“Someone lost their phone yesterday, and the deleted records were recovered.”

“Cheng Yu, I’m sorry.”

When you hate someone to the core, you don’t even want to utter a single word of complaint.

I turned around and got into the car. He clung to the door, pleading, “Cheng Yu, can we talk? I’ve already arranged for someone to handle the video.”

The people on the street might not know me, but when they looked at me, I felt like they had all seen the video and were mocking me.

“Talk about what? Didn’t you win the million-dollar bet, He Shao? Why are you still clinging to me?”

I let out a sudden laugh, “He Jinsheng, I’ve already been completely ruined, and you’re still not satisfied?”

Seeing that I was about to start the car, he quickly ran to the front, blocking my way. “Please, Cheng Yu, just give me some time, I will fix this.”

I’ve never considered myself a good person in this life, but I’ve never done anything bad either, at least not enough to deserve all of this.

So, why does this have to happen to me?

At that moment, when I stepped on the gas pedal, I truly wished He Jinsheng would just die.

But in the end, he dodged.

---

I almost watched in real-time as the trending search topics and videos about me were swiftly removed.

Overnight, every negative post about me disappeared.

Online, the fans were going crazy, mostly hurling insults at me, though a few fans tried to defend me, but their voices were quickly drowned out by more attacks.

I couldn’t bear to look anymore. I turned off my phone and, like a coward, hid in my house, afraid to go outside.

Both He Jinsheng and Ji Mingshen came to my house, but I didn’t see either of them.

One day, they both showed up at the same time and even got into a fight right outside my door. I didn’t intervene.

That night, while smoking on the balcony, I saw He Jinsheng standing near his car, looking up toward my apartment.

I averted my gaze, put out the cigarette, and drew the curtains.

Three months passed before I dared to turn my phone back on. Among the many messages, I saw a video sent by Ji Mingshen. I chuckled bitterly.

In the video, Cheng Xinxin, wearing devil horns, made a funny face at the camera. “Brother, when are you coming to see me? Xinxin misses you.”

I’m so selfish, I thought, only caring about myself, completely forgetting about my little sister.

After tidying myself up, I put on a mask and left through the back gate of my neighborhood, catching a ride to the hospital.

Cheng Xinxin had already fallen asleep.

Ji Mingshen, who was sitting by her bedside, immediately turned to me when he heard the door open.

“Yu-ge…” His eyes were red, his voice choked with emotion. “You finally came.”

He walked over and hugged me tightly. “I… I’ve missed you so much, and so has your sister.”

I stood stiffly in his embrace, feeling awkward. After a moment, I gently pushed him away. “Have you eaten?”

Ji Mingshen shook his head.

At this late hour, only street vendors were still open. Ji Mingshen didn’t mind and found a seat.

The night breeze was still slightly hot, but the cold beer soothed me, making me feel more at ease.

Ji Mingshen wasn’t much of a talker, and I wasn’t in the mood for conversation either.

For the most part, we ate and drank in silence, one beer after another, unable to stop.

When my head started to ache, I laid it on the table to rest. I hadn’t slept well in months, and now, closing my eyes made me feel incredibly drowsy.

“Yu-ge?” I didn’t want to respond.

Ji Mingshen called my name again. Just as I was about to open my eyes and answer, I felt something warm on my forehead.

I heard Ji Mingshen’s soft voice, “Yu-ge, no matter what happens, to me, you’ll always be a shining star.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I didn’t dare to move, nor did I dare open my eyes.

---

When I woke up again, it was already the middle of the night.

Ji Mingshen was sitting across from me. “Yu-ge, you’re awake.”

I remembered what had happened before I fell asleep, feeling embarrassed, and quickly avoided his gaze, nodding.

“Let me take you home,” he said.

As we neared my building, I suddenly wondered if He Jinsheng might still be there.

Seeing me stop in my tracks, Ji Mingshen asked, “Yu-ge, what’s wrong?”

I shook my head.

But as we took a few more steps, I saw He Jinsheng standing there, looking at me and Ji Mingshen with a cold expression.

I looked away, pretending not to see him, and kept walking.

As we passed each other, He Jinsheng, his voice hoarse, asked, “Where did you go?”

I didn’t stop, just kept walking.

He grabbed my wrist. “I’ve been waiting outside your building for three months, and the moment you leave, you go drinking with another man?”

I glanced at him coldly and said softly, “Let go.”

I hadn’t said anything or done anything, but his expression looked as if I had stabbed him.

He let go of my wrist, his tone softening. “Cheng Yu, please don’t treat me like this.”

I ignored him and walked away.

Ji Mingshen helped me upstairs. After we said goodbye, he nearly stumbled and fell.

I caught him. “Are you okay?”

With one arm around my shoulder, he nodded. “No, I’m not okay! Yu-ge, I think I’m drunk. Can I stay at your place tonight?”

He had indeed drunk quite a bit tonight, and considering all the care he’d given to Cheng Xinxin, I couldn’t turn him away.

I settled him in the guest room, then went back to my room to get ready for bed.

As soon as I turned off the lights, there was a knock at the door, sharp and jarring in the middle of the night.

It was He Jinsheng. “What are you doing in there? Why did you turn off the lights?”

I didn’t bother responding and closed the door.

But He Jinsheng wasn’t about to give up.

“If you keep disturbing me, I’ll call the police!” I warned in a low voice.

He Jinsheng, on the verge of tears, tried to enter, but I blocked him. “What the hell do you want?”

“Cheng Yu, please don’t let him stay here. I’m begging you.”

I was stunned.

He Jinsheng had always been so proud. I had never seen him beg like this before.

“I was wrong, I really was wrong, Cheng Yu. Please, make him leave.”

His attitude was humble, almost pleading.

“Yu-ge, who’s that?” Ji Mingshen appeared, drying his hair with a towel, dressed in the bathrobe I had lent him.