“Auntie, I already have a boyfriend,” Wu Mangmang said with downcast eyes.

“I was being too forceful. I know everything has changed now, but please forgive me as a mother—I always want to do something for my own child.” Cheng Huiyun patted Wu Mangmang’s hand, “I wish you happiness. When you get married, please send us an invitation. I think what Cheng Yue would most want to see is your happiness.”

Marriage with Lu Sui? At this point in time, Wu Mangmang really didn’t dare to think about it.

The wind by the sea was very strong, blowing Wu Mangmang’s hair into the air. The wind scraped against her face, bringing bone-piercing pain.

Wu Mangmang hid both hands in her coat pockets, quietly gazing at the azure blue sea. If she said that Cheng Yue’s mother’s words had no impact on Wu Mangmang whatsoever, that would definitely be a lie.

Back then, Cheng Yue was the person who provided Wu Mangmang with warmth in the snow—he was the one she most anticipated, most yearned for, and placed all her spiritual sustenance upon.

That relationship hadn’t faded with the passage of time; rather, Wu Mangmang had forcibly frozen it, turning it into the most piercing glacier in the depths of her heart.

And now the snow had melted, the ice had thawed, and the impact came both swiftly and fiercely. Wu Mangmang was caught completely off guard, unable to react or understand what she truly wanted.

Wu Mangmang thought that if Cheng Yue had returned a year earlier, or even half a year earlier, their ending would have been different, and she wouldn’t be as confused as she was now.

Because throughout all those years, the direction of Wu Mangmang’s heart had always pointed toward Cheng Yue.

He was like that sweet roasted potato given to a starving, freezing child on the coldest winter night—just the smell of it was enough to make her tearfully grateful, her soul completely captivated.

But later, someone had taken this heavenly-scented roasted potato away from Wu Mangmang’s hands. In the darkness, there was always a voice telling Wu Mangmang that as long as she became well-behaved and excellent, the roasted potato would be returned to her.

This became Wu Mangmang’s greatest inner contradiction.

On one hand, she deceived herself into believing that everything from the past was fake, just acting. But in the deepest part of her heart, she told herself that as long as she became excellent, he would return.

All the abnormalities were, frankly speaking, the result of intensified contradictions. If Wu Mangmang had truly succeeded in convincing herself that her childhood romance with Cheng Yue was just acting, she wouldn’t have continued to suffer afterward, wouldn’t have needed ongoing psychological counseling.

Cheng Yue was Wu Mangmang’s deepest obsession.

Just like how Wang Yuan had pestered Lu Sui for several years for an explanation, just to hear him personally state the reason for their breakup.

Although Wu Mangmang had accepted the fact that Cheng Yue had abandoned her, wasn’t it also because she wanted to hear an explanation from him that she had managed to stand up again?

Human obsessions are always the most terrifying.

Now Wang Yuan and Jiang Baoliang were married, and the couple loved each other immensely. But if Lu Sui were to turn around at this moment and tell her that he had been wrong all along, that he had always loved her and wanted to reconcile, what would Wang Yuan choose?

Of course, heaven didn’t play this joke on Wang Yuan, because it had found a more entertaining target.

Just as the roasted potato in Wu Mangmang’s heart was being replaced by the sudden appearance of caviar, fate placed that sweet potato she had yearned for over ten years—the one that had motivated her to stand up again and continue forward—right into the palm of her hand.

If reality allowed her to have both the roasted potato and the caviar, that would naturally be perfect for everyone. It would be just like when Wu Mangmang used to go clothes shopping—she had decision paralysis, but fortunately her wallet was thick enough that she could easily wave her hand and say: “I’ll take them all.”

Unfortunately, this wasn’t about buying clothes.

However, human nature tends to favor the weaker party when facing emotional choices.

Wu Mangmang thought about Cheng Yue, about that moment yesterday when he had rushed out without hesitation to push her away. In the end, she had failed him.

If she had been more mature and rational back then, she and Cheng Yue wouldn’t have reached this point, and Cheng Yue wouldn’t have suffered so much harm because of her.

But back then, she had only focused on her own pain, forgetting that Cheng Yue also loved her. His heartache was probably no less than hers—it was just that he was stronger and more mature, so he could rationally leave.

Such love, Wu Mangmang felt, was something one could hardly find in a lifetime. She probably would never again find someone who loved her as much as Cheng Yue did.

And what about Lu Sui?

Just thinking of this name made Wu Mangmang’s heart tremble lightly.

