Chapter 79: Original Version

The pure tones resonated in the golden concert hall. The man, dressed in a British tailcoat, slightly tilted his chin, his left hand gently resting on the strings, and his right hand moving the bow slowly. His straight posture and dignified attire commanded respect.

The lyrical and solemn melody was like the elusive moonlight in the night. The powerful tremolo of the violin and the elegant piano accompaniment blended harmoniously, exuding elegance within its serene undulations.

The bow and the piano keys express the poet's words of love. The virtuoso's double-stopping felt like an invisible hand grasping the audience's hearts as if such music should never be tainted by the mundane world.

The piano's pizzicato suddenly ended, plunging the concert hall into a sudden silence, followed by enthusiastic applause erupting from the audience.

"Mr. Shen Ya's performance is truly breathtaking."

"He's undoubtedly a violin genius. No one in the country can compare to him."

Praises from the audience continued to pour in, but Qu Xizhi simply stared at her wristwatch, her expression somewhat vacant.

"Thinking about her?"

Yin Jun's voice brought Qu Xizhi back to reality. She glanced at Yin Jun's expression and then looked back at the stage.

"No."

Yin Jun chuckled lightly, "If you feel you don't want to stay any longer, you can go back to China now." After a pause, "But this is our only chance, and I actually like her quite a lot." When she said this, she seemed to recall something amusing. "You probably don't know that after my car accident, she used to sneak into my hospital room every night after you left. At first, I completely ignored her, but she stood by my hospital bed and whispered confessions. Every time before leaving, she would ask if I could forgive her. Every time, I said I couldn't. But later, she became more cunning. She told me directly that if I didn't forgive her, she wouldn't get up after kneeling. I may be tough, but I can't bear to see a girl kneel in front of me all night, right?"

Qu Xizhi seemed a little surprised and listened in rapt attention.

Yin Jun smiled and then changed the subject. "But one thing is clear: In your situation, I can't just hand you over to her, watching you have heart problems from time to time, and watching you looking like a resentful wife waiting for her to look for you when she has the time. Besides, surviving one car accident doesn't mean I'll be that lucky every time, right?"

Qu Xizhi contemplated for a long time and said, "Even though she's cautious, sensitive, and not very proactive, I know she has always liked me."

"How much does she like you?"

Qu Xizhi fell silent.

"This is right," Yin Jun's voice remained calm and composed. "If she wanted to marry someone else and have children, she probably wouldn't sit still for even a minute. It's not the same. I don't expect her to be too steadfast or brave any more than you do. In a hundred-item answer sheet, she needs to at least give a passing grade, maybe a sixty, so that everything will be easier. After all, two girls together require a stronger bond to last. Since you're also a girl, I only hope that you don't have to work so hard."

Qu Xizhi was silent again.

Yin Jun pats her shoulder and stands up from his seat, saying, "Maybe it's hard to be tough, but we must explain." She continues, "Stay well until Christmas. If she can still bring hope, I let her pick you up that day. And I'll also have Director Ma investigate Lin Mingling's matters and present them as a gift to you. If she doesn't come on Christmas day you can go back on your own."

The other side of the ocean.

The sound of sobbing wind and rain covered the whole world like a ghost. Gu Xizhi, who was standing at the door of the waiting hall, dialed the same number over and over again.

The wind and rain outside the window soaked the corners of her clothes but she didn't notice it.

It was almost time to board the plane. Tang Yu, who was sitting in the departure hall, came to the entrance of the airport hall. Seeing that Gu Xizhi was still on the phone, he patted her shoulder gently.

"If she doesn't answer the phone, she won't answer it again."

Gu Xizhi puts down the phone and turns around, her bangs soaked.

Tang Yu looks into her eyes, takes a handkerchief from the deep black suit pocket, gently wipes the water droplets from her bangs, and shields her gaze.

"Don't look like that."

Falling in love, breakup, marriage, divorce.

