Chen Xi went straight to her room when she got home.

She didn’t even come out for dinner, and no one in the family noticed she had injuries on her face.

The next day was a weekend.

Chen Xi was sleeping groggily when she was startled awake by what sounded like thunder—the explosion of a popcorn cannon in the courtyard.

With a head full of wake-up grumpiness, she shuffled in slippers and threw open the window with a clang, just in time to see white smoke rising in the courtyard.

Fan Mingsu was bent over with her old back, pouring white fluffy popcorn from a net bag into a wicker basket that Sensen was holding.

San Huang was frantically snatching up popcorn that had fallen to the ground.

Chen Mei covered her ears and jumped far away, her eyes squinting with laughter.

Chen Xi’s eyes lit up, “I want to eat rice popcorn!”

Fan Mingsu smiled and glared at her, “All you think about is eating.”

After saying this, she walked over and sat down in front of the popcorn cannon.

Fan Mingsu poured a bowl of rice she had prepared earlier into the oval iron pot, sealed the lid tightly, and pulled the bellows until it whirred.

Soon, she jumped up and removed the iron pot from the fire.

Chen Mei quickly put a blackened net bag over the iron pot lid, then covered her ears and scurried away.

Fan Mingsu kicked down hard, and with a loud bang, white rice popcorn spilled out of the net bag like snowflakes.

The sweet aroma spread throughout the courtyard.

Chen Xi leaned on the window, watching with a smile.

When Grandpa was alive, he used to go through the streets and alleys making popcorn for a while.

Back then, neighbors would often come to their house to have Grandpa make popcorn for them.

Chen Xi loved that moment after the loud bang when popcorn spilled from the net bag, instantly filling the courtyard with a sweet smell.

That was the most heartwarming scene in her memory.

In the afternoon, Chen Xi was going to Yang Shan’s place to teach her daughter how to draw.

Fan Mingsu packed a bag of popcorn and a bag of rice popcorn for Chen Xi to take to the little one.

She followed Chen Xi into the courtyard and pointed at the bruise on her forehead, saying, “Don’t try to fool me—what happened with this injury?”

Chen Xi said, “I just bumped into something. What else could it be?”

Fan Mingsu looked suspicious and was about to say more.

Chen Xi quickly mounted her motorcycle and sped away.

She rode to Dr. Yang’s clinic.

The old man had just woken from his afternoon nap and was practicing Eight-Section Brocade in the clinic filled with the scent of traditional Chinese medicine.

Chen Xi greeted Dr. Yang and went straight to the back courtyard.

Yang Shan and her daughter Ruirui had also just woken up.

The little girl sat in a chair, hugging the floral cloth doll she always needed when sleeping, her eyes still drowsy.

Yang Shan stood behind the chair, brushing her hair.

Chen Xi pushed open the door and waved the popcorn at Ruirui.

The little girl immediately became wide awake, took the popcorn from Chen Xi, and said in her sweet voice, “Thank you, Godmother.”

Chen Xi’s heart was practically melting. She reached out to touch the little girl’s soft hair.

Yang Shan cleared the lunch table.

Chen Xi spread out drawing paper and had Ruirui continue copying the flying apsara she had been working on the week before.

The ethereally graceful flying apsara was drawn round and plump by the little one, with one foot looking like a big white steamed bun with five grapes on top.

Yang Shan leaned over to look and couldn’t help laughing, “Is this a flying apsara?”

Chen Xi pushed her away, “Don’t disturb us. I wasn’t even as good as Ruirui when I was little.”

Yang Shan walked away with a smile, brought over a half-finished crocheted flower, and sat beside them quietly, working.

Chen Xi took out her sketchbook from her canvas bag.

She continued working on the third character’s line drawing, occasionally giving Ruirui pointers.

The room was very quiet, with only the ticking of the wall clock audible.

Afternoon sunlight filled the windowsill.

Chen Xi was drawing when she began to feel drowsy.

Just then, the door to the room with the massage bed that faced the back courtyard opened.

