The already-quiet room instantly fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Liang Xumo hadn’t gotten the answer she wanted, and for a moment simply froze, unable to process it.

What did that mean?

He liked Qiao Qi?

Almost instantly, Liang Xumo thought back to what happened at the hospital last time — she’d felt something was off the moment she saw Qiao Qi take Liang Yan’s hand, but the situation had been too urgent then for her to ask.

Thinking back on it now, the atmosphere between Qiao Qi and Liang Yan back then really had felt off.

So, somewhat startled, Liang Xumo asked, “Do you actually like Qiao Qi?”

“No wait, don’t you have a girlfriend? That online dating partner of yours? Why would you suddenly start liking Qiao Qi—”

Liang Xumo’s words spilled out laced with an urgency and disbelief she herself hadn’t quite noticed.

How could he like Qiao Qi?

He can’t like Qiao Qi!

He can’t!

And Liang Yan, at this particular moment, was too caught up in his own guilty conscience over that brief moment of hesitation to notice anything off about Liang Xumo.

He frowned and quickly denied it: “How could I possibly. I’m no scumbag.”

Liang Xumo still wasn’t reassured. “Then why did Qiao Qi hold your hand that day?”

Straight to the point.

Without meaning to, Liang Yan was reminded of the contents of his dream, but he hadn’t quite figured out how to explain it.

After all, he wasn’t Qiao Qi — he genuinely didn’t understand what she’d intended.

Liang Xumo said, “Does she like you? That’s… not really appropriate, is it? Doesn’t she know you have a partner? If she knows and still does that…”

The rest went unspoken.

To be fair, what Liang Xumo said was, honestly, the truth.

And yet Liang Yan felt a faint discomfort and frowned. He had to admit — he wasn’t entirely willing to let his mind go in that direction about Qiao Qi.

So he flicked his eyelids up and said, lightly, “No, that’s not it. We were talking about something else that day.”

Liang Xumo seemed like she wanted to ask more, but Liang Yan casually let out another yawn, cutting off whatever she’d been about to say, and turned to walk toward the bathroom without a care.

As he walked, he said, “What’s for breakfast, anyway? I don’t even like eating breakfast. Making me sit at the same table as the old man first thing in the morning — aren’t you worried we’ll start fighting?”

The topic had already shifted; dragging it back now would only make his intentions too obvious.

Liang Xumo watched Liang Yan’s figure vanish into the bathroom, pressed her lips together, and said nothing more.

By the time Liang Yan finished a quick wash-up, Liang Xumo had already made his bed for him.

A nearly-thirty-year-old man, taking for granted the privilege of having his bed made for him: “My sister really is the model of virtue!”

Liang Xumo shot him a glare. “Get dressed and get downstairs already, don’t keep Mom and Dad waiting too long.”

“Got it, wouldn’t dare keep him waiting,” Liang Yan said.

Liang Xumo sighed at that, and as she passed by him, gave him a warning smack. “Don’t upset Dad this early in the morning, understand?”

“Got it, got it.” Liang Yan’s tone was perfunctory. He pressed both hands on Liang Xumo’s shoulders, pushing her toward the door while saying, “Go on, go on.”

Before leaving, Liang Xumo still couldn’t help adding one more reminder. “Seriously, don’t talk back to Dad again, understand?”

Liang Yan nodded along with a string of “mm-hm’s,” and only then did she close the door.

Watching the closed door, the warm smile in Liang Xumo’s eyes and at the corners of her mouth gradually faded. She stared at it for several long moments before finally turning to head downstairs.

—

When Liang Yan said he’d be down soon, he meant it. Having nothing else on his schedule today, he threw on a white T-shirt and black pants, casually pulling his hair up into a small bun at the back of his head, and came downstairs looking thoroughly relaxed.

He felt entirely at ease and comfortable — but Father Liang couldn’t stand to see him like this.

A man nearly thirty years old, dressed like that, not a shred of proper decorum about him.

