On the night when Nie Shanglin met Cheng Zhou again, he couldn’t sleep at all.

He thought a lot about their journey since they first met.

During the time Cheng Zhou was away, he believed he didn’t care; he thought it only need a bit of an adjustment. Habits can fade away over time. He tried to suppress the deep emptiness he didn’t want to admit, deceiving himself again and again, until yesterday at the art exhibition when he saw the sun-kissed and healthy Cheng Zhou through the crowd.

In that moment, all his self-deception felt ridiculous.

It’s strange that when Cheng Zhou was by his side, he never really felt much, and sometimes even felt annoyed. After all, he had always thought he liked Cheng Yuze. But at the moment they met, all the emotions he had suppressed rushed back.

He just wanted to walk over, hug him, and tell him how much he missed him.

They could start over. If he loved him, then it was perfect—he had the chance to share a life together.

Cheng Zhou had lost weight, tanned a bit, but his eyes were brighter and he looked full of energy.

In Cheng Zhou’s eyes, everything was clear and bright, as if he remained unchanged even after seeing him.

Cheng Zhou smiled and greeted him, “Hi, big brother. Long time no see.” It felt as if the years they had shared were merely fleeting memories, so light and ephemeral that with a gust of wind, nothing remained.

Nie Shanglin wanted to reach out to him but found himself unable to.

That night, he reflected on many things.

It must be that he liked Cheng Zhou.

He liked Cheng Zhou once unwavering dedication, his youthful vitality. He liked the way he had remained steadfast over the years, bringing him peace and security. Even now, as he recalled their moments together, he found that whether he was laughing, being silent, or declaring his love, every aspect of Cheng Zhou was endearingly poignant.

——

After landing in Country F, Cheng Zhou rushed to the hotel, ordered a bite to eat, and then fell asleep immediately. As for Nie Shanglin?

He can go straight to hell.

After returning from Tibet, Cheng Zhou chose to go back to his old city simply because he was too lazy to adapt to life in another place, and he also felt a sense of nostalgia for his hometown. He had thought about running into Nie Shanglin again, but it doesn’t really matter for he had truly let go. Besides, Nie Shanglin genuinely didn’t like him. Cheng Zhou felt that if they met, it would be nothing more than passing each other by, perhaps exchanging a casual greeting like friends.

Who would have thought that Nie Shanglin would be like someone who took the wrong medicine?

Is moving on really that complicated? It doesn’t have to be.

——–

Cheng Zhou, in the middle of a dream, was awakened by the ringing of his phone.

He picked up the phone and saw an unfamiliar number. In a half-asleep daze, Cheng Zhou pressed the answer button.

“Hello, you—”

A familiar voice from across the line asked, “Where are you?”

This guy startled Cheng Zhou so much that he jumped up in surprise. Once he regained his composure, he ran his fingers through his messy hair and replied in a less-than-friendly tone, “How did you get my number?”

Cheng Zhou had actually changed his number.

Nie Shanglin didn’t answer the question. Instead, he said, “There’s no one at home.”

“That’s my home; I can make it empty if I want.”

“Cheng Zhou,” Nie Shanglin unusually softened his tone, “You should come back so we can talk properly.”

Cheng Zhou shook all over with goosebumps and said, “No, big brother, I can’t handle that tone of yours.”