Their relationship wasn’t deep—on and off, it had only been about a year in total.

Moreover, Lu Sui was so powerful and excellent that if she left him, he would surely find women far more excellent than her, wouldn’t he?

Perhaps this would be the best outcome for everyone—the Lu family wouldn’t have to worry about having an unqualified mistress, and Lu Sui wouldn’t have to be dragged down by her neurotic problems…

Just thinking this way made Wu Mangmang feel terrible.

She took a breath and looked down at the time, then turned around. After walking just a few steps, she saw Lu Sui leaning against his car on the coastal road.

Wu Mangmang stopped in her tracks, looking at Lu Sui from afar.

When she couldn’t see him, she seemed to dare think anything, do anything. But when Wu Mangmang saw Lu Sui, her heart immediately quieted down.

No one’s feelings deserved to be unbetrayed, and she couldn’t assume that he wouldn’t be hurt by emotional wounds just because he appeared stronger.

Having experienced that kind of pain herself, how could she bear to let Lu Sui go through it once?

“How did you find this place?” Wu Mangmang walked up to Lu Sui and asked.

“When there’s a will, nothing is impossible to find.” Lu Sui took off his own coat and draped it over Wu Mangmang’s shoulders, then reached out to take her hand. “Not bad—after standing for two hours, you still knew to walk back before freezing into a popsicle.”

Wu Mangmang looked back at Lu Sui in surprise. Had he also stood with her for two hours?

A bitter warmth surged through Wu Mangmang’s heart. But now, every bit of kindness Lu Sui showed her only made her feel more guilty.

Wu Mangmang still remembered what she had once promised Lu Sui—if she wanted to stray, if she developed feelings for someone else, she would definitely tell him personally.

And now her heart was wavering, no longer so pure. Wu Mangmang herself extremely hated the current situation, but to ask her to immediately and completely remove Cheng Yue from the depths of her heart was something Wu Mangmang could never do.

“At the hospital when you saw Cheng Yue, what did he say?” Lu Sui asked.

Wu Mangmang guiltily lowered her eyelids, avoiding Lu Sui’s gaze. “He didn’t say anything.”

“Oh.” Lu Sui’s tone lifted slightly as he glanced sideways at Wu Mangmang, who didn’t dare meet his eyes.

The car was filled with terrifyingly oppressive silence. How clever Lu Sui was—Wu Mangmang knew he must have seen through something, he just wasn’t saying it.

She had “acted” for so many years, yet now she couldn’t summon even a bit of acting ability.

“I…” Wu Mangmang wanted to say, give me some time, I won’t wrong you, I’m not an idiot.

What’s gone is gone—she just had a small regret, that’s all. After all, back then she had really, really wanted to take a bite of that fragrant-smelling roasted potato.

“Lu Lin has already finished the dress for the Christmas banquet. Should I take you to try it on?” Lu Sui said.

The last Christmas banquet had left Wu Mangmang with a very bad impression, and their relationship afterward had gone downhill from there.

This year Wu Mangmang and Lu Sui hadn’t discussed this topic yet. Wu Mangmang had assumed by default that she wouldn’t attend. They had agreed not to marry, so if she accompanied Lu Sui to the dance, it would invite much speculation about that.

Now hearing Lu Sui say this, Wu Mangmang knew he was forcing her to take a clear stance.

Even if the Cheng Yue incident hadn’t happened, Wu Mangmang knew she still wasn’t ready to accompany Lu Sui to the Lu Garden Christmas banquet.

Although their relationship was gradually warming up, it still needed time to accumulate and be tested.

Wu Mangmang had felt that Lu Sui understood her mindset, but all of this had changed because of Cheng Yue’s appearance.

Wu Mangmang couldn’t bring herself to refuse. She knew that if she said she wouldn’t go now, Lu Sui would definitely think she was considering Cheng Yue’s feelings.

But even Wu Mangmang herself couldn’t say that her decision was completely unaffected by Cheng Yue.

They naturally didn’t go to Lu Lin’s. Wu Mangmang’s silence had already expressed her viewpoint.

“Good night.” Lu Sui bid Wu Mangmang goodnight in the hallway.

This was the first time they had slept in separate rooms since reconciling. Wu Mangmang stared blankly at the door that slowly closed in front of her, then lay on the bed feeling completely drained of strength.

Some lies weren’t that she didn’t want to tell them, but every subtle change in her expression couldn’t escape Lu Sui’s sharp eyes. Even if she could deceive him temporarily, he would still discover the truth eventually.

