The night was silent, lightning and thunder complementing each other. A soaked stray dog wandered at the entrance of the brightly lit Shencheng Public Security Bureau.

“Alright, that’s about it. The one who reported to the police, leave an address and contact information.”

The female police officer taking the statement made two final strokes with her pen, looked up and handed a sheet of paper to each of Fu Xueli’s group. “Here, check the content, then sign your name. Come with me to the lobby to press your fingerprint and that’s it.”

“Didn’t expect this police station to be full of your classmates.” Tang Xin took the paper and casually asked Fu Xueli, “And just now, that pretty handsome police officer, what’s your relationship with him?”

“Just classmates.”

“Just classmates?” Tang Xin didn’t believe it. Seeing her stay silent, she looked at her with a cold laugh. “You think I’m a fool?”

“Friends with benefits, believe it?” Fu Xueli spoke flippantly, but there wasn’t a trace of smile on her face. She didn’t even want to maintain a basic expression. The clothes she wore today were wrong. The carefully tailored wool dress had been soaked by rain, sticking to her body damp and cold, freezing her to the bone.

The female police officer leading the way seemed to notice, glancing at Fu Xueli once more. She smiled slightly and suddenly spoke. “It’s quite a coincidence. Xueli and I were in the same class for a year, though she probably doesn’t remember my name. I’m Ma Xuanrui.”

They walked to the lobby, and curious yet restrained gazes gathered around them. Of course, most of the eyes were glued to Fu Xueli. After all, a celebrity from the entertainment industry who could usually only be seen on TV, Weibo, or LED billboards was suddenly appearing in front of them in person—ordinary people always felt a novel and subtle excitement.

If it weren’t for the serious occasion, working on a case, they actually really wanted to go up and ask for an autograph, take a photo together or something…

Being scrutinized by everyone, Fu Xueli seemed unaware, or perhaps had long been accustomed to others’ attention.

A TV hung on the wall, replaying dull and boring evening news. On the clock beside it, the second hand ticked slowly.

“Have some water first.” Xiao Wang forced himself to stay calm, bringing over several cups of hot water and handing them to Fu Xueli’s group.

Except for Fu Xueli who stood motionless, the others all accepted them, saying thanks.

“Officer, when can we leave? Look at the time, it’s so late already.” Tang Xin frowned.

“The statement’s done, right? Should be soon, soon.” Xiao Wang wasn’t certain either. He craned his neck to look upstairs and happened to see Liu Jingbo coming down the stairs. He was about to shout out when Liu Bo, talking on the phone, hurriedly walked outside.

Their patience was nearly exhausted. Over there, they confirmed the names, phone numbers, and ID cards of those who reported the case one by one. After asking questions in a very perfunctory manner, they were finally willing to let them go. Xiao Wang escorted Fu Xueli’s group to the entrance.

Pushing open the door, wind and rain raged outside, making everyone shiver involuntarily.

It was too cold.

One of the sensor lights under the porch was broken. In the dark, lightless corner stood two people. The night was immersed in mist. The wind howled softly. Xu Xingchun leaned against the wall smoking, the flickering light making it hard to see his face clearly.

Next to him was a trash can, being used to tap out cigarette ash.

The driver went to get the car from behind, leaving the rest standing at the entrance. Liu Jingbo was fully focused on discussing the autopsy results with Xu Xingchun, completely not noticing the large group of people here.

The distance wasn’t far, so they could hear everything Xu Xingchun said clearly. His voice was never loud, inexplicably low and hoarse, yet every word was clear, as if it could knock into one’s heart.

Everyone here kept their eyes straight ahead. Fu Xueli crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking forward. Good citizen Xixi silently complained in her heart…

This kind of thing probably isn’t confidential, so listening should be fine…

After getting some air, one cigarette was also finished—the time was neither long nor short. Xu Xingchun straightened up, one hand inserted in his pocket, his white work coat still hanging on his arm. “Let’s go, talk inside.”

The moment they passed by each other, he walked into the light. In a blur of dim yellow, Xu Xingchun’s figure paused, then his footsteps came to a halt. After a second or two, he lowered his brows and eyes, looking at his wrist that had been grabbed.

Liu Jingbo and Tang Xin exchanged glances. Xiao Wang was also confused. None of them knew what the situation was.