What we see in entertainment news often appears as a simple outcome. Due to the complex twists and turns involved, many results seem bizarre.

The emotions that the public is more willing to bless are nothing but two kinds. One is the pure love between a talented man and a beautiful woman, and the other is the delightful yet fake romance.

In the headlines of the latest entertainment newspaper, the rumors about Gu Xizhi and Tang Yu occupy both of these categories.

"Didn't they already have scandals when they were filming 'Wangchuan River'? Luyao and Yubai are a match made in heaven."

"Yes, they're a good match. This time, they were finally caught in photos. They can't deny it now, hm."

"On the forum, people have been speculating about their interactions on Weibo for the past few years. This time, it looks pretty convincing."

Opening the latest newspaper, with a photo taken at the airport as the background, the rumored lead actors this time are unmistakably Gu Xizhi and Tang Yu. Perhaps due to a hidden camera, the photos are not very clear, but anyone can tell it's Gu Xizhi and Tang Yu, and they appear very intimate.

Qu's residence.

At 7:20 in the morning, Xiao Yu finishes her meal and places the hot milk and newspapers from the past two days on the dining table. The prominent headlines catch Yin Jun's attention, causing her to leave the milk aside and focus on reading. At 7:30, the driver arrives on time to pick her up from the villa. Yin Jun glances at the milk beside her and then sets aside the newspaper, grabbing her coat as she heads out.

When Xiao Yu turned around to clear the table, she was obviously startled when she saw the full glass of milk, but then she poured the milk into the sewer and washed the milk glass.

As a mature talent agency, Times Media has dealt with numerous celebrity scandals but never has a rumor brought so much enjoyment to the company.

Amid the promotion of a new album, the company is struggling to find newsworthy content. Just when the leading man, Tang Yu, who has shouldered major roles in various films in recent years, voluntarily makes an appearance, it's a pleasant surprise for the planning team, making them wake up laughing.

All the complicated things seemed to be going so smoothly, but the protagonist fell out of control at this time.

"Xiao Jing, if things continue like this, it will be troublesome for everyone. Even Miss Xia Qiao might have objections about a song being recorded this way. Do you want it to be abandoned in the end?"

The voices in the dim space were almost exasperated. Gu Xizhi was sitting on the sofa drinking water, with an expression that could be said to be calm at best, or deathly silent at worst.

At nine o'clock this morning, the news of Qu Xizhi and Shen Ya's New Year's Day engagement swept across the Internet and print media like a sandstorm. Even though the other party involved didn't belong to the entertainment industry, Qu Xizhi's fame still made this news quickly become the headline in major news outlets.

While everyone was busy congratulating Qu Xizhi, Gu Xizhi was recording the final song for her new album. However, the recording session had gone on for a day and was still in a chaotic state, leaving the staff exhausted.

"When I graduated from college, I had a terribly annoying girlfriend. The night before we broke up, we were planning our future together. But as soon as the train started, she messaged me to break up. No matter how many calls or texts I sent, she never replied. I cried the whole train journey, and you can't imagine how painful such a cruel breakup is. But Xiao Jing, work is work, and relationships are relationships. You've already lost one thing; do you have to mess up your career like before? Maybe if you had met Qu Xizhi during your best times, things might be completely different, don't you think?"

Lili kept trying to persuade her, and it took a long time before Gu Xizhi finally put down her water glass, stood up, and walked into the recording studio.

In everyone's body, there are two little beings, and when faced with choices, these two little beings might end up battered and bruised, yet they still can't reach a decision.

Throughout the end of the year, Gu Xizhi was pushed forward by a sense of urgency and elusiveness, as if the previous festive atmosphere could compensate for all the emptiness.

Opening her December schedule, the last month of the year marked three things: first, filming; second, a notice for the "The Truth" program; and third, buying Christmas gifts.

