Rumors spread throughout the school that Lu Xixiao and Zhou Wan had broken up.

Lu Xixiao had always been open about his relationships, never caring about others’ gazes. But now when he saw Zhou Wan at school, he no longer went over to find her.

The school forum buzzed with activity again.

[I said it before – how could someone like Lu Xixiao possibly reform? A breakup was inevitable.]

[But Zhou Wan was with him for quite a while, right? Seems like she lasted the longest.]

[I have to say Zhou Wan has a backbone. After breaking up, she didn’t beg Lu Xixiao to get back together, unlike his previous girlfriends.]

[What’s the point of begging? When has begging Lu Xixiao to get back together ever worked? You’d just end up humiliated.]

…

In the following days, Lu Xixiao simply stopped coming to school, reverting to his old ways.

The bar’s dim lighting added to the ambiguous atmosphere.

He sat among the crowd but couldn’t blend into the noisy, murky environment. He remained cold and distant, out of place in the bar, yet became the most eye-catching sight.

Soon, a girl came over with a drink: “Can I borrow a seat here?”

When a beautiful woman makes a request, naturally it can’t be refused.

Others quickly moved to make space for her.

“Can I sit there?” The girl pointed to the spot next to Lu Xixiao, making her intentions clear.

The others hesitated briefly, but thinking that Zhou Wan hadn’t appeared for several days and they had probably broken up, they gave up the seat next to Lu Xixiao.

Lu Xixiao finally looked up, his eyelids drooping as he carelessly swept his gaze over the girl before withdrawing it and returning to his drink.

The girl rested her chin on her hand, her eyes full of affection as she raised her delicate brows: “Handsome, isn’t it boring drinking alone?”

She moved her glass over, gently clinking it against Lu Xixiao’s.

Lu Xixiao continued drinking until he finished his glass, setting it down on the table, still ignoring her.

The girl showed no sign of embarrassment or dismay: “Can I get your contact info?”

“Not interested.”

These were Lu Xixiao’s first words to her, his voice magnetic but cold.

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

Lu Xixiao ground his teeth but didn’t speak.

The girl had seen too many who acted aloof in such pleasure-seeking entertainment venues, most just playing hard to get. Where would you find so many true romantics, especially when the man before her had dated quite a bit?

She smiled, looking at Lu Xixiao with a blink, speaking in an ambiguous tone: “Your girlfriend must be very beautiful to deserve you. How do I compare to her in looks?”

She was indeed beautiful, strikingly so, with captivating fox-like eyes.

“Compared to her—”

Lu Xixiao suddenly laughed.

The emotion was unreadable, but it was his first laugh of the evening.

His smile made him even more handsome, both roguish and alluring, the line from his profile to his Adam’s apple smooth and sharp, but his words weren’t quite as pleasant.

“You’re far from her level.”

The girl froze.

Probably never having been rejected so bluntly, her face darkened. All interest is gone, she stood up and left.

The others exchanged glances.

Jiang Fan asked: “Xiao, you haven’t broken up with Zhou Wan?”

Lu Xixiao looked up: “Who told you we broke up?”

“That’s what everyone’s saying. I thought you two had a fight at the hospital a few days ago and split up.”

“No.”

“Then…”

Jiang Fan wanted to ask more, but Lu Xixiao had no interest in dissecting his love life in front of so many people. He stood up directly, “I’m leaving.”

After leaving the bar, Lu Xixiao walked alone through the neon-lit streets. After a while, he couldn’t help taking out his phone and dialing Zhou Wan’s number.

After several rings.

A cold mechanical female voice announced that the number you have dialed is temporarily unavailable.

Lu Xixiao’s face darkened further as he gave a cold laugh.

Zhou Wan did have a backbone, doing exactly what she said.

Said she wouldn’t contact him and didn’t contact him.

Lu Xixiao hailed a car and went to Huang Ping’s place.

As soon as the supermarket’s rolling door opened, Huang Ping saw him and immediately called out: “Our little sister is here!”

