After Qing Hang left, Cheng Wanyue cried even harder.

She stood right at the elevator entrance where everyone going up and down could see her, but she showed no intention of hiding or concealing herself. Only then did Yan Ci understand that earlier, she simply didn’t want Qing Hang to see her tears.

In front of someone you like, there’s always some pride that can’t be compromised.

As for others, she didn’t care.

“You can’t go back and drink. Want to wait in the car for a while?” Yan Ci blocked the curious glances of passersby. In her current state, going home would only worry Cheng Yanqing.

Cheng Wanyue didn’t speak, just nodded slightly.

The high heels on her feet were newly purchased. At her previous job, a month’s salary could barely afford a basic pair from this brand. She’d played around for over two months and had had enough fun.

The shoes were beautiful but not very comfortable. She had just taken them out of the shoe cabinet before leaving home.

It was her first time wearing them today, and they were rubbing her feet.

Yan Ci got in the car and turned on the air conditioning first, then went to buy water and tissues. By the time he returned to the car, the taxi driver had also delivered Qing Hang’s phone.

Cheng Wanyue was still crying, her emotions not only failing to improve but becoming even more distressed than when she was arguing with Qing Hang.

Over these years, she rarely cried. Even during the time she stayed in the sterile ward, she was the one making them laugh.

Yan Ci took out a bottle of mineral water, loosened the cap, and handed it to Cheng Wanyue. “Is it because of that person we met at the hospital parking lot?”

“…That’s his senior schoolmate.”

“They usually call each other that way in school. Even after graduation, a senior is still a senior. I’m sure others call her that, too. It’s normal, not intimate.”

“I’m not bothered by how they address each other,” Cheng Wanyue lowered her head and wiped her tears. “They have so much to talk about, shared pursuits, common topics, but I can’t understand any of it.”

That morning at the hotel, Li Yu called Qing Hang, and Cheng Wanyue was right beside him.

Yan Ci didn’t know Li Yu, had only seen her once in the parking lot, but his first impression was that she and Qing Hang were very similar.

“Work is just work. Being dedicated and responsible is a necessary professional quality in his field. When you chat with friends about music, instruments, or fashion, we don’t understand much either. Would you look down on us? You wouldn’t, so Qing Hang wouldn’t possibly think less of you either. He’s surrounded by highly educated, intelligent medical talents, but there’s only one Cheng Wanyue.”

“…But he told others about things between us.”

“I’m not clear about that,” Yan Ci watched as her tears fell one by one. “Maybe it was like you now, drunk, and spoken unintentionally.”

“I wouldn’t say anything even when drunk,” Cheng Wanyue turned her head away. “Besides… he hasn’t contacted me for days.”

“Being busy isn’t an excuse. Maybe… maybe he’s afraid of annoying you? Don’t you dislike people being clingy with you?”

After a long while, she finally muttered softly, “He’s not just anyone.”

“You should say words like that to Qing Hang,” Yan Ci lowered the car window to let her get some fresh air. “Tired of crying? I won’t interfere in matters between you two. I can’t help you beat him up, I can only console you on your brother’s behalf.”

Cheng Wanyue leaned against the car door, hiding her face in the darkness. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Yan Ci started the car. He drove slowly to prevent Cheng Wanyue from getting carsick. “Staying at a hotel, I can’t take care of you. It’s more reassuring to send you home to sleep.”

“Cheng Yanqing will scold me.”

“Seeing you cry like this, he’ll only feel heartache. How could he have the mood to scold you?”

Before they reached home, Cheng Wanyue had fallen asleep. Before Yan Ci called Cheng Yanqing, he slipped Qing Hang’s phone into her bag.

With the phone in her possession, Qing Hang would have a reason to come and find her.

Cheng Yanqing rushed out of the elevator. Yan Ci briefly explained the situation to him. Standing by the car, looking at Cheng Wanyue’s tear-stained face, he said nothing.

The car was stuffy, and there was no room to stretch her legs. Whenever Cheng Wanyue moved slightly, her forehead would bump against the car door. Cheng Yanqing put out his half-smoked cigarette and gently carried her out.