Crossing out the third item with a pen, Gu Xizhi turned back a few pages on the schedule, and finally turned directly to the New Year's Day page, and held her gaze for a long time.

A certain talented woman once said that waiting and hesitating are the most intangible killers in this world. Sometimes, people keep going without looking back until they hit a wall. They deceive themselves that everything is false until the very end. But in reality, life is not full of jokes.

In the dressing room of the crew, Gu Xizhi closed her notebook and checked the time. After struggling for a while, she took out her phone and dialed numbers from her contact list.

"Do you know where Qu Xizhi has been recently?"

"Do you know where Qu Xizhi and Shen Ya got engaged?"

"Has Qu Xizhi been in touch with you recently?"

One question, same wishes, same answers.

Finally, her contact list couldn't provide any more numbers to call. Gu Xizhi sighed and took out another phone to dial a number.

"I want to know where Qu Xizhi is. Please give me a price."

At the top of the food chain, we are the smartest animals, but we can't get everything right.

The moment the phone rang was like trying to recall a solution to a math problem that had been on the tip of your tongue. However, the limited time might not allow for a belated insight.

The night in Florence was adorned with stars, and the magnificent cathedral shone brilliantly amidst the bustling streets. The black and white keys played beautiful melodies, and the C minor tune traveled through narrow alleys and the quiet Arno River, drifting towards distant flower fields.

"When I was young, I had a crush on a female classmate. She was very pretty, just like you, a star that stood out in the crowd."

Shen Ya's voice blended with the piano's sound, creating a poetic blessing on this Christmas Eve.

He stood behind Qu Xizhi, his gaze falling on the beautiful lilies in front of the window. Dressed in a black tuxedo, full of a dignified gentleman atmosphere.

"I pursued her for a whole year and dated her for one year. During those two years, no matter whether we were together or not, I never stopped giving her love letters every week."

"It was she who broke up with me after a year, and the reason was simple. There was a guy who bought her breakfast every morning, prepared an umbrella for her in rain or snow, and reminded her to dress warmly in cold weather. He persisted for two years and finally won her over."

"When we broke up, that guy told me a sentence that has stuck with me to this day."

"He told me that beautiful women are meant to be cherished and pampered, not just because they have a natural fragility and sensitivity as women, but also because they've enjoyed the feeling of being pursued by admirers since they were young. If someone treats her better than you, you will part ways, because a princess is still a princess. She won't compromise like an ordinary girl. So, after that, I put all my effort into treating my girlfriends well. It has become a pattern for me, and I will never argue with any woman. I always apologize first if she's angry, and I can get up at 3 a.m. to buy her what she wants to eat. I could fill a notebook with everything she dislikes."

The notes flowed through his fingers, and the slow movement of the music was like a mournful and lingering thread. Under the spotlight, Qu Xizhi's back was straight, like an ancient tree reaching toward the sky.

"Of course," Shen Ya took out a golden box and placed it on the piano frame. "I will never forget any special day."

The piano suddenly stopped playing, and Qu Xizhi turned to look at him in silence.

Shen Ya looked at her and said, "You will be my princess, while she will only make you more and more exhausted."

Qu Xizhi looked at him for a while, stood up from the piano stand, picked up her coat, and walked straight out the door.

As she was setting up the Christmas tree, Rong Jia saw Qu Xizhi about to leave and immediately blocked her path. "Miss Qu, where are you going?"

"Going back home."

"But tomorrow is Christmas, and Ms. Yin hasn't called yet."

"Tell her I'm not waiting anymore. Whether she accepts it or not, it's her decision."

"But we've waited for so long. Wait a little longer. Miss Gu might come."

Qu Xizhi's steps paused on the streets of Florence, surrounded by a lively atmosphere, and the streets were filled with the festive spirit of Christmas. She looked up at the vast sky in the distance, her voice calm and clear. "If she comes, it only proves she likes me a bit more. If she doesn't, maybe she likes me a bit less, but she likes me nonetheless."