Father Liang’s expression darkened several shades in an instant. He set his bowl down on the table with a sharp clink and asked Liang Yan: “Do you have anything planned today?”

Liang Yan walked over to the dining area in two steps, pulled out the chair next to Liang Xumo, sat down, and without much ceremony picked up his chopsticks to go after the fried egg.

Getting no answer, Father Liang’s expression darkened further. He picked up his own chopsticks and rapped them against Liang Yan’s. “I’m talking to you!”

Already irritable, Liang Yan was about to snap something back at Father Liang for picking a fight, but just as he lifted his head, Liang Xumo delivered a sharp kick to his foot under the table.

Liang Yan paused, silently swallowing back whatever insolent remark had been on his tongue, and answered obediently instead: “Nothing’s up, what’s wrong?”

Though Father Liang was still displeased, he didn’t press further with harsh words, instead picking up his bowl and saying, almost offhandedly, “Since you’ve got nothing planned, go check out the company with your sister today.”

At those words, both Liang Yan and Liang Xumo froze.

Liang Xumo’s expression turned subtle, her grip on her chopsticks tightening gradually, but before she could react further, she heard Liang Yan slam down his chopsticks with a loud clatter, shove back his chair, and leave the table.

“I’m not going. Whoever wants to go can go.”

With that, he turned to head upstairs.

Father Liang slammed his bowl down again, roaring: “Where do you think you’re going! No respect at all! The whole family’s waiting on you to eat, and you take two bites and leave — who exactly are you giving attitude to right now?”

“Who’s giving attitude to who!” Liang Yan shot back, entirely without courtesy.

Hearing this, Father Liang was practically ready to raise a hand and smack the little brat.

“Enough!” This time, Mother Liang finally spoke up. “The two of you together are practically a hundred years old, and all day long, fight, fight, fight — argue in person when you’re together, argue on the phone when you’re apart, what is there to argue about day after day?”

She looked up at Liang Yan first as she spoke. “You! Get back here! How many days a year are you even home? And how many of those days do you actually eat breakfast at home? Would it kill you to just sit through one proper breakfast?”

Before Liang Yan could react, she’d already turned her head to glare at Father Liang. “And you! Company, company! Does he even have a company right now? Does he have work? He’s got nothing today, and tomorrow who knows what flight he’ll be on — what’s the point in telling him to check out the company today when he’ll be on a plane tomorrow?”

With that, without waiting for Father Liang to respond either, she lowered her head and issued her next command: “Eat.”

Mother Liang’s speech settled the score between father and son with perfect balance. The two of them exchanged a glance, said nothing further, and quietly returned to their seats, picking up chopsticks and bowls to eat.

Once the atmosphere had calmed down, Mother Liang finally asked, “Oh, right, that thing with your actress — has that been sorted out?”

“Yeah.” Liang Yan didn’t particularly want to engage.

What was with everyone today — no one could stop circling back to Qiao Qi.

“If you ask me, you should just clear the whole thing up properly,” Mother Liang said. “You’re someone with a girlfriend already — isn’t it kind of bad, letting a rumor like that spread around? Doesn’t your girlfriend mind? Even if she understands, it’ll still hurt, deep down.”

At this point, Liang Xumo spoke up: “Mom, Ah Yan’s girlfriend doesn’t even know what he does.”

Mother Liang didn’t quite understand. “What do you mean?”

Only then did Liang Xumo freeze, turning to look at Liang Yan, wordlessly asking: you never told Mom?

Liang Yan was utterly speechless. He shot Liang Xumo a cold look in return.

Only then did Liang Xumo realize she’d let something slip. She hurriedly lowered her head, pretending nothing had happened.

But there was no way to pull that off convincingly.

Mother Liang asked, “What exactly is going on here? Xiaomo, tell me!”

Liang Xumo hesitated, not saying anything. Liang Yan set down his chopsticks. “Fine, let her say whatever she wants — it’s my girlfriend, not hers.”

