Xu Sui went out to buy an ice cream and wandered around aimlessly for a while. Later, feeling bored, she sat on a bench in the plaza, quietly finishing the sea salt ice cream in her hand. After killing time, she took transportation back to school.

For the entire evening, Zhou Jingze didn’t send a single message.

The next day, Xu Sui woke up quite early. After washing up, she made a trip to the library, returned for a 10 o’clock class, had lunch, and went back to the dormitory for an afternoon nap.

Lying on her bed, she took out her phone and scrolled idly. Her finger unconsciously tapped into social media and searched for Emily’s social homepage, which showed that Ye Saining had updated a vlog.

No, that word hadn’t appeared in that era yet – she should say she had shared a short daily life video. Xu Sui clicked it open and saw it was a compilation of Ye Saining’s daily life from the past week, about eight minutes long.

The video shared Ye Saining’s daily routine shooting magazines, exhibitions she’d visited. Through the edited footage, various parties she attended were captured. Xu Sui’s sharp eyes spotted a male figure appearing in the video at five minutes and thirty seconds – just a three-second side profile shot of him sitting in a chair with a lazy smile, lowering his head to light a cigarette, his hand cupping around the orange flame. Behind him, the shimmering swimming pool cut him into fragments, creating the image of a dissolute, carefree Zhou Jingze.

The camera passed by in a flash, then showed Ye Saining’s daily oil painting routine. She wore azure blue overalls with a little yellow hat, a bit of colorful paint on her nose tip – talented and beautiful.

The final few minutes of the video had text annotation: “Drank too much, ended up in the hospital, thankfully had friends.” Xu Sui glanced at the date – it was last night, Zhou Jingze must have taken her there.

The scene switched to morning, misty outside the hospital, with a layer of milky white shrouding the trees. Ye Saining was discharged quickly the next day, filming the path ahead as she walked, with someone seemingly following beside her, though not in frame.

Ye Saining spoke to the camera: “I see someone selling shumai up ahead, smells so good, haven’t had it in ages.”

After speaking, she held up her phone and walked toward the breakfast stall, buying two shumai and a cup of soy milk. While paying, someone beside her called out: “Hey, lend me your phone, mine’s recording video.”

The other person handed over their phone – broad palm, clearly defined knuckles, with a thin callus on the thumb pad.

Xu Sui’s heart clenched violently. How wonderful it would be if she didn’t recognize these hands.

Just a few days ago, these distinctly-jointed hands had repeatedly pressed against her ribs, their sweat mingling together in passionate entanglement.

Ye Saining held the phone, her sleeve sliding up to reveal a delicate wrist with a silver watch, then successfully completed the payment as the camera showed pixelated coding.

This watch had been on Zhou Jingze’s wrist not long ago. When they slept together, she had looked at it a few extra times, and he had even taken it off for her to play with.

Xu Sui feared seeing anything more and hastily closed the video. Tears dropped onto her phone screen one by one, her vision becoming completely blurred. She felt acid rising in her stomach and wanted to vomit.

She hadn’t even met Ye Saining yet, but she had already lost.

Liang Shuang was watching a movie in the dormitory when she heard soft sobbing sounds. She quickly closed her iPad, shocked: “Sui Sui, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Xu Sui smiled through her tears, eyes red, saying softly, “Lunch was too spicy.”

So much so that she belatedly realized her chest was aching in waves.

In the afternoon, after finishing classes, Xu Sui ran to the convenience store outside school to buy oden. While passing the basketball court, a burst of cheers suddenly erupted.

Xu Sui couldn’t help but stop and look over. In summer, with tree shadows falling down, the basketball court was especially crowded – boys swinging their arms running across the court, while girls bit into green bean popsicles, their eyes lighting up when their favored boys scored.

She suddenly remembered Zhou Jingze scoring in a game and abandoning the match halfway because she fainted – that was already last summer’s story.

Thinking of this, Xu Sui continued walking out, reaching a corner convenience store. With a “ding-dong,” the automatic sensor door opened. Xu Sui entered and ordered fish balls, chicken rolls, lotus root stew, chicken wings, bean puffs, and the like from the cashier, plus a box of milk.

She frequently came to this store for oden, so the cashier recognized her and naturally knew her taste preferences, asking with a smile: “Medium spicy?”

Xu Sui shook her head: “A bit spicier, the kind that makes your stomach burn with pain.”