Lu Xixiao clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Yellow Hair also noticed Zhou Wan wasn’t behind him today: “Where’s little sister?”

“Who the fuck is your little sister?” His tone was irritated.

Yellow Hair looked at his expression and smiled: “What’s wrong, fought?”

Lu Xixiao didn’t speak, just grabbed a pack of cigarettes from the shelf.

Yellow Hair: “Did you upset her with that nasty temper of yours? Serves you right! This is exactly how you should be treated!”

“She wants to break up with me,” Lu Xixiao suddenly said, his voice very faint.

At these words, Yellow Hair was stunned.

Although he’d never seen Lu Xixiao bring any other girls to his place besides Zhou Wan, he’d heard plenty about his romantic exploits. He’d never heard of him being dumped before.

“You broke up?”

“No.” After a pause, Lu Xixiao frustratedly ran his hand through his hair, “I don’t know.”

“…”

Lu Xixiao was just too used to being dominant in relationships, like a fish in water, coming and going freely, unbound. Now that he’d hit a hard case, he’d never learned how to bow his head or how to win someone back.

“So you two fought?”

“Sort of.”

“Why?”

Lu Xixiao lit another cigarette and briefly told Huang Ping about what happened that day.

“She was just worried about making you worry, it’s not like she was secretly hanging out with other guys.” Huang Ping concluded, “Since when did you become so petty? Did you tell her everything you did before?”

Lu Xixiao sneered: “I’ve never lied to her.”

“This isn’t lying, this is… what’s that thing called.” Huang Ping slapped the table, “A white lie!”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“…”

Huang Ping was amused enough to laugh, “No, seriously, if my girlfriend was as petty as you, making a big deal out of everything, I’d want to break up too.”

“That’s not all I’m angry about.”

“Then what is it?”

Lu Xixiao lowered his eyes, exhaling smoke, saying softly: “She’s hiding something from me.”

Huang Ping was startled, recalling Zhou Wan’s gentle and sweet demeanor, somewhat surprised, letting out a “ho”: “Wouldn’t have guessed it, our little sister turns out to be a little sister with secrets.”

Lu Xixiao gave him an expressionless look, and Huang Ping finally got serious: “What’s she hiding?” As soon as he asked, he realized it was a stupid question: “Oh, if you knew then it wouldn’t be called hiding.”

“…”

Lu Xixiao leaned back in his chair, hands in his pockets, tiredly resting his head against the iron chair, the overhead fluorescent light too harsh for his eyes.

“If I wanted to know her secret, I definitely could find out,” Lu Xixiao said quietly, “But I’m afraid.”

“There’s something you’re afraid of?”

“Bro.” Lu Xixiao suddenly called him this way.

Lu Xixiao had only called him this when he was small, like a street urchin freeloading food at his place. After growing up a bit, he only called him “Huang Ping” or “Yellow Hair.”

Huang Ping paused, finally becoming serious: “Mm.”

Lu Xixiao just stared at the fluorescent light overhead, his voice very faint, as calm as if he were just asking if someone had eaten.

“I did think about studying hard and going to university in the same city as her.”

Huang Ping looked at Lu Xixiao in silence for a long while.

As if seeing again that little boy who used to get perfect scores on every test.

“But after knowing her secret, you can’t be together?” Huang Ping frowned, “Is what she’s hiding that serious?”

“I don’t know.”

Lu Xixiao pulled at the corner of his mouth in a smile, past traces of evidence floating through his mind, connecting into a blurry line. His smile faded, “Maybe it is that serious.”

“Then pretend you don’t know, wait until she wants to tell you herself.”

Huang Ping said, “Xiao if you like her that much, you can’t keep drifting along like this anymore. I know how smart you are – if you study properly, you’ll make something of yourself in the future.”

Lu Xixiao didn’t speak.

Huang Ping continued: “I also know you hate your family, but even though you’ve moved out now, you still can’t escape them. If Zhou Wan stays with you, she’ll also be controlled by your family. Is that what you want for her?”

Lu Xixiao thought of his mother.