Wu Mangmang lay in bed, staring at the ceiling all night.

Early in the morning, after taking a pill as prescribed, Wu Mangmang was now completely calm. She knew this situation couldn’t continue—if it were Lu Sui’s first love who had returned, she would be disgusted beyond measure.

Putting herself in his shoes, Lu Sui’s tolerance toward her was already quite considerable.

But everyone has their own pride and bottom line. Lu Sui couldn’t endure indefinitely, especially since he was someone who stood at the pinnacle—he could have anything he wanted, so why would he hang himself on her crooked tree?

Wu Mangmang sat in front of the mirror and applied light makeup. A person needs good color to be spirited—she didn’t want to be defeated by her pathetic past self again.

When Wu Mangmang came downstairs, Lu Sui was already sitting at the dining table. She walked over and sat down, but Lu Sui didn’t even glance at her.

Wu Mangmang drank a bowl of porridge and dabbed her lips with a napkin before looking at Lu Sui. “I want to go to the hospital to see Cheng Yue later.”

Lu Sui folded the newspaper in his hands and placed it beside him. “Peter will arrange a car for you.”

Wu Mangmang looked at the extremely cold Lu Sui, feeling terrible inside, but knowing she couldn’t blame him.

Her behavior the day before had been too frightening. It was natural that Lu Sui would be displeased.

Wu Mangmang reached out and covered Lu Sui’s hand resting on the table. “Don’t misunderstand. He saved me, and I just feel I should go see him. Can you give me some time? I’ll handle all of this. I just need time to confirm things.”

Lu Sui pulled his hand away from Wu Mangmang’s. He was indeed angry, but more than that, he was angry at himself.

Rational as Lu Sui was, he naturally knew that if he wanted to win at this moment, he should treat Wu Mangmang with more tolerance and gentleness. This girl had such a soft heart that as long as he made no mistakes, Wu Mangmang would never be able to say the words “let’s break up.”

But everyone has emotions—they’re not robots.

The deeper the love, the greater the expectations.

In Lu Sui’s view, the best scenario would naturally be for Wu Mangmang to decisively and firmly reject Cheng Yue. But they both knew this was impossible.

Lu Sui was disgusted by Wu Mangmang’s stupidity and indecisiveness. He even angrily thought that he should just let go and let this stupid woman pair up with that stupid man, then watch them be stupid generation after generation.

That way, he would have much less trouble.

Wu Mangmang’s light makeup and carefully chosen outfit made Lu Sui feel both irritated and ironic. She was a typical ungrateful person who could never be tamed.

“Can you only see Cheng Yue in your eyes?” Lu Sui looked up at Wu Mangmang.

Wu Mangmang shook her head.

Lu Sui looked into Wu Mangmang’s eyes and said, “Then prove it to me.”

Lu Sui stood up and continued, “After you go to the hospital today, you’d better visit Wu Yong. Mental illness needs mental medicine—your medicine has returned. Whether it can be cured depends on yourself.”

Wu Mangmang didn’t even know how she got out of the Lu mansion.

She didn’t go to the hospital to visit Cheng Yue first. Instead, she went directly to Wu Yong’s office.

Fortunately, Wu Yong had no patient appointments at the moment. Seeing Wu Mangmang arrive, he led her directly into his office.

Wu Mangmang sat quietly on the sofa for a while before slowly speaking. “Dr. Wu, I think I understand my mother a little now.”

Wu Yong adjusted his sitting position. Wu Mangmang had talked to him about Ms. Liu before, but never in this tone.

“Actually, sometimes people really can’t control their emotions. Back then, when Dad treated her that way, she must have felt very hurt inside. Not only couldn’t I help her then, but I even blamed her wholeheartedly. Now thinking back, when Mom and Dad were in love, my life must have been very happy and joyful. The contrast was so great later that I couldn’t adjust my mindset.”

“But if you look at my parents now, they get along very well. Actually, my mother’s focus has long since shifted away from my father—she’s devoted herself entirely to her social circle, while my father focuses entirely on his career. The atmosphere at home is very good now.”

“I thought all night last night about why I never thought of this before. Always asking others for love, placing all hopes for happiness on others—how ridiculous. I’ve been feeling sorry for myself all these years, only to discover in the end that all the mistakes stemmed from myself.”