She liked this kind of masochistic venting – otherwise, given her personality, she didn’t know how long she’d have to suppress things.

Xu Sui took the tall paper container and was about to pay with her phone when, with a “ding-dong,” the convenience store door opened and a laughing voice came through:

“Your school really is quite large.”

“Yeah, how about it, eyes lighting up seeing future pilots?” Sheng Nanzhou replied.

The girl’s voice was very pleasant – a smoky voice, cloud-light and wind-gentle. Xu Sui turned around, her gaze meeting a girl’s in mid-air.

This was Xu Sui’s first time seeing Ye Saining. She was very beautiful in person, wearing an oversized boyfriend loose shirt, casually revealing two thin collarbones, hip-length shorts, hair like black satin draped behind her. Tall, thin, and fair – the kind of beauty that was ten times better-looking than in photos.

Ye Saining also saw Xu Sui and paused. Sheng Nanzhou stood behind her, looking down at QQ group messages, his brow furrowing like a pretzel: “Damn, emergency training again.”

“It’s fine, go to training first.” Ye Saining looked back at him.

Sheng Nanzhou nodded, stuffed his phone in his pocket, and hastily dropped a line: “Look around by yourself first, Lao Zhou and I will treat you to dinner later.”

“Okay.”

Sheng Nanzhou left too hastily to notice Xu Sui standing by the snack shelf.

Xu Sui turned to pay, then took her food and milk, planning to sit at the tables set up outside the convenience store. When passing by Ye Saining’s side, her sleeve brushed against Xu Sui’s arm – very lightly, just a passing touch. The fabric was very soft.

She caught the faint scent of Ye Saining’s perfume.

Serge Lutens’ “Pine Forest Maiden” – an unapproachable cold fragrance.

Xu Sui walked to the outside table and sat down. The air was stifling hot; even at five in the afternoon, cicadas kept crying incessantly, and the evening’s burning clouds hung thick, seeming ready to press down.

She had just unwrapped her chopsticks and was about to eat when a shadow fell beside her. First placed on the table was a serving of whole wheat bread and a box of yellow peach yogurt.

“Hello, may I sit here?” Ye Saining took the initiative to greet her.

Xu Sui nodded. Ye Saining pulled out a chair, her long slender legs sliding in sideways. She rolled up her shirt sleeves and began tearing the bread: “Zhou has mentioned you to me several times – a very good girl.”

Xu Sui paused her movements, lowered her head to pick up a fish ball and stuff it in her mouth, nodding without speaking.

“I used to pursue Zhou – he’s the hardest boy to chase I’ve ever met.” Ye Saining shifted the conversation, her words frank and bold.

Xu Sui remembered her own confused confession that time, the corners of her mouth pulling into a smile: “Then I was quite lucky.”

Ye Saining had expected that saying such direct, purposeful words would make Xu Sui unhappy or emotionally abnormal, but she didn’t react that way. She remained quietly eating her own food.

Inscrutable.

Ye Saining propped her chin with a smile, the spoon in her hand unconsciously stirring the yogurt in the container: “Do you know why he rejected me? He said he didn’t want to lose me.”

Xu Sui used her chopsticks to pick up another fish ball. Hearing this, she paused, and the ball rolled off the table onto the ground with a gurgle. She had no appetite to continue eating.

For someone as dissolute as Zhou Jingze, who didn’t care about anything, to say such words proved that Ye Saining was a very important person to him.

Xu Sui pulled out a tissue, crouched down to pick up the ball from the ground and threw it in the trash, then said to Ye Saining: “Miss Ye, thank you.”

Ye Saining was stunned, her amber eyes full of confusion: “Thank me? Don’t you hate me?”

Xu Sui packed up her things. Hearing this, she laughed and said honestly: “A little, but I hate myself more.”

Hating herself for being like a lovesick fool, unconditionally liking Zhou Jingze like a moth to flame, ending up shattered and broken, even forgetting her self-respect.

She didn’t want to walk toward him anymore.

After saying this, Xu Sui turned and left. Ye Saining had thought she’d be happy to win, but she wasn’t. Xu Sui was too well-behaved, quiet and peaceful without any aggression, making Ye Saining wonder if she had played the wrong role as the wicked woman.

“Of course, that you could stay by his side for so long is quite impressive.” Ye Saining said to the slender retreating figure.

Xu Sui’s steps paused for a moment, then she continued walking forward.

