There was no evening self-study on Friday. When school ended, a slanting ray of sunlight on the horizon bathed everything in an orange-yellow light.

I kept running into my male friend when I went home these past few days, and then I realized we lived in the same neighborhood.

"Be careful, don't just stand there daydreaming when you cross the street." The man's voice was as cold as ever, but his words were warm. "Also, Shen Yun lives in the apartment complex across from mine, you can come find me."

If he hadn't heard it with his own ears, Lan Yan would never have believed that these words came from Chen Wenzhi's mouth.

Ying Qian nodded frantically, "I know, I know, stop nagging!"

Lan Yan stretched his neck and pulled Ying Qian away quickly.

Why do you think Chen Wenzhi is long-winded?

"Don't let his usual cold demeanor fool you," Ying Qian spat. "Sometimes, he can be incredibly talkative!"

Hearing this, Lan Yan was genuinely a bit stunned.

He remained silent for a long time.

"What's wrong? Don't you believe me?" Ying Qian pouted, her eyes sparkling with laughter, and boasted, "Even the coldest stone can be warmed by my fiery passion!"

The male friend was worried for his best friend, and Chen Wenzhi had probably already found someone else.

She made one final probe: "Are you interested in him?"

"!"

Ying Qian suddenly became alert, her breath hitched slightly, but she quickly put on a carefree grin and said, "Of course not, how could I be interested in him?"

Her face flushed red, and she said guiltily, "In my heart, he's a jerk."

Eyes don't lie; the moment his name was mentioned, her eyes lit up, seemingly indicating her unusual feelings for him.

The man's confidant probably understood.

Anyway, there's no chance of me becoming your best friend...

When Ying Qian curved her lips into a smile, the small dimples on her cheeks made her look cute and approachable, embodying the word "sweet girl" from head to toe.

Why isn't she likable?

She has a good personality, is well-behaved and considerate, and doesn't like to cause trouble. What I find most irresistible is that she is also good at studying.

A model student in every way.

Moreover, Lan Yan has never seen Ying Qian lose her temper or shed tears; she always greets him with a smile.

Therefore, she always thought Ying Qian was a very strong person.

"Ying Qian, does Chen Wenzhi have someone he likes?" Lan Yan asked, though she probably already knew the answer.

"No." Ying Qian answered this question quite readily.

She added, "If there are any, it would probably be 53, Wang Houxiong, Huanggang..."

The man made a "stop" gesture; she didn't believe him. He said:

"Now I finally understand why Chen Wenzhi was so hard to pursue. He probably doesn't even know what it feels like to like someone of the opposite sex!"

There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

Upon hearing this, Ying Qian's eyes darkened imperceptibly, and her fingers, which were intertwined behind her back, clenched even tighter. Lowering her gaze, she casually changed the subject: "Has your homeroom teacher been losing her temper lately?"

Lan Yan glanced into her eyes, and her entire thought was written on her face. She was avoiding the topic of Chen Wenzhi.

Since she didn't want to continue the conversation about Chen Wenzhi, we could only go along with her topic.

Lan Yan sighed and put his arm around her shoulder.

By the time I got home, the sun had completely set, leaving a pale purple hue in the wispy clouds in the sky.

Ying Qian collapsed onto the bed and let out a deep sigh.

The phone rang several times.

It is Chen Wenzhi.

She clutched her phone tightly to her chest and closed her eyes wearily.

Meng Beiyan takes the weekend off.

When he returned home that evening and found the lights off, he felt extremely panicked and rushed into her bedroom without even changing his shoes.

Seeing this little lazy cat lying on the bed fast asleep, with rosy cheeks.

A huge weight was lifted from his heart. He leaned against the door frame. The room was dim, but he could still vaguely make out her face. Years had passed, but she hadn't changed at all.

Her figure has improved; she's no longer skinny and gaunt.

He groaned a few times, wishing Ying Qian would come and beg him someday.

The image of her soft, sweet voice from years ago keeps echoing in my mind, whispering in my ear: "Brother, buy me that doll, brother is the best~"

He walked into the room and smelled the familiar scent of gardenias, which brought him a sense of peace.

Her desk lamp was on, and several test papers and draft papers were scattered haphazardly on the table.

As his gaze swept across a spot, a tearing pain shot through his heart to his central nervous system, and his entire body seemed to be rejecting this despicable soul.

He felt guilty, and even more so, deeply pained by his sins.

Back then, if it weren't for his suggestion, Ying Qian's mother wouldn't have resolutely abandoned Ying Qian, much less gone abroad to start a new family.

Her mother's original wish was to raise Ying Qian alone until she grew up.

After Meng Beiyan said just a few words, everything changed.

A mother's deep love is shattered in her new family and the glitz and glamour of modern life.

Loving children is a mother's nature, but this love has been transferred to her new family.

She cruelly transferred all her hatred for her ex-husband onto the little girl she hadn't seen for years, who kept pestering her.

Meng Beiyan's eyes were filled with endless darkness.

As far as the eye can see, there is a draft paper that is almost completely covered with writing.

Will my mother still want me?

Does my mother hate me?

I wish I could go back to the way things were.

Such words filled the entire draft paper...

The veins on Meng Beiyan's forehead were clearly visible. He turned back to look at the sleeping little girl, overwhelmed by apology and self-reproach.

In the darkness, only a desk lamp was on.

He went to the balcony and lit a cigarette.

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