Yang Guan came out carrying a thick book and sat down on the steps by the door.

The sun warmed his body.

Yang Guan spread the book across his knees, feeling the Braille with his fingers, reading with great concentration.

Chen Xi yawned and glanced through the window at Yang Guan reading in the courtyard, saying casually, “Yang Guan’s book is thick.”

Hearing this, Yang Shan leaned over and whispered to Chen Xi, “My brother is reading a basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine.”

“Let me tell you, he’s going to take the traditional Chinese medicine license exam. He’s been self-studying.”

Chen Xi said with amazement, “Studying medicine is so difficult—you have to memorize so much. I wouldn’t even dare to think about it.”

Yang Shan smiled, “You haven’t seen his room full of traditional Chinese medicine books. I wouldn’t dare think about it either.”

She leaned closer and whispered, “You know what? Heaven underestimated my brother.”

Chen Xi looked through the window at the man in the courtyard.

He sat in the sunlight, seeming to glow.

Yang Shan also looked through the window at the person in the courtyard.

“In high school, when he said he wanted to get into Beihang University, he did get in.”

“Now he wants to study traditional Chinese medicine and become a doctor—he’ll become a very skilled doctor.”

“Nothing can stop him. Chen Xi, just watch.”

She turned to look at Chen Xi, her eyes bright, as if some light was reflecting into them.

“My brother will shine. Heaven took away the light in his eyes, but he can create light for himself.”

In the afternoon, Chen Xi left the clinic but didn’t go home.

She didn’t want to go back—going back meant sitting at her desk and continuing to draw line drawings that never satisfied her.

She rode her motorcycle to Liu Boyang’s shop.

As soon as she entered, she smelled alcohol.

Looking up, Chen Xi saw that Qin Zhan and Liu Boyang had ordered barbecue again and were drinking beer in the shop.

She walked in, put her helmet on the table, and said casually, “Drinking again.”

Qin Zhan brought Chen Xi a stool, swaying as he said, “Sister Xi is here! Come drink with us.”

Chen Xi was more than happy to.

She walked over and sat down, taking the beer Qin Zhan had opened for her and downing several large gulps.

The ice-cold beer went into her stomach, and soon a burning sensation spread.

Chen Xi drank boldly, her cheeks taking on a light flush.

Qin Zhan said gloomily, “That bastard Old Zhao—renting the place to someone else without even giving us a heads up. What a piece of shit.”

Thinking of this matter, Chen Xi felt even more frustrated and silently downed a bottle of beer.

“Another one.”

She reached out to ask Qin Zhan for more alcohol.

Seeing she was getting drunk pretty quickly today, Qin Zhan said, “What’s the rush? Eat some skewers first before drinking more.”

Chen Xi shook her head and insisted on another bottle of beer.

Liu Boyang forced a grilled sausage into her hand. “Dunhuang is such a big place—I don’t believe we can’t find another suitable venue.”

“Sister, don’t be angry. Tomorrow morning I’ll go out with Qin Zhan to look around. We’ll find a better place than Old Zhao’s broken lot.”

Qin Zhan quickly nodded in agreement, “Right, right, we’ll go look tomorrow.”

Chen Xi looked down and smiled without speaking.

She had spent half a year exploring every corner of Dunhuang and had only found two suitable places.

One she couldn’t get, and the other slipped away after she thought she had it.

It wasn’t easy to try to accomplish something.

The three of them drank their sorrows away.

Suddenly, the wind picked up outside, making the roadside willows rustle loudly.

Liu Boyang looked at the wildly swaying willow branches outside and murmured, “Is there going to be a sandstorm?”

Chen Xi also looked outside, staring blankly for a while.

Finally, she suddenly stood up and walked to the table by the door to get her helmet.

Liu Boyang quickly asked, “Sister, where are you going?”

Chen Xi said, “Going home.”

She walked to her motorcycle, and Qin Zhan and Liu Boyang chased after her.

“You’ve been drinking—don’t ride.”