“When Cheng Yue left back then, I hated him to death and swore never to acknowledge him again. But now thinking about it, what wrong did he do? He loved me, and would even risk his life for me. But if a man has no ideals of his own and only knows how to indulge in romance for a lifetime, how can he stand up straight? How can he be worthy of the talents heaven gave him? I never tried to understand him—I only knew how to take. He gave so much for me and suffered so much. Now I only feel guilty.”

“Mangmang, don’t blame everything on yourself,” Wu Yong said.

“I’m not. It’s just that before I could only see others’ faults, but now I can see their good points.” Wu Mangmang smiled. “Thank you, Dr. Wu, for walking with me through all these years. I think now it’s time for me to face reality. I feel time is truly a magical thing—things that once made me feel like the sky was falling now seem absurd and ridiculous when I look back.”

“What about Lu Sui? You talked about your mother, father, and Cheng Yue, but you didn’t mention him,” Wu Yong asked.

Wu Mangmang thought for a moment. “That matter is still ongoing. Maybe I’ll be able to talk to you about him in ten years. Of course, maybe it won’t take ten years. Relationships aren’t the focus of my life anymore.”

Wu Mangmang stood up and extended her hand to Wu Yong. “Can I hug you?”

Wu Yong hesitated for a second.

“Like a friend. I probably won’t come to see you anymore in the future,” Wu Mangmang said.

The best doctor for mental illness is oneself. Others’ guidance and counseling certainly provide enormous help, but whether one can finally escape that vicious cycle depends only on oneself.

Wu Yong smiled and opened his arms to Wu Mangmang.

Wu Mangmang hugged Wu Yong gently, then said, “Dr. Wu, do you know what the best way to overcome fear and anxiety is?”

Wu Yong remained silent.

“It’s to make yourself fearless,” Wu Mangmang said softly, then slowly withdrew from Wu Yong’s embrace.

At the door, she playfully winked at Wu Yong. “Don’t miss me too much—I know you’ve been studying me for many years.”

“Mangmang.” Wu Yong called out to her at the door. “Love has always been a focus of life. It’s not that love becomes unimportant when you get older. People only settle for second best when they can’t have what they want. Of course, love isn’t the only focus of life.”

“Thank you.” Wu Mangmang smiled faintly.

Wu Mangmang then went to the hospital.

Cheng Yue was still hospitalized for observation. He only had some external injuries—the most serious was a fractured left wrist from when he hurriedly braced himself against the ground. His head had suffered a small impact on the ground, and because the brain is a delicate organ, he needed to stay for observation.

Wu Mangmang sat somewhat awkwardly beside the hospital bed and peeled an apple for Cheng Yue.

Cheng Yue took the apple and smiled. “Do you remember when we were in middle school? You brought an apple to school every day—imported apples, big and red. There were few supermarkets selling them domestically, and even when available, they cost over ten yuan each. You couldn’t finish one every day and always insisted on sharing half with me, forcing me to eat it, saying we couldn’t waste food.”

Wu Mangmang opened her mouth, remembering this incident.

Looking back now, it really was funny. Back then she had been truly naive, never considering what a boy from a poor family like Cheng Yue might think about it. No wonder with her conditions, she had pursued Cheng Yue for three years without success, only managing to win him over in high school.

“My behavior back then must have given you quite a headache, right?” Wu Mangmang said.

Indeed, it had once been incredibly annoying, but now recalling it, that sweetness was as addictive as heroin, Cheng Yue thought.

Actually, there was another detail Cheng Yue hadn’t mentioned. Back then when Wu Mangmang peeled apples for him, she always peeled them in one continuous strip from start to finish—a skill the young lady had undoubtedly mastered after ruining countless apples at home.

The apples with broken peels were always generously distributed by Miss Wu to her little followers.

Only the most perfect ones were given to him—Cheng Yue.

But today, Wu Mangmang’s apple peel had broken many times, and she didn’t seem to care. Whether her technique had become rusty or she no longer had the same mindset as before, he couldn’t tell.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you—I discussed with Auntie about not making the driver compensate. This was all my fault. I’ll pay for your medical expenses…”

Wu Mangmang’s words were interrupted by Cheng Yue before she could finish.

“I can still afford these medical expenses,” Cheng Yue said.

Wu Mangmang stopped talking. She was just stating facts, but such words would undoubtedly hurt Cheng Yue’s pride.

“Don’t worry, my self-esteem isn’t that fragile anymore,” Cheng Yue said with a bitter smile.

