Chapter 65 Extra Chapter 2: These Years

That spring, Shi Meng received a new car as a gift from Fu Xuanliao.

Shi Meng's birthday is in November, not yet, and there's no tradition of celebrating anniversaries. When asked about the reason for the gift, Fu Xuanliao retorted, "Can't I just give gifts at other times?"

It seems that no one has ever made such a rule.

After thinking it through, Shi Meng shook her head: "Thank you."

Perhaps not expecting Shi Meng to be so decisive, Fu Xuanliao couldn't help but confirm, "This means... he accepted it?"

Shi Meng nodded: "Mm."

Fu Xuanliao thought to himself that if he had known this would happen, he should have just given him the house keys directly instead of going through all those roundabout tactics. At the same time, he pulled Shi Meng toward the door and said, "Come on, let's go see the car."

Taking into account Shi Meng's height, build, driving habits, and aesthetic needs as an artist, Fu Xuanliao chose a Panamera for Shi Meng. Judging from his expression, the artist seemed quite pleased with it.

As he got into the car for a test drive, Fu Xuanliao stepped on the gas, and the moment he fastened his seatbelt, he lurched forward, only to be pulled back by the brakes. His expression as he looked at the driver's seat was nothing short of horrified: "Did you step on the wrong pedal?"

Having not touched a steering wheel in a long time, Shi Meng was reluctant to admit it, pursing his lips for a while before saying, "No, I drive fast."

Fu Xuanliao, who had slept in Shi Meng's car before, didn't believe it. He took out his phone and swiped around while muttering, "I'll contact a driving school for you. Go get some rehabilitation for a couple of days first."

Shi Meng refused to leave and swiftly snatched Fu Xuanliao's phone.

Fu Xuanliao beckoned: "Give it to me."

Shi Meng shook his head.

Having no other choice, Fu Xuanliao sighed and said, "It's all for your own good. What if something goes wrong..."

Shi Meng stretched out his right hand, clenched his fist and opened it, repeating several times: "It's all better now."

"What needs to be restored is proficiency, just like when you do your usual sketching practice."

Shi Meng shook his head again.

When earnest persuasion failed, Fu Xuanliao had no choice but to put on a stern face and feign displeasure: "If you don't bring it here, I'll..."

Before he could finish speaking, a beautiful face loomed large before his eyes, followed by a sudden chill on his cheek—he had been ambushed.

Having stolen countless kisses from Fu Xuanliao in her dreams, Meng was having her first real-life experience with him. After kissing him, she felt embarrassed and turned to run away, but Fu Xuanliao grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to the driver's seat.

After a long kiss, Fu Xuanliao wrapped one arm around Shi Meng's waist, his voice slightly hoarse: "Who taught you that move?"

When Shi Meng kissed, she was not good at breathing. At this moment, apart from her lips, her usually pale cheeks also showed a kind of intoxicating color. Her eyes were filled with physiological tears, and the corners of her upturned eyes were oozing two red streaks.

Fu Xuanliao ultimately gave up and stopped pursuing where Xiao Mogu had learned these "unorthodox methods".

At least these methods were surprisingly effective on him.

He almost forgot to take his phone back, and when he spoke again, he threw all principles out of the car: "One day of practice is enough."

Shi Meng was still not satisfied with the result and turned his face away without saying a word.

Only when Fu Xuanliao slowly added, "I'll go with you," did Shi Meng raise the corners of her mouth, revealing a barely perceptible smile in the sunlight streaming in from the window.

There was an unexpected situation on the day I went to the driving school.

Both of them had left when Fu Xuanliao received a phone call. Seeing his increasingly furrowed brows, Shi Meng knew that she probably wouldn't be able to go today.

Sure enough, after hanging up the phone, Fu Xuanliao said, "Something came up at the company. I'll take you there first, and I'll be there later."

Shi Meng asked, "How late is 'late'?"

He doesn't usually dwell on things, but once he starts taking them seriously, it means he's unhappy.

But Fu Xuanliao couldn't say for sure how long he would be gone, so he could only say, "I'll do it as soon as possible."

Shi Meng didn't ask how fast he meant. After the car stopped, he got out before Fu Xuanliao could open the door for him, slamming the door shut with a loud bang, leaving Fu Xuanliao with a "I can't be bothered with you" look on his back.