Yan Ci followed them upstairs, helping to take the keys and open the door.

Cheng Yanqing didn’t wake Cheng Wanyue. Her clothes couldn’t be changed, but he wanted her to sleep comfortably, so he patiently removed her makeup and wiped her hands and face.

When his girlfriend was still in the country, he often caught her from the dance floor and brought her home. He was very familiar with this routine.

The next day, when Cheng Wanyue woke up, her head was pounding. She couldn’t even remember how she had gotten home. Cheng Yanqing had taken a day off and prepared a pot of porridge, waiting for her to get up.

She had slept all night, but her eyes were still swollen, her clothes wrinkled, and she looked unwell. Only after a shower did she look slightly better.

Cheng Yanqing was in the kitchen frying eggs and bacon. The aroma had already drifted into the bathroom. Cheng Wanyue casually dried her hair, picked up Meiqiu, and wandered around the living room for a few circles.

“Brother, why aren’t you at work?”

“I took a day off.”

Cheng Wanyue knew very well the reason. “Go ahead and scold me.”

“Who says you can’t act up? Mom still throws tantrums at her age.” Cheng Yanqing smiled and fed her a piece of bacon. “But no matter what happens, don’t be afraid to come home. We worry more about you being alone outside than seeing you come home dejected.”

“I won’t drink anymore in the future.”

“A little is fine, just don’t drink too much.”

“Mmm!” She hadn’t swallowed the bacon yet, so her voice was muffled. “Did I throw up on Yan Ci yesterday?”

Cheng Yanqing said, “No, but you kept him up until midnight. You should call him later.”

After drinking, her appetite wasn’t good. Cheng Wanyue ate very little. Her whole body felt uncomfortable, and she couldn’t sleep even lying down. It wasn’t until the afternoon that she prepared to call Yan Ci. While looking for her phone, she emptied her bag’s contents onto the table and discovered an extra phone.

The screen wallpaper was her photo, but it wasn’t hers, and it certainly wasn’t Yan Ci’s.

Two minutes before Cheng Wanyue called Yan Ci, Qing Hang had contacted Yan Ci using Zhou Heng’s phone. They hadn’t finished talking when Yan Ci hung up on Cheng Wanyue first.

Yan Ci continued their previous topic, “Let’s not discuss who’s right or wrong about other matters, but leaving her there alone is a major offense.”

Qing Hang’s emotions were subdued. “Weren’t you there?”

He would fight for every opportunity for his future. To him, Cheng Wanyue was more distant than those life goals.

Yan Ci only had two hands. Last night, he had held back Cheng Wanyue and had no extra energy to stop Qing Hang. “How can I compare to you? You don’t think she was crying for me, do you? What about me is worth her tears? Whoever makes her upset should comfort her. I’m going back to Shanghai the day after tomorrow. I can’t help you, nor can I do anything for you.”

The work had gone more smoothly than expected. After signing the contract, Yan Ci changed his flight. It wasn’t because of yesterday’s incident.

“Although Wanyue is quite willful, her likes and dislikes are clear. Even if she dislikes someone, she never deliberately targets them. The most direct expression of her dislike is not bothering to pay attention, finding even conversation annoying. She came to Beijing to find you—what are you still hung up on? Words spoken while drunk are just anger, don’t take them seriously.”

“She has already resigned and is preparing to go home.”

“Resigning is just changing jobs, and going home doesn’t mean returning to her parents. Last night I kept telling her to go home—she was just tired, drunk, jealous, upset, and wanted to go back to sleep.”

Qing Hang was silent for a moment. Cheng Wanyue had never been jealous of him; he had nothing to make her jealous.

“Why was she so angry?”

“She happily brought you dinner, only to see another woman sitting on your desk, holding the jade pendant she gave you, and knowing about things between you two. Wouldn’t that make her mad? Who else has she ever brought food to these years? Probably not even Cheng Yanqing has had that treatment.”

Qing Hang had never mentioned Cheng Wanyue to anyone. He didn’t dare to recall the past himself, so how could he possibly talk about their history with others?