“Not that you seem to be handling it well either — didn’t you get blocked on WeChat just yesterday?” Mother Liang said, entirely without mercy.

Liang Yan: “…Mom.”

Was there any need to throw her own son under the bus like that?

“Don’t call me that!” Mother Liang said.

Liang Yan gave an “Oh.” “Well, I’m done eating, then, I’ll head out.”

Mother Liang glared. “Don’t you dare!”

Liang Yan let out an “Ow,” resting his chin on the table, the very picture of a dead fish.

Mother Liang laughed despite herself and reached over to smack his head. “Hurry up and tell me — what’s really going on.”

Liang Yan didn’t want to talk about it.

If he admitted he’d known his girlfriend for that long and still didn’t even know her name, there was no telling how badly he’d get laughed at.

So without a second thought, Liang Yan stood up and bolted.

Rarely seeing Liang Yan like this, Mother Liang called after him, laughing. “Run all you want, let’s see how far you get!”

Liang Yan played dead and kept going.

But he figured his mother had a point — could he really dodge this forever?

Though there was still over a month left before he and Qiao Qi were due to meet, he suddenly found himself unable to wait any longer.

Because it seemed he’d been affected by Misty Cloud Mansion himself, at least a little.

It wouldn’t be much longer before his next appearance alongside Qiao Qi. Before that, he had to meet with 7.

Even if it was only once.

But 7 clearly still didn’t want to meet him yet.

He didn’t want to pressure her.

So… what else could he do?

Rare for him, Liang Yan felt genuinely at a loss. He flopped weakly onto his bed, and no sooner had he lain down than the door was pushed open.

It was Liang Xumo.

Liang Yan didn’t even bother sitting up, asking dispiritedly from where he lay, “What?”

Liang Xumo smiled, sitting down at the edge of the bed. “What’s wrong? Upset with Dad?”

“Upset with him?” Liang Yan gave a cold laugh. “I should’ve died of anger from him ages ago, then.”

Liang Xumo clicked her tongue. “Watch your mouth! Ptooey, ptooey.”

Liang Yan laughed.

Only then did Liang Xumo say, “Mom wants me to have a proper talk with you about your girlfriend.”

“What’s there to talk about?”

Liang Xumo turned serious. “Go meet your girlfriend in person. Sit down and really talk things through, openly. Otherwise, with this rumor about you and Qiao Qi going around, isn’t it unfair to her?”

Liang Yan wanted to, too. “But she doesn’t want to meet me.”

Liang Xumo called him an idiot. “Can’t you think of some other way?”

What other way?

If he couldn’t even meet her, what other option was there?

To find out who someone is besides meeting them in person—

Suddenly, Liang Yan bolted upright on the bed.

He’d remembered.

He didn’t need to meet her in person at all — he just needed her personal information, and he could get Zhou Jiaye to look into it.

After all, Zhou Jiaye’s wife worked at the public security bureau.

As for her personal information… there was someone who definitely knew!

Without a moment’s hesitation, Liang Yan immediately booked a flight to the U.S.

Then he turned and threw his arms around Liang Xumo. “Thanks, Sis!”

Liang Xumo didn’t ask what exactly Liang Yan had figured out. She only wished for him and Qiao Qi not to end up together — as for anyone else, it didn’t matter who.

Besides, he already had a girlfriend, didn’t he?

Was Qiao Qi supposed to become the other woman, on top of everything else?

The Liang family would never accept a mistress.

So Liang Xumo relaxed, and smiled. “Hope you get to meet her soon.”

—

The plane landed smoothly. Liang Yan made his way to the parking lot with practiced ease, found the car he’d reserved, and drove himself to a clinic — the very clinic where he’d once brought 7 after saving her.

Later, when 7 had needed to borrow money from him, he’d had the clinic owner lend it to her first. To help the girl, whose spoken English wasn’t great, he’d even had the owner help buy her a plane ticket.

Since they’d helped buy the ticket, surely they’d remember her name?

Actually… after so many years, Liang Yan really wasn’t sure whether the owner would remember or not.

