"If you think I'm a jerk, then go ahead and curse me... After you're done cursing, I'll ask you something."

"Scumbag."

I sniffed, feeling inexplicably uneasy, but I still sent a text message asking, "Judging from what you've said, you should know where Lu Jia went, right?"

"Why didn't you do this sooner... only now are you asking?"

"Don't blame me. There are some things you don't know the inside story... I think there might still be things that Lu Jia and I haven't explained to each other."

"I'm just an observer, I don't need to know your inside story. From the information I've received, you're just a fickle piece of trash."

I got angry and quickly replied, "Get this straight, all of this happened after Lu Jia and I broke up. She was the one who chose to break up with me... If you were me, what could you do? Or are you capable of handling things better than me?... If not, please calmly tell me what you know."

This time, she paused for a moment before replying: "I admit, I was a bit too extreme... This matter cannot be solely blamed on you; Lu Jia also bears some responsibility."

What responsibility does she bear?

"I can't say much about this, you should talk to her yourself."

"She's gone, and I can't get in touch with her... Could you give me her contact information?"

The other person hesitated for a moment, then replied, "If you really think she's important to you, then go to Kunming to find her. She bought a plane ticket to Paris from Kunming for tomorrow afternoon... If you decide to go, I'll help you find out which hotel she's staying at, but I can't give you her contact information. If you don't choose to be together, you can't let her change her phone number again, right?"

"Okay, I won't ask. But I want to confirm one last thing with you: during the six months we've been apart, did she really go to France to study?"

"Absolutely true."

...

After putting down my phone, I felt extremely conflicted. I knew I shouldn't go to Kunming, but subconsciously, a voice was controlling me, compelling me to meet Lu Jia. This voice was incredibly powerful, and it quickly made me restless.

The next moment, I saw the car key that Ye Zhi had left behind. It seemed to be more than just a car key; it could also unlock a lock, allowing me to make a choice between the present and the past.

Yes, I shouldn't spend New Year's Eve alone. I should resolve my inner conflict and then be open and honest with Ye Zhi.

Or, it could be a different ending.

And these are also what Ye Zhi wanted to see, so she gave me this choice.