"Miss Qu..." Rong Jia watched her disappear into the night, letting out a soft sigh.

Shen Ya stood on the stone steps and said slowly, "It's really a pity that she doesn't even have the courage to face the answer."

"Mr. Shen Ya..." Rong Jia turned to look at Shen Ya and sighed again.

In recent years, due to the influence of Western culture, Christmas in China has become quite lively. Most cities in December experience their first snowfall, and for Gu Xizhi, who had faced several days of snow, the novelty had worn off.

On December 24, known as Christmas Eve in the Western world, the cast of "Black and White Feathers" was invited to the stage of the "The Truth" program for promotional purposes. However, because one of the main actors, Qu Xizhi, never accepted variety show appearances, and the relationship between Gu Xizhi and She Jia was not enough to generate interest, the program temporarily invited Tang Yu, who had recently been involved in rumors with Gu Xizhi.

Three years ago, when Tang Yu was answering questions for the "The Truth" crew, he unreservedly admitted his fondness for Gu Xizhi. In the eyes of the public, he seemed like a deeply affectionate guardian. It was at that time that many fans began to anticipate news of their relationship. Even though they hadn't officially confirmed anything over the years, in the eyes of devoted fans, they had long been a couple. 

As Lili checked the list of questions, Gu Xizhi was getting her makeup done. Even though they were quite far apart, Gu Xizhi could still hear her full of opinions.

"This time we are here to promote the movie, not to dig up scandals. Excessive hype will only bring resentment. Please replace these questions."

"That's right, okay, we'll replace them with more movie-related questions." The backstage area was chaotic, and it was already 8:25 in the evening. Gu Xizhi, having finished her makeup, sat backstage holding two cellphones, as if she was waiting for some important message.

Thirty meters below, Rong Jia drove Qu Xizhi near the television and radio center. They could see the programs being played on the building through the bustling street. Qu Xizhi signaled her to park by the side of the road, and Rong Jia couldn't help but say, "Miss Qu, if you change your mind now, it's not too late. I haven't told Ms. Yin about going back yet, but if you meet Miss Gu, I won't be able to hide it."

Qu Xizhi sat in the passenger seat and looked up quietly at the huge LED display screen at the television and radio center, "I'll wait for her to finish the show." She looked at the close-up of Gu Xizhi appearing on the screen and added, "She looks like she's lost weight."

Rong Jia didn't pay attention to the program and looked quite anxious.

The live broadcast scene on the monitor.

"Dear audience, it's time for our weekly meeting on The Truth…"

The host controlled the whole scene in front of the stage. Several guests sitting on the 'Truth Chair' were prepared by the staff with data collection helmets for the show. The lights on the stage gradually dimmed. After the host left the stage, there were only four lights left on the scene, and these four artists shrouded in the lights were Gu Xizhi, She Jia, Cui Yao, the only male starring in "Black and White Feather", and special guest Tang Yu.

The ticking countdown slowly came to an end, and at the moment when the countdown finished, the host began to ask questions in order, and the spotlight illuminated only She Jia.

"Miss She Jia, there have been rumors that the 'Black and White Feathers' production initially chose you as the female lead. Is that true?"

The microphone's sound echoed in the studio, and Gu Xizhi, like the others, looked at the monitor directly in front, waiting for the lie detector to indicate whether the answer was correct or not.

To make the audience believe more convincingly and at the same time have a clear understanding of the answer, the program not only publicly displayed the brainwave data but also provided separate monitors for some people that clearly showed right or wrong.

"No, at that time, Director Li was just considering."

After the answer, the monitor on the other side quickly displayed a green checkmark.

"Next, Miss Gu Xizhi."

The spotlight focused on Gu Xizhi, and she listened attentively.

"Miss Gu Xizhi, some people say you disappeared from the entertainment industry for two years and suddenly played the female lead in Director Li's film because of unspoken rules, is this true?"