Fu Xuanliao was taken aback for a moment, then found it amusing. Little Mushroom used to only react by remaining silent when angry, but now she throws things.

Well, it's good to express a bad mood; it's better than keeping it bottled up inside.

Fu Xuanliao thought to himself that he must continue to spoil Shi Meng and get rid of his original temper. At the same time, he stepped on the gas and drove to the company, hoping to get back as soon as possible so that Shi Meng wouldn't turn around and smash the new car he had just given him.

In fact, Shi Meng cherishes his belongings and has no interest in smashing cars.

I've lost even more interest in practicing driving.

Fu Xuanliao had arranged everything in advance. The instructor was a middle-aged man who was not irritable. Knowing that Shi Meng had a driver's license but had not driven for a long time, he patiently led him through the mantra several times.

The impatient one was Shi Meng. He didn't want to come here in the first place, and Fu Xuanliao wasn't there. He got behind the wheel, drove around twice, and regained his feel for the car. He told the instructor and was about to leave.

The coach, being paid to do his job, dared not slack off. When asked where Shi Meng was going, Shi Meng casually replied, "To see an art exhibition."

There really was an art exhibition today. I was originally planning to go with Fu Xuanliao after my driving practice.

Shi Meng took a taxi home, his mind filled with the phrase "one shift, two steps, three gear shifts." When he got to the elevator, he didn't press the button for the floor above, but instead went down to the underground parking garage and moved his brand new car, which he hadn't officially driven on the road yet, out.

I practiced driving and went to see an art exhibition while I was at it.

It's only a dozen kilometers, not far. Even if there's a traffic light or a traffic jam, it'll only take half an hour to get there.

The exhibition hall wasn't large, but it was exquisitely decorated, with arched doorways and dark green wallpaper accented with contrasting decorations, easily calming my restlessness.

Shi Meng often went to art exhibitions, but he didn't intend to appreciate or learn from them. He would take a second look at the paintings that caught his eye, and his criteria for judging whether they were pleasing to the eye depended entirely on his mood.

The frustration had mostly subsided, but the disappointment of having her plans disrupted remained. Shi Meng lost interest after just one stroll around and ordered an iced Americano at a café next to the exhibition hall.

I thought Fu Xuanliao's last-minute cancellation was surprising enough, but I never expected that an even bigger surprise could happen in this quiet place full of art.

Fu Xuanliao sped to the company, quickly dealt with the matter, held a short meeting with several department heads, and then hurriedly left.

He refused to let the finance department show him the quarterly reports, telling them to send them to his email and he would look at them later.

Since Fu Xuanliao took over the company, the work atmosphere has become more relaxed and pleasant every day. Some people who are not afraid of trouble have spoken up and teased, "President Fu, why are you in such a hurry? What are you rushing to do?"

Fu Xuanliao turned his head and said with a half-smile, "If you don't leave soon, I'll finish all the work. Or should I just fire you all?"

Everyone chuckled knowingly, then exchanged knowing laughs before going off to get back to work.

On the way back to the driving school, Fu Xuanliao called Shi Meng, but no one answered. He then called the driving instructor and learned that Shi Meng had only practiced twice before leaving without saying where she was going.

She was still angry, as expected.

However, when Shi Meng gets angry, he will hang up immediately or block the caller and refuse to answer; he never lets things go unchecked.

After calling twice more without getting an answer, Fu Xuanliao frowned, realizing that things were probably not that simple.

In reality, Shi Meng had no idea his phone had rung, because in the chaos he had instinctively crawled under a table, leaving his phone on the coffee shop table.

It's hard to believe, but a small art exhibition was robbed at gunpoint.

It's also possible that the purpose wasn't robbery, since the gun only fired once and it was fired into the air, so no one was hurt.

Shi Meng quietly lifted a corner of the tablecloth and looked outside. She saw that the staff and customers present were all squatting on the ground with their heads in their hands. A young man carrying a gun that was either a hunting rifle or a homemade gun was standing in front of a painting, seemingly examining it.

From a distance, Shi Meng couldn't see clearly, but she could see the man clenching his fists, looking furious. Before she could even think about why he was angry, she saw him raise his hand, tear the painting off the wall, and smash it to the ground.

Not satisfied with that, he kicked her a few more times.

Now Shi Meng understood: either he was consumed by jealousy, or there was another hidden reason behind it.

