The next morning, after Chen Qingwu and Meng Fuyuan returned to Dongcheng together, she began preparing to apply for the exhibition.

Having hesitated before about whether to trouble Meng Fuyuan had wasted some time, so the subsequent process had to be accelerated, otherwise it might very likely result in the exhibits not arriving on time.

Therefore, Chen Qingwu politely declined Meng Qiran’s invitation to watch the final competition.

Meng Qiran had anticipated this but still couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

As for Qilin and Meng Chengyong, the city of the final stop happened to be on the return route from their Northwest road trip, so the two took the opportunity to go watch the competition.

On the day of the competition.

When the coach came to the rest area to remind him about check-in, Meng Qiran was looking at the WeChat message Chen Qingwu had just replied.

Chen Qingwu: Good luck with the race~ Safety first!

Meng Qiran responded to the coach’s words: “Coming right away.”

Then replied to Chen Qingwu: About to go on.

Chen Qingwu replied with an emoji of a rabbit doing cheerleading.

He locked his phone and handed it to Qilin for safekeeping, picked up the backpack from the chair beside him, and fished out a black wallet from inside.

In the wallet’s compartment was a bright yellow amulet.

Obviously something used for many years—the color had dimmed somewhat.

Qilin smiled and said: “Qingwu got that for you, right?”

“Mm.”

Qilin turned to joke with Meng Chengyong, “Qingwu didn’t come—look how disappointed he is.”

Meng Qiran raised his eyebrows, “You’re really my birth mother, so accurate with the knife.”

He took out the amulet and placed it in the front chest pocket of his racing suit, pressing it lightly, “I’m going to check in.”

Meng Chengyong said: “Safety first, competition second.”

Meng Qiran nodded.

In college, Meng Qiran had started playing with racing, rock climbing, surfing, and all kinds of thrilling sports.

Besides seemingly being naturally inclined toward adventure, it was also because at age twelve he nearly drowned. After that, as if to overcome his fear of death, he began trying to tame danger.

He enjoyed danger and stimulation itself—honors were merely incidental rewards.

This time the team’s campaign was unlucky, with the team ranking consistently far behind. The coach put all his bets on him alone, hoping he could at least win an individual medal.

He was currently ranked third in individual points, neck and neck with second place. After the final race, he had hope of challenging for second.

The starting gun fired, muscle memory engaged.

Even wearing a helmet, when cornering close to the ground, he could still feel the howling wind rushing past.

With full concentration it was difficult to pay attention to the outside world, no time for distraction. As if just blinking, he had already crossed the finish line.

The motorcycle braked to a stop. He straightened and raised both arms. Only then did those cheers seem to surge like a tide.

He steadied his breathing and through the helmet’s anti-fog visor, habitually looked toward the team’s dedicated spectator area.

It was a moment later that he realized.

Oh, Qingwu wasn’t there.

Qingwu hadn’t been there for a long time.

Getting off and removing his helmet, the coach came over to hug his shoulder, excitedly saying: “Second place! Really great, Qiran!”

Meng Qiran gave a faint “mm.”

The feeling of joy was too faint—it had dissipated before he could savor it carefully.

After playing with his parents for a day and wrapping up competition matters, Meng Qiran went to Dongcheng.

Friends had long prepared a celebration party, just waiting for him to arrive.

The party location was at the auto modification workshop Meng Qiran and his friends had partnered on, also in the suburbs, not far from the Creative Arts Park.

Chen Qingwu had been trimming pottery all afternoon. When the alarm went off, she only then remembered she had to attend the party.

She placed the unfired pieces on the shelf to wait for drying, went to the bathroom for a shower, changed clothes and left.

By the time she arrived, the sky was already dark. On the open space in front of the extremely large workshop, strings of lights hung on erected frames, and the long tables were laden with various foods.

Meng Qiran was leaning against a jeep, surrounded by several friends. He seemed somewhat casual, but this didn’t prevent him from always being the center of conversation.

As if sensing something, he looked up and immediately saw Chen Qingwu getting off a bicycle. He smiled and said “you guys chat first,” then left the crowd and walked out.

“Wuwu.”

Chen Qingwu was just stepping down on the kickstand to park the bike by the side when she heard this and looked up.

