Throughout the party, no one dared to bother Lin Jiayao again. Whether it was because Xiao Yufan, her ever-loyal knight in shining armor, stood by her side, or simply because of the fierce side she had displayed, many people kept their distance.
Her graceful figure and stunning beauty made Lin Jiayao the center of attention wherever she went. Xiao Yufan believed that one day, she would surely rise to great heights.
As night fell, the neon lights on the square shone brilliantly, and the party gradually began to wind down. This was the first time Xiao Yufan had experienced such a luxurious, extravagant lifestyle—but sadly, it still didn’t belong to him.
“Do you like this kind of life? Or is it the feeling you get when you’re on screen?” Xiao Yufan asked, gazing at the brightest star in the sky.
“I guess I’m more drawn to that feeling. To be honest, I’m already tired of this flashy, decadent lifestyle. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have run away from home.”
Lin Jiayao stayed close to Xiao Yufan, unable to fully understand this man. He gave off an air of flamboyance, yet also a sense of calm steadiness. Whatever he did, he always made those around him feel safe and grounded.
They quietly enjoyed the rare tranquility amidst the noise. Under the moonlight, their shadows stretched out long and close, slightly blurred, yet still leaning into each other.
“Be careful if you’re staying here alone. That guy definitely doesn’t seem like the type to accept defeat easily. If he dares to harm you again, let me know immediately—next time, he won’t be so lucky.”
“I understand…” Lin Jiayao softly replied, sounding unusually tender and delicate. This charm, however, was reserved solely for Xiao Yufan. He had helped her out, and he certainly needed to return now.
Meanwhile, in a dark corner, the man who had been humiliated earlier curled his lips into a cold, sinister smile, as if thinking about something sinister.
…
That night, the two did not return to the hotel, but instead spent the entire evening in Pingwu, the city known as the “City That Never Sleeps.”
Some emotions fade away as we keep thinking about them. In the cold night, some feelings become lifelong secrets, buried deep in the heart.
There are people in life who pass us by—before we can meet, we miss the chance; after meeting, we don’t get to know each other; once we do, we can’t become close; and just as we grow close, we must say goodbye.
At this moment, Xiao Yufan didn’t know how to face the girl beside him. If their relationship had been vague and uncertain before, after everything that had happened today, something had definitely changed.
Xiao Yufan deeply appreciated a saying: Be kind to yourself, because life is short. Be kind to those around you, because you might not meet them in the next life.
That was why he had always cherished every relationship deeply. Even after parting ways, he still remembered, still felt pain. But those days had long since faded into the past—so why was he still lingering?
“Tomorrow… we’re leaving…” Walking along the brightly lit street, Lin Jiayao played with her loose hair, her beautiful face showing a rare blush.
“Mm…” He nodded gently. But such a straightforward conversation felt like it had lasted half a lifetime. Nothing is sadder than parting.
Without a word, they both chose silence again—not because they had nothing to say, but because they didn’t know what to say.
Xiao Yufan’s heart wasn’t big. Perhaps it could only hold onto the memory of one woman—the one from the very beginning. Like a kite with a broken string, he still held tightly to the rope, unwilling to let go.
“After we leave… will you miss me?” Not knowing how long the silence had lasted, as they quietly walked the entire length of the street, Lin Jiayao finally couldn’t help but ask.
“You guess!” Xiao Yufan replied, his eyes drifting, afraid to meet the affectionate gaze in her eyes.
“I guess… you will miss me. At least… at least we’re still really good friends, right?” Lin Jiayao smiled, her fair face dimpling.
Seeing her cheerful expression, Xiao Yufan was momentarily stunned. Then, suddenly, he recalled a phrase Mu Qing had once said to him: “Only you know your own cold and warmth—perhaps the brighter the smile, the deeper the pain inside.”
The sky began to brighten. The sunrise in Pingwu was much more beautiful than in Beijing. Perhaps it was because in that exaggerated, bustling city, Xiao Yufan had never truly paused to appreciate it.
Daylight brought the time for Xiao Yufan to leave. He had already delayed for two days. He wondered if Yu Yihan would fire him outright. He certainly didn’t want to be unemployed again.
Xiao Yufan didn’t let Lin Jiayao come to see him off, because he didn’t want to see her cry. Otherwise, he really wouldn’t be able to bear it. He wasn’t heartless—some feelings had been deeply planted in his heart, quietly growing…
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