The two said with concern.

Chen Xi waved at them, “It’s fine.”

She rode her motorcycle aimlessly through the empty streets.

The wind grew stronger and stronger, as if a real sandstorm was coming.

But Chen Xi didn’t want to go home.

By the time she came to her senses, she had stopped in front of the brightly lit VR arcade in the wilderness.

Qin Lie’s car was parked at the entrance.

Chen Xi stared at the car for a while, then suddenly smiled slightly.

She took off her helmet and pushed open the door.

Qin Lie was playing a game in front of a huge LCD screen.

Hearing the door, he turned around and saw Chen Xi walking in carrying her helmet.

The howling wind behind her followed her as she suddenly burst into his quiet corner.

Chen Xi walked forward a few steps, the automatic door closed behind her, and the violent wind was shut outside.

The hall suddenly became quiet again, with only the background music from the game.

Qin Lie put down the game controller and asked coolly, “Something wrong?”

Chen Xi swayed slightly and pointed to the racing game they had played before, saying, “How about a bet?”

Qin Lie looked her over coolly with little interest.

“Bet on what?”

Chen Xi lowered her eyes and said nothing, as if seriously considering.

After a while, she looked up at Qin Lie and said, “If I win, you give me half of the VR arcade.”

Qin Lie leaned back lazily in his chair and said impatiently, “Chen Xi, I told you—don’t set your sights on the VR arcade.”

But Chen Xi seemed not to hear, staring fixedly at him.

“Qin Lie, do you dare to bet with me?”

Her cheeks were flushed red from the wind, her gaze was cold and sharp, her long hair loose and lazy—the wildness and femininity on her created a unique kind of sexiness.

Tonight, she was unavoidably striking.

Qin Lie frowned slightly, stared at her for a while, then asked coolly, “What if I win?”

Chen Xi said, “Ten characters for free.”

Qin Lie snorted, “Not interested.”

Chen Xi put down her helmet and dropped a line: “If you don’t bet, I won’t draw anymore.”

After Chen Xi finished speaking, she walked straight toward the racing game.

Qin Lie stared at her slender back for a few seconds, then got up and walked over.

Chen Xi had already put on the VR headset and straddled the motorcycle racer.

She gripped the handlebars with both hands and leaned forward, her T-shirt outlining her shapely waist curves.

Qin Lie got on the motorcycle and turned to look at Chen Xi, meeting her challenging gaze under the headset.

He said, “If you lose, you can never mention quitting again.”

Chen Xi smiled coldly and turned to look ahead.

Qin Lie put on the VR headset and leaned forward to grip the handlebars.

As soon as the countdown on the screen ended.

Chen Xi shot out like an arrow from a bow, risking everything.

Qin Lie was instantly left far behind.

He smiled and steadily accelerated, gradually catching up.

At the first turn, he showed no mercy, forcibly squeezing Chen Xi out of the inner lane and gunning ahead of her.

Chen Xi gritted her teeth and deliberately rammed into the back of Qin Lie’s car.

The tires skidded with a harsh grinding sound, with a heart-stopping cliff on one side.

Chen Xi didn’t care and rammed into Qin Lie again, determined to squeeze him out of the turn.

Qin Lie swerved left, first steadily controlling his direction, then instantly pressing back.

Chen Xi gave no quarter, both of them accelerating recklessly as if seeking death, chasing each other.

Near the finish line, Chen Xi was behind Qin Lie by half a car length.

She gritted her teeth and rammed into Qin Lie.

The two race cars crashed together catastrophically and tumbled off the cliff together.

Chen Xi was thrown into the air, her vision suddenly spinning.

She lost her balance again and tumbled off the motorcycle, falling onto the cold marble floor.

She rolled over and leaned against the racer, took off her headset, looked up at the ceiling, gasping for breath, and laughed quietly.

Qin Lie took off his headset and looked down at her.

He suddenly sensed something, got off the racer, bent down, and smelled a strong scent of alcohol.

