Soon, Qing Ye’s phone rang. Seeing it was Xing Wu calling, for some reason, she suddenly didn’t want to answer, didn’t want to hear his voice, and even wanted to smash her phone.

So… she turned it off.

Qing Ye hadn’t thought too much about it. She just wanted to be alone for a while, to adjust her mindset. She felt this wasn’t good – she wasn’t someone with poor self-control. She believed she could quickly adjust her attitude, provided Xing Wu didn’t interfere right now.

After leaving Xuandao, Xing Wu got on his motorcycle and searched every possible path between Zhazhating and the school, but couldn’t find Qing Ye. She rarely went out, her activity range was limited to this area, and she wouldn’t randomly wander to unfamiliar places further away.

Standing at Anshan Middle School’s entrance, the school gates tightly shut and pitch black inside, the anxiety in his eyes burned like a great fire. In the rearview mirror, he could see the road by the school’s back gate, where the image of Qing Ye confidently riding her balanced car seemed to still be before his eyes.

He clenched his fists, suddenly thinking of Electronics Street. Besides Zhazhating, the only place Qing Ye had gone to on her own was Electronics Street. He swung his bike around and rode in that direction.

He didn’t know how long he’d been searching. He was even thinking that if he couldn’t find her along this route, he’d probably have to call out all his brothers to help search the entire county.

Until he turned a corner and saw a small figure sitting under a distant streetlight. He hit the brakes hard, almost thinking he was seeing things, but two seconds later when he confirmed it was indeed Qing Ye, he went crazy.

He turned and rode toward that figure. As he got closer, he could more clearly see her dejected silhouette, hidden in the sparse streetlight, as if covered by a layer of faint melancholy, head lowered, staring at her own shadow lost in thought.

He called out: “Qing Ye.”

When Qing Ye suddenly heard Xing Wu’s voice, she thought she was hallucinating. She slowly turned her head. The motorcycle rushed through the night like a swift meteor breaking through the dark sky and crashing into her heart, until it stopped in front of her with a sharp brake, tires screeching against the ground. Xing Wu looked down at her this way, his eyes so bright, like the most brilliant star had fallen into them, emitting dazzling light.

His voice carried undisguised anger: “Just leaving like that, really treating my home like a hotel? Running out so late without saying anything? Why didn’t you answer when I called? Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you? I nearly turned Anzi County upside down. Say something!”

As he spoke, he swung his long leg off the motorcycle and stood in front of Qing Ye, his tall shadow like a solid wall.

Qing Ye slowly raised her head to gaze at him, the dim light illuminating her flickering, uneasy eyes that pierced into Xing Wu’s heart. She slowly stood up from the stone stool, frowning: “I…”

The next second, she fell into Xing Wu’s embrace – without warning, catching her completely off guard, without any preparation. Xing Wu pulled her directly to his chest, tightening his arms, his warm breath falling by her ear: “Sister Shu has done me favors. I’ll help find a way to handle this matter, but I won’t be with her.”

Qing Ye’s arms hung at her sides, her body like a thin sheet of paper held tightly in his embrace. Her heart beat faster and faster, her mind blank, completely stopped functioning, only unconsciously blurting out: “Why?”

Xing Wu released her and lowered his head to look deep into her eyes, his breath hot: “Are you nearsighted?”

“No.”

“If you’re not nearsighted, why can’t you see why?”

Qing Ye lowered her gaze and bit her lip hard, her hands at her sides trembling slightly. Her nose stinging, she turned her head: “Why are you explaining to me? I didn’t go out because of you, I just… just wanted to get some ice cream…”

Xing Wu looked down at her, his gaze showing traces of indulgence: “Did you get any?”

Qing Ye’s eyes suddenly reddened, and she shook her head dejectedly: “Couldn’t find any.”

Seeing her like this, like a little girl about to cry because she couldn’t get candy, Xing Wu was completely helpless against her. He raised his hand and ruffled her hair. Qing Ye stood still, docile as a naturally curly little sheep, making Xing Wu’s heart itch. He bent down to look at her at eye level, the light in his eyes burning hot: “Ready to go home?”

Qing Ye sniffled but didn’t speak. Xing Wu turned and mounted the motorcycle. As Qing Ye walked toward him, he suddenly sat back and said to her: “I left in a hurry without a jacket. Sit in front and block the wind for me.”

“Why should I?”

“Because I’m cold.”

Qing Ye suddenly raised her eyes in displeasure, but Xing Wu just looked at her and smiled, wild and unrestrained.

Qing Ye walked to the front of the motorcycle with annoyance and sat down. Instantly, Xing Wu encircled her, his arms gripping the handlebars, giving them a slight twist. The motorcycle wove through the old streets, Qing Ye’s back pressed against Xing Wu’s solid chest. She had never known a young man’s chest could feel so steady and warm. The wind whipped past her ears while her cheeks grew increasingly red.

Xing Wu lowered his head, his breath falling among her hair strands, his voice husky: “Cold?”

Qing Ye absently “mmm’d” in response. Xing Wu’s arms tightened further, bringing her completely into his embrace. Qing Ye nestled against his chest, not daring to move at all. She felt she was done for – just minutes ago she had been trying to adjust her mindset, but now it had completely collapsed.

Little Angel stopped at Xuandao’s entrance. Qing Ye had been blushing the whole way and dismounted with her face still burning. Xing Wu locked the bike while she stood waiting beside it.

After securing the bike, Xing Wu turned and touched her hand – it was ice cold. He directly grabbed her hand and put it in his pocket. Qing Ye’s hands had indeed lost feeling from the wind, and only now in Xing Wu’s pocket did she feel the cold.

They were about to enter Xuandao when Da Hei and the others heard the sound and were walking out. They asked, “Found her?”

As they all walked out together, Qing Ye glanced at Shu Han and tried to pull her hand from Xing Wu’s pocket, but he firmly gripped it. His palm was warm and broad, holding her hand tightly in his grasp, giving her no chance to escape.

He joked with them: “She got hungry and went looking for food.”

Quan Ya glanced at their joined hands, then looked at Shu Han, but she just smiled faintly: “Good that you found her. Wang Min needs me for something so I’ll head out first. Da Hei can give me a ride since it’s on his way.”

“Alright.” With that, Da Hei got on his motorcycle and left with Shu Han.

Only after they turned the corner did Quan Ya throw away his cigarette and look at Xing Wu: “Let’s talk to Shun Yi.”

Hua Bi stood nearby with his arms crossed, saying nothing. Xing Wu released Qing Ye and turned to tell her: “Go inside. Lock the door and go to sleep, don’t wait up for me tonight.”

Quan Ya and Hua Bi had already instinctively moved to wait across the street for Xing Wu. Qing Ye glanced at them worriedly, but Xing Wu smiled at her: “It’s fine, go on.”

Xing Wu watched Qing Ye go inside, then pulled down the rolling door before turning to face his brothers across the street.