On the high-speed train, the frail young girl spoke haltingly.
"Big... Uncle, you..."
"Hey, Uncle, move over, the young lady's luggage is on top of you."
With a lazy tone, the girl looked up at him.
Her gaze was clean and timid, and as soon as it met his, she quickly looked away.
The scene shifted. The young girl, dragging her suitcase, suddenly turned back.
Her reddened eyes stared at him intently, as if she had something to say.
But he had scared her away.
The scene shifted again, to the train station exit.
Facing the police's questioning, the young girl stood there, her face ashen.
Her eyes were hollow and dependent as she stared at him, as if praying he would stay.
Praying he would help her.
And he... once again, dragged his suitcase and left.
"No!"
Chi Zerui woke up from his dream, sweat beading on his forehead.
On his usually wild and flamboyant face, a rare look of panic appeared.
"What's wrong?"
Hao Lu'er, who had been dozing on the small sofa, immediately ran over.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
She expertly took a towel and began to wipe his sweat.
"No need."
He gently dodged her.
Even though he had escaped the dream, his complexion remained grim.
His gaze was even a little unfocused.
Hao Lu'er heartbreakingly folded the towel. "Did you dream of her again?"
Although she didn't know the specific details of the dream,
every time he had a nightmare, he would call out Wen Tingxue's name.
Chi Zerui stared silently at the edge of the bed.
Ever since he went abroad, he dreamed of the scene at the train station every night.
What he had once dismissed as a fleeting first encounter had now become his greatest demon.
He remembered everything that had happened that day with perfect clarity.
Especially the look she gave him before he left with his suitcase.
He knew, he clearly knew, she was asking for help.
She was new to Jiangcheng, unfamiliar with the place, and being questioned by the police.
She had only interacted with him twice, and she depended on him, hoping he would help her again.
But he had abandoned her without hesitation.
He regretted it more than once. If he had stayed that day, would everything have been different?
If he had stayed, would he have been the one to take care of her?
If he had stayed, the person who confessed last night... he would have had at least a fifty percent chance.
He had been so close to her...
Chi Zerui clutched his head in despair, his eyes slowly reddening.
Hao Lu'er's heart ached. "Arei, don't be like this."
She reached out and hugged him. "Even without her, you still have me. I'll always be by your side."
Chi Zerui slowly pushed her away. "But it's not you I want."
Hao Lu'er felt that it wasn't just a sentence, but a sharp, unparalleled knife.
Wielded by the person she loved the most, it stabbed her heart fiercely, and even twisted.
Though her breathing trembled with pain, she still managed a smile.
"It's okay, I believe that one day you'll see how good I am."
Chi Zerui leaned casually against the headboard and lit a cigarette.
"You don't need to waste your feelings on me, it's not worth it."
He looked at her, holding the cigarette, his eyes showing a rare seriousness.
"Lu'er, you are a good person, and I don't want to hold you back. So, let me go, and let yourself go."
Since he couldn't have the one he loved most.
Then, whoever was by his side would do.
But not Hao Lu'er.
She was a very good girl.
She deserved to find a man who loved her and live happily ever after, just like Wen Tingxue.
Instead of being attached to him, slowly draining her energy.
"No!" Hao Lu'er shook her head without thinking. "Being with you isn't holding me back; not being with you is the real setback."
She had a gentle nature and a good temper, but when it came to love, she was as stubborn as a rock.
Chi Zerui smoked silently. Hao Lu'er found the clothes he was going to wear and placed them on the bedside table.
"Xixi asked us to go to a haunted house. Hurry up and wash up. We'll leave in half an hour."
"I..."
"Xiao Xue is coming too."
Hao Lu'er added. Chi Zerui immediately shut his mouth.
Meanwhile, on the second floor of the Wen family home.
The little girl, having woken up, was rolling on the bed.
Her snow-white legs dangled in the air rhythmically.
It felt so magical, so unreal.
Before she had confessed, they had still gone on dates,
but... it was still different.
It was as if the three words 'being together' inherently possessed a magical power.
So much so that she was almost obsessed now.
She was struggling with what to wear today.
Although she wanted to appear calm and composed,
today was their first official date after becoming a couple!
A public one, witnessed by friends!
Therefore, it had to be taken seriously.
But she didn't want to show it directly.
A girl's subtle thoughts liked to be hidden.
If the other person could see it quickly, it would be double the joy!
If not... Hmph.
Ah, well, she was conflicted.
"Forget it, forget it, no more agonizing."
Wen Tingxue took off her headphones and hopped off the bed.
"I'll just wear my usual clothes."
Despite saying that, when she opened her closet, she still chose a sweet-looking ruffled dress.
The color was a tender shade, a warm tone that made you want to take a bite.
Yu Family.
As Yu Wenli was changing and preparing to go out, Que You sent a few photos.
They were taken during the confession last night.
Que You: [Look! This photography skill, good, right?]
Yu Wenli immediately replied: [My girlfriend is beautiful.]
Que You: [...]
Que You: [Go to hell! You're the only one with a girlfriend, huh!]
Yu Wenli ignored his outburst, casually found a seat, and carefully examined the photos one by one.
Wen Family.
"If only I knew how to wear makeup."
Wen Tingxue mumbled to her almost bare-faced reflection in the mirror.
Although she wasn't unattractive, she had looked exceptionally beautiful yesterday.
The stark contrast made her fear that Yu Wenli might be displeased.
Of course, he wouldn't dare to.
A WeChat message notification popped up on her phone. Wen Tingxue picked it up casually and opened it.
"?"
This avatar...?
She thought she had clicked the wrong one, but upon looking again, it was indeed Yu Wenli.
Had he changed his avatar?
Wen Tingxue was a little unhappy. Changing it was fine.
There were so many cats, she could have picked any of them, so why change it to a girl's picture!
And after the confession, it was too much...
Midway through her grumbling, Wen Tingxue zoomed in on the picture.
This... looks like her?
Upon closer inspection, it was indeed her.
It was the moment last night when she accepted the roses and lowered her head to sniff them.
Because it was a candid shot and she was slightly looking down,
the atmosphere was very good, but at first glance, it was hard to recognize it as her.
However, it was quite pretty.
Wen Tingxue's mood instantly improved.
The little girl padded downstairs, her black hair and skirt fluttering.
Yu Wenli caught her, his voice a low reprimand, "Running so fast, aren't you afraid of falling?"
"You'd catch me, wouldn't you."
Her sweet tone instantly softened Yu Wenli's heart. "You!"
He reached out and tapped her forehead. "You just know I wouldn't have the heart to let you fall."
Wen Tingxue smiled slyly. "Let's go, don't keep Xixi and the others waiting."
"Wait."
As she took a step, he pulled her back into his embrace.
"What?" Wen Tingxue looked at him, not understanding why.