Meng Qiran smiled: “How did you come on a shared bike?”

“In case I need to drink and can’t drive.”

“I would take you home, what are you worried about?”

Chen Qingwu smiled.

The party was buffet-style. The two walked to the long table to get some food, then walked into the workshop interior to look around.

Industrial style with red walls and iron frames—the soft furnishings weren’t completely in place yet, but the general framework was already set up.

“When are you opening?” Chen Qingwu asked.

“Next month.”

Chen Qingwu nodded.

After looking around in a circle and about to find a place to sit and eat, someone came in and pulled them both out, laughing: “You two can have your couple time later, come out and hang out together first.”

Outside, everyone had already sat around the long table, chatting very lively.

Not long after sitting down, Meng Qiran naturally became the center of conversation again. Someone asked how much prize money he got for second place in this race and whether he planned to treat everyone; someone asked if coming to him for “itasha” work after the workshop opened would get a discount…

Chen Qingwu smiled watching Meng Qiran, feeling extremely peaceful inside.

A natural center of attention—even though she no longer liked him, she still felt his shining appearance was an objective beauty.

She quietly left the crowd, walked indoors, and sat down on the black leather sofa to eat quietly.

Before finishing a plate of food, she suddenly heard Meng Qiran calling her from behind.

“How did you disappear in the blink of an eye?” Meng Qiran glanced and walked over to sit beside her.

To be honest, he really had changed quite a bit.

In the past he absolutely wouldn’t have noticed her quietly leaving the group, or rather even if he noticed he wouldn’t care.

“A bit too noisy.”

Meng Qiran laughed, “I really didn’t understand before—how could anyone like being alone, wouldn’t they find it boring? Now I seem to be starting to understand a bit.”

Chen Qingwu said nothing.

Meng Qiran suddenly stood up and brought over the black sports backpack placed on the shelf.

Unzipping it, he took out a silver trophy about thirty centimeters tall.

“This is for you.”

Chen Qingwu smiled: “Why give it to me? This is your honor.”

“Because this should be my last trophy.” Seeing she wouldn’t take it, Meng Qiran placed it on the coffee table in front, “I won’t participate in professional competitions anymore.”

“…You’ve really decided?”

“Mm.”

Chen Qingwu paused, “…Qiran, earning money properly isn’t your personality at all. And I’ve also said, I already…”

“Don’t like me. I said it last time, I know.”

Chen Qingwu was at a loss for words.

Meng Qiran looked at her, “But you can’t stop me from liking you.”

Chen Qingwu suddenly looked up.

Meng Qiran laughed, seeming somewhat self-mocking, “I was indeed a bit slow, didn’t realize at first that not everything can be explained by responsibility. You clearly knew this too, but deliberately wanted to use the explanation of responsibility to write it all off…”

Chen Qingwu didn’t speak for a moment.

Meng Qiran stared at her, “Hit the mark?”

“What hit the mark?”

The voice came from behind.

Chen Qingwu and Meng Qiran both turned their heads.

Meng Fuyuan in full formal wear was walking in.

“Bro.” Meng Qiran stood up, “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

“What, not welcome?”

Meng Qiran smiled: “What do you want to eat? I’ll get you something.”

“Just get a bottle of ice water.”

Meng Qiran nodded and walked out.

Meng Fuyuan paused, walked to the front of the sofa, moved the trophy on the coffee table aside, and sat directly on the coffee table, leaning forward to look at Chen Qingwu’s face.

Chen Qingwu was startled, her body involuntarily leaning back.

Meng Fuyuan looked her over, “How is it that the moment I’m not paying attention, you’ve made yourself this upset again?”

That gentle, caring tone.

Chen Qingwu suddenly seemed unable to say anything, “…Not upset, just feeling a bit complicated.”

“What did Qiran say?”

“…Said he likes me.”

“Oh. He finally told you.”

Chen Qingwu looked up at him.

“You should have heard that animal training story. When young, lock up the animal—when it grows up, even after unlocking it, it won’t run away, thinking the lock is still there. Qiran is like that. He thought he was locked by responsibility.”

“…How come you seem to understand him better than he understands himself?”

“He told me himself.”

Chen Qingwu looked surprised.

“He trusts me a lot.”

