Ye Linchen was unaware of the conversation between Zhao Yutong and her roommate; she was already talking to Gu Jingran on the phone.

"Jingran, did you go back to Jiangcheng today?"

On the other end of the phone, Gu Jingran's voice came through the receiver, slightly tired from getting off the plane, but still warm and strong, as reassuring as ever.

"Yes, I just landed in Jiangcheng and am still at the airport."

Hearing that familiar voice, Ye Linchen felt a sense of relief and couldn't help but smile.

Are you busy tonight? Would you like to meet up?

"I'm not too busy, but I have to go to the company." Gu Jingran thought for a moment and then asked Ye Linchen apologetically, "Why don't you come to me? I'll treat you to dinner."

"You haven't had dinner yet? It's getting late, how about I bring you something to eat?" Ye Linchen suggested.

There was a pause on the other end of the phone, then Gu Jingran's smile deepened: "Okay, I'll have the driver pick you up."

"No need." Ye Linchen shook his head, though he knew the other man couldn't see, he still made a gesture of refusal out of habit. "I know where your company is, it's easy to get there by bus. The driver is going to pick you up anyway, don't bother."

"What's all this fuss about?" Gu Jingran's smile deepened. "I was on my way to the company from the airport, and I was passing by your school. I wanted to see you as soon as possible."

Ye Linchen was stunned for a moment, and the map of Jiangcheng subconsciously appeared in his mind.

The airport is in the suburbs, Jiangcheng University is in the old city, and the company is in the high-tech zone. It seems impossible for us to "pass by" Jiangcheng University.

But she couldn't help but smile and agree without arguing further.

"Okay, then I'll wait for you to pick me up on your way."

Gu Jingran also laughed.

The two then confirmed the meeting time and the type of food they wanted.

Gu Jingran didn't stand on ceremony and made his request directly.

"I want to eat some authentic Jiangcheng cuisine. The food in Gangcheng is too bland and slightly sweet, which really doesn't suit my taste."

"No problem, leave this to me." Ye Linchen readily agreed.

After hanging up, Ye Linchen walked towards the school gate.

A new Jiangcheng cuisine restaurant has opened outside the school gate. It has an excellent reputation. Its signature dishes, such as pickled fish and steamed pork ribs, are the familiar tastes of Jiangcheng people. Gu Jingran will definitely like them.

She packed her things and quickly walked out of the school gate.

Outside the school gates in September, as night fell, the streets were still bustling with the lingering heat of summer. Streetlights lit up one by one, casting long shadows of pedestrians.

Ye Linchen walked among them, her steps light and quick, thinking about the scene when she would see Gu Jingran later, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Just then, an unexpected figure entered her field of vision.

It's Shen Yanlin!

The two hadn't seen each other for a long time.

Since entering his sophomore year, Ye Linchen's life has revolved almost entirely around entrepreneurship, tutoring, and studying, keeping him extremely busy.

Shen Yanlin, on the other hand, immersed himself in his own world of painting, traveling around to collect inspiration and paint. The two gradually embarked on completely different life trajectories.

Like two straight lines that intersected at a certain point, they went their separate ways after the senior year of high school and never overlapped again.

Shen Yanlin had obviously seen her too.

"You're leaving school?"

His voice was still clear and melodious, but it was lower and more subdued than before, carrying a subtle hint of melancholy.

Ye Linchen nodded with a natural smile: "Yes, Brother Gu went back to Jiangcheng today. I'm going to the company to see him and buy him some food while I'm there."

These words were spoken casually, but to Shen Yanlin they sounded extremely jarring.

His expression darkened noticeably, and he seemed to feel a weight pressing on his chest.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke: "I heard from Xiao Juan that you and Brother Gu... Congratulations on you and Brother Gu."

He spoke the short sentence with difficulty, as if it were being squeezed out of his throat.

Upon hearing the news, the youthful fervor in his heart crumbled completely.

For a long time afterward, he deliberately avoided Ye Linchen and did not meet with her.

It's not that I don't want to, it's that I don't dare.

He was afraid of revealing his inappropriate emotions in front of her, afraid that he might accidentally let her discover the feelings he was carefully hiding in his heart.

What I fear most is that my own disappointment and jealousy will seem unbearable in the face of her happy smile.

So he stepped back, feigning indifference, pretending to be focused on his canvas.

But when the night is deep and quiet, that bittersweet feeling still lingers.

Sometimes, he even secretly prayed selfishly: that it would be better if she and Gu Jingran didn't get along.

He might still have a chance if she turns back.

But every time he realized he had such thoughts, he was terrified of himself.

Too dark, too despicable, he was unwilling to admit that he had such thoughts.

Therefore, the only way to cover it up is by "escaping".

However, at this moment, seeing the happiness in Ye Linchen's smile, the bitterness that had been suppressed in his heart for so long surged up and almost swallowed him up.

Ye Linchen didn't notice his disappointment, and simply smiled and replied, "Thank you. How have you been lately? Is your studies going well?"

Shen Yanlin tried to compose himself and make his voice sound relaxed.

"It's going well. I'm working as a teaching assistant in the art studio, and the professor there really likes me and is helping me prepare for my first exhibition."

"Really?" Ye Linchen's eyes lit up, and he said with a smile, "That's amazing! I knew it. Painter Shen is exceptionally talented and has a bright future."

Upon hearing this, a corner of Shen Yanlin's heart was gently touched, and he couldn't help but smile.

That smile was different from the usual bitterness; it was a genuine joy from the heart.

However, behind this joy, there was still a layer of bitterness.

He knew that the sincere encouragement was entirely out of friendship, without any hint of what he might have hoped for.

“It’s all thanks to you,” he said in a low voice. “If you hadn’t persuaded me to persevere, I would probably be suffering in the army right now.”

"Don't say that." Ye Linchen shook his head. "You chose the path you wanted to stick to, and you earned the result through your own hard work."

She glanced at her watch, frowned slightly, and said, "I'm running out of time. Let's talk next time."

Shen Yanlin nodded, trying his best to remain calm: "Okay."

Ye Linchen took a few quick steps forward. Shen Yanlin followed his gaze, and finally couldn't help but speak: "Little Chen!"

She turned around, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion.

"After my art exhibition ends, I'll be going abroad on exchange." His voice was low, as if he were carefully entrusting a secret to someone. "Afterwards, I plan to stay abroad to continue my studies."

Ye Linchen was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Then I'm afraid we'll have fewer opportunities to meet in the future. When is your art exhibition? I'll definitely go."

"At the end of this month," Shen Yanlin nodded, "I'll page you the address then."

"Okay." She readily agreed, turned around and waved.

Shen Yanlin watched her retreating figure until she disappeared at the street corner.

The night breeze blew by, dispelling the heat of the street, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He seemed completely drained, his eyes filled with desolation.

He knew that some paths were destined never to intersect.