Drinking like this and still riding a motorcycle at night—Qin Lie thought this woman had probably lost her mind.

His temples throbbed twice as he grabbed Chen Xi’s arm and pulled her up, sternly asking, “Don’t you value your life?”

But Chen Xi acted like a spoiled child, sitting on the ground, refusing to get up, looking up at him with a half-smile.

Her eyes were hazy and intoxicated, half-open, curved into beautiful crescents.

Qin Lie had never seen her this drunk before.

He let go of her hand, put it in his pocket, and helplessly exhaled toward the empty ceiling.

“Get up. I’ll take you home.”

After he finished speaking, he looked down at her.

The two stared at each other silently for a long time before Chen Xi finally swayed and stood up.

Qin Lie said, “Let’s go.”

He turned and took a step, but found he couldn’t move.

Looking back, he saw someone had grabbed his shirt hem.

Chen Xi crouched on the ground, one hand holding the hem of his T-shirt.

She kept her head down, and through her thick hair, he could see two beautifully shaped little cowlicks.

Qin Lie stopped and said helplessly, “Let go.”

Chen Xi released her hand but kept her head down, crouching motionless on the ground, suddenly becoming a small ball.

A teardrop fell onto the floor in front of her with a soft sound.

Then came the second drop, the third.

Facing a drunk woman crying in front of him for the first time, Qin Lie suddenly felt at a loss.

He cleared his throat, his voice involuntarily becoming gentler.

“Why are you crying?”

Chen Xi shook her head and sniffled lightly.

Qin Lie sighed helplessly, walked in front of her, and crouched down.

“Stop crying. I’ll take you home.”

Chen Xi seemed to lose her balance and suddenly fell forward, her forehead resting against his left chest.

A hint of alcohol mixed with the faint fragrance of shampoo hit his face, so close it was unavoidable.

Qin Lie’s body suddenly stiffened, crouching there motionless.

He heard her murmuring, “The Qili Town venue was taken by someone else, and there’s no hope for the VR arcade either.”

She sniffled and sighed softly, “Why is it so hard to try to do something?”

Qin Lie remained silent, his nostrils filled with her scent.

There was no perfume smell, yet there was a crisp sweetness.

His Adam’s apple moved, and his dark eyes became even more unfathomably deep.

After a long moment, he reached out to support her shoulders and pushed her away from his embrace.

Chen Xi looked up at him with red eyes, her eyelashes still wet.

Qin Lie suddenly wondered if this was how she acted when she was upset with her boyfriend.

He felt his throat was very dry, like withered grass in a desert. Qin Lie’s Adam’s apple moved unconsciously.

Chen Xi stared at him like this, with a hint of expectation in her hazy gaze.

The two looked at each other for a long time. Finally, Qin Lie sighed helplessly.

“Stop crying. As long as I’m satisfied with the third character, I’ll give you half of the VR arcade.”

Chen Xi looked at him with drunken eyes, “Qin Lie, say that again.”

Qin Lie looked at her helplessly and repeated coolly.

“As long as I’m satisfied with the third character, I’ll give you half of the VR arcade.”

After speaking, he stood up and hesitated for a moment before extending his hand to Chen Xi, “Get up. I’ll take you home.”

Chen Xi reached out her hand, but instead of taking his help, she brushed the hair falling over her forehead back behind her head.

She stood up, and her intoxicated eyes suddenly became extraordinarily clear.

“Qin Lie, remember what you said. Don’t you dare go back on it.”

Qin Lie was slightly surprised. “You’re not drunk?”

Chen Xi moved slightly closer to him and smiled.

She approached him and whispered in his ear, “I can’t be drunk. If I were drunk, how could I negotiate with you?”

She laughed and turned to walk boldly toward the door.

Qin Lie stared in shock as the automatic door whooshed open.

Chen Xi’s tall figure and the howling wind disappeared from the spacious hall in an instant.

Then the motorcycle roared away into the distance, sounding triumphant in its success.

Only then did Qin Lie realize he had been deceived by her!