“Oh my god, no way.”

Someone let out a low exclamation.

Coming back to his senses, he realized it was a handsome guy from the armed police squad standing nearby. The man had a nickname, Brother Laughing. He smiled, glanced over, and casually added, “Doesn’t seem like your style to watch this kind of thing.”

Seemingly not hearing his teasing remarks, Xu Xingchun had both hands braced on the edge of his office desk, head slightly lowered, patiently watching the live broadcast on the screen.

The scene had also descended into complete chaos.

The host wanted to come out and smooth things over but found that he couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

Under the bright lights, Fu Xueli’s eyes were moist and glistening, appearing exceptionally gentle.

Smiling bitterly, she sighed, “Later, when I got a bit older, I didn’t mature much at all. I remained headstrong and selfish. We were childhood friends, you could say, but I was terrible—I did many things that hurt him.”

“I remember his eyes were very light in color. When we were young, he would always secretly watch me from behind, his heart completely devoted to loving me.”

Like a statement, yet also like talking to herself.

Those bygone days remained vivid even now.

Thinking back on it now, realizing how humbly Xu Xingchun had loved her back then, her heart couldn’t stop feeling guilty.

Before Fu Xueli began speaking these words, there was still a bit of hesitation in her heart. But by now, she felt that nothing mattered anymore.

“I clearly couldn’t endure hardship myself, yet I made him suffer so much. Friends around me said I didn’t know how to care for people at all. I never denied it, because I also knew what kind of person I was. Actually, I knew I had hurt him. For several years in the past, I saw psychologists many times. Fu Xueli, with a whole bunch of bad habits, was always so terrible, yet also very lucky. Because after going in circles for so long, she still found him again in the end.”

“But I can’t bring him before all of you. It wasn’t easy for him to re-enter my life. I hope everyone can give me a little private space.”

“Finally, I want to say I’m sorry. Most people here probably think I’ve gone crazy, but in fact, I really can no longer control my feelings.”

“I can’t be too greedy. He and I don’t need any blessings from anyone else in any form. So I hope that after today, no one will use my relationship for publicity stunts anymore.” Taking a deep breath, looking toward the nearest camera, she slowly began, “This last part is what I want to say to you.”

“I know you’ll definitely see this video in the future.” Fu Xueli blinked her eyelashes, suppressing her wildly beating heart, and said as if nothing was amiss, “Do you know that I actually love you very much, and I’m also very afraid of losing you?”

This confession that could make anyone’s bones go weak was met with complete silence at the scene the instant it was spoken.

If at this moment the camera had given a close-up of Fu Xueli’s hands, one would definitely have noticed that all her fingers were clenched together, tensed with nervousness. The expression on her face was purely genuine, not mixed with even half a bit of pretense—she definitely wasn’t acting.

Exposed… very thoroughly…

Exposed.

Her private life, the things she had actually always wanted to say deep in her heart but had escaped from and didn’t dare face, were laid bare before everyone without much reservation.

Most people remained silent for a long time.

“Ah… truly admire Fu Xueli, so genuine and sincere, daring to say anything.” The young man watching the live broadcast with Xu Xingchun felt somewhat melancholic. After sighing, he suddenly sensed the atmosphere was a bit strange. He raised his hand and waved it in front of Xu Xingchun’s eyes. “Brother Chun, what are you thinking about? Watching so intently?”

Xu Xingchun slowly collected himself. Without saying a word, he straightened up, intending to walk out.

“Wait.” The young man caught up with Xu Xingchun and carefully said, “Brother Chun, you’re still holding my phone!”

“Sorry.” Xu Xingchun paused, lowered his head, looking at the now-ended live broadcast screen. He asked, “Can this be replayed?”

“……”

Two people nearby looked toward them together.

Although he found this question strange, the young man still coughed twice and answered, “It should be possible.”

Off-stage, the assistant lowered her head, constantly saying excuse me please make way, while walking outward. She pushed through the reporters and fans swarming forward. Fu Xueli was being protected as magnesium flashbulbs blazed around her. She no longer responded with another word.

In the backstage lounge.

Tang Xin completely exploded, nearly smashing everything within reach.

“You’re a celebrity—don’t you have any sense of what should be said at what time and in what situation? And you, didn’t you know to stop her? Have you all gone crazy?”

Xixi lowered her head and took the scolding, stammering for a long time without being able to say anything, trembling. Fu Xueli quietly told her to leave, and Xixi hurriedly went out, afraid that Tang Xin’s fury would affect her even more.

Completely unconcerned about how big a news story she was about to create, Fu Xueli was actually calm and composed, and even used a very certain tone to comfort Tang Xin, “I was affected by that incident with He Lu before. If I continued to hype up romance rumors, it would only make passersby’s impression of me worse. It’s better to directly announce my relationship. Look, every time I participate in any activity, I get ridiculed by those demons and monsters. I can’t stand this grievance.”

“I see you’re making things up.” Tang Xin sneered coldly, so angry her eyes rolled back, and she cursed in dialect, “Out of your mind.”

Fu Xueli pouted indignantly, her face falling. “No, I’m really not making it up. This is a small matter. Anyway, I’ve already earned enough money and can quit the entertainment industry at any time.”

“It’s no use saying anything now. The company has to clean up your mess again.” Tang Xin finally shifted her gaze to Fu Xueli, looking at her like a fool whose mind had been muddled by love, disappointed in her inability to meet expectations. “Love-brain, no career ambition at all, and not paying attention to the impact.”

