Shu Nian had never heard Xie Ruhe say such things before.

They had met in their youth, became close, and then separated, only to reunite after growing up. During those years apart, neither knew what had happened to the other, or how many different kinds of people they had met.

And then, after being baptized by these experiences, what kind of person each had become?

These were things neither knew about the other.

Shu Nian had instinctively ignored the time they were apart, which was equivalent to ignoring all the things that had happened after their separation.

All those bad things.

Back then, they were each other’s only friend.

Xie Ruhe occupied a very important place in Shu Nian’s heart.

This level of importance allowed Shu Nian to ignore the unfamiliarity of years without seeing each other, ignore her sensitivity and wariness toward strangers, and ignore the paranoia that would suddenly arise.

And then interact with Xie Ruhe just like before, without mixed feelings.

As if returning to the past.

But she had forgotten.

Time keeps running, and years keep flowing by.

During that long period, they hadn’t seen each other. Growing up in worlds unknown to each other, they would meet different people, make new friends, and also… fall for others.

He was no longer like before, desiring nothing from anything.

He would desire others, and that kind of feeling wasn’t merely limited to the word “friendship.”

And it wasn’t limited to her, his “only” friend.

Perhaps after today, she wouldn’t come to find him much anymore, Shu Nian thought.

Regardless of what he meant by saying those words to her, whether it was just confiding in a friend, or fearing that the girl he liked might misunderstand.

Her always being alone with him in a room, wasn’t good anyway.

Shu Nian was silent for a moment, lowering her eyes, and playing with her slender fingers. She forced a smile, trying hard to dispel those feelings of loss and sadness: “Dating is good.”

After she said this, the room immediately fell silent.

Shu Nian didn’t speak, and neither did Xie Ruhe respond to her.

Although she felt there was nothing wrong with her answer, Shu Nian also felt nervous and panicked due to this silence. She looked up and noticed Xie Ruhe’s expression.

At this moment, he was staring at her, his handsome brows relaxed, the corners of his mouth curved upward.

He was smiling.

Shu Nian was stunned.

What was he smiling about?

What was there to smile about?

Was thinking about that girl making him so happy?

Even if he was really that happy, couldn’t he wait until after she left to be happy by himself?

Why did he have to be happy in front of her?

Annoying.

She pressed her lips together and lowered her head again, feeling dejected.

“Shu Nian.” Xie Ruhe’s eyes lifted slightly, his deep black eyes carrying a hint of spring, “Do you remember what you said to me back then?”

Not knowing what he was referring to, Shu Nian had no interest in asking.

“I don’t remember.”

Her voice was very light, like a child’s sulk.

Yet Xie Ruhe seemed completely unaware, his mood exceptionally good. He withdrew his gaze, his breath long and casual, hiding a slight smile: “Is that so.”

After quite a while, Fang Wencheng also arrived. He greeted Xie Ruhe and was a bit surprised to see Shu Nian. He quickly left, not wanting to disturb the two of them.

Having completed the morning training, the two returned to the sixteenth floor.

Xie Ruhe took his clothes to the bathroom to shower.

Because of their earlier conversation, Shu Nian had no mood to stay longer. She sat on the sofa, thinking about what excuse to use to leave. But she hadn’t lied much before and was afraid of being caught.

Shu Nian was so conflicted she became a bit irritable.

A few minutes later, Xie Ruhe came out of the bathroom. He had probably just rinsed his body without drying it with a towel. Water still dripped from his hair, sliding down his cheeks, falling to his neck, and gathering at his collarbone.

Xie Ruhe walked over and sat down next to Shu Nian.

The scent of mint wafted over, clear and faint, like his unique fragrance.

Shu Nian instinctively moved to the other side.

Xie Ruhe glanced at her but didn’t say anything.

Shu Nian tested: “What are you going to do later?”

Xie Ruhe said: “Haven’t decided.”