Shen Lan had been controlled by the Lu family from beginning to end – at first, prevented from divorcing by Lu Zhongyue and the old master, then later bound hand and foot by the Lu family’s two children, breaking down step by step until reaching that kind of ending.

Huang Ping: “If you want to protect her, you need to be strong enough to stand in front of her. Then no matter how big that secret is, you’ll be the one making the decisions. As long as you like her, no one can separate you two.”

Zhou Wan had been running a fever since Friday evening, her whole body burning in a haze, drifting through countless dreams, waking up crying from those fragmented nightmares time and again.

It felt like being trapped in that suffocating, unusually humid plum rain season.

She had taken medicine early, bundled up under thick blankets, and slept for a long while. When she woke up, her limbs finally had some strength again.

Early in the morning, her physics teacher called to ask how she was doing.

Zhou Wan took a sip of water, and cleared her throat: “Much better.”

Her voice did sound much better – last night she could barely speak at all.

This high fever had come on fiercely, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. The exam in City B was on Monday, and tomorrow morning the school had arranged for her and Jiang Yan to fly there.

The physics teacher told Zhou Wan to rest well, stay relaxed, and not study anymore – she’d prepared enough that she would do well if she just performed normally.

Zhou Wan made a sound of agreement.

After hanging up, Zhou Wan noticed she had a missed call from Lu Xixiao from last night.

Zhou Wan froze for a moment, her eyelashes trembling lightly, her fingertip hovering over the screen for a long while, but she didn’t call back.

Since that night, Lu Xixiao hadn’t contacted her again.

Continuing to entangle with Lu Xixiao would only make things worse.

Better to end it here.

Just as she had once said – if they ever broke up, they should never contact each other again.

She washed her face, her head finally clearer. As she changed clothes and walked out of her bedroom, she happened to see her grandmother changing shoes at the door, carrying a cloth bag.

“Grandmother?” Zhou Wan called out.

Grandmother immediately walked over quickly: “How are you feeling, any better?”

“Much better. After another night’s sleep, I should be fine.”

Grandmother felt Zhou Wan’s forehead – indeed it wasn’t as hot anymore. She finally sighed in relief, “I made some porridge, it’s still in the pot. Remember to eat some later, then take your medicine and get back under the covers.”

“Mm.” Zhou Wan asked, “Are you going out?”

“As I mentioned before, I’m going to the temple to burn some incense, and pray for your exam the day after tomorrow.” Grandmother said, “I’ll be back soon.”

“It’s such a long way though, do you need to go?”

“It’s not far at all.” Grandmother smiled, “For my Wan Wan to do well, this is nothing.”

“Be careful on the way then, call me when you get there.”

“I will.” Grandmother rubbed Zhou Wan’s hair, changed her shoes, and opened the door. As she closed it, she reminded her again, “Remember to eat the porridge!”

The house was left with just Zhou Wan again.

She sat alone at the dining table wearing a thick jacket, spooning up the porridge.

She had cried too much these past few days. Now her eyes were sore and couldn’t produce any more tears, her eye sockets quite swollen, but at least she could blame it all on the fever without having to think up excuses.

She quietly looked at the bowl of porridge before her, taking small sips.

When she reached the bottom, she suddenly lowered her head, pressing her hand against her chest.

She kept her eyes down, her eyelashes trembling rapidly as she struggled to steady her chaotic, hurried breathing.

She couldn’t even cry anymore, but why did her heart still hurt so much?

She lowered her head, burying her face deep in the crook of her arm, murmuring to herself in a tiny voice: “I’m sorry, Lu Xixiao… I’m sorry.”

This was all her fault. She had brought this on herself.

Lu Xixiao hadn’t touched his phone all day.

The young man stood before the motorcycle race track wearing a sleek racing suit, red and white alternating, making him look dashing. His expression was faint, emotionless as he looked at everything before him.

Lu Xixiao had always disdained to participate in any of the track races at Huang Ping’s place. This was his first time.

Not for any reason except to win first-place prize money.

