Zhu Xingye looked at the apple in his hand and saw that it had been bitten into a mess. He quickly took out his phone, opened WeChat, and prepared to pay for Zhu Mingyue's behavior.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, how much is this apple? I'll buy it right now."

"...No need." Zhu Jinzhao shook his head, his smile gentle and kind. "It's just an apple, let her have it."

"No way!" Zhu Xingye insisted on paying. "Even half an apple belongs to your family. My sister absolutely cannot eat and take for free!"

"Boss, where is your payment QR code? I absolutely have to pay you for this apple."

"Really, no need!" Zhu Jinzhao waved his hand, also insisting on not taking Zhu Xingye's money. "It's just a small apple the size of my palm. There's no loss in giving it to your sister. You don't need to give me money."

“But…” Zhu Jinzhao tilted his head and carefully examined Zhu Mingyue’s eyes. He saw that although her eyes were clear, her gaze was very unfocused and she could not concentrate. Moreover, she had not uttered a single word since she ate the apple. She just stood there blankly, like a doll that had lost its soul.

Zhu Jinchao frowned, and a cruel guess immediately surfaced in his mind.

"Is your sister sick?" she asked Zhu Xingye tactfully.

Zhu Xingye pursed his lips, his expression turning somewhat bitter: "...Yes, she's sick."

"..." Zhu Jinzhao's eyes widened instantly, her gaze filled with deep sympathy and reluctance. "How could this happen?"

Zhu Xingye didn't really want to talk about this, but since Zhu Jinzhao had asked, he felt he should explain.

“A few months ago, she suddenly fell seriously ill. After recovering, she became somewhat delirious. From a medical perspective, she has a problem with her central nervous system, but from a metaphysical perspective, she has lost her soul.”

"Oh my god..." Zhu Jinzhao's heart tightened, and when she turned to look at Zhu Mingyue again, the sympathy in her eyes turned into deep heartache.

"Sigh..." She sighed regretfully, then suddenly reached out and took the apple from Zhu Xingye's hand, turned around and walked to the fruit counter, taking out a big, red, new apple.

"That apple fell on the ground, let her eat this clean one." She handed the apple to Zhu Xingye, her smile even gentler than before.

Zhu Xingye was taken aback for a moment, then reached out and took the apple: "Thank you."

Zhu Jinzhao: "You're welcome. Your sister is so beautiful, she'll definitely get better soon, don't be too discouraged."

“…Hmm.” Zhu Xingye nodded, held up the red apple in his hand to Zhu Mingyue’s eyes, and gently shook it. “Mingyue, you can eat this apple.”

Zhu Mingyue still couldn't speak, but when she saw the apple, she suddenly turned her head and stared blankly at Zhu Jinzhao in front of her.

Zhu Jinzhao smiled at her and said, "Eat up."

She didn't move or react in any other way.

"Mingyue." Zhu Xingye took her hand and placed the apple steadily in her palm. "This apple was given to you by the boss. You must remember her well. When you find your soul again, come and thank her as soon as possible, okay?"

Zhu Mingyue held the apple in both hands and ignored Zhu Xingye's words, clearly unaware of what he was saying. But after a moment, she suddenly spoke up and called out "Sister" to Zhu Jinzhao.

"Huh?" Zhu Jinzhao was surprised.

Zhu Mingyue blinked and called out again, "Sister..."

“…Mingyue?” Zhu Xingye’s eyes trembled, utterly shocked by Zhu Mingyue’s sudden words.

Zhu Mingyue still ignored him, instead picking up the apple and taking a big bite, then calling out to Zhu Jinzhao:

"elder sister."

“…Eh.” Zhu Jinzhao responded, somewhat surprised and delighted, “So your sister can talk.”

Zhu Xingye frowned and hummed in agreement, looking at Zhu Mingyue in disbelief: "She can talk, but she doesn't talk often. This is the first time she's taken the initiative to greet someone like this since she got sick. She must really like you."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jinzhao couldn't help but reach out and pat Zhu Mingyue's head, saying gently, "Thank you for your kind words."

Zhu Mingyue didn't know how to respond, so she could only obediently call her "sister".

Zhu Jinzhao: "Hey."

Zhu Xingye took a deep breath and turned to look at her: "May I ask what your name is?"

"Her name is Zhu Jinzhao, which means 'drink today, for tomorrow we may die'."

Shi Jing suddenly came out of the store and answered Zhu Xingye's question for Zhu Jinzhao. At the same time, he did not forget to introduce himself: "My name is Shi Jing, Shi as in time and Jing as in mirror. I am Zhu Jinzhao's boyfriend."

He deliberately emphasized the words "boyfriend," and after saying that, he raised one hand and domineeringly pulled Zhu Jinzhao into his arms.

Zhu Xingye saw through his little scheme, smiled helplessly, and then extended a hand to him: "Hello, my name is Zhu Xingye."

"Hello." Shi Jing casually raised her hand and shook hands with him.

He raised his wrist to look at his watch, and tactfully said, "Thank you for the apple. It's getting late, so I'll take Mingyue back first. We have to catch a flight tomorrow."

"Are you leaving?" Zhu Jinchao sensed something was wrong.

Zhu Xingye took Zhu Mingyue's hand tightly: "We're not leaving, we're going home. We live in another city."

"Oh..." Zhu Jinzhao understood. "Then I wish you a safe and smooth journey, and that we'll meet again someday."

Zhu Xingye: "See you again someday."

After saying that, he took Zhu Mingyue's hand and left.

The wind was getting stronger. Zhu Jinzhao looked up at the sky and felt a few raindrops fall on his face.

"It's about to rain, let's hurry home." She took Shi Jing's hand and pulled him into the store.

Shi Jing pursed her lips and mimicked her in a sarcastic tone: "See you again someday~~ See you again someday~~"

"...Did you forget to take your medication today?" Zhu Jinzhao said in a very subtle way.

"Hmph..." Shi Jing pouted, looking unhappy.

Zhu Jinzhao tickled his palm: "What? Are you jealous?"

Shi Jing said matter-of-factly, "Why shouldn't I eat? He's already asking about my girlfriend's name!"

Zhu Jinzhao: "...They were just asking for my name, they didn't want anything from me."

"That won't do!" Shi Jing said forcefully. "You're mine, and no one can ask about you!"

“…Alright.” Zhu Jinzhao had no choice but to spoil him unconditionally. “I won’t let anyone ask about it, and I won’t tell anyone my name.”

"Hmm!" Shi Jing nodded vigorously, finally satisfied.

Zhu Jinzhao let go of his hand and said with a smile, "Go and collect the rest of the fruit. After we finish, let's go home and have hot pot."

"Okay!" Shi Jing happily agreed, and before going to work, she didn't forget to lean down and exchange a sweet kiss with Zhu Jinzhao.

"Wait for me, Chaochao. I'll be back soon."

Zhu Jinzhao smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling: "I've been waiting for you."