But if there was even a chance, it was worth asking.

By the time he reached the clinic, it was already night.

The night air was thick and heavy, the temperature low, the wind lifting the strands of hair over his forehead. Liang Yan stood outside the clinic and narrowed his eyes.

Thankfully, it hadn’t closed down.

It was late enough now that the clinic had few patients left.

The area was so quiet it seemed as though only the wind made any sound at all. Standing outside the clinic, Liang Yan suddenly felt as though his legs had turned to lead.

He couldn’t quite make himself move, until someone stepped out from the clinic.

Though the man looked to have put on a good ten or twenty pounds, Liang Yan recognized him at a glance as the clinic owner from back then.

The owner spotted him and greeted him. “Hello there. Something I can help you with?”

Liang Yan suddenly felt awkward, reaching up to scratch his nose in an unnatural gesture before striding over with a smile.

The owner looked like he was about to close up, but still asked warmly, “Are you ill?”

Liang Yan shook his head. “No.”

The owner joked, “No? I’m afraid I don’t offer any other kind of service here.”

Liang Yan laughed too. “Would you mind me asking — do you happen to remember, about two years ago, a young Chinese girl who had you help her buy a plane ticket?”

To Liang Yan’s surprise, the owner remembered almost instantly.

“Oh, oh, oh! You mean that Chinese girl? I remember, I remember — a very pretty girl.”

Liang Yan’s expression instantly soured, but reminding himself he was here to ask a favor, he suppressed the possessive streak deep in his bones and continued politely: “I know it’s been a while, but there’s something I need to ask — do you happen to remember her name?”

“Her name? Why do you want to know her name?” The owner grew instantly wary.

Liang Yan: “…”

You remember her being pretty, but not that I’m the one who footed the clinic bill?

“It’s me — I was the one who lent her the money to buy that ticket.”

Liang Yan deliberately emphasized that he was the one who’d lent her the money.

The owner studied Liang Yan for several seconds before finally recognizing him, and gave him an enthusiastic hug. “Good heavens! It’s you! What’s going on? Didn’t she make it back to China all right?”

She sure did, Liang Yan thought. She didn’t just make it back to China — she made it back and settled right into my heart.

“She did, but…” Liang Yan hesitated somewhat, given how complicated the whole story was, not something easily explained in a sentence or two.

So after a moment’s thought, Liang Yan deliberately put on a disappointed expression. “Ugh, she said she’d pay me back once she got home, but she still hasn’t. I’ve run into some trouble and really need that money. I have to get in touch with her.”

“If you happen to remember her name, please, would you tell me?” Liang Yan said, sounding entirely sincere.

The owner, apparently something of a soft touch, was moved to tears within just a few sentences, sighing over and over about how pitiful Liang Yan’s situation was.

Liang Yan had no patience to listen to his sympathy, and pressed on, feigning urgency: “So — do you remember, or not?”

The owner said, “Son, God won’t test you forever. When he closes one door, he’ll always open a window for you.”

“Right. I’m that window.”

“Come, come,” the owner said. “I remember her name, because it’s exactly the same as my daughter’s Chinese name.”

“Not only do I remember it — I remember it very clearly, in fact.”

Liang Yan’s eyes lit up. “What is it?”

The next moment, Liang Yan heard the owner say, in clumsy Chinese pronunciation: “qiao qi. Her name is qiao qi.”

The truth had come so easily that Liang Yan almost couldn’t process it. He gave several “oh, oh, oh”s. “Qiao Qi, is it? Got it, thank you so much—”

Wait…

She, she, she — what — what did he say her name was?

Qiao Qi?!

Which “qiao”?

Which “qi”?

Owner, spell it out for me!

Whether God opened a window or sealed off every single door and window entirely depends on how good your memory is, sir!

Author’s Note: God: your house never had any doors or windows, your house is solid brass walls and iron fortifications on all four sides. Welcome to the third dungeon: both parties in the ship, each secretly aware, both pretending to be clueless.