In the huge lounge, only Fu Xueli and Tang Xin remained.

The suddenly tense yet joyful emotions from just moments ago cooled down slightly. She lowered her head playing with her nails, saying carelessly, “What else is there to pay attention to in terms of impact? I really don’t know what to do anymore.”

“What do you mean you don’t know what to do?”

Tang Xin looked at the expression on Fu Xueli’s face and realized she wasn’t joking.

“I like Xu Xingchun too much.”

“I like him so much that none of you can save me.”

Right after the Spring Festival came a series of events. The overwhelming snow in Shen City hadn’t stopped. Liu Jingbo had already been sleeping in the office for two days and two nights straight. Today, the pot-bellied and balding leader came for an inspection, and he still had to accompany him back and forth.

He pulled out a cigarette and stuck it in his mouth, lighting it with a lighter. He took a heavy drag, then exhaled. “Damn it, we were already busy, and today at noon several rich second-generation kids high on drugs were street racing in the commercial district. Three dead, two injured.”

Xu Xingchun’s expression remained unchanged as he pressed harder on the gas pedal.

Liu Jingbo complained incessantly, “We just held an irregular special case meeting, and the investigation deployment was adjusted countless times. I know you’ve been busy with cases recently, but we can’t spare anyone on our side, so I could only come find you. Really a bunch of sons of bitches.”

After cursing and swearing, he remembered something else and looked at Xu Xingchun who was driving. “Oh right, heard through the grapevine that there’s a big case at the municipal bureau that’s almost wrapped up. When you get intelligence, remember to take us along for some action.”

“Mm.”

All along the way, Xu Xingchun said very little. But he was usually like this, so Liu Jingbo didn’t notice anything wrong.

Until in the autopsy room, when Xu Xingchun was putting on autopsy equipment according to procedure, Liu Bo, who was observing nearby, couldn’t help but speak up to remind him, “Chun’er, what’s going on today? Pay attention, you put your gloves on backward.”

Tonight at Shen City Stadium there was a fireworks evening party.

But Fu Xueli couldn’t go watch it.

Having temporarily pushed back several scheduled appearances, she was confined by Tang Xin to the company for an afternoon. With nothing to do, curled up on the fabric sofa, she could only scroll through Weibo, browse forums and variety shows.

The more she looked, the lower her mood became.

The headlines that exploded on trending searches were all:

【Popular Star Fu Xueli’s Romance Exposed, Affectionate Confession, First Time Admitting Partner Is From Outside the Industry!】

Such a big deal…

Such an exaggerated headline…

She didn’t believe Xu Xingchun hadn’t seen it…

Xu Xingchun clearly saw it but didn’t take the initiative to contact her.

Wasn’t he even a little bit moved? Fu Xueli kicked her legs while lying on the sofa.

Really a capital-letter scumbag!

Even making a phone call or something would be good.

Holding her phone, waiting and waiting, waiting until the day lilies went cold, she still didn’t wait for him.

Indignantly turning off her phone, she shrank back into the sofa, curling up into a ball.

Sure enough, all men were pig trotters.

Heartless bastards!

Winter nights came early.

In the evening there was a crew dinner. Forcing herself to muster energy to deal with it, by the time the gathering ended it was already very late.

During the meal, most people looked at Fu Xueli with strange eyes. She kept a gloomy face, pretending not to notice.

Waiting and hoping, by ten o’clock, a text message and phone call finally came.

“Xixi, help me tell Tang Xin later that I have something to do and need to leave first.” She frantically gathered her things.

Xixi looked at Fu Xueli in surprise, opened her mouth, then closed it again. “Sister Xueli, you…”

Before she finished speaking, Fu Xueli’s figure had already disappeared from sight.

The address he sent was at a very remote park.

Fu Xueli drove there following the GPS, searching for half a day.

She felt that today she had done something heroic, and now she was full of confidence.

When she found Xu Xingchun, she was first startled.

He was actually sitting on a flower bed.

Not at all like his fastidious and severely germophobic personality.

She then slowed her steps, adjusting her expression, not letting herself show emotions that were too excited.

One step, two steps, inching closer bit by bit behind him, then suddenly clapping him on the shoulder.

Xu Xingchun turned his head around, seemingly stunned, looking at Fu Xueli who had just appeared.

“Did you miss me?” she asked.

“I did.”

Her wrist was firmly grasped by him.

“You’re gripping too tight, it hurts.”

Xu Xingchun squeezed her hand once more before letting go. He pressed the back of his hand against his forehead. “Sorry, I think I drank a bit too much.”

Looking the same as usual, Fu Xueli unexpectedly felt that he like this seemed extremely adorable.

She playfully poked at him.

Sat down.

And poked his cheek.

She felt Xu Xingchun’s body pressing close against hers, his head buried as he leaned on her shoulder.

Fu Xueli was very close to him. With a glance of her eyes, she could see Xu Xingchun staring at her without blinking.

Through the openwork lamp shadows, looking at him.

In those eyes, there was a very clingy, pathological love. His face had nothing to do with vulgarity.

Moving her head just slightly, they would be at kissing distance.

Simply tempting someone to commit a crime.

Drunk Xu Xingchun wasn’t much different from usual, just more willing to let her bully him.

Fu Xueli deliberately acted fierce toward him, forcefully blinking twice, then widening her eyes hard. “What are you looking at? Never seen a great beauty before?”