“Oh my…” Xixi was still carefully holding her phone to take photos of the entrance. Turning her head to see the commotion here, she couldn’t help but exclaim softly.

What was happening?

Tang Xin on the side held the mindset of watching a spectacle. Over these years in the business world and entertainment circle, she had dealt with all kinds of demons and monsters of every sort, with rich experience and very accurate intuition. Partly due to her profession, she was accustomed to positioning a person.

Having seen too many men who bluffed and exaggerated, almost from the first glance at Xu Xingchun, Tang Xin inexplicably determined that he must be a very reliable and outstanding person.

Upright and self-disciplined, taciturn yet standing out from the crowd. And very attractive to women.

To put it bluntly, he was very alluring.

Fu Xueli smelled the scent of soap on Xu Xingchun’s body, with a trace of tobacco smell, just like a long, long time ago.

She had drunk liquor and couldn’t remember very clearly. But after a moment, she suddenly came to her senses. He was silent, his hand still held by her, slender with distinct bones, yet the temperature was very low.

Fu Xueli felt annoyed. Her fingertips pressed against his wrist trembled lightly, several absurd thoughts spinning in her mind.

Xu Xingchun’s expression was indifferent. He stood straight, his jawline lean, still silent, without any response, nor did he pull his hand back.

The two faced each other without speaking, and the eyes of those around them grew increasingly gossipy.

“Why didn’t you contact me when you came back?” She quickly regained her composure and became aggressive again.

She looked up, expressionlessly scrutinizing him. Xu Xingchun remained detached, without movement.

The surrounding light was very dim. Although the atmosphere was quiet, quite a few people were secretly glancing sideways. After a moment, Xu Xingchun’s slightly hoarse and indifferent voice sounded. “I’m busy with work. We’ll talk when I’m free later.”

He had a pair of very shallow double eyelids, his pupils a gentle light brown color, cleanly untainted by any desire. Obviously born with smiling eyes, yet the depths were covered in shadow.

When she let go, he nodded slightly in acknowledgment, not even glancing once, turning around and pushing open the door without looking back.

Only then did Xiao Wang come to his senses, hurrying to follow. He secretly admired in his heart.

How terrifying! Captain Xu’s temperament was indeed cold enough, ascetic enough, never forgetting his persona, treating this level of beautiful woman with the same absolute heartlessness as ten years ago!

A sourness rushed straight to her nose. Fu Xueli had always been someone who cared about face. Since childhood, when had she ever been treated this way? Her head lowered, tears quickly welled up in her eyes.

She secretly clenched her teeth, trying her best to steadily suppress her emotions, pretending as if nothing had happened. Yet her heart was both anxious and angry.

Damn it!

Her makeup couldn’t smear.

She couldn’t cry.

She couldn’t cry.

Near the hotel where they were staying, the car slowly stopped. Tang Xin pulled out the room card and handed it to Xixi, while explaining the arrangements for the next few days. “Tomorrow is the new drama’s press conference. The day after tomorrow afternoon, if nothing unexpected happens, Adis has an appointment to come take photos. Then, I don’t know what day, but this week we’ll arrange one evening to go to Minxing Studio 2 to record a variety show.”

“The schedule is so tight.” Xixi looked mournful.

Tang Xin rolled her eyes. “Tight? In this industry, you still want leisure? Do you know how many people want to step on Xueli to climb up!”

“And you, I’m telling you.” Tang Xin shifted her gaze, pointing her phone at Fu Xueli, warning in a lowered voice, “You’re currently shipping a CP with He Luzheng. We can’t afford to offend anyone. Right now, both your fans’ enthusiasm is high. Whoever gets into trouble first bears the responsibility. Be careful. I don’t want to see you and that man from earlier appearing on Weibo’s hot search. You’ll suffer then.”

After bathing at night, Fu Xueli wore a white bathrobe, blow-drying her hair in front of the full-length mirror by the bathroom door. She looked at her expressionless self in the mirror, barefoot, sinking into the soft carpet.

Her mind was completely blank.

Xixi was tidying up clothes on the side. Knowing she was in a bad mood, she didn’t say much.

“Have you ever had a boyfriend?” Fu Xueli walked to the bedside, fiddling with her hair as she sat down, asking as if casually.

