Thinking back to when I first came to Dali, I feel a mix of emotions. Back then, I not only had close friends like Coach Ma and Bai Lu, but also Ye Zhi... My favorite moment was when I bumped into her by Erhai Lake. Although we didn't have much to say to each other, the feeling of enjoying solitude seemed to connect our hearts.

To this day, I still remember her clothes, her long hair; I remember her scent and her quiet demeanor.

Perhaps, I already felt a fondness for Dali the moment I first came into close contact with the city...

Sadly, I don't know when her feelings for me began... If she were still alive, I would never respect her silence like before... I have a million questions for her, asking if she misses me... asking her how much longer I have to wait?

...

During my silence, Bai Lu asked me again, "By the way, did you know that Tie Nan was sentenced in the next few days?"

I paused for a moment, then replied, "I know, Peach just came to see me."

"About Tetsuo?"

I sighed: "Not entirely... She came to say goodbye... She went back to Shanghai with a man."

Bai Lu looked at me in surprise at first, then tears welled up in her eyes. She choked and said to me, "You know, sometimes when I look at Taozi, it's like looking at my own shadow... We're all holding on, but she's the one who's the first to give up. If Tie Nan knew, he would be devastated."

"We all know what the outcome will be, but there's nothing we can do... that's life!"

Bai Lu was unwilling to accept this. After a long silence, she said, "Shouldn't all of us who started this business together be a couple by now? ... I really can't understand how things turned out like this. ... Some have broken up, some have scattered... It seems like all the bad things have happened to us."

"Maybe it's because neither of us are rule-abiding people."

Bai Lu was lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What about you and Sisi?... Why aren't you together?"

My heart skipped a beat. After calming myself down, I replied, "You and Coach Ma were away for a while, and there were some things that happened that you don't know about..."

Bai Lu interrupted me: "No, no... You just didn't see her best side, or maybe you put too much pressure on yourself, feeling that your financial situation isn't good enough... But you're already a successful person, and her family has also encountered such a big change... With the other's fortunes shifting, shouldn't you be more confident?"

"Bai Lu, if you really consider me a friend, don't say these things to me at this time."

"But you will eventually have to face a new life... Isn't Sisi the best choice?... I'm afraid that the women in the future will only be after your current achievements, not love, and you won't be happy."

"I really don't want to think that far ahead."

"But I still want to advise you to look around... After going through so much, who is still by your side in the end? And who accompanied you through those hardships!"

I didn't want to hear Bai Lu continue. I glanced at her, picked up the cigarette case and wallet from the table, and walked out of the bar...

She then said to me from behind, "You'll regret missing out on a girl as sincere as Sisi."

...

They were probably all people who liked to wander around the ancient city, so on my way from Renmin Road to Bo'ai Road, I saw Yang Sisi again at a snack stall selling rice noodles. But this time she wasn't alone; Cao Xiaobei was with her.

The two chatted and laughed, looking very happy. Beside Cao Xiaobei was a gift box containing a doll, possibly a character from an online game. This must have been a gift from Yang Sisi to Cao Xiaobei; because I had previously suggested that she also give Cao Xiaobei a gift as a return gift for giving her the parasol.

Seeing how sweetly she smiled, it seemed she had already opened her heart to Cao Xiaobei.

Yang Sisi was facing away from me, her view obstructed, so Cao Xiaobei was the first to notice me standing at the intersection. He had always harbored hostility towards me, and since he rarely had the chance to eat with Yang Sisi, he certainly didn't want me to ruin the atmosphere, so after a brief eye contact, he ignored me.

I had no intention of causing any damage. I turned around, intending to take another route. However, the moment I turned, I bumped into a waiter who was emptying leftover food into the trash can. I was immediately drenched in oil and became quite disheveled.

The waiter kept apologizing, and I wasn't sure if the incident had disturbed Yang Sisi. I kept saying it was okay as I took off my oil-stained coat and walked in another direction…

...

Back at my lodgings, the first thing I did was take off my clothes and take a cold shower. I was shivering from the cold, but it made me feel a little better because I focused my attention on the cold sensation on my skin.

I don't want to think about that scene too many times, because when I planned to buy her a parasol, I didn't expect anything in return. I just instinctively hoped that she could suffer less.

If she insists that only Cao Xiaobei can care about her so much, it only proves that Cao Xiaobei is indeed better to her in daily life, so for me, there's even less to care about.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!