Yan Ci admitted that he was biased toward Cheng Wanyue on this point.

“Qing Hang, for Wanyue to be like she was before, many people have prayed for it. Her health isn’t very good; doctors always say she’s anemic during check-ups. Her parents, Cheng Yanqing, Cheng Yuzhou, Zhou Yu, and also her second uncle and aunt, of course, including me, everyone hopes she can be as healthy and happy as before. The most abundant things in her home aren’t cosmetics, clothes, or jewelry, but safety amulets.”

Cheng Wanyue didn’t want Qing Hang to know, so he couldn’t say it directly.

“Qing Hang, don’t wait until it’s too late to regret.”

Yan Ci told Qing Hang that the phone was with Cheng Wanyue. He was smoking, and so was Qing Hang.

An hour later, Yan Ci finally returned Cheng Wanyue’s call. “Sobered up?”

Cheng Wanyue pulled the blanket over her face. “Forget about me last night. So embarrassing.”

“I recorded it. I’ll show it to you when you get married.”

“…You might as well blackmail me directly.”

“Talking about money hurts friendships between friends,” Yan Ci finished laughing and stopped teasing her. Qing Hang’s phone is in your bag. He’ll come to get it in a while. You can take it to him too, whatever you prefer.”

Cheng Wanyue closed her eyes. “I’m not taking it to him.”

“Then wait for him to come find you, but you might have to wait a bit longer,” Yan Ci paused for a few seconds. “He’s been in a car accident…”

“Car accident?” Cheng Wanyue sat up abruptly from the bed. “When? Where? Is it serious?”

Yan Ci sighed. “Hard to say.”

“Never mind, I’ll go see for myself.”

Cheng Wanyue didn’t even bother to hang up the phone. She threw off the blanket and ran to the wardrobe, grabbed a random piece of clothing to change into, and went straight out the door wearing slippers.

Cheng Yanqing had gone to the company after lunch and wasn’t home.

This was the first time Cheng Wanyue regretted not bringing her car. Taking a taxi was always troublesome. She had almost reached the residential complex when she realized she had forgotten her phone.

“Beautiful young lady,” Chi Yue spotted her from a distance.

He hadn’t been waiting long. Although he knew it was this residential area, he didn’t know which building or floor. He wasn’t specifically coming to find her either, just passing by. When turning a corner, he’d been inexplicably drawn to ride his bike here. Once he realized it himself, he found it amusing.

Chi Yue walked up to her. “We just met yesterday, forgot already?”

Cheng Wanyue didn’t remember meeting him yesterday. “Do you need something?”

“Coming to get my helmet counts as something, right?”

The helmet was still at Cheng Wanyue’s home, and she was going upstairs anyway.

Chi Yue followed behind her, a few steps slower and almost got shut outside the elevator by Cheng Wanyue. The elevator reached the twelfth floor. She ran to open the door, then ran inside to look for the helmet.

“Why so hurried?” Chi Yue didn’t enter the apartment but waited outside.

Cheng Wanyue grew more anxious as she couldn’t remember where she’d put the helmet. After opening two cabinets without finding it, she became frustrated. “I’m in a hurry, desperate! I shouldn’t have drunk yesterday. If I hadn’t drunk, I wouldn’t have lost my temper. If I hadn’t lost my temper, he wouldn’t have rushed to find me. If he hadn’t come looking for me, he wouldn’t have been in an accident…”

The elevator made a crisp sound.

Chi Yue’s peripheral vision first caught sight of bright red roses, and then Qing Hang, who was holding them.

Giving flowers was normal, but no brother would give his sister roses.

So he wasn’t her brother after all.

Chi Yue recalled the way Qing Hang looked at Cheng Wanyue last night—it didn’t really seem like how a brother would look at his sister.

The atmosphere outside the apartment was awkward, while inside, Cheng Wanyue was still chattering away, completely unaware.

“He doesn’t even have his phone, and I don’t know how he got back. He’s been in an accident with no one to care for him or worry about him, and I even yelled at him…”