Lu Ran was a little nervous, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on her back.

Facing Lu Ming's sinister gaze, she tried her best to control her racing heart and told him softly, with as natural a demeanor as possible:

"Mom... we don't have enough money for the medical bills."

Lu Ming's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

He told the man in black to leave first, then led Lu Ran into the room and took a card out of the drawer.

"Take this money and use it first."

Just as Lu Ran was about to accept the card, Lu Ming suddenly pulled it back.

"But you have to tell me first, what did you just hear?"

"I……"

Lu Ran tightened her grip on the hem of her clothes.

She heard Lu Ming fly into a rage, but couldn't quite make out why. She vaguely heard a name, Xia Zhi... This reminded her of when she went to the hospital to inquire about the situation, and the person she had bribed said that the DNA test samples Mr. Lu sent were actually provided by a woman named Xia Zhi.

Could it be... that Xia Zhi is actually Lu Xiaoyou?

"Ranran!"

Lu Ming lost his patience and glared at her with a cold look in his eyes.

Lu Ran's heart pounded. She looked at him quietly, and after a while, she stammered, "I... I didn't hear anything. I just got here, and I just wanted to ask you for money..."

"Yeah?"

"yes."

Lu Ming chuckled twice, giving her a disdainful look, assuming she didn't have the guts to lie to him.

He placed the bank card in her palm, his tone slightly threatening: "As long as you behave, your mother's life can be saved!"

Lu Ran lowered her eyelids and nodded timidly.

Lu Ming looked at her cowardly appearance and sneered.

*

I've been in Southeast Asia for almost half a month now.

Jiang Mianmian has been through too much these days, and is feeling somewhat gloomy.

Especially at times like these, she wanted to call Huo Yu even more, but strangely, Huo Yu's phone was unreachable all day. She called her parents and Jiang Xiaowei, and they all said that Huo Yu was at the store, probably sorting goods in the warehouse, where there was no signal and he couldn't answer the phone.

Jiang Mianmian was flustered and couldn't help but overthink, spending the entire day in a daze.

She finally made it to the end of her classes today. When she got back to the hotel in the evening, she didn't even eat dinner before going to the courtyard by herself to clear her head.

I looked up at the night sky; the stars were shining brightly tonight, but no one answered the phone.

A profound sense of loneliness pierced her heart like needles, making her extremely uncomfortable. She sat on a large rock in the yard, her eyes welling up with tears.

Suddenly there was movement from the bushes.

She was startled, and upon closer inspection, she saw a rustling sound coming from the shadows, and someone slowly emerged, carrying a small lunchbox in their hand.

"Xu Xiaonuo?" Jiang Mianmian was surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Xu Xiaonuo smiled sheepishly and handed her the lunchbox.

"I noticed you didn't eat dinner... so I brought you some snacks. It's the famous Green Jade Cake from Southeast Asia, and rose-flavored ice jelly!"

Jiang Mianmian felt a warmth in her heart, took the gift, looked sincerely into her eyes, and said, "Thank you."

"Um...you're welcome!" Xu Xiaonuo chuckled sheepishly.

She was an ordinary rich kid, with average looks and grades. She was usually quiet and honest, and sometimes she would speak up for others, but she still didn't have much of a presence in the class.

Therefore, Jiang Mianmian had never paid attention to her before.

But this time, she remembered Xu Xiaonuo's constant protection of her.

Jiang Mianmian took a bite of the dessert. The green jade cake melted in her mouth, and the rose ice jelly was refreshing. Both were delicious foods that could heal the mood.

She suddenly thought of Xia Zhi, and of this buried friendship, and a wave of sorrow washed over her.

"What's wrong?" Xu Xiaonuo noticed her expression was off. "Does this not taste good?"

"No..." Jiang Mianmian shook her head, forcing a smile, "It was delicious, thank you Xiaonuo. I was so lucky to have you when I was at my lowest point..."

"Hehe, don't say that!" Xu Xiaonuo scratched her head. "Jiang Mianmian, actually I really want to be friends with you. I'm very happy to have this opportunity to get closer to you today!"

"Haven't we always been friends?"

“No…” Xu Xiaonuo said softly, “I was referring to friends like you and Xia Zhi.”

When Xia Zhi was mentioned, Jiang Mianmian's eyes dimmed slightly.

“Mianmian, I used to think that you were too outstanding. A girl as outstanding as you should have outstanding friends. I am too ordinary and unworthy of you.”

She smiled somewhat embarrassedly as she spoke; her smile was pure and innocent, as gentle as starlight.

However, in Xu Xiaonuo's eyes, Jiang Mianmian was the unattainable starlight.

Jiang Mianmian took her hand.

The warmth that Xu Xiaonuo brings to her is slowly driving away the chill that Xia Zhi gives her.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Warm people naturally attract warm people, while those who aren't warm enough will eventually drift apart...

“Xiao Nuo,” she said solemnly again, “really, thank you.”

"Don't mention it, don't mention it!"

Xu Xiaonuo smiled broadly, like a little fangirl who had won the favor of her idol.

"Mianmian, are you in a bad mood?"

I guess so...

"Is it because of Gu Zihan's matter? Don't worry, it's Xia Zhi in the police station now, not you! You should eat and sleep as usual, there's no need to ruin your mood over someone else's mistake!"

"It's not for them," Jiang Mianmian said with a bitter smile, "It's because my husband won't answer my calls..."

"ah?"

Xu Xiaonuo had never been in a relationship before and didn't quite understand this feeling of being anxious and insecure.

But seeing that Jiang Mianmian was unhappy, she cursed Jiang Mianmian's husband hundreds of times in her heart, and then looked at her carefully, trying to say something to make her happy.

"By the way, Mianmian! I looked it up online, and everyone says that wishes made under the stars in Southeast Asia are especially effective!"

"Really?" Jiang Mianmian smiled. "My husband said the same thing."

Xu Xiaonuo's expression was bitter: "You can't get past your husband no matter what you do, right..."

Jiang Mianmian was taken aback, then burst out laughing.

"Mianmian," Xu Xiaonuo looked at her curiously, "what does it feel like to like someone?"

"It's... the feeling of wanting to see him all the time."

Xu Xiaonuo had some expectations.

However, at this moment, Jiang Mianmian's phone, which had been silent, suddenly rang, and it was a video call!

"Huo Yu?" Jiang Mianmian was taken aback, then was both surprised and delighted.

Xu Xiaonuo smiled knowingly, patted her shoulder, and waved to her.

"Looks like the person you've been wanting to see has arrived, so I won't keep you company!"

Jiang Mianmian smiled gratefully, watching her skipping figure disappear from sight, and then answered Huo Yu's video call.

"You still remember me?"

She pouted and angrily refused to look at the camera.

But Huo Junyu laughed.

Behind him stretched an endless night, and above him, a dazzling starry sky.