It is said that there is only a thin line between an artist and a mentally ill person; even the thinnest line of greed, anger, and ignorance can drive them to madness.

I have a deep understanding of this situation.

Therefore, he observed for a while longer, trying to figure out whether the person was the former or the latter.

Just as he unconsciously leaned out, his other wrist was grabbed from behind.

"Don't go out." The person who came in had a deep voice. "It's dangerous outside."

For a full three minutes, Shi Meng still couldn't figure out how Fu Xuanliao knew he was here, and specifically under this table.

Fu Xuanliao didn't want to explain further. He grabbed Shi Meng's hand and pulled it back, telling him, "The police are already outside. We'll be able to leave here soon."

Shi Meng's brain managed to process what he had just learned, and he asked, "There are police officers here, how did you get in?"

In this situation, the area should be sealed off; not even a fly could get in, let alone a person.

Fu Xuanliao replied, "They came in through a tunnel."

After realizing that this guy was talking nonsense again, Shi Meng gave him a cold look.

Fu Xuanliao had no choice but to confess truthfully: "I arrived before the police, and I felt something was wrong when I saw people running out."

Shi Meng found him strange: "Then why aren't you running after him?"

"Where would I run off to?" Fu Xuanliao said matter-of-factly. "You're still here."

Shi Meng blinked, seemingly not understanding the cause-and-effect relationship between the two sentences.

He was used to being alone and facing all accidents by himself. He had only been with Fu Xuanliao for a few months in a real sense, which was far from enough for him to change his mindset.

“I’m an adult now,” Shi Meng said. “I can protect myself.”

When he said this, Shi Meng looked directly into Fu Xuanliao's eyes without flinching or showing any sarcasm or mockery.

But it made Fu Xuanliao's heart clench, as if a hidden memory had suddenly stung him with pain.

He remembered how Shi Meng always followed him around when they were little. Back then, he would get impatient and turn to Shi Meng, saying, "You're all grown up now, stop following me around."

But he also said other things.

Fu Xuanliao clenched his palm and gripped Shi Meng's hand even tighter.

“I told you, no one can bully you anymore.” Fu Xuanliao also looked at Shi Meng. “Not even me.”

As is well known, Fu Xuanliao's greatest strength is that he always keeps his word.

Upon hearing the alarm, the gunman panicked and pulled the trigger, causing the gun to discharge accidentally. Without having time to observe which direction the stray bullet was going, Fu Xuanliao first hugged Shi Meng in his arms, turned his body around and used his back to block the outside, becoming Shi Meng's human shield without hesitation.

Fortunately, it wasn't breached. However, during the chaotic retreat, Fu Xuanliao's hand, which was protecting Shi Meng, was grazed by an unidentified sharp object.

I didn't think much of it, but when I got into the car, I touched the steering wheel and it was all wet and covered in blood. When I opened it up, I saw a cut about five or six centimeters long in the center of my palm.

Shi Meng pulled out a few tissues and pressed them against Fu Xuanliao's wound, her lips drooping and her brows furrowed, showing a hint of disgust.

Fu Xuanliao wanted to call the driver, but Shi Meng insisted on driving himself. He made Fu Xuanliao move to the passenger seat and took the driver's seat himself. Before starting the engine, he reminded him, "Press on your wound and don't get the new car dirty."

Fu Xuanliao: ...

People are not as good as cars.

Once the car started moving, Shi Meng became unusually talkative, constantly trying to start a conversation, and Fu Xuanliao realized that he was genuinely worried.

"The art exhibition is nice."

"Really? Then let's go see it together next time."

"Something went wrong, it won't be done anymore."

"It will reopen after a period of renovation."

“That person…” Shi Meng slowed his speech as he mentioned what had just happened, “wasn’t trying to hurt anyone.”

"Yes, I know."

How did you know?

"His gun was a tool for self-defense, not a weapon to fight others."

"……oh."

The conversation paused briefly, then Shi Meng looked up again: "How did you know I was here?"

Fu Xuanliao had intended to make a joke, and the phrase "telepathic understanding" was on the tip of his tongue, but seeing Shi Meng's serious expression, he changed his mind and told the truth: "Your car has a GPS tracker."

"You were faking it?"

"……Um."

“Oh,” Shi Meng said, “you’re monitoring me.”

“This isn’t called surveillance,” Fu Xuanliao explained. “I’m just worried.”

For a long time afterward, Shi Meng remained silent.

