"This hour's almost up."
I checked my phone, glanced at the time, and turned to her, still wearing that professional smile.
"Do you want me to take you back, or... do you have other plans?"
Sheena lowered her voice as she looked at my expressionless face.
"Stop pretending. I'm not joking. Take this money—buy a decent place to live, get a better car, find an easier job, or start a small business."
"Stop driving for ride-hailing apps. It's too exhausting, and it's not something you should be doing."
I shook my head, my gaze drifting past her, landing on the mottled bark of the old locust tree in the distance.
"Thanks, but no. I like it this way."
"Charles!"
Her voice suddenly rose, making the stall owner nearby glance over before lowering her head again and returning to work.
Sheena seemed to realize she had lost control. She took a deep breath and lowered her voice once more.
"Don't be stubborn. You know exactly what kind of life you're living now."
"This three million means nothing to me."
"Just take it as... take it as a complete end to our past relationship."
"We're even, okay?"
Clear and settled.
Those words were like an extremely thin needle, gently pricking a corner of memory that had long been sealed away.
Five years ago, the final round of a university debate.
The topic was whether technological development necessarily leads to the alienation of human emotions.
As the main speaker for the affirmative side, I was fully prepared and brimming with confidence.
The opposing team's main speaker was a girl with a neat ponytail and a calm, composed expression.
During the free debate session, my teammates and I launched fierce attacks, presenting carefully prepared data and cases one after another.
When it was her turn, she didn't directly refute the statistics.
Instead, she told a story.
An elderly resident in her hometown lived alone. Her children were away, and she suffered from constant melancholy and illness.
Through a simple companion app developed by community volunteers, she learned to make video calls.
Being able to speak to her grandson daily brought smiles to her face and improved her health.
Her delivery was calm, without flowery words—just plain, sincere narration.
Yet the warmth emerging from everyday life instantly captured the audience's attention.
"Technology is a tool," she concluded, her gaze clear.