As soon as the sharp question emerged from the darkness, the audience turned their gaze towards Gu Xizhi. 

Without much thought, Gu Xizhi replied, "No."

On the screen, a green checkmark quickly appeared, and the audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

This is precisely why all the viewers love this show; they can get to know a real artist through this program.

Outside, heavy snow was falling, and Rong Jia turned the heating to the maximum. She suddenly heard a burst of strong applause on the TV program, finally willing to lift her head and look at the show.

"Actually, Ms. Yin really likes Miss Gu, but she always has her own reasons for doing things. Miss Qu, can you listen to me and think about it carefully? After all, if Ms. Yin doesn't agree, we will be in trouble together."

Rong Jia persuaded her for the umpteenth time, but Qu Xizhi still just looked at the LED display screen on the high building quietly through a curtain of snow.

Inside the studio, the questions had changed hands a few times, and this time it was Tang Yu's turn.

"Mr. Tang Yu, before I ask this question, I want to start by saying that three years ago when you came to our show, you mentioned having a momentary crush on Miss Gu Xizhi. So, my question now is, do you still like Miss Gu Xizhi?"

A close-up camera focused on Tang Yu, and under the spotlight, he casually said, "Yes."

The camera then shifted to the answer screen, and the enormous green checkmark once again sent the whole venue into excitement.

"Alright, next question, Miss She Jia..."

The host's calm voice echoed through the quiet winter streets, greatly amplified. Qu Xizhi looked at the giant green checkmark on the screen, her expression calm and unruffled.

But Rong Jia said again, "Well, will Ms. Yin be happy to see this?"

The questions continued, with Gu Xizhi being the next after She Jia.

"Miss Gu Xizhi, there were photos of you and Mr. Tang Yu taken together at the airport a few days ago. People have been speculating that you're together. Is this true?"

Lili in the background went crazy when she heard this question, "Didn't you just say that you would replace the question sheet? Why are there so many scandal topics?"

"I'm sorry, Sister Lili, Brother Wang just handed the previous copy to Sister Han, and we just found out."

"Why don't you go and change it quickly?"

"This is a live broadcast, Sister Lili. You have to wait a few more minutes to cut to the commercials. Besides, we've checked that question, and the Gu-Tang rumor is false. What's there to be afraid of?" The backstage was in chaos, and the front stage wasn't much better.

For some reason, Gu Xizhi had bravely answered the sharp unspoken rule questions a moment ago, but when faced with the host's question, she chose to use the only "no comment" option available.

The moment she pressed the "no response" button, the spotlight on her faded away, leaving the live audience puzzled.

"You don't want to answer this question? It's so weird."

"Haha, knew they were together, they can't deny it!"

Rules determine everything. The host continued to ask questions, and the scene soon became quiet. Rong Jia, who was sitting in the car at this moment, was obviously a little impatient and said sincerely Looking at Qu Xizhi, she said, "Miss Qu...how did they..."

Before she finished speaking, Qu Xizhi signaled her to stop.

Gu Xizhi's previous no-answer boosted the atmosphere of the scene and reached a point where they seemed to lose interest in Cui Yao's answer. When the lights once again enveloped Tang Yu, even the host's voice became a little more excited.

"Mr. Tang Yu, it's your turn again." The host greeted Tang Yu warmly and continued, "We know that Miss Gu has taken a two-year break from the entertainment industry and pursued her career in Japan. However, recently, fans have dug up photos of you two living together in Japan. Some even claim that you've registered a marriage in Japan. Can you please tell us if this is true?"

Due to the appearance of photos suggesting a romantic relationship between the two, internet users have been closely following both of them. They scrutinize every bit of evidence and eagerly search for any traces that might suggest they are together. Rumors of them registering a marriage have also circulated, even though the authenticity of these claims remains uncertain. Nevertheless, many are willing to believe in the possibility of their relationship.