“Oh.” Shu Nian scratched her head and said softly, “I have something to do.”

“What is it?”

“Just, just…” Shu Nian couldn’t think of any reason at the moment. She looked up, happened to meet his clear eyes, and instantly lost the courage to lie, “It’s nothing…”

Xie Ruhe asked: “Do you want to go home?”

Shu Nian paused, hesitantly saying: “No.”

Those few seconds of hesitation revealed her true thoughts.

“It’s okay.” Xie Ruhe stood up, his face showing no emotion, yet not giving the impression that he was unhappy, “Wait for me a moment, I’ll take you back.”

This time Shu Nian didn’t speak again.

Xie Ruhe went back to his room and changed into a loose dark red hoodie, looking lazy and casual.

The New Year had passed just over a month ago, and it was still very cold outside. The heating was on indoors, so they couldn’t feel it. Shu Nian, afraid he would catch a cold, reminded him: “You should wear more, it’s cold outside.”

He shook his head: “I like this color.”

Shu Nian wanted to say more but didn’t continue to persuade him.

Xie Ruhe’s current physical condition still didn’t allow him to drive. Even if he could, he wouldn’t rashly take Shu Nian onto the road. So it was still Fang Wencheng driving, taking the two of them to their destination.

They drove to Shu Nian’s building.

Just as Shu Nian was about to get out of the car, Xie Ruhe suddenly spoke: “Shu Nian.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you want to move?”

This sudden question confused Shu Nian a bit: “Move?”

“Yes.” Xie Ruhe said, “Didn’t they say there are many thieves around here?”

“They’ve already been caught.”

Xie Ruhe frowned: “Only one was caught.”

Hearing him say this, Shu Nian also felt it was somewhat serious, and hesitated: “I’ll ask Officer He later.”

Xie Ruhe calmly looked at her, and after a long while, he finally responded softly.

“Hmm.”

After returning home, Shu Nian had nothing to do.

She simply went online to find a film clip to dub, like doing an extracurricular assignment. Her thoughts were scattered, and she kept thinking about what Xie Ruhe had said today.

Causing this assignment to turn out terribly.

Shu Nian didn’t know how to describe her current mood.

A bit stifled, unable to breathe, feeling certain that it was something she could never have. Yet also unrealistically, faintly hoping that the person he mentioned was herself.

Perhaps Xie Ruhe did like her before, judging by his reaction at that time. But back then, Xie Ruhe was young, still in puberty, and hadn’t seen much of the world in that small town.

So he might have liked her then.

If it’s now, the possibility is too low.

It’s not that Shu Nian thinks there’s something wrong with herself.

But with Xie Ruhe’s current fame, the connections he’s made, and his looks that don’t lose to those in the entertainment circle, any one of these factors could help him find a dazzling partner.

Not someone like her.

Someone with a mental illness.

Shu Nian exhaled, got up, and decided to go to the bathroom to wash her face. She went in, looked up, and suddenly noticed herself in the mirror, wearing a dark red sweater.

Dark red.

The color Xie Ruhe just said he liked it.

This matter made Shu Nian very melancholic.

She even began to doubt whether she had ever been in a relationship, feeling as inexperienced as if she knew nothing. After all, when she was with Xu Zeyuan before, she had never been so troubled.

It was like, in one moment, hope was extinguished;

And then because of a word from him, a small detail, it was rekindled.

Although she somewhat despised this feeling.

Shu Nian didn’t go to find Xie Ruhe again. She wanted to ask him directly who he liked, but after hesitating for a long time, she gave up. She was afraid of getting another answer, an answer that would leave her with no more hope.

She was as if facing a major obstacle, shutting herself in her room for several days.

Thinking about this matter day and night.

Whether to ignore other factors and boldly ask;

Or to treat it as something in the past and stop thinking about it.

These repetitive thoughts were interrupted by a WeChat notification sound.

Shu Nian came back to herself and looked at her phone.

It was Ke Yiqing.