Chen Qingwu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “Aren’t you afraid he’ll find out you…”

“Shh.”

Chen Qingwu immediately stopped talking, hurriedly looking toward the door.

No one came in.

Meng Fuyuan looked at her, his gaze perceptive: “Seems like you’re the one who’s afraid.”

“…Is teasing me fun?”

“Oh. Sorry.”

Chen Qingwu had no temper left.

Meng Fuyuan still maintained this posture of sitting on the coffee table, slightly hunched looking at her, “Been very busy these two days, getting off work after midnight. Afraid of disturbing you, so I didn’t come find you.”

“I don’t think I required you to report in.”

“Mm. That’s just a requirement I set for myself.”

The coffee table wasn’t far—Meng Fuyuan’s knees and her knees were almost just a fist’s distance apart.

Every time Chen Qingwu looked up, she would unavoidably crash into his gaze.

Qiran could come in at any moment—this awareness made her extremely nervous.

“…Such a strange self-requirement.”

“Is wanting to see you strange?” Meng Fuyuan looked at her, as if genuinely seeking advice.

Her heart surged like a tide, her breathing tightening with it.

Footsteps came from the doorway.

Chen Qingwu was so startled she immediately turned to look back.

Meng Fuyuan unhurriedly stood up and sat down on the sofa set across from the coffee table.

The one entering was Meng Qiran, holding water and food.

He didn’t sense anything amiss in the atmosphere at all, setting the plate and water bottle on the coffee table, letting his brother eat as he pleased.

Meng Fuyuan thanked him but only picked up the water bottle, unscrewed it and took a sip.

Meng Qiran sat down beside Chen Qingwu.

Chen Qingwu suddenly stood up, “…I’m going out to get some food.”

Meng Qiran: “Let me help you…”

“No need!”

Chen Qingwu walked away quickly.

Staying between the two of them while having to act as if nothing was wrong—she would definitely go crazy.

Meng Fuyuan glanced at that hastily departing figure and asked Meng Qiran: “Did you make her angry again?”

Meng Qiran was a bit baffled but still said, “Maybe.” He sighed, “…Wuwu is really hard to pursue. Bro, what other methods do you think I could try?”

Meng Fuyuan kept a straight face, “How would I know?”

Chen Qingwu got some fruit and found a spot outside to sit.

After a moment, someone suddenly approached her side. It was Zhan Yining.

“Long time no see.” Zhan Yining said.

“Long time no see.”

Zhan Yining sat down, openly looking her over, “You and Meng Qiran still haven’t made up?”

Chen Qingwu smiled, “Mm.”

Friends all thought they had broken up. Explaining to each one that she and Meng Qiran had never dated was obviously unrealistic, so she simply went along with this explanation.

“Qiran isn’t planning to continue competing in the future.”

“…Mm.”

Zhan Yining looked at her, “He actually can do this much for you.”

Chen Qingwu also looked at her, smiling: “Don’t you like Qiran? Why are you trying to get me to ‘reconcile’ with him?”

“Because I don’t want him to become someone even he doesn’t like.”

“I didn’t force him to choose, Yining. In fact I’ve already told him very clearly—he and I can’t possibly ‘reconcile.'”

“…Why? You grew up together, such deep feelings. Did he make some fundamental mistake?”

Chen Qingwu sighed inwardly.

She discovered for the first time that Zhan Yining was actually silly—wasn’t this a great opportunity? She hadn’t thought to seize it properly either.

“Sorry. The details aren’t convenient to tell others, but I really can’t be with him anymore.”

Zhan Yining was silent for a moment, “I was meddling, sorry.” After saying this she stood up and left.

Chen Qingwu held that plate of fruit, tasteless as wax.

Just spacing out, she suddenly heard from behind: “Qingwu.”

Turning to look, it was Meng Fuyuan and Meng Qiran walking out together.

Meng Fuyuan didn’t come closer, “Leaving now. Have fun.”

“Okay. You… Yuan gege, drive safely.”

When calling out this address, she sensed Meng Fuyuan slightly narrowing his eyes, showing a somewhat ambiguous expression.

He said nothing, nodded slightly, then turned and left.

Meng Qiran walked over and sat down beside her. Seeing cherry tomatoes on her plate, he casually picked one and put it in his mouth.