“A boyfriend?” Xixi found the heat packs and placed them on the neatly folded clothes on the bedside table. “No, I had one in college before, but we broke up later.”

“Oh, why?”

“No reason.”

“Then do you still remember him? Have you contacted him?”

“Haven’t contacted him. Still remember.”

Xixi shook her head, not continuing the topic, instead saying, “Oh right, the temperature tomorrow is very low. Sister Xueli, remember to stick on a few when you go take photos, be careful not to get frozen.”

—

The clock pointed to three in the morning. Fu Xueli pushed open the glass door, leaning on the hotel room’s balcony, overlooking the city’s night view.

Buildings of varying heights, high-rise apartments still with lights on, farther away submerged in darkness—the night like a huge silent container.

After looking for a while, she suddenly thought weakly that perhaps… all these years, Xu Xingchun’s heart still harbored resentment toward her.

Once this thought arose, her anger was greatly discounted.

After all, they had been together for so many years, together and apart repeatedly.

Fu Xueli had always known that their relationship was entirely Xu Xingchun’s one-sided effort and persistence. As for her, she sometimes deliberately distanced herself, then fell back in, cycling like this repeatedly.

She had always loved freedom, disliked restraint. When happy, she was truly happy. When annoyed with someone, it was the same principle—she rarely disguised herself.

It was she who wanted to break up back then, and after breaking up, she had a good period of carefree, happy days. Until one gathering when she accidentally learned that Xu Xingchun had voluntarily applied to go to the Technical Investigation Division of a remote city’s Public Security Bureau for training, and might not come back.

Fu Xueli hadn’t cared at first, but later, the more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt.

Finally, in a fit of anger, she followed her family’s wishes and went abroad.

She didn’t even know with whom she was being obstinate.

She was someone who was very slow to realize things. Actually, for a long time after Xu Xingchun left, she habitually assumed he would definitely come back. It had always been this way since childhood. No matter how much she was annoyed, no matter how much she hurt him, he always stayed in place, willingly accompanying her.

The days living abroad were very lonely—the language barrier, no friends. Gradually, she began to feel uncomfortable, uncomfortable with the feeling of Xu Xingchun truly and completely being stripped from her life.

This feeling came suddenly, yet twisted Fu Xueli. It made her have the thought of regret for the first time.

Over these years, she had even tried to actively contact him. But Xu Xingchun was like he had evaporated from the world, having almost cut off contact with everyone.

How ridiculous—she was the one who proposed the breakup, yet he was the one who disappeared without a word, heartlessly, for so many years.

Her vision blurred.

She smoked while using the back of her hand to wipe the liquid from her face. In her ears were the sound of wind, residual rain sounds, and even more, empty silence.

After getting some air, returning to the room, Fu Xueli lifted the blanket and got into bed, switching off the bedside lamp. These years of filming day and night had led to irregular sleep, leaving her with neurasthenia—it was very difficult to fall asleep.

The hotel curtains had good light-blocking effects. The room was pitch black, not even a trace of moonlight penetrating. Fu Xueli closed her eyes. Not knowing how long had passed, drowsy and muddled, her consciousness finally began to blur.

She was certain she had started dreaming. She was back to that night, going out to eat and drink with her college roommates. Drunk, everyone walking together, walking on the road, passing through stairs, the road gradually getting darker and darker. Only she remained.

She didn’t know where she was going, didn’t know when she would stop. In her heart, only confusion remained.

Then she saw Xu Xingchun. He was waiting downstairs at the dormitory, as if he had been standing there for a very, very long time.

Without sound, he continued walking with her. Walking through the pitch-black tunnel, light and shadow rapidly passing by… yet she could only see his back. No matter how she called out, he never turned around.

Finally, at the gate of Linshi No. 1 High School, Xu Xingchun was tall and thin, his complexion carrying a clean, cold pallor. He wore the old blue school uniform jacket from many years ago, a short-sleeved shirt, and black athletic pants. The calm, clear feeling of youth was very strong.

He waited by the flower bed, shoulder leaning slantingly against the black lamppost, his features still delicate. Taking off his glasses, his jet-black pupils slightly narrowed, smiling gently at her.

The adoration in his eyes was extreme, gentle yet illusory.

Like a piece of glass piercing into her heart, with a light touch, the pain was like tearing. Tears suddenly surged out in the dream.