Ke Yiqing: [Shu Nian, are you free?]

Shu Nian replied: [Yes, do you need something?]

Ke Yiqing: [Can you help me with something? It’s okay if you don’t want to.]

Ke Yiqing: [It’s about when I went to your place before]

After sending this message, there was no follow-up for a long time. Shu Nian puzzledly asked: [Hmm?]

Ke Yiqing: […]

Ke Yiqing stopped beating around the bush: [Do you have He You’s contact information?]

Shu Nian blinked: [Yes.]

Ke Yiqing: [Can you give it to me…]

Ke Yiqing: [I won’t spread it around QAQ]

Shu Nian felt it wasn’t quite right and asked: [Can I ask Officer He first?]

Ke Yiqing: [No, no, no.]

Ke Yiqing: [Forget it, I suddenly feel it wouldn’t be of any use anyway, let’s just leave it.]

Shu Nian: [What do you need Officer He’s contact information for?]

Ke Yiqing: [Nothing, just bored.]

Ke Yiqing: [Do you want to know?]

Shu Nian had typed “No” but hadn’t sent it yet.

Ke Yiqing: [Alright, if you want to know, I’ll tell you.]

“…”

Ke Yiqing: [This He You confessed to me before, but I don’t like him. I forgot to reject him, so I was planning to call him and reject him.]

Other people’s affairs had nothing to do with Shu Nian.

She didn’t comment on this, just replied with an “Okay.”

Ke Yiqing changed the subject, chatting casually: [By the way, was that A-He that day?]

Ke Yiqing: [I’m going to be on a variety show soon, and I heard the program invited A-He too, don’t know if he’ll come.]

Ke Yiqing: [If it is him, why does he never show his face?]

Ke Yiqing: [Looking so good, it’s such a waste.]

Shu Nian didn’t know what to reply and sent an emoji.

Ke Yiqing: [I quite like his songs, his voice is also very pleasant to listen to.]

Ke Yiqing: [Too bad he doesn’t sing anymore.]

Seeing these words, Shu Nian’s expression paused, and she suddenly remembered the MP3 Xie Ruhe had given her for her birthday. She got up, pulled open the bedside drawer, and took out the box.

From returning to her hometown until now, it had been more than a month.

Since it had been turned off, the MP3 still had power.

Shu Nian turned it on.

She scrolled down, generally remembering all the song names.

When she saw the song titled “Wu Nian” (My Thoughts), Shu Nian paused for a few seconds, not wanting to let these strange feelings bubble up again, and continued scrolling down.

Scrolling to the bottom.

The last song was titled “A-He.”

Shu Nian couldn’t remember Xie Ruhe writing a song named after himself. She put on her earphones and clicked to listen. With her other hand, she picked up her phone to search online.

Only melody came through the earphones, without hearing Xie Ruhe’s voice.

It was instrumental.

After searching for a while, Shu Nian discovered it wasn’t that she had no impression; it was that Xie Ruhe had truly never released this song.

The melody changed from heavy to light, sounding like it was played on a particular instrument. Shu Nian wasn’t knowledgeable about this, but she thought the sound was quite similar to a ukulele.

Shu Nian’s heart began to pound rapidly, mysteriously accelerating.

Was it a song written for her?

Or had he accidentally included a new song…

Shu Nian hugged the MP3 and rolled on the bed, restraining the urge to squeal loudly.

The song was about to end, and her ears suddenly fell silent.

Shu Nian looked at the MP3 and suddenly realized the music still had ten seconds left. The next moment, a familiar male voice suddenly sounded in her earphones, low and mellow, carrying very serious emotions.

“This song is for you.”

Because of these words, Shu Nian’s melancholy mood of the past few days dispersed.

She couldn’t help but curve her lips.

She thought that was the last sentence.

Shu Nian removed one earphone, just about to remove the other, and put it away carefully.

Then four more words came through the earphone.

“Including the title.”