It's precisely because of this heightened attention that everyone was particularly interested in this question. 

The spotlight illuminated Tang Yu, adding an extra touch of elegance to his demeanor. Facing the camera, his expression remained inscrutable.

Darkness enveloped him, and everyone realized for a moment that he had also used up the "no comment" answer.

The result of Tang Yu's "no comment" was even more electrifying than Gu Xizhi's earlier choice. Even though there was no actual answer, the cheers from the live audience were more enthusiastic than ever.

Rong Jia, who was sitting in the car, couldn't help but say when she saw this, "This must have been deliberately done for the sake of the show, for hype. In reality, if he were to clarify, the lie detector's answer would undoubtedly be correct."

No matter what she said, Qu Xizhi, who was sitting in the car, said nothing, as if she didn't hear her at all.

The atmosphere at the scene was rising because of the scandal between Gu Xizhi and Tang Yu. They no longer paid attention to She Jia and Cui Yao. Every time the host asked the two questions, everyone just hoped that the time would pass quickly.

Finally, the host returned to Gu Xizhi's side, perhaps to leave some suspense. At this point, the host surprisingly didn't ask about the scandal.

"Miss Gu Xizhi," the host continued to ask after the lights went down, "I heard that you and Miss Qu Xizhi had a good relationship when filming "Black and White Feather". Which aspect do you like more, her personality or the character Yun Xiaoxiao that she portrayed in the film?"

After a brief pause, Gu Xizhi looked into the camera and replied, "I really like Miss Qu Xizhi's personality, but I like Yun Xiaoxiao's reserved and wise character even more."

Once again, the green checkmark appeared on the screen, and the audience erupted into applause. The host added with a touch of gossip, "Don't worry, it won't be long before the reserved and wise Mr. Tang Yu gets his turn."

The audience cheered again.

In the past, any mention of the relationship between Gu and Qu was a media focal point, but tonight, with the numerous gossip highlights, their relationship didn't seem as significant. While the audience's applause was still enthusiastic, it was indeed less so when it came to Tang Yu's turn.

At this moment, the host was carrying the hopes of many. The previous strange circumstances had made the audience quite persistent about getting answers, so when it was Tang Yu's turn again, even the host was feeling a bit nervous.

"Mr. Tang Yu."

The voice of the host rang out in the darkness again, but just those words had already caused everyone to burst into warm applause. The host had to pause for a few seconds and spoke again after the applause ended.

"Excuse me."

The camera switches to a close-up of Tang Yu.

The lights were obviously brighter.

"Between you and Miss Gu Xizhi..."

Deliberately dragging out the suspenseful tone.

The audience almost held their breath.

"May I ask, do you and Miss Gu Xizhi have feelings and actions that go beyond friendship?"

The concise and meaningful question that indeed reflects everyone's thoughts

This time, it seems even the lighting engineer is taking extra care, as the spotlight on Tang Yu makes him look like a handsome and mysterious European noble.

With no more "no comment" options left, everyone is eagerly waiting for his response. He has two choices: either to answer truthfully and await the lie detector's verdict or to slam the table and leave.

Since the start of the "The Truth" program, there have been instances where celebrities had to leave the live broadcast unexpectedly. Sometimes, the boundary of what questions an agent finds acceptable differs from that of the celebrity, leading to situations where stars cannot or do not want to answer certain questions.

However, at this moment, Tang Yu finds himself in a difficult position. This is a live broadcast, and he has no reason to avoid this question again.

The hour hand moved little by little, and all attention was focused on him as if his answer could affect many emotions.

Their scandal has been circulating for too long, and everyone is just waiting for them to admit it.

The audience is so looking forward to his voice.

After pondering for a long time, Tang Yu faced the camera.

He seemed to be considering whether he could say it and how to say it. After a moment, he said, "Yes."

This time, even the result seemed unusually slow. The close-up camera switched to the answer display screen, showing both the physiological response and the visual result in the answer circle.