“Really not racing anymore in the future?”

“Mm.” Meng Qiran’s expression showed no change.

“A bit hard to understand. You’re clearly the person who loves freedom most.”

“The definition of freedom isn’t that shallow.” Meng Qiran said, “Without you, that’s not called freedom, it’s just wandering.”

Chen Qingwu felt melancholy. This statement was honestly somewhat “chuunibyou,” but it seemed to be Meng Qiran’s style.

She didn’t disbelieve it, just… no longer needed it.

“When I turned around and didn’t see you, I realized these things were utterly meaningless.” Meng Qiran said.

“…I don’t want to be your spectator and cheerleader for life.”

“So this time I’ll pursue you, I’ll come to your world.”

Chen Qingwu was momentarily dazed.

But what followed was an even deeper melancholy—it turned out that more regrettable than not liking was unsynchronized liking.

Why did he only come to his senses after she had already walked completely away?

She was like a child standing in scorching sun holding a popsicle, waiting for the person she liked to come share it.

By the time he arrived, that popsicle had already completely melted.

So regrettable.

In their mutual silence, someone walked over and called Meng Qiran to go sing a song.

Meng Qiran didn’t even bother to lift his eyes, “Not singing.”

This person called to someone in the distance holding a microphone: “Qiran says he’s not singing!”

Immediately came the person’s reply through the microphone: “Then you can’t blame me…”

The speaker began playing the intro to “North Harbor,” and several people crowded around the microphone starting to sing off-key together, not a single note on pitch.

As the original singer, Meng Qiran couldn’t stand it anymore. He lowered his head to tell Chen Qingwu: “Wuwu, wait for me—I’m going to unplug their speaker.”

He stood up and walked over.

However, everyone was quick—before he could kick the power cord, they all surrounded him to stop him. Someone shoved the microphone into his hand, and he had to surrender.

Soon it became a group sing-along scene.

While no one was paying attention, Chen Qingwu put down what she was holding and decisively circled out from the crowd’s perimeter, got on a bicycle by the roadside, and quickly left.

Not long after riding onto the empty main road, she suddenly heard a car horn honk once from behind.

Both feet touched ground. Turning to look, a familiar SUV was stopped under the tree shadows.

The window rolled down. Meng Fuyuan’s arm lightly propped, leaning his head out: “Need a ride, bicycle lady?”

The SUV drove forward a bit and stopped beside her.

Chen Qingwu asked: “Didn’t you leave?”

“Was about to leave. But someone is a habitual party escapee—considering this, I waited a bit.” Meng Fuyuan looked at her, “Caught you in the act again.”

Chen Qingwu laughed.

She suddenly realized that at some point, being with Meng Fuyuan had become such a relaxed thing.

In contrast, being with Meng Qiran, she often didn’t know how to respond.

“Get in, I’ll take you back.”

“There’s no return point nearby.”

“Put it in the trunk.”

Meng Fuyuan got out of the car, went to the back and folded down the rear seats, picked up that somewhat shabby shared bike and put it inside.

Chen Qingwu smiled: “So absurd.”

“Indeed.”

Three kilometers away, really very close—they’d only said a few words before arriving.

After returning the shared bike, Meng Fuyuan took Chen Qingwu to the studio entrance.

Chen Qingwu reached for the car door handle, paused, “Want to come in for some water?”

“If I’m not disturbing you.”

“You won’t be. I’m not planning to work today anyway.”

Getting out of the car, the two walked to the door.

Chen Qingwu took out her key to open the door, reached out to press a row of buttons by the entrance, and light poured down in response.

Meng Fuyuan looked around. Though only two or three days since he’d been here, there were already many more unfired pieces on the shelves.

Chen Qingwu asked: “Tea, or?”

“Just bottled water is fine.”

Chen Qingwu went to the refrigerator to get two bottles of water, walked over and placed them on the coffee table.

Meng Fuyuan unscrewed one, drinking water while looking her over, “Why did you sneak away again?”

“Didn’t know how to continue communicating with Qiran.”

Meng Fuyuan seemed to deeply agree, “His brain is a bit rigid.”

Chen Qingwu laughed softly but then lowered her gaze, “…Would you be unhappy if I talk to you about him?”