Then he changed the subject: "Does your hand hurt?"

Fu Xuanliao was somewhat flattered. He clenched his fist and opened it a few times, saying, "It doesn't hurt much."

Shi Meng looked incredulous.

Fu Xuanliao quickly regretted it. How could he say it didn't hurt when he had such a rare opportunity to show weakness? He should have cried out in pain, that it hurt so much he couldn't open his eyes or breathe, and that he needed to be drowsy to feel better.

Perhaps he was thinking too loudly, because while waiting at a red light, Shi Meng suddenly said, "Hand, stretch out your hand."

Fu Xuanliao thought he wanted to see the wound again, so he held it out for him to see. Unexpectedly, Meng grasped his arm and nodded, her soft lips pressing against his palm.

The kiss was performed with reverence and care, and afterwards, it was done as if nothing had happened, with an excuse such as, "You did the same thing last time."

It refers to Fu Xuanliao's sneak attack on the bus in Xuncheng.

Strangely, he didn't feel anything special at the time; he was just a man of his word. Now, looking back, he feels a little embarrassed.

"Yes," Fu Xuanliao said somewhat uncertainly, "the effect is pretty good, isn't it?"

Fu Xuanliao thought Shi Meng would roll his eyes at him again, or scoff at his "shameless" words, but after thinking for a while, Shi Meng lowered his head and kissed him again. This time, the kiss lingered longer, long enough for Fu Xuanliao to feel the warmth transmitted through the two thin layers of paper.

It turns out that Shi Meng's lips are also warm, as long as the time spent there is long enough.

After an unknown amount of time, Shi Meng raised his head and, somewhat awkwardly, imitated her, asked, "The effect is not bad?"

It was more than just good; Fu Xuanliao was practically flying with joy. Even at a party organized under the guise of his birthday two weeks later, he was still a little carried away when the topic came up.

Gao Lecheng said, "Old Fu is amazing. He dared to venture into such a dangerous situation."

Fu Xuanliao thought this was nothing special. He raised his hand to show everyone: "The most amazing thing is this. It had a long gash, but it healed on its own without going to the hospital."

"Oh," Gao Lecheng drawled, playing along, "which deity descended to earth and blew a breath of divine energy to heal you?"

Shi Meng couldn't stand it anymore, so she got up and went to a quiet corner. Instead of sitting down and taking out paper and pen to draw as usual, she propped her chin up with one hand and poked at the small ornaments on the table with the other.

Fu Xuanliao, having finished showing off, followed over and peered at him for a while: "What are you thinking about?"

Shi Meng ignored him, flicked his finger, and caused the glass bottle sandwiched between the iron racks to flip over. Pure white, crystal-clear sand gathered into a thin stream and fell down from the narrow gap in the middle.

Seeing Shi Meng staring at it intently, Fu Xuanliao said, "Let's buy one for our family too."

Shi Meng shook his head.

It seems expensive, and chasing after fleeting time is a lonely and not fun thing.

As if hearing his thoughts, Fu Xuanliao leaned closer and deliberately lowered his voice: "Then shall we take this back?"

Shi Meng's shoulders twitched, startled: "This is theft."

"How can something done openly and honestly be called stealing?"

Shi Meng then looked up and saw the bright smile on Fu Xuanliao's face. It was hard not to feel annoyed at being teased.

He picked up the hourglass from the table and shoved it into Fu Xuanliao's arms: "Then you take it."

After saying that, he stood up and walked towards the crowd, but after taking two steps, he turned back and said as if to disclaim any connection, "I don't know you."

Jiang Xue, who was laughing uncontrollably at their childish conversation, sat back down at the table and said, "If you two don't know each other, how did I end up with this guy surnamed Gao?"

Gao Lecheng immediately sat up straight and said warily, "We can get together even without the two of them."

Fu Xuanliao scoffed.

After dinner, to save time, they played Truth or Dare. When it was Fu Xuanliao's turn, Jiang Xue gave him a death sentence because of his somewhat arrogant tone earlier.

Who was your first kiss with?

Fu Xuanliao remained silent: "You know the answer already."

Jiang Xue blinked: "Who knows? I don't know."

"So who is it?" Gao Lecheng stirred up trouble. "That 'who,' or this 'who'?"

"Who else could it be?" Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, Fu Xuanliao quickly interjected, "It's the one next to me."

