The National Day holiday coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival.

On this day of family reunion, Ying Qian was alone as always. She got up in the morning and went to the supermarket to buy a mooncake gift box and some ingredients, complaining that it was too expensive while paying for it.

No matter what, a sense of ritual is still necessary.

We can't just skip the holiday because we're all alone, can we? That's impossible.

She took a picture in front of the mirror in the supermarket. Her light brown dress made her look gentle and elegant. Half of her face was covered by her phone in the photo, but her smile was bright.

She carried two huge bags downstairs, her shoulders swaying from side to side, which looked quite funny, but they were just too heavy! She genuinely regretted buying so much stuff.

"Ying Qian!" a voice called from behind. "Let me help you."

When she saw Chen Chang's beautiful face, she was stunned for a moment, never expecting it to be him. After realizing it, she declined, saying, "It's okay, I can do it myself!"

"Did you come alone, senior?"

Chen Chang had nothing in his hands, clearly indicating he had come with someone else. "I'm not alone, I came with my parents. I didn't want to buy anything, but when I saw you alone, I came out to meet you."

Her refusal was useless. After saying this, Chen Chang took the bag from her hand and walked alongside her.

The strength of an adult male is considerable; two bags that could almost crush Ying Qian were handled by Shen Chang as easily as two bottles of mineral water.

"Didn't Chen Wenzhi come with you? Aren't you two often together?" He found one of the few common topics between them.

Speaking of Chen Wenzhi, Ying Qian felt a little guilty.

He and Zhao Yaya went back to their hometown, intending to take her with them, but she was afraid of troubling them, so she lied and said she was going back to Qincheng with Meng Beiyan to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Even if Zhao Yaya tried to kidnap her, she refused.

Chen Wenzhi really wanted her to go back with him, but she was so adamant that there was nothing he could do.

In fact, she has no plans at all recently, let alone going back to Qincheng. He is not even sure if he has enough money to buy a train ticket... He is practically penniless these past two days.

I make ends meet with the money I've saved up, the occasional red envelopes from my aunts and uncles, and my father who gives me some money every month.

Her father's second marriage was postponed for some reason, so she could only stay at home. She wanted to go out and have fun, but everyone else was with their families, and she felt awkward being alone.

"Oh, he... went back to his hometown." She thought for a few seconds, then decided to tell the truth. She figured there was no point in lying to Shen Chang. He and Chen Wenzhi were friends, and perhaps he was just testing her.

"And you?" Shen Chang asked, still as gentle as when they first met, in a kind and gentle voice. "Don't you have any plans for the Mid-Autumn Festival? Aren't you going home?"

"Uh..." Her face immediately turned ashen, and the emotions in her eyes were unclear, perhaps sadness, or regret, but it was hard to say and even harder to see.

Chen Chang realized he had said the wrong thing, opened his lips a few times, but ultimately chose to remain silent. He really wanted to slap himself; he knew everything, yet he still spoke without thinking.

Soon after, Shen Chang followed Ying Qian to the entrance of the residential area and asked in surprise, "You live here?"

"We just moved here not long ago."

"Are you alone or with your brother?" His gaze was calm. He was too busy with his studies these past few days to bother with other things.

Ying Qian smiled bitterly, looking up at his eyes, which were brimming with laughter: "Alone."

She didn't know how Shen Chang knew these things about her; it must have been Shen Yun who told her.

They stood at the entrance of the residential compound and chatted.

"Shouldn't you spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with them?"

Ying Qian shook her head helplessly and forced a smile: "It's okay, I just prefer being alone."

Shen Chang already knew what was going on. It wasn't that she liked someone; it was that the family had never planned to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with her, nor did they treat her as family.

"If you have time, come to my house for a visit. Shen Yun will be very happy."

"good!"

Shen Chang was about to see her off again when Ying Qian said, "No need, I can do it myself! Thank you for today, senior!" With that, she bowed.

A wave of sorrow welled up in his chest, his fingertips trembled uncontrollably, and when he looked up, his pupils reflected her back. Her familiar face reappeared in his mind, and he murmured, "Xi Yin, is that you?"

He didn't leave until the figure in his pupils disappeared.

I felt guilty again; how could I have mistaken Ying Qian for Xi Yin…

It is said that memories become increasingly blurred, and he knows this all too well. He can no longer remember her exact appearance, only a vague impression, along with that ID photo, which has become a memory forever.

But then Ying Qian appeared, unexpectedly entering his life. Upon seeing her, the guilt he felt back then surged back, and those painful memories swept over him.

Her voice was so similar to Xi Yin's in my memory, everything about her was so alike.

He began to regret his initial attempts to slander and harm Xi Yin because he resented her for leaving him; now he was only grateful.

Fortunately, Ying Qian knew nothing; fortunately, Ying Qian had someone protecting her; fortunately, Ying Qian wasn't Xi Yin...

He was afraid that Ying Qian would become the next Xi Yin, so he hoped that Chen Wenzhi would let go. Later, he realized that Ying Qian and Xi Yin were not so similar.

She would never give up everything for Chen Wenzhi, not even all that she had. In some ways, she was selfish, but that was also a form of protection.

I returned home feeling melancholy and sorrowful.

My parents had lunch and then left again. They are business people and are very busy even on holidays.

Shen Yun was already used to it and helped her brother clear the dishes.

"Is Sister Ying Qian all alone?"

"Um."

Can I go see her?

Chen Chang paused in his hand as he was clearing away the plates, then quickly resumed his work, saying, "Of course."

Shen Yunting hoped her brother could get over that painful experience, so she pressed her advantage and asked, "Then how about you come with me to find her? We can spend the Mid-Autumn Festival together."

"..." He didn't speak, but turned his back and replied, "No."

“Okay…” Shen Yun sighed.

In the afternoon, Shen Yun slung a bag over his shoulder and went to find Ying Qian.

She was wearing an apron when she opened the door, and there were still dish soap bubbles on the tip of her nose. She was so cute.

"Washing the dishes?" Shen Yun peeked in, then skillfully changed his shoes and went to the kitchen to help her.

What brings you here?

"Are you happy, Sister Yingqian~" Shen Yun rubbed against Yingqian like a clingy little kitten. "Let's go out tonight! Let's go to the food street."

Ying Qian agreed without hesitation.

The two of them were lying on the sofa watching a variety show.

Shen Yun asked casually, "Sister Ying Qian, do you know what Xi Yin looks like?"

"Xi Yin?" Her mind raced, searching for a story. She nodded and then shook her head. "I know her, but I really don't know what she looks like..."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yun was not surprised. He tapped a few times on his phone screen and sent a photo.