Xu Sui didn’t tell anyone about meeting Ye Saining. She continued attending classes and eating as usual, occasionally being dragged by roommates to participate in club activities.

During her free time these past two days, she had seriously thought about many things alone.

June 21st, summer solstice, the hottest time of the year – Zhou Jingze’s birthday arrived as scheduled. Sheng Nanzhou had reserved a large private room at Shengshi for Zhou Jingze.

But that evening, the two main characters arrived fashionably late. Zhou Jingze messaged Sheng Nanzhou saying he had something on the road and to let them play first.

At seven in the evening, Zhou Jingze stood waiting for Xu Sui at the convenience store next to Medical University. His posture was upright, lazily leaning against the green bus stop sign, broad and firm shoulders. He held a cigarette in one hand and his phone in the other, his thumb typing on the screen: [Sheng Nanzhou made the decision to book a private room. Should we say hello then go to Grandfather’s house, or just skip out directly?]

After sending the message to Xu Sui, Zhou Jingze casually looked up. When he saw clearly who was coming, he pulled at the corner of his mouth – on his birthday, he was seeing the person he least wanted to see.

Shi Yuejie wore a white shirt, supporting a bicycle as he walked up to Zhou Jingze. He hesitated, then pushed his glasses: “Jingze, today’s your birthday. Dad wants you to come home for dinner.”

Zhou Jingze’s tongue pressed against his jaw as he let out a mocking laugh, glancing at him sideways with sarcasm in his tone: “So do you think I should go back? Bro-ther.”

Shi Yuejie lowered his eyes, trying to keep his tone peaceful: “Actually, we don’t need to be like this. Last time’s incident was a misunderstanding. I really didn’t know beforehand…”

Hearing the word “misunderstanding,” the roguish smile on Zhou Jingze’s face faded as he looked at him, speaking slowly: “Does it feel good to get things that don’t belong to you?”

With a “bang,” Shi Yuejie let go of his grip, the white bicycle falling to the ground. He stepped forward and grabbed Zhou Jingze’s collar, his usually gentle demeanor cracking: “What about you! What was that stock transfer agreement you sent Dad last month? Intentional?”

Last month, Zhou Zhengyan’s company received an express package. When he opened the brown paper document bag, he found it was a stock transfer agreement Zhou Jingze had sent, with the designated transferee being Shi Yuejie.

These stocks Zhou Jingze had inherited from his mother. If he transferred them to Shi Yuejie, it would mean he had no relationship with the Zhou family at all.

He was actively severing ties with this family.

Zhou Zhengyan immediately called Shi Yuejie to ask what this meant. Shi Yuejie took the documents, his expression changing, his tone somewhat panicked: “Dad, I don’t know anything about this either. Maybe Jingze made a mistake. I’ll go to school and ask him…”

Zhou Zhengyan rose from the sofa and walked over, patting his shoulder with seemingly intimate but meaningful words: “Dad still hopes to see you two brothers getting along harmoniously.”

“A family should prioritize harmony.”

Afterward, Zhou Zhengyan often quarreled with Zhu Ling at home, with the sounds of things being thrown frequently coming from the room. Shi Yuejie often saw his mother running out with red eyes. He hated his own incompetence and his passive position in this family.

Shi Yuejie gripped Zhou Jingze’s collar, staring at him. But Zhou Jingze tilted his chin up, casually chewing gum, his eyelids half-raised as he looked down at Shi Yuejie with a condescending air.

Shi Yuejie felt scorned, anger rising in his heart. Gripping his collar, he demanded: “What about Xu Sui? Did you get together with her just to spite me because I like her?”

Zhou Jingze rarely looked at him directly. Shi Yuejie always maintained that gentle, sanctimonious good-guy appearance. Seeing him flustered and desperate today was quite novel.

Looking at Shi Yuejie, he slowly remembered some things. Ever since Zhu Ling married into the family with Shi Yuejie, everything at home had changed.

Zhou Jingze had a perverse temperament and was indifferent to everything. He could split what originally belonged to him in half and give it to Shi Yuejie.

But what he hadn’t expected was that they weren’t satisfied with just that.

Every April 3rd, his mother’s memorial day, Zhou Jingze prepared extensively – buying flowers and writing letters to her in advance. But just when he was looking forward to going with Zhou Zhengyan together.

Shi Yuejie would get a fever at exactly that time.