“Of course I would.” Meng Fuyuan said, “But your feelings are more important.”

Chen Qingwu thought, this must be the benefit of a brother who grew up with you—natural trust, an ally on her side.

“…He told me, this time, he’ll come to my world instead.”

Meng Fuyuan’s expression was extremely calm, “Can he stand it, your world is so quiet.”

“Right.”

Meng Fuyuan looked at her seriously for a while before saying: “If you feel wavering, that’s very normal too.”

“I don’t.” Chen Qingwu answered simply, “I’m not that naive. I just feel… somewhat wistful.”

She raised her head to look at him, “Do you remember, in high school, I actually had very good grades.”

Meng Fuyuan nodded.

“Do you know why I suddenly wanted to study ceramics?”

Meng Fuyuan made a gesture of wanting to hear the details.

“This involves a secret…” Chen Qingwu looked at him.

“Your expression makes it seem like this secret requires hush money.”

Chen Qingwu immediately burst out laughing, “…Can you be serious for a moment?”

“Of course.”

When it came to being serious, who was better at it than Meng Fuyuan?

Chen Qingwu was silent for a moment before saying, “My parents… in high school, they almost got divorced.”

She looked at Meng Fuyuan—his expression didn’t seem surprised.

She couldn’t help asking: “…Did you know?”

“No. Just had an intuition. That year going home for New Year’s, I noticed you seemed unhappy. Your grades were good, you hadn’t fought with Qiran, so it must have been family reasons. The atmosphere between your parents was also a bit subtle.”

He was truly perceptive.

Chen Qingwu nodded, “…The trigger was my mom discovering long hair on my dad’s shirt. My dad insisted it was just from social drinking and entertainment at work. Later my mom deliberately went out to eat and dance with her high school classmate for revenge. When she came back the two had a huge fight and smashed all the pots and pans in the house.”

Meng Fuyuan paused.

Her palms pressed against the edge of the single sofa chair, her downcast appearance like a fragile porcelain statue.

“…At that time I was so confused—weren’t my parents supposed to be the exemplar of school uniforms to wedding dress? How could they have such a day, fighting so ugly, even worse than what’s shown on TV?”

Chen Qingwu paused before continuing: “When they got married, both were still very poor, but they still spent a lot of money to buy a particularly beautiful set of tableware as a commemorative gift. My mom treasured it so much she was reluctant to use it. That day when they fought, they directly smashed it without any nostalgia… After they finished fighting, I went to clean up, naively thinking I could piece it back together… Ceramics—once broken, they’re broken. There’s no possibility of restoring them to their original state. That day after school, browsing the mall, I saw a pottery classroom had opened. I very naturally walked in… At that time I was thinking, could I re-fire a set of exactly the same ceramics?”

This section of the past, Meng Fuyuan knew nothing about. Chen Qingwu’s calm narration made his breathing difficult.

“You have that ability now.”

Chen Qingwu nodded, “But I don’t want to do it anymore. My dad, my mom—later they were both cheating… They both know about each other, just turning a blind eye.”

“Once something is broken, it’s broken.” She repeated.

Whether fine tableware or glass wind chimes.

She suddenly felt Meng Fuyuan stand up. Looking up, she saw him walk before her, slightly leaning down: “Just so happens, I brought you a gift that won’t break.”

Chen Qingwu blinked.

He reached out, touching the pocket of his suit jacket.

When his hand came out, between his slender fingers was a sealed small glass bottle.

“The material problem is completely solved. This is the final alloy material confirmed for use. I had them save a little as a memento.”

The small glass bottle was handed to her.

Chen Qingwu looked at it, momentarily speechless.

Inside the glass bottle, that alloy material had been made into the shape of a six-petaled snowflake. It had no metallic texture—probably because the material’s color itself was whitish. Without looking carefully, it really looked like a frozen snowflake.

Meng Fuyuan gazed at her, as if waiting for her to reach out and take it herself.

Chen Qingwu reached out in a daze, grasped the small glass bottle, and held it in her hand.

“Don’t be sad anymore, Qingwu. There’s no need for guilt about not liking someone.”

She seemed to rest peacefully in the shadow of his slight lean, her throat tight, unable to produce any syllable.

“…Keep today’s conversation secret for me.”

“Of course.”