Xiao Lin arrived quickly. After he took the child away, Ye Zhao had Ji Xiao drive to a restaurant.

"This restaurant serves Jiashui's specialty dishes. I've been here twice, and it's pretty good."

Ji Xiao pushed her inside, looking around, and replied, "Then I'll have to try it properly."

Ye Zhao ordered some dishes according to Ji Xiao's taste, and the two chatted again after the waiter left.

"Where are your companions? Didn't they come back with you?" Ye Zhao asked, taking a sip of tea.

Speaking of this, Ji Xiao smiled and said, "He cut his hand while rock climbing a couple of days ago and he's still in the hospital."

Ye Zhao smiled upon hearing this: "At Jiashui Hospital? I was just saying that I heard someone calling you when I went to the hospital to change my dressing a couple of days ago."

Ji Xiao looked at her with a half-smile and asked, "Then why don't you go and see if it's me?"

Ye Zhao leaned back and said with a smile, "Oh, I thought I misheard. Who knew you would suddenly return to the country?"

The two exchanged a smile, then tacitly looked away.

Ji Xiao's gaze fell on Ye Zhao, and he looked at her for a long time, his eyes softening.

"You're doing well here, and the kids are adorable."

Ye Zhao nodded with a smile: "Of course, Yuanbao is so well-behaved."

After saying that, she asked again, "What about you? What are your plans? Are you going to stay away from home?"

Ji Xiao laughed upon hearing this, his eyebrows and eyes exuding a carefree air.

"As for me, I'm all alone, wandering the world, and who knows where I might die in the future."

Ye Zhao's smile faded, and meeting Ji Xiao's bright eyes, she said seriously, "Don't say that..."

Ji Xiao actually agreed with her: "Okay, I won't say that again."

Their eyes met in mid-air, and they stared at each other in silence for a long time, as if they had said a lot, yet it seemed like they hadn't said anything at all.

After a long while, Ji Xiao finally spoke, "If it weren't for the fact that you have a child, I would really like to take you away."

Ye Zhao met his ambiguous smile and felt a shiver run through her heart. Then she said in a joking tone, "I don't want to wander the world with you. It's too tiring."

Ji Xiao laughed upon hearing this. He had a clear and bright face, and his smile was carefree and radiant. He always exuded energy, making it hard not to attract attention.

“Yes, it would be too much of a waste for you to come with me,” he said.

Ji Xiao may seem carefree and easygoing, but he is actually very reliable. With him around, Ye Zhao feels that she doesn't have to worry about anything because he will arrange everything. Moreover, he seems to know everything, which makes people feel very safe.

On the way back, the two didn't say much.

Ji Xiao still took Ye Zhao home, but when he pushed her into the house, he didn't turn on the light on the wall first.

Without thinking much, Ye Zhao stood up and was about to turn on the light when she fell into a warm and broad embrace. Ji Xiao's unique, cool scent wafted over her, and Ye Zhao's nose suddenly felt a little sore. She reached out and hugged Ji Xiao's broad back.

"Ye Zhao, please be well."

Ji Xiao's deep voice came through, and Ye Zhao nodded without saying a word.

A moment later, Ye Zhao felt Ji Xiao's broad hand land on her head, and then she heard his voice in her ear.

"I'm leaving."

In the silent night, the person came and went, as if leaving no trace.

Ye Zhao sat in the living room for a long time, and it was unclear when she finally returned to her room.

...

The next day, Ye Zhao slept until noon before getting up, washing up, and calling Xiao Lin.

Meanwhile, at the Chiashui Airport.

Someone asked Ji Xiao, "He just left like that?"

Ji Xiao still had a smile on his face: "Otherwise?"

The man then said, "You've traveled all this way just to see me?"

Ji Xiao's smile faded slightly: "That's enough."

The man then asked, "Didn't you ever think about staying?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiao seemed to be lost in thought for a long time before softly replying, "Everyone has their own life and their own pursuits. Meeting is a pleasant surprise in itself, so why make a fuss?"

"I hope you won't regret it."

Ji Xiao chuckled softly, looking up at the sky as if lost in thought.

In fact, he almost didn't make it back from the Amazon this time. In that life-or-death moment, his only thought was to see Ye Zhao again.

My companion was indeed injured, but it happened several days ago. He only went to the hospital to have his dressing changed.

Jiashui does indeed have a large canyon, but it has long since lost its value for exploration.

His return this time was indeed solely for Ye Zhao.

He has his own pursuits, and Ye Zhao has her own life. Neither of them will compromise for the other, nor is there any need for the other to compromise.

From now on, we'll all go our separate ways.

...

The courtyard was littered with fallen leaves, which were swept into the air by the wind and then drifted down again.

Ye Zhao didn't know why, but she sat at the door for a long time until Xiao Lin came to pick her up with Yuanbao, and then she got up and went out.

Xiao Lin pushed her towards the green field, while Yuanbao skipped and hopped along beside her.

"Mom, what about that uncle? Is he taking us out to play again today?"

Ye Zhao looked at him with amusement: "Uncle doesn't have time to play with you every day. He's gone."

Yuanbao looked at her in surprise and asked curiously, "Where did Uncle go?"

Ye Zhao's smile faded slightly: "They went somewhere else."

Yuanbao sighed in disappointment and continued talking to Ye Zhao, while Xiao Lin was surprised, wondering if they had already left.

Ye Zhao looked at the bouncy Yuanbao, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

She suddenly remembered that when they were abroad, Ji Xiao took her horseback riding, hiking, and skydiving. Those exciting and always surprising daily activities were gone forever.

During that period, Yuanbao had just been discharged from the hospital and was feeling a little better, but she was still immersed in feelings of self-blame. Only someone as vibrant and full of life as Ji Xiao had entered her life.

He was always energetic and full of vitality, which Ye Zhao greatly admired.

Even today, Ye Zhao admires and envies him. He has his own ideals and goals, and he lives passionately in this world.

...

Ye Zhao's life has returned to normal. Her foot injury hasn't fully healed yet, and she has to rely on Xiao Lin and a wheelchair to go out these past few days. Fortunately, she's not busy lately, and Xiao Lin has some free time.

Jiang Che hadn't come over for two days, and Ye Zhao assumed he was busy with work, so she didn't think much of it.

That evening, she was sitting by the window flipping through a book when someone suddenly walked into the yard. She subconsciously looked over and met Jiang Ze's lifeless face. In the dim light, she was so frightened that she almost jumped up.

"Aze? What are you doing standing there? You scared me to death."

Jiang Ze walked towards her listlessly, without going inside, and went straight to the window, where he burst into loud sobs.

"Zhaozhao, I've broken up with my boyfriend."

Ye Zhao was completely bewildered and hadn't even had a chance to ask anything when she met Jiang Che's eyes as he entered the courtyard.

The next second, Jiang Ze cried out, "My boyfriend doesn't want me anymore!"

Ye Zhao got up and tried to cover his mouth, but it was too late.