Baiyang stared at Jiang Ruoxue and me for a long time.

His gaze gradually shifted from completely unguarded to cold again.

About a minute later, he seemed to remember who I was, then turned his head to look at Jiang Ruoxue, and nodded, muttering quietly: “Fortunately.”

The sound came faintly from within the mask. I wasn’t even sure if I had heard correctly.

Before Jiang Ruoxue could speak, Baiyang stared at her and asked: “What did you just say?”

“Me…?” Jiang Ruoxue blinked. “I said I thought you weren’t working.”

“Working…” Baiyang smiled bitterly. “Don’t talk about ‘working,’ it sounds too painful. I come and go freely here every day. This place is no different from my home.”

“Oh?” Jiang Ruoxue nodded. “Then let me rephrase. So Baiyang is at home. I called for so long and no one answered. I thought no one was home.”

I truly admired Jiang Ruoxue.

Although this was her first time meeting Baiyang, she could naturally chat and laugh with him. It took me several months before I could exchange more than a few words with someone like Baiyang.

“Interesting.” Baiyang nodded. “People like you who make conversation for the sake of conversation are rare.”

“Really?” Jiang Ruoxue shrugged. “People like you who stand in place spacing out are also quite rare.”

Baiyang didn’t seem prepared to continue chatting along with Jiang Ruoxue’s topic. He just turned his head to look at me: “Is there something? Why are you looking for me in the afternoon?”

“I…” I didn’t know how to answer. Could I say “I brought Jiang Ruoxue to help you re-explain what love is”?

“Hey! Baiyang!” Jiang Ruoxue directly reached out and patted Baiyang’s shoulder. “I came to teach you some skills!”

“Teach me skills?” Baiyang was slightly stunned.

“What?” Jiang Ruoxue smiled. “Do I not look capable of teaching you?”

“It’s not that.” Baiyang answered. “It’s just that very few people have talked to me this way. It sounds a bit novel.”

“I’m not the same as Zhichun.” Jiang Ruoxue crossed her arms in front of her chest. “As long as there’s one thing I’m better at than you, then I’m willing to humbly teach you.”

“That depends on whether I’m willing to humbly learn.” Baiyang said. “What skills do you have?”

Jiang Ruoxue smiled mischievously, looked at Baiyang and asked: “Have you ever been in love?”

“I…” Baiyang was slightly stunned. “What does that have to do with you?”

“Zhichun talked to you before about what ‘love’ is. I’m afraid she explained it too one-sidedly, so I wanted to add a few more things for you.”

After several seconds of silence, Baiyang said with an unusually cold gaze: “It’s no longer needed.”

“No longer needed…?” Jiang Ruoxue’s expression also darkened. “Am I too late…?”

“Too late?” Baiyang’s gaze was no longer cold. Instead, he looked Jiang Ruoxue up and down, as if thinking of something. “I didn’t realize you’re also a smart person.”

“I wouldn’t say smart. I’m just a carefree person.” Jiang Ruoxue smiled. “Are you sure you don’t need help anymore? The love Zhichun described to you was probably too perfect… That kind of thing doesn’t exist in reality…”

“Oh?”

Jiang Ruoxue paused, then said: “When two people who are truly together have been together for a long time, things won’t always go smoothly. You might have friction over various small matters—like who washes the dishes after eating, what time you should go to bed at night, even who sleeps on the left side and who sleeps on the right side could have different understandings. You might even have a huge fight over these small matters and then break up…”

“Not important.” Baiyang interrupted.

“What?”

“I said not important.” Baiyang repeated. “The reason you can remember these bad things is because of the ‘Peak-End Effect’ at work.”

“‘Peak-End Effect’…?” Jiang Ruoxue looked back at me.

I hurriedly explained: “This means that people can usually only remember the peak emotional state during an event and the emotional state at the end. If both of these states are pleasant, people will think the entire process was pleasant.”

“I don’t understand theory.” Jiang Ruoxue said. “Give me an example.”

“Many stores use this principle.” I explained. “For example, when you go to buy clothes, the sales associate will subconsciously compliment you with ‘you have such a great figure’ or ‘your skin is so fair’ while you’re selecting clothes. When you pay, they’ll tell you there’s a discount promotion or give you a discount. This way, both the beginning and end are pleasant, so you’ll think the entire shopping process was pleasant. You’ll also subconsciously ignore numerous negative emotions like ‘the store was very crowded,’ ‘the journey was very far,’ ‘the clothes quality isn’t particularly good,’ ‘the clothes have some loose threads,’ and you’ll be willing to tell others ‘this is a good store.’ This is the practical manifestation of the ‘Peak-End Effect.'”

“Good thing there’s a translator.” After speaking, Jiang Ruoxue looked at Baiyang again. “I understand the ‘Peak-End Effect,’ but what does my ability to remember these things have to do with the ‘Peak-End Effect’?”

“If I’m not mistaken…” Baiyang said. “The reason you can remember these quarreling scenes is because you broke up.”

“What…” Jiang Ruoxue was slightly stunned.

“Because both the ‘peak’ and ‘end’ were unhappy.” Baiyang said. “That’s why you think ‘love is imperfect.'”

“Sigh…” After hearing this, Jiang Ruoxue helplessly shook her head. “I only know to be together when I like someone, and turn around and leave when I’m tired. Chatting with you smart people is really exhausting…”

“Not exhausting. I can replicate ‘love’ with theory and knowledge. Although I don’t understand love, I can also use the ‘Peak-End Effect’ to simulate real love. As long as this relationship doesn’t break up, I will always remember the positive memories and will always think the other person is perfect.”

After listening, Jiang Ruoxue was completely speechless.

After hearing the exchange between Baiyang and Jiang Ruoxue, I could roughly guess what Baiyang wanted to do.

However, this conclusion was too absurd. I found it hard to believe.

Baiyang was about to create an absurd, flawless, perfect relationship in his own inner world?

“Baiyang…” Jiang Ruoxue took a deep breath and said: “You might not know, but the place where I spawned is very far. Coming to find you wasn’t easy. Are you sure there’s nothing you need my help with?”

“Why do you insist on helping me?” Baiyang asked.

“This is my ‘Karma.'” Jiang Ruoxue answered. “Because I value Zhichun very much, and she values you, so her ‘Karma’ has become my ‘Karma.'”

“Interesting.” Baiyang nodded. “If you put it that way, there is indeed one thing I need your help with.”

“Oh?” Jiang Ruoxue raised an eyebrow. “Let’s hear it.”

Baiyang slowly moved a step closer to Jiang Ruoxue, seemingly wanting to whisper to her.

Seeing this, Jiang Ruoxue reached out and pushed against Baiyang, preventing him from getting closer. Then with a displeased expression she asked: “What is it that Zhichun can’t hear?”

Baiyang glanced at me, then shook his head: “I’m not afraid of Yan Zhichun hearing, but rather other people.”