“Although I don’t want to admit it, back then my self-esteem almost drove me crazy. I used to hate your parents’ money-obsessed attitude and despise wealth, but a certain financial foundation does allow people to maintain dignity. If I hadn’t left then, I truly don’t know what our future would have been like. I was afraid I might do something to hurt you. But now, Mangmang, I may not be as wealthy as your boyfriend, but I won’t feel my pride is damaged just because you buy me apples I can’t afford or treat me to Western food I can’t afford. This version of me dares to love you again—you no longer need to worry about my damned pride,” Cheng Yue said.

Wu Mangmang burst out laughing.

Back then, she had desperately wanted to present her love to Cheng Yue, never considering whether he needed it or wanted it.

What reckless youth it had been.

“So you’re saying if I invite you to dinner now, we can go to an upscale restaurant?” Wu Mangmang joked.

Cheng Yue also laughed. “Actually, that time you treated me to Western food, I had the money to pay. I had worked two jobs during summer vacation, but you absolutely refused to give me the chance.”

Wu Mangmang frowned. “Just how stupid was I back then?” She had thought that by not spending Cheng Yue’s money, she wouldn’t burden him.

“Stupidly adorable,” Cheng Yue smiled.

“Later, in my heart, I thought that someday I must treat you to that restaurant again, and this time I would pay,” Cheng Yue said.

Wu Mangmang looked at Cheng Yue, only now realizing how many regrets she had left in his life.

He had returned to chase his dream.

But her dream had long since shattered. Her once-burning heart had fallen to the ground, covered in dust, and was now cold and without warmth.

Having suffered the pain of broken dreams herself, Wu Mangmang knew that pain, so she didn’t want Cheng Yue to experience it again. She was willing to use all her strength to reduce the regrets in his life.

Here, Wu Mangmang had completely exiled herself. Everything she had hoped for and demanded, she had already extinguished, wanting only for the people around her to be happy.

“Alright,” Wu Mangmang agreed. “But Cheng Yue, I…”

“I don’t care,” Cheng Yue squeezed Wu Mangmang’s hand with his right hand. “Mangmang, if you marry him in the future, I’ll sincerely bless you. For me, as long as you’re happy, whether this happiness ultimately comes from me or not doesn’t matter. If you can still accept me, I’ll never let go of your hand again.”

That evening, Wu Mangmang returned to the hillside villa. Her relationship with Lu Sui was no longer suitable for living together.

She called Lu Sui to report, and he raised no objections.

Wu Mangmang stared at her phone for a long time, then finally pulled up the special ringtone she had recorded for Lu Sui and listened to it repeatedly.

“Limited Edition Gentleman calling, Belly Button Fetish Sir calling, Mommy’s Good Boy calling, Nth Blind Date Sir calling, Domineering CEO calling, Eating Grass Backwards Sir calling, Scheming Boy calling, Fatty Liver Uncle calling, My Most Beloved Sir calling.”

Wu Mangmang cried so hard she could barely breathe, thinking that Lu Sui had never heard this ringtone.

She so wished she had met Lu Sui in her best years, so wished she had only ever loved Lu Sui, yearned for it so much that she would even be willing to bury everything between her and Cheng Yue.

But life has no “what ifs,” and there are no do-overs. She had already used all her strength to love Cheng Yue, and could no longer give Lu Sui perfect, flawless love.

Perhaps Lu Sui didn’t mind—he just hoped she could stay by his side.

But as Cheng Yue had said, what about the future? When Lu Sui could no longer be satisfied, when she couldn’t respond to the kind of love he needed, when they began to hurt each other, what then?

Wu Mangmang’s obsessive-compulsive disorder made her prefer to end this relationship at its most brilliant moment rather than let it eventually become a gorgeous robe crawling with lice.

Even more, she didn’t want Lu Sui to see her ugly appearance when her “fear and anxiety disorder” flared up again.

Beautiful women have always hated being seen growing old.

But Wu Mangmang didn’t realize that she was now standing in the exact position Cheng Yue had stood in back then—selfishly thinking from her own perspective while claiming it was for the other person’s good, unilaterally deciding what the other person needed while ignoring their true needs.

How fate toys with people—in the cycle of reincarnation, it made the victim stand in the position of the perpetrator.

“Mangmang, Lu Sui had someone deliver the dress you’re to wear tomorrow night. Come look—it’s absolutely beautiful,” Liu Lewei knocked on Wu Mangmang’s bedroom door.

Wu Mangmang put away her phone, went to the bathroom to wash her face, then came out.