A green check mark appeared in the answer circle, and cheers almost set the scene on fire for a moment.

"Isn't this a sort of admission that they are together? No wonder they didn't answer those two questions earlier! I guess the marriage rumor is true!"

"Yes, yes, that's a good question from the host!" 

Thirty meters below the ground level.

The ethereal white snow danced in the wind, and the heavy snow mist seemed to blur the clear screen. After looking at the giant green checkmark on the LED screen for a while, Qu Xizhi slowly turned to look at Rong Jia.

"Is that green or red?"

Rong Jia might have been stunned by the result, she moistened her dry throat and said, "It seems... green."

Qu Xizhi was silent for a moment, then looked at the LED display screen and asked in an unusually calm voice, "What did the host ask just now?"

"He asked..." Rong Jia seemed a little nervous, "He asked if Miss Gu and Mr. Tang had feelings... and actions beyond friendship."

"Then?"

"Mr. Tang answered yes."

"Then?"

"No more." Rong Jia pursed her lips and looked sideways at her, "Miss Qu, don't look at it anymore, let's go back to Florence."

"And then use that argument that they are in a relationship and Mom will convince me to let her go?"

Qu Xizhi's face had no expression and stared at the deep black hole outside the window at night. Her eyes didn't move.

"But maybe..." Rong Jia was so anxious that she couldn't find words for a moment. Although she really wanted to come up with a reason to make things seem reasonable, several explanations back and forth didn't seem quite appropriate.

She was speechless for a long time, and Qu Xizhi's hands gradually tightened on the corners of her white cashmere coat. The joints of her hands were deeply highlighted in the moonlight, and her dark red lips made her face look extremely pale.

Rong Jia was stunned.

Although she had been doing things for Yin Jun and had little contact with Qu Xizhi for a long time, the image of being knowledgeable, rational, elegant, and indifferent had long been fixed in her heart. Even though she had her bad moods at times, she wouldn't take it out on others, and her emotions wouldn't be overly displayed.

This inability to control her emotions, to the point that she couldn't even control her body, was the first time she had seen this. Her gaze was terrifying, even though she had just been exposed to the freezing cold of the snow and wind, at this moment, she felt that her gaze was colder than the ice and snow outside.

It was a deathly silence, not like her usual self.

"Cough...cough..."

Overwhelmed by her emotions, it seemed to trigger some old ailment. Rong Jia saw Qu Xizhi's hand move towards her chest, hesitated for a moment, and immediately took out the medicine from her bag.

"Miss Qu, please don't scare me. If anything happens to you, Ms. Yin will be frantic."

Just as she was about to retrieve the pills, a sudden rush of cold wind entered the car. Rong Jia saw Qu Xizhi open the car door and get out, which startled her. She quickly pushed the door open to follow her. "Miss Qu, where are you going? You can't run around like this."

It was 9 PM, and the snow mixed with the dim night seemed to want to drain the beauty from the city. The sobbing northern wind filled their ears with a mournful roar. In the distance, there seemed to be laughter, not as joyful as returning home. The neon lights in their sight resembled countless sorrowful eyes, gazing as they slowly walked away, step by step, towards profound despair.

They can never be called back.

The last reason that allows a flower to bloom from the dust is like a mirror with tiny cracks, full of terrible flaws.

Gu Xizhi finished her recording at 10 p.m. The repeated phone vibrations made her forget everything about the show and its irrationalities. As soon as she reached backstage, Gu Xizhi answered the phone. The voice on the other end seemed to control her emotions, and every sentence made her appear different from her usual self.

"Florence? Can you help me check the specific location?"

"I can pay extra, the sooner, the better." 

On the other side of the program's backstage, the crying voice in Tang Yu's phone sounded very sad.

"Dad is gone..."

"He left with a smile."

"Tell Miss Gu that our whole family will be forever grateful to her..."