Zhou Zhengyan would frantically take Shi Yuejie to see doctors, caring for him all day, so busy he’d forget his late wife’s memorial day. Meanwhile, Zhou Jingze would sit alone at Yan Ning’s grave for an entire day.

At first, Zhou Jingze really thought Shi Yuejie was sick. But later he discovered that Zhou Zhengyan kept missing important occasions related to him.

Like Zhou Jingze’s birthday, parent-teacher conferences, graduation ceremonies.

The reasons were always that Zhou Zhengyan had to take care of Zhu Ling or handle Shi Yuejie’s affairs.

He seemed to be the superfluous one in this family.

Only then did Zhou Jingze understand Shi Yuejie’s ambition.

“Answer me!” Shi Yuejie shouted.

Shi Yuejie’s roar pulled Zhou Jingze back from his thoughts. He raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping across his stepbrother’s face, narrowing his eyes with a completely reckless expression, quickly admitting:

“Yes, quite satisfying. She delivered herself to my door.”

As the words hit the ground, Zhou Jingze took a fierce punch to the face. He turned his head aside, raising his hand to touch the corner of his mouth. His slender fingertips lightly twisted, and bright red liquid leaked between his fingers.

He laughed coldly, then immediately threw a punch back. The two quickly began grappling. Passersby stopped to watch but didn’t dare intervene, seeing how fiercely they were fighting.

A row of bicycles at the bus stop fell over in succession, making loud clanging sounds.

Xu Sui didn’t know how long she had been standing there watching. Seeing Zhou Jingze knocked to the ground by a punch, then grabbing Shi Yuejie’s collar in retaliation, she finally spoke: “Stop fighting.”

She stepped forward, using great effort to barely separate the two. Scanning them, both were in rather miserable condition. Shi Yuejie looked embarrassed, wiping blood from his forehead: “Junior, when did you arrive? Let me give you some advice—”

Xu Sui lowered her head, took out a pack of tissues from her bag and handed them to him, her voice gentle: “Thank you, Senior. Please wipe your wounds first. I have something to discuss with him. Could you step away?”

Shi Yuejie looked hesitant as he took the tissues: “Alright, if there’s any trouble, you can find me.”

After he left, Xu Sui walked forward, helping Zhou Jingze sit at the bus stop, saying gently: “Wait here for a moment.”

She turned and walked into a pharmacy. Soon, Xu Sui returned carrying a small bag of medicine, a thin layer of sweat on her forehead.

Xu Sui sat beside Zhou Jingze. She opened a pack of cotton swabs, dipped one in iodine, and looked at him: “Lower your head a little.”

Zhou Jingze tilted his head down as she looked up, carefully cleaning the wound above his eyebrow. The wound at the corner of his mouth was blood-red. The more he saw Xu Sui’s calm, composed face, the more panicked he became.

Honestly, he wasn’t sure when Xu Sui had arrived, how much she’d heard, or if she’d heard his angry words. He had no idea.

The summer evening breeze blew against their faces – hot and sticky, disturbing Xu Sui’s hair. A strand stuck to her cheek. Zhou Jingze raised his hand to touch her face, but Xu Sui turned aside to avoid him.

After Xu Sui finished treating Zhou Jingze’s wounds, she screwed the cap back on, her fingers unconsciously tapping the bottle. She looked at him, her tone incredibly calm:

“Zhou Jingze, let’s break up.”

She said this as if she had rehearsed it many times.

The wind stopped at that moment. Zhou Jingze looked up in disbelief, the scabbed wound above his eyebrow immediately oozing dark red blood. His tone carried several degrees of hostility:

“What did you say?”

Xu Sui knew Zhou Jingze had heard her. She didn’t repeat herself, stuffed the medicine into the plastic bag for him, and stood to leave. Unexpectedly, she was yanked back by a strong force, pulled backward until she couldn’t move an inch.

Zhou Jingze spoke very slowly, word by word:

“Make it clear.”

Xu Sui lowered her eyes, letting him grip her tightly. She didn’t argue or make a fuss, red marks gradually appearing on her wrist. Zhou Jingze loosened his grip slightly but still held her, his tone softening:

“If it’s because of Shi Yuejie, that’s my fault. I’ve been lying to you. Initially deciding to be with you—”

“I saw her wearing your watch on Ye Saining’s social media page.” Xu Sui shook her head, suddenly mentioning this name.