The evening gown was very flowing and seemed familiar. After thinking for a moment, Wu Mangmang realized it bore a five-point resemblance to an outfit from the game she played.

This year’s Lu Garden Christmas banquet theme was cosplay—quite fashionable indeed.

Of course, everyone was sophisticated and wouldn’t dress like teenage girls in game costumes. This tested the designer’s skill.

It had to have that vibe while being luxurious, grand, and high-class.

Wu Mangmang rubbed the evening gown’s fabric against her face for a long time.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” Liu Lewei asked. Although Wu Mangmang hadn’t been living at home most of the time, Ms. Liu had long since become shrewd from her social circle training and could easily see Wu Mangmang’s low spirits.

Wu Mangmang smiled. “Ms. Liu, if Lu Sui and I break up again this time, will you strangle me?”

Liu Lewei looked at Wu Mangmang quietly for a long moment. “To be honest, I never expected you two to work out from the beginning.”

Wu Mangmang blinked, unsure whether to feel relieved or have a stroke from anger.

Liu Lewei patted Wu Mangmang’s shoulder. “Alright, stop sighing. After you get through this hurdle, I’ll introduce you to someone else. This time, don’t be picky with me—you’re almost thirty, okay? Almost thirty!”

Wu Mangmang felt she’d received another ten thousand points of critical damage.

For women, sometimes the pain of heartbreak after a certain age might not compare to the pain of discovering another wrinkle around her eyes.

The Lu Garden Christmas banquet was as successful as always.

As the evening wound down, some people were reluctant to leave. After all, there was no one waiting for them at home, so they might as well drink with fellow sufferers.

Ning Zheng lightly nudged Shen Ting’s elbow, signaling him to go comfort Lu Sui. “What’s going on? Didn’t he always say he wanted to maintain his health and not drink? Turns out he was lying to us all along?”

At the bar, Lu Sui was downing glass after glass of alcohol.

“He broke up,” Shen Ting said flatly.

Wu Mangmang’s absence from tonight’s banquet was enough to explain many things.

“Let’s drink together,” Shen Ting raised his glass to Lu Sui.

Lu Sui looked at Shen Ting, lightly clinked glasses with him, tilted his head back and drained his glass, then put it down and smiled. “I never knew you were so concerned about my sexual abilities?”

Shen Ting was momentarily stunned, then laughed somewhat awkwardly, but this laugh dispelled all the awkwardness.

“Don’t judge others by your own standards just because you can’t do it,” Lu Sui clinked glasses with Shen Ting again, then leaned close to his ear. “So there’s wisdom in maintaining one’s health. Raising an army for a thousand days to use it for one moment.”

“What are you talking about? I can’t understand,” Ning Zheng interjected.

Lu Sui and Shen Ting both tacitly ignored Ning Zheng.

Ning Zheng felt snubbed and had to save face. “Lu Sui, did you break up with Wu Mangmang again? Who dumped whom this time?”

Ning Zheng was typical of the immature type looking for abuse.

“We broke up. You still don’t have a chance. If you want to interfere, go practice your skills first. Did last time not hurt enough?” Lu Sui said.

Ning Zheng made an “oh oh oh” expression of schadenfreude, muttering, “You wouldn’t marry her, so of course she dumped you.”

“Don’t judge others by your own standards,” Lu Sui casually tossed back.

Long after Lu Sui had left, Ning Zheng sighed to Shen Ting, “Lu Sui means the one who didn’t want to get married was Wu Mangmang?”

Shen Ting remained silent.

Ning Zheng snapped his fingers. “Wu Mangmang is absolutely incredible. I knew I hadn’t misjudged her.”

Ning Zheng wore a “I once liked her, and I’m very proud of it” expression of joy.

Shen Ting glanced at Ning Zheng. “Stop thinking about it. Lu Sui made his attitude very clear today.”

That meant they had broken up, but others shouldn’t think of interfering either.

Wu Mangmang spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day very boringly, sleeping at home for two full days. On the twenty-sixth, she got up early, picked out clothes, and applied light makeup.

Liu Lewei saw her in the mood to dress up and finally relaxed a bit. “Going on a date?”

Wu Mangmang wore a red off-shoulder dress with ruffles made of cashmere, which made her skin look brilliantly white and gave her a radiant appearance. No wonder Liu Lewei had misunderstood.

Wu Mangmang put on her hooded coat. “No, I’ll be back soon.”

