Recalling the past, Cheng Zhou feels not just a sense of nostalgia but also a profound embarrassment. That relationship was truly a failure in every sense.

“Nie Shanglin, I’m begging you, please stop bothering me.”

And don’t say you don’t believe me,” Cheng Zhou interrupted him, “or that you think I need to be disheartened, leave my hometown, and neglect everything to start over in order to truly forget you, to truly let go of the feelings I once had for you. It’s a joke. Why should I leave my hometown, the place where I’ve lived for over twenty years, for you?”

It’s you who should leave if anyone’s going. It’s not me who did something wrong.”

With that, Cheng Zhou decisively hung up the phone.

He continued to sleep.

On the other end, Nie Shanglin lowered his head in thought, instructing someone to find out Cheng Zhou’s whereabouts.

From childhood to now, almost everything Nie Shanglin wanted he could get.

In his youth, Cheng Yuze had rejected him, but Nie Shanglin didn’t care; he didn’t even feel a semblance of disappointment. Nie Shanglin believed that he wouldn’t make the wrong choices or decisions, so after being rejected, he still argued for his point: “I like Cheng Yuze.”

This so-called liking is subjective, and one could even say it is unnecessary.

As for Cheng Zhou, he was somewhat of a coincidence, but the timing of that coincidence was just right. Their relationship developed and solidified naturally, almost effortlessly.

Cheng Zhou was carefree but not excessive; he appeared carefree yet was extraordinarily considerate and attentive. He didn’t have a spoiled or difficult temperament, and their bodies fit together perfectly.

Most importantly, Cheng Zhou loved him.

It seemed as if he were a person meant specifically for Nie Shanglin.

They were extraordinarily well-matched. Nie Shanglin never had to worry about anything regarding Cheng Zhou because he knew that there was someone who truly understood