He knew Zhou Wan needed money – her grandmother needed medical treatment, she had tuition to pay, expenses everywhere.

She’d temporarily quit her job at the arcade because of the physics competition and would need to find part-time work again after it was over.

Lu Xixiao didn’t lack money, but that money was from the Lu family.

Zhou Wan definitely wouldn’t want to take his money, so at least he could give her the money he earned himself.

At seventeen or eighteen, Lu Xixiao truly didn’t have the ability, as Huang Ping had said, to protect Zhou Wan from all harm.

But at least he could try to make things a little easier for her, a little happier.

Huang Ping walked up behind him, patting Lu Xixiao’s shoulder: “Still haven’t gone to find our little sister?”

“I’ll wait until she comes back from the exam.”

Lu Xixiao looked into the distance, saying softly, “When she comes back, I’ll have won first place. At least then she’ll know I can earn money on my own too.”

With a whistle blast, the race was about to begin.

Lu Xixiao was tall with long legs, looking even more striking and handsome in the racing suit.

He mounted the bike, pulled down his helmet, looking ahead silently and calmly.

With a long “beep—” several racing bikes shot out from the starting line.

The wind howled in his ears as Lu Xixiao took the lead.

He thought, that when Zhou Wan returned, when the race was over, he would go find her.

Whether to beg her to stay or plead for forgiveness.

Tell her how much he likes her.

Tell her that from now on he’ll behave well, study hard, take the college entrance exam, and go to university together.

Tell her that he doesn’t care about anything else anymore, from now on it would just be the two of them.

…

The race track was filled with the roar of engines and the sharp sound of brake pads grinding.

The same sound of brakes screeched in a dark alley—

A man delivering takeout on his motorcycle saw an elderly woman with white hair collapsed by the road in the distance. He parked his bike and ran over quickly.

There was a puddle of water on the ground, the old woman’s face had fallen into it, and her hair and collar were soiled.

“Ma’am?” The man shook the old woman’s shoulder, “Are you alright? Wake up!”

But the old woman’s face was pale, with no response at all.

The man frantically dialed 120, his hands shaking as he encountered such a situation for the first time: “Hello, is this 120? There’s an old lady who’s collapsed by the road here…”

Pingchuan Airport was bustling with people on Sunday morning.

Jiang Yan stood outside security with his suitcase while the physics teacher anxiously tried calling Zhou Wan, but couldn’t get through.

He was covered in nervous sweat, stomping his foot: “Why isn’t she answering at such a crucial time? The plane’s about to take off.”

The physics teacher turned to Jiang Yan, “Jiang Yan, you go in first, I’ll keep trying to contact her.”

Jiang Yan frowned: “Could something have happened on the way?”

“Don’t worry about that, just go in first.” The physics teacher pushed him toward security, waving repeatedly for him to hurry, “Don’t worry, even if Zhou Wan is late she can change her flight. You go on ahead.”

Watching Jiang Yan go through, the physics teacher called the homeroom teacher to ask if they had Zhou Wan’s parents’ phone numbers.

“I’ll give you her grandmother’s number,” the homeroom teacher was just as anxious.

The physics teacher hurriedly said: “I already have her grandmother’s, I’ve tried it too, and no one’s answering that either!”

“Wait a moment.” The homeroom teacher quickly pulled up the student records, “Zhou Wan’s mother’s number is registered, but her parents divorced long ago, she doesn’t live with her mother.”

“Give it to me anyway, we’ve got to try everything.” The physics teacher got Guo Xiangling’s number and immediately dialed: “Hello, is this Zhou Wan’s mother?”

Guo Xiangling paused.

These days she had been worried about this very thing, afraid of letting something slip. She simply said “Wrong number” and hung up.

Many years later, when Zhou Wan looked back.

The turning points of her life.

One was in the arcade when she told Lu Xixiao: “Zhou Wan – the ‘Wan’ that means to draw a bow like a full moon.”

The other was this day.

The day that made her deviate from her original path in life, drifting further and further away.