Upon hearing this, Meng exclaimed "Ah!" in surprise.

Gao Lecheng got excited: "Look, look, the parties involved are unaware of this."

When the bottle was pointed at Shi Meng, he was asked the same question, "Who was your first love?" Just as Shi Meng was about to use the same trick to escape by playing dare, Fu Xuanliao quickly moved away, giving up the chance to be kissed and forcing him to answer.

Shi Meng rarely blushes, and even her shyness is more unusual than others.

After dawdling for a long time and having no other choice, he had no choice but to borrow a solution right under everyone's noses, simplifying it further: "...beside me."

Sitting to Shi Meng's left, Jiang Xue, never one to miss a good show, slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "So, Mengmeng's first love was me!"

Fu Xuanliao's frustration lasted until after the event ended, when he saw a brand-new Cullinan parked downstairs, its metal angel emblem on the hood gleaming with iridescent light.

Shi Meng raised his hand and lightly pointed, saying it was a birthday gift for him.

Her heart skipped a beat; she was startled. Coming to her senses, she felt a pang of heartache. Fu Xuanliao suddenly realized, "No wonder you were frantically taking on manuscripts lately."

As they talked, Shi Meng opened the passenger door and got in. He gave Fu Xuanliao a calm look and said in a calm voice, "The royalties aren't much. I already have money."

Fu Xuanliao: ...

Is this what it feels like to be kept by a rich man?

He opened the door and got into the car; the simple act of lifting his foot created the effect of a new emperor ascending the throne. Fu Xuanliao considered the car's features and price while regretting that he hadn't given Shi Meng a car of equal value, thinking he should have kept a low profile.

But that's not necessarily true. Maybe he gave him a car worth five or six million, and Shi Meng gave him a car worth tens of millions.

This reflects Shi Meng's stubborn competitiveness, but it's also his way of being kind to others.

Romance between men is so simple and unpretentious.

Fu Xuanliao gladly accepted the gift and resolved to visit several new real estate developments before Meng's birthday next month.

The only thing more expensive than this car is a house.

The new car hit the road, and we drove all the way to the mountains in the suburbs, enjoying the cool autumn breeze of Fengcheng.

In a secluded spot, the night mist melts the distant mountains and forests into a mottled, deep green, like patches of color flowing freely on a canvas.

I forget who initiated it, but the two shared a long kiss in the car, just like last time.

After the kiss, Fu Xuanliao chuckled softly and said, "Is this some kind of new car blessing ceremony?"

Shi Meng leaned in and bit his mouth, which was full of nonsense.

He was so fierce that it reminded Fu Xuanliao of what happened last time, and he couldn't help but ask, "What are you going to do if I get called back to the company by phone right now?"

It was just a hypothetical situation, yet it made Shi Meng's eyes turn cold, even revealing a hint of icy glint.

“I’ve already spoken to your father,” Shi Meng said. “It won’t happen again.”

Fu Xuanliao was completely unaware of this: "You told my dad? What did he say?"

Shi Meng took it for granted: "Tell him not to always ask you to work overtime on holidays."

Fu Xuanliao was speechless for a long time: "What did he say?"

He said it was for your own good.

"..."

"I told you I would be good to you."

When he said this, Shi Meng's face was expressionless, only his clear black and white eyes were looking at Fu Xuanliao.

After a long silence, Fu Xuanliao finally found his voice: "Did he believe it?"

Shi Meng neither shook his head nor nodded: "This has nothing to do with him."

"I'm good to you, that's enough."

People often say that Shi Meng and others are terrifyingly crazy. They are immersed in their own little world, turning their backs on the outside world and reality. They are willful, obsessive, possessive, and relentless in pursuing their goals.

Fu Xuanliao used to think so too, but now he is extremely grateful that Shi Meng chose him, for better or for worse.

And it came with overwhelming force, pulling him into that little world without regard for anything else. From then on, he could no longer hear the noisy sounds of the outside world; Shi Meng was the only gravitational pull that caused him to fall downwards.

Let him enjoy the thrill of being in control, and be equally willing and exhilarated to be controlled.

Fu Xuanliao couldn't wait a moment longer; he gripped the steering wheel with both hands and was about to start the car.

"Where to?" Shi Meng asked.

“Let’s install a GPS tracking system on this car too,” Fu Xuanliao said.

Shi Meng placed his hand on Fu Xuanliao's injured hand, intending to stop him.