Some things might be settled through mutual silence, but reissuing documents was really too troublesome. Wu Mangmang had to make a trip to the Lu mansion.

In the dining room, Lu Sui was having breakfast. Only at this time would there be a good chance of encountering him.

Annie thoughtfully came forward to help Wu Mangmang remove her coat and hang it up. Wu Mangmang said “thank you.”

“I’ve come for my documents,” Wu Mangmang walked up to Lu Sui.

Lu Sui’s eyes swept over Wu Mangmang’s dress. “Aren’t you cold dressed so lightly?”

The dress was very short, five centimeters above the knee, with the off-shoulder design exposing her entire shoulders to the air.

Very beautiful, but indeed not warm.

“I’ll go upstairs to get the documents,” Wu Mangmang didn’t answer Lu Sui’s question.

Holding the documents in her hand, Wu Mangmang came downstairs from upstairs, seemingly with no excuse to linger any longer.

Lu Sui very gentlemanly walked her to the door. Wu Mangmang smiled and waved at him. “Take care of yourself.”

Lu Sui watched Wu Mangmang take two steps before slowly speaking, “Mangmang.”

Wu Mangmang turned around, not knowing why her heart suddenly began beating faster. Actually, the ending was already destined to be unchangeable.

“Mangmang, remember—it was always you who didn’t want me, not me leaving you,” Lu Sui said.

Wu Mangmang wanted to cry but felt this was her own doing and she didn’t deserve to shed tears that would only make Lu Sui more upset. She couldn’t speak and could only nod, then hurriedly got in the car.

In the remaining few days of the year, Wu Mangmang did many things—or rather, helped Cheng Yue do many things.

They went to that Western restaurant from years ago for a meal. It was strange that this restaurant had survived for over ten years without closing down—truly a miracle.

They also went to the newly built amusement park. The ticket prices were certainly not expensive for them now, but back then Cheng Yue had absolutely refused to accompany Wu Mangmang, using the excuse that it was too childish.

Then they went to the arcade. Cheng Yue went to the dance machine and performed a dance. It was already quite rare for a boy to play this, and Cheng Yue played it particularly well, not missing a single beat, with graceful and beautiful movements. The surrounding middle and high school girls all had stars in their eyes.

Many people applauded him.

Wu Mangmang laughed until she doubled over. “Didn’t you absolutely refuse to dance back then?”

Cheng Yue had been quite the little prude back then, firmly refusing to dance, much less dance in front of many people.

“You always said you wanted to see me dominate the dance machine,” Cheng Yue wiped the sweat from his forehead, and Wu Mangmang reached out to hand him her handkerchief.

Cheng Yue felt somewhat regretful—that Mangmang who would order him to lower his head and wipe his sweat for him seemed to have disappeared.

Then, Cheng Yue gave Wu Mangmang a rhinestone-studded hair clip. “You looked at it for a long time back then, but that brand doesn’t make that style anymore. This is the most similar one I could find.”

Wu Mangmang lowered her head, and tears fell to the ground, spreading into a small puddle.

When Zeng Ruling saw that the man delivering breakfast to Wu Mangmang downstairs had changed to someone else, she simply opened her mouth slightly in surprise, then said, “I should have thought of this.”

“This one’s also a big handsome guy. Younger than your uncle, right?” Zeng Ruling happily ate the chicken roll that Cheng Yue had brought.

“Just eat your food. Can’t all this food shut your mouth?” Wu Mangmang typed rapidly on her computer, starting to write her thesis first thing in the morning.

“What’s the relationship this time? Childhood sweethearts?” Zeng Ruling asked.

“I suppose so,” Wu Mangmang sighed lightly.

“Do you know your reputation at our school is almost catching up to that of a socialite?” Zeng Ruling asked again.

Wu Mangmang’s expression didn’t change at all. Her bad reputation wasn’t a recent development. She hoped that when she became a stern old spinster in the future, she could change everyone’s opinion of her.

“But I don’t think you seem very interested in him,” Zeng Ruling nudged Wu Mangmang’s shoulder.

Wu Mangmang remained silent. On Cheng Yue’s list was an item about wanting to bring her breakfast every morning.

Because in high school, Wu Mangmang had taken care of Cheng Yue’s breakfast and lunch. She had researched online herself, prepared nutritionally balanced meals according to dietary guidelines, and had the maid make them daily to bring to Cheng Yue.

Wu Mangmang thought silently—it seemed she had never done these things for Lu Sui. Thinking about it now, she really felt sorry for him.

