Chapter 77: Original Version 

"Scientists have discovered that a humid environment can lead to stomach aches, and in the oceanic climate of Europe, people often suffer from gastric problems..."

In the evening, the street was lit with lamps, and the sound of rain hitting the car window drowned out the broadcast inside the car. Gu Xizhi sat in the driver's seat, silently watching the wide asphalt road outside the car window, her gaze seemingly free from anxiety.

She had been here ever since parting with Lili. It had been a whole afternoon. The scenes from last night, or rather, early this morning, kept replaying in her mind. The street lamps on the roadside and the towering buildings around had once again become mere background.

A few taps on the car window interrupted Gu Xizhi's thoughts. When she looked to the side, she saw Qu Xizhi holding an umbrella by the car, which surprised her. She then unlocked the car.

As the car door opened, the sound of the rain became clearer, but it soon disappeared from the outside of the window. Gu Xizhi looked at Qu Xizhi, who was holding dessert and an umbrella, and asked in astonishment, "How did you know I was here?"

Qu Xizhi put away the umbrella and turned to look at Gu Xizhi with a smile. "I'm smart." She then shook the dessert in her hand. "From the place you like."

Gu Xizhi glanced at what she was holding, initially surprised but quickly becoming emotionally complex.

"Like a perfect scene from a movie."

"But you didn't accept it last night," Qu Xizhi said as she opened the dessert box, her tone sounding like a complaint but also playful.

Gu Xizhi frowned. "No."

Qu Xizhi turned to look at her and, seeing that she wasn't in the best mood, she smiled and pinched the colorful dessert. "Are you angry?" She brought it to Gu Xizhi's lips. "Try a bite."

With her fair fingertip right in front of her, as if she wanted to feed her directly, Gu Xizhi felt a bit uncomfortable with this intimacy but took a small bite.

"I didn't answer back then because I was thinking, not for the reasons you might have thought," she spoke after finishing the dessert. "It's still very delicious."

Qu Xizhi's pupils took a while to refocus, and she smiled. "Are you afraid I'd kneel?"

Gu Xizhi's eating paused, and she turned to look at Qu Xizhi, then put down the food and looked out at the rainy mist outside.

"Believe it or not, the airport incident three years ago was a nightmare."

"Then why are you so determined?" Qu Xizhi tilted her head and looked outside.

"Sometimes, love isn't everything." It seemed like Gu Xizhi had a lot to say. She opened her mouth but fell silent, then after a while, she continued, "Qu Xizhi, after we finish shooting the movie, let's go see Yiqing together, okay? I haven't figured out how to face her, but I think we should talk to her properly."

"Okay," Qu Xizhi checked the calendar. "How about going in June?"

"My schedule is packed in June and July, but I want to set aside a good chunk of time to go there and spend some time with her," Gu Xizhi said, thinking for a moment. "How about October?"

"October won't work," Qu Xizhi quickly suggested, "How about September?"

"September has a concert going on," Gu Xizhi pondered for a while. "What about November?"

"November won't work either."

Gu Xizhi sounded a bit defeated. "Do you have a lot of work scheduled after October?"

Qu Xizhi stared at her and remained silent for a long time, just looking at her quietly.

Gu Xizhi finally sensed something was off and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Qu Xizhi smiled and said, "Although I haven't confirmed if I have work after October, I believe I do. However, I can make time in early October."

"Then let's go in October."

Qu Xizhi lightly touched her lips and kept her gaze on Gu Xizhi for a while. "Alright."

The dessert that was previously half-eaten was finally placed in Gu Xizhi's mouth, and after she finished it, she turned to Qu Xizhi. "Are you free tonight? I'd like to take you out for dinner."

"Wait a moment," Qu Xizhi placed her hand on the one reaching for the car keys. "There's one more thing I want to ask."

Gu Xizhi turned to look at her. "Go ahead."

Qu Xizhi looked at her directly from the side. "Are you willing to start over with me?"

Gu Xizhi furrowed her brow, looking quite puzzled. "What kind of question is this?"

"You didn't answer last night."

"I did."

"At the time, it felt like you just wanted to bring me back home," Qu Xizhi said after a moment of silence, "Or maybe there were other concerns."

Feeling like Qu Xizhi had touched upon something important, Gu Xizhi looked at her in surprise for a moment but quickly regained her composure. "I admit...," she paused as if thinking about how to phrase it. "I admit that I let my guard down last night, but I won't make a joke out of this." She looked at Qu Xizhi seriously. "It wasn't a casual response."

"I want to hear it from your lips," as if persistently pressing for an answer.

"I've already said it."

"You really don't want to say it?"

Gu Xizhi seemed cornered by her questions, so she thought for a moment and said seriously, "Last night's decision was made in haste, but it came from my heart." Her tone became even more earnest. "Actually, after returning to the country, I've thought a lot. Maybe time can truly bring calm and maturity. I know we have a lot of problems between us, but I want to give myself a chance so I won't regret it. There must be a way for us to make each other feel happy instead of endlessly powerless and sad. I want to discover it together, to try and start anew."

Qu Xizhi seemed to be savoring her words and didn't speak for a while. Gu Xizhi watched her contemplative expression and then asked, "But do you really still like me?"

Qu Xizhi's smile broke her trance. "You first."

"First what?"

"First say that you agreed to get back together because you still like me."

Gu Xizhi was briefly taken aback and then blushed. "No way." She pulled her hand, which had been held by Qu Xizhi. "You haven't told me about Ara yet."

"Tell you about what?"

"Pretending to be clueless."

"Pretending to be clueless about what?"

"Qu Xizhi," Gu Xizhi turned to look at her. Distant car headlights briefly shone through, making Gu Xizhi's eyes blur. Through the window, the heavy rain outside looked like the sky's uncleaned tears.

Although it's a common description, it truly reflects Gu Xizhi's current feelings.

It had been drizzling continuously for several days as if it was mourning for those who departed in the disaster.

Gu Xizhi gazed at the soft rain under the streetlight and said softly, "Qu Xizhi, it seems like you don't really like to cry."

"I cried when you threw the necklace."

"Later, I felt that was fake," Gu Xizhi's gaze sank into memories. "At the airport, you didn't cry that time, and last night, you didn't cry either. So how could you cry because of throwing a necklace?"

Qu Xizhi looked at her sideways, "What are you thinking about?"

Gu Xizhi's eyes moved towards her, "You're very stingy with tears outside of acting."

"Tears are the highest level of sadness, so when you see someone cry because of something you did, you feel powerful."

"...What logic."

Qu Xizhi smiled and patted her head, "You really like me very much right?"

"No, I like Miss Zhong."

"Why do you like her?"

"Because she's pretty."

"Mm, I like her too."

"...Qu Xizhi?"

"What?"

"What do you like about her?"

"Beautiful."

"..." Glaring, "Who's beautiful?"

"Beautiful."

Gu Xizhi seemed to relent, and then said seriously, "Have you ever liked her?"

Qu Xizhi looked back at her, her high nose illuminated by the soft light under the streetlamp, "What do you think?"

"I think that you tried to be with her, but it didn't work out. You separated a long time ago, but everyone still thought you were still together," she said, somewhat smug. "Based on what I've heard, don't deny it."

"Is that so?" Her gaze lingered for a while. "It seems like you don't mind."

"Although reality may not be so perfect, it's not that difficult to forgive after looking back in time, " she glared. "Quick, say you don't like her."

The streetlight shone through the car window, casting a soft light. Qu Xizhi remained silent for a while, looking at the damp road on the side of the street. She said slowly, "I don't like her."