonne, I've had someone trying to persuade Professor Hammond for nearly a month with no success. This task can only be entrusted to you, after all, you are the super star of Ascentia Group."