She only hoped that in the future he could meet a girl who had never had any other man in her heart, a healthy and optimistic girl who would offer him all her purest love.

Time passed faster and faster, and there were fewer and fewer undone items on Cheng Yue’s list.

“I have one last thing,” Cheng Yue said when taking Wu Mangmang back to her dormitory. “We never spent Valentine’s Day together. Roses were so expensive on Valentine’s Day—I didn’t want to burden my mother, and I didn’t want you to look down on me, so every Valentine’s Day I told you I had to stay home to help my mother with work.”

Wu Mangmang laughed. “You don’t need to help me avoid certain memories.”

Cheng Yue rubbed his forehead embarrassedly.

She remembered one year, after Cheng Yue had once again refused Wu Mangmang’s request to spend Valentine’s Day together, Wu Mangmang pressed him for answers until Cheng Yue finally couldn’t help but lie, saying he had to help his mother sell flowers on the street.

What foolish teenagers they had been.

That day, Wu Mangmang had done something unprecedented—she accepted all the various roses from her suitors, carried a large basket of roses, and sold them below the upscale restaurants in the city.

Her flowers sold quickly. Who could resist such a beautiful flower girl?

She still remembered that winter being particularly cold. Wu Mangmang stamped her feet from the cold while breathing on her hands as she collected money, but her heart burned with fire.

She wanted to show Cheng Yue through her actions that she wouldn’t look down on him, that she could sell flowers with him as long as they were together.

Wu Mangmang stood on the street counting money one bill at a time. Her counting was a bit slow because her hands were frozen stiff, and she wasn’t good at counting money to begin with.

She wore a big smile on her face, imagining Cheng Yue’s expression when she placed the folded money in his hands. He would be very moved, wouldn’t he?

Would he pull her hands into his arms to warm them?

Just thinking about it made her feel like she could die of happiness.

And fate’s window had actually opened a small crack for Lu Sui at that moment.

That day, he and a female companion were eating in that upscale restaurant, sitting by the window.

The pretty little girl in a pink coat and white fuzzy hat quickly attracted his and his companion’s attention.

For convenience of writing, let’s call her Miss A, because even if Lu Sui were to recall, he probably couldn’t remember this lady’s name.

Miss A said, “That little girl is quite pretty, and has good temperament too.”

Lu Sui glanced indifferently. He wasn’t interested in little girls.

Miss A sighed, “What a pity.”

Lu Sui said nothing, waiting for Miss A to continue making conversation.

Miss A looked at Wu Mangmang, whose eyes were curved with laughter as she counted money, and said, “Pretty girls too easily take shortcuts.”

Oh, forgot to mention—Miss A was talented and capable, but looks-wise could only be described as “decent” at best.

Lu Sui smiled and looked at Wu Mangmang again, then said, “The little girl comes from a good family. She’s out here selling flowers to experience life.”

“I don’t believe it. Let’s make a bet,” Miss A said.

Lu Sui didn’t agree. “Nothing I want to wager.”

Miss A was defeated.

As for Wu Mangmang, as you can imagine, her flower-selling not only didn’t make Cheng Yue grateful but actually caused the young couple to have a cold war for three days, finally ending with Wu Mangmang bowing her head to apologize.

Cheng Yue said, “I was really stupid. I probably will never find another girl who would sell flowers for me in winter.”

Wu Mangmang laughed, “We were both pretty stupid. I actually took flowers that other boys gave me and sold them, then proudly gave you the money. My IQ must have been negative then, right?”

Cheng Yue thought about it. “Probably.”

Coincidentally, this year’s February 14th was still particularly cold. The city’s temperature rarely dropped below zero at night, with sleet falling from the sky.

Wu Mangmang sat in the reserved restaurant waiting for Cheng Yue. She already knew what Cheng Yue was going to do.

She had inadvertently seen an expensive diamond ring on a shopping receipt he had dropped.

It was just a pity that she could no longer respond.

The last thing she could do with Cheng Yue was to wait for him to give her a red rose she had hoped for for many years.

Then say thank you—thank you for his love that had never changed all these years.

And say sorry—sorry that she couldn’t keep the promise she made in her youth to love only him for her entire life.

If she wanted to make amends, Wu Mangmang hoped Cheng Yue could fall in love again with another wonderful girl, have many children, and live happily ever after.

This was the forgiveness she most wanted.

This was true for Cheng Yue, and the same for Lu Sui.