Zhou Jingze frowned, recalling: “That was from the last gathering. She said my watch looked nice and wanted to buy the same model… She’s my friend, I mentioned her to you before.”

He rarely spoke at such length.

Xu Sui looked at him, her eyes growing redder: “What about the payment password? I seem to never know your phone’s payment password.”

Zhou Jingze fell silent, then slowly spoke after a long pause: “That was from before—”

“Let me ask you directly: did you ever have feelings for her?” Xu Sui’s voice trembled, her nails digging hard into her palms.

Zhou Jingze was silent for a long moment before admitting: “Partially.”

One sentence was enough.

But Xu Sui still wouldn’t spare herself, masochistically looking at him: “What about now?”

“Now—” Zhou Jingze was about to answer seriously.

“It doesn’t matter anymore.” Xu Sui interrupted him, her voice very soft as a crystal-clear tear dropped to the ground.

From her conversation with Ye Saining and his answers, Xu Sui could roughly piece together what kind of story it was. For such a beautiful, cool girl with good taste like Ye Saining to pursue him, yet Zhou Jingze had refused.

There was only one reason – he treasured her and would rather be friends with her.

How high must her position be in his heart for Zhou Jingze, such a reckless person, to know how to treasure someone.

Ye Saining was different from them.

She tried to break free from his restraint, but Zhou Jingze’s face darkened as he refused to let go, pulling Xu Sui into his arms. Her shoulder was forced against his chest, the familiar mint mixed with tobacco scent entering her nostrils again. No matter how she struggled, she couldn’t break free. Zhou Jingze clung to her like a burning brand.

Xu Sui’s emotions finally collapsed. With every word she spoke, tears pattered down, her nose and eyes turning red: “You got together with me momentarily because of Shi Yuejie – I don’t blame you, because I understand you. I know you and he usually don’t get along well; I guessed it. It’s just what you said earlier hurt a little—”

Xu Sui seemed to find it hard to say, a scalding tear dropping onto his neck, forcing herself to say those words: “Indeed… I did throw myself at you.”

“I’m sorry.” Zhou Jingze’s voice was hoarse.

“Zhou Jingze, do you know why my nickname is Yiyi? Because Dad used to be a firefighter. When Mom was giving birth to me, he had to go on duty and could only take a quick look at me before rushing off. At that time, things like registering household records could only be handled by Grandma. She couldn’t read very well, so when she got to the office and saw red banners hanging on the wall, she randomly asked the staff what the third character on the banner was. The staff said it was ‘sui,’ so Grandma said let’s call her Xu Sui.”

After Dad finished his duty and came back, he didn’t quite agree: “How can my precious daughter have such a random name? Her birth is the happiest thing in my life, the most precious gift God gave me. She is unique, the one and only.”

“So my nickname is Yiyi,” Xu Sui looked at him, sniffling. With every sentence she spoke, the tattooed wound on her ribs ached faintly, the pain making her unconsciously press there. “I hope that person will have only me, able to love me wholeheartedly. Including that day when you went to pick up Ye Saining – you were convinced I’d wait for you right where you left me. You always have that careless attitude, even liking someone with reservations. You’re very good, but we’re not suitable.”

Xu Sui wiped away her tears, stepping out of his embrace: “Let’s end this here.”

Zhou Jingze – this person, heaven’s favored son, never lacked admirers. Loving someone seven parts, keeping three parts in reserve – maybe Xu Sui hadn’t even experienced those seven parts. When he liked you, it was earth-shattering, as if he only lived for you, but when you calmed down, you’d discover that you were the inflammable one, which was why you felt such intensity.

Even his love for you was careless.

What could you do? This seemed to be all he was capable of.

A brake screech sounded as the school’s last bus of the evening returned. People continuously got off – some carrying large bags, students in T-shirts and shorts heading straight for the school’s watermelon stand after disembarking.

Zhou Jingze’s heart felt like being stung by insects, dense pain spreading all around. Regret and panic grew as he tried to reach out and grab the departing Xu Sui.

However, groups of people continuously disembarked and surged toward the green bus stop. Someone bumped into him, the crowd kept coming, then stretched between them.

The two were separated in the crowd.

Xu Sui took the opportunity to leave. Zhou Jingze stared fixedly at her retreating figure – slender, fragile-looking, yet her steps were resolute without a moment’s hesitation.

She didn’t look back.

Not even once.