bookstore at the entrance of D University.

Shen Ru'an actually wanted to play with Hua Hua a little longer before coming out, but she was afraid that Fu Jiu would change his mind and miss the opportunity to go out, so she still came.

As soon as she mentioned that she would work at the bookstore, Zhang Jingyi, who had been idle at home, also came running over.

"How can you disappear like this during the holiday? Now you're just meeting me for a while." Zhang Jingyi sat in a seat opposite, holding a piece of chilled watermelon in her hand, her tone a bit resentful.

Shen Ru'an was flipping through a book, stopped and said, her manner calm and straightforward, about Lu Yu's sudden illness and death.

Zhang Jingyi also fell silent upon hearing this, her expression surprised, and after a moment, carefully asked, "Shen Ru'an, the sudden death of your aunt... You, you must be..."

"I'm staying with Uncle Fu now. I don't want to return to my rental apartment."

That place was filled with memories of her mother, and just thinking about it made her eyes wet.

Zhang Jingyi quickly handed her a tissue, "Sweetie... mourn..."

She was also very surprised and saddened by the sudden death of Lu Yu, but there was little she could do for the bereaved, so she could only look at the girl in front of her, who was trying to suppress her tears while appearing strong.

"It's okay, I've moved on."

Zhang Jingyi handed her the tissue, "Sweetie, you must console yourself."

Shen Ru'an nodded, "I know."

"Really," Zhang Jingyi saw that her expression was a bit better, and then she said more seriously, "Ru'an, even though this Fu Jiugao seems to really like you, you are still just his girlfriend now. Remember to take care of yourself."

Shen Ru'an didn't know about the many life-and-death events between them, but she followed past experiences and kindly warned her innocent friend.

"Know it."

Zhang Jingyi saw that she was being casual, so she took it more seriously, "If he treats you poorly, just move out, and you can live with me."

Shen Ru'an had nowhere to go in the capital since her family broke up, and she felt touched by this. She looked up at the girl in front of her, her tone serious, "Thank you, Jingyi. It's so nice of you."

"No need to be polite to me."

The two girls chatted for a while longer. Zhang Jingyi talked about various entertainment news and which company had introduced a new handsome guy, but Shen Ru'an wasn't interested in these. She was flipping through her book, responding occasionally.

Zhang Jingyi, however, suddenly exclaimed, "Menmen scored 95 points and above, all elective courses are excellent. Ru'an, don't you let anyone live?"

Shen Ru'an didn't show any emotion, "Is that exaggerated?"

"Yes," Zhang Jingyi flipped through the phone and said with a smile.

"This is your face, the kill power of your beauty has just killed in our school. When you go back to school, you will definitely be flooded with love letters."

Shen Ru'an couldn't be bothered, "Is it that exaggerated?"

"Yes," Zhang Jingyi pinched the fair cheeks of the girl in front of her, helplessly said.

"The killing power of your face is amazing. When you first came to school, you almost pushed the school beauty down. Now, with this super genius status, you have killed it again. Then you are sure to be flooded with love letters when you go back to school."

Shen Ru'an pursed her lips, expressionless, "I still don't want that. Uncle Fu will be jealous."

"..." Zhang Jingyi's expression was that of being fed dog food unexpectedly.

Shen Ru'an saw that she was looking at her with a face full of dog food, so she laughed softly and continued to read her book. Zhang Jingyi then went on to chatter in her ear about various news.

After some time, she felt that there was no sound at all.

"Why don't you read anymore—"

Shen Ru'an raised her head and saw that Zhang Jingyi was looking at her behind with a slightly startled expression. She turned her head to look and was also taken aback by the scene.

The tall and slender young man was in a blue sweatshirt, his handsome features a bit thinner than before, and his usually bright eyes were shadowed with a faint blueish black ring around them.

He walked with long strides towards them, his gaze passing over everyone, and finally landing on the girl dressed in a white dress.

Zhang Jingyi, thinking of her failed romance last time, knew he couldn't come to find her either, so she awkwardly got up, "Ru'an, I'll come to find you later. You two... talk first."

As she passed by the youth, a faint breeze of grass and flowers enveloped her, her heart pounding. But the youth didn't even cast her a glance.

Zhang Jingyi felt her heart being torn apart, and she pressed down on the ache in her heart and left.

The youth stood in front of the girl, examining her from top to bottom. Shen Ru'an stared at him, feeling that he seemed to ease his breath after inspecting her.

They were sitting and standing, very close, but it felt like they were looking at each other from a distance. Neither knew how to open their mouths.

The scene seemed to be frozen.

"I'm sorry."

After a long time, they both said these words at the same time.

Shen Ru'an was surprised that the first thing he said to her after the incident was "I'm sorry." She couldn't look at his eyes anymore, and suddenly dropped her head, her voice muffled, "Qingyang, you have nothing to apologize for. It's me... who's sorry to you."

Tang Qingyang still looked down at her, and she lowered her head without a word, her voice almost choking, "Qingyang, you still ask me like this."

"Did you regret it?" His voice was calm.

Shen Ru'an looked at him, and she shook her head resolutely.

Tang Qingyang then softly laughed, "Ru'an, I told you, as long as you don't regret it, you can do whatever you want..."

He looked at her with unblinking eyes, as if there were a thousand stars in the infinite sadness, "—including me."

"Qingyang..."

Shen Ru'an felt this was more painful than she had imagined, "I don't regret it, but I don't want you to be like this... I don't want to... at all."

"Ru'an, don't cry," he knelt down, maintaining a distance and handing her a piece of paper, "I'm not worth your tears."