As he did in many shy moments, he lowered his eyelashes and whispered, "I've already... been pretending."

Fu Xuanliao was taken aback at first, then sincerely praised, "Well done."

Since madness is contagious, let's go mad together. Ideally, from now on, there will only be the two of them in the world, undisturbed by anyone else.

Fu Xuanliao started the car and prepared to turn around.

Shi Meng asked again where they were going, and he replied, "To find a bed."

The pent-up, intense emotions desperately need a vigorous workout to release.

Shi Meng, who shared the same thought, gripped his hand tightly, loosened it slightly, and then gripped it even tighter.

Her voice was still soft, tinged with a husky hue of desire, and her eyes were sometimes misty with tears as she said to Fu Xuanliao, "It's fine here too."

It is both an order and an invitation.

Deep in the mountains, the breath of the plants and the rising heat surged violently.

Afterwards, Shi Meng leaned lazily against the reclined seat, wiped away the condensation on the car window with her fingers as if painting, and turned her head to look out the window.

Seeing this scene inexplicably reminded Fu Xuanliao of a New Year's Eve one year when Shi Meng was watching the receding scenery outside the car window, her breathing so shallow it seemed she was about to disappear.

A moment of panic made Fu Xuanliao hug him tighter and try to confirm again: "Tell me, who was your first love?"

She wanted to use this opportunity to capture him and keep him firmly in her arms.

Never before had Fu Xuanliao felt such an urgent urgency to hear Shi Meng say—"It's you, it's you."

From beginning to end, it's all about you.

But Shi Meng went astray. A little mushroom who never cared about worldly affairs got involved in worldly love and learned the tricks of the common people to whet people's appetites.

He curled the corners of his lips into a smile: "What do you think?"

Fu Xuanliao wanted to hear him say it himself: "It's not up to me to decide, you say it."

Shi Meng squinted and yawned: "I forgot."

I don't believe it.

Unable to hold back, Shi Meng let out a soft chuckle.

After saying that, Fu Xuanliao also felt that his words were childish. He remained silent for a while, but still wanted to hear more: "How about we recall some more..."

Before she could finish speaking, Shi Meng pressed her lips down with his index finger.

"Shh—" Shi Meng's low voice had a unique allure, making it hard for anyone who heard it to refuse.

He winked at Fu Xuanliao, a wink that was both pleading and a command: "Leave me some props too."

The hourglass turns backward, as if time has suddenly turned back.

Everyone says Shi Meng is crazy, but Fu Xuanliao knows that all the thorns he raises are tools to protect himself, not weapons to harm others.

This is a rare instance of him, an ordinary mortal, being able to empathize with a high-ranking artist.

There is no reason not to accept even the slightest reservation made by an artist after making numerous concessions.

"Fine, I surrender." Fu Xuanliao sighed, seemingly helpless. "If you won't tell me, I will."

Afraid that the other person might not hear him clearly, he said, word by word, "My first kiss was with you, and my first love was also with you."

We acted openly and honestly; no one stole or robbed anyone.

Shi Meng pretended not to understand his implied meaning and let herself become addicted to imitating him: "I don't believe it."

Fu Xuanliao dug his own hole and jumped in, but he wasn't angry. He turned around and pressed down on Shi Meng's head: "If you don't believe me, let's try again."

His tone was serious and his expression solemn, as if he truly wanted to use this to prove something.

Shi Meng replied seriously, "But you just surrendered."

Fu Xuanliao raised his eyebrows: "I said surrender, not disarmament."

After a moment of stunned silence, Shi Meng realized what "disarming" meant.

She raised her foot to kick him, but Fu Xuanliao grabbed her ankle and put it back around her waist: "The mountain road is bumpy, first love, hold on tight."

Shi Meng was already embarrassed by his shamelessness and wanted to run away. The new nickname made her even more ashamed. Unable to escape, she opened her mouth and bit his shoulder, just like before.

Even if the bite goes deep enough to see the bone, it leaves an indelible mark.

After all, only a shoulder that can be leaned on and can also be hurt can make the first love worthwhile and the long years go by.

A note from the author:

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

There will be a parallel world side story later, which may be quite long and will be updated in installments for free reading.

Also, a new novel called "Rumors" has started next door, and it's expected to be updated at the end of October. If you're interested, you can bookmark it. Thanks!