Chapter 50 Ivy Confronted Mariko

• Finally, Mariko let go, and Luke immediately distanced himself from the girl. Everyone could see Luke's intention. Not stopping there, he deliberately let out a sigh of relief, letting everyone know how incredibly comfortable and even amused he felt. Mariko couldn't believe he would do that, pretending to be relieved to be free from her. His actions indirectly admitted to the world that he didn't like her, inadvertently embarrassing her in front of everyone. But that's the way it was; he didn't like her. Admitting the truth—what's wrong with that? It was because Mariko stubbornly deluded herself about his feelings. She imposed her personal thoughts on others, so now she had to bear the consequences. Who's to blame? The girl looked pitiful, but it was her own fault. If not loving someone is a crime, then everyone in this world would be condemned.
• If Luke's behavior is judged as unworthy of a man, then it's a misunderstanding. Luke is not wrong to push away other women when they try to approach, flirt with, or seduce him. He is merely protecting his own principles and respecting the dignity of those women. One could argue that men are the ones who draw clear boundaries in such situations. Moreover, from Luke's perspective, there's no need for gestures that might be misunderstood by others or cause confusion for the other party. Everything should adhere to certain standards. Few people truly understand him, so Luke doesn't concern himself with what the crowd might think of him.
• Returning to the main point, Luke steps forward toward Ivy and begins, "Ivy, let's leave here and talk."