In the face of life and death, we all are insignificant.

In the vast river of the universe, life is like countless stars, with one falling every day.

It was already midnight after visiting Tang Yu's father's body. Despite the family's mourning, Tang Yu insisted on safely escorting Gu Xizhi back to her residence.

Tang Yu only left when she was about to enter the building, and Gu Xizhi, like a ghost in the wind, appeared particularly lonely on a snowy night.

Going upstairs, getting the key, and opening the door, Gu Xizhi repeated her daily routine, and all her actions seemed monotonous because of one thing.

At the moment she turned on the light, a force suppressed Gu Xizhi's hand, forcing her to stop. The intrusion into her residence at midnight was unfamiliar and made Gu Xizhi's heart race for a moment, but the familiar scent of perfume immediately filled her with both surprise and joy.

"Qu Xizhi, is it..."

Before the words were finished, her hands were pressed against the wall, and her lips were invaded by a devouring kiss.

At first, this inexplicable behavior left Gu Xizhi confused and unsure of what to do. But when her coat was violently torn off halfway, and the other person still exuded a strange emotional aura, Gu Xizhi's subconscious resistance kicked in.

"Qu Xizhi, what's going on? What are you doing?" She pushed her away forcefully, refusing her approach.

She didn't answer, and what followed was another round of aggression that had nothing to do with gentleness and politeness.

Her coat was torn off, and then a stronger force came at her belt. Gu Xizhi struggled to break free from her grasp.

"Qu Xizhi, don't be like this, I hate it."

The simple word "hate" seemed to ignite some emotion. Chills crept over her upper body, and the struggle only intensified the pain. Gu Xizhi, retreating while hitting her shoulders, tried to escape the humiliating actions. Her voice, shaken by emotions, became somewhat trembling.

"Do you know what you're doing?"

The only answer she received was even worse and tortured actions.

Her top was almost completely torn, and most of her skin was exposed to the air. Gu Xizhi endured the cold and humiliation, her sanity was almost torn to pieces, and her speech became uncontrollable.

"I hate it. Since I returned to China, you've become increasingly inexplicable, increasingly unlike yourself. This will only make it impossible for me to like you anymore."

"Really?" She finally spoke, her low voice accompanied by a deep and hoarse night, but with a hint of a cold smile." That's great. Leave your love intact for someone else and be a great hero."

The twisted pain and the coldness that had intruded below her waist made Gu Xizhi bite her lip. Unable to break free from the struggle, she began to feel somewhat hopeless.

The snow outside the window was so deep, and the world seemed to be shrouded in heavy gloom. It became increasingly terrifying, suffocating like death.

Gu Xizhi's lips trembled, tears filling her eyes. "You're not the same Qu Xizhi you used to be. The Qu Xizhi I knew is already dead."

The treetops were bent by the heavy snow.

"She should have died a long time ago," the voice was extremely hoarse, trailing off as if it could no longer produce sound.

"I only regret that she died just now."

Growing up made them realize that love couldn't be fulfilled with constant humble begging. They lost their dignity and their selves in love, only to turn back and protect themselves after being wounded all over. That was because they all knew some things couldn't be undone.

The piercing night of snow and wind seemed to have countless cuckoos repeatedly screaming for departure. Their voices became increasingly louder, burying the remaining hope on that emerald night.

The night she confidently said she would eventually like.

Some things can only be cherished, like the receding tide and withering flowers, like the carefree time of youth.

They can't stay, and they can't go back.

The sound of rustling clothes woke up the numb thoughts. Gu Xizhi lay quietly on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling covered in wrinkles, letting tears flow down from the corners of her eyes.

"Do you remember that night when we said we'd turn back?"

"Back then, we had the delusion of starting over."

"It turned out to be just an imagination."

"Yes," her voice gave no hint of laughter or tears, "we can't turn back now." She had already gone far, but her voice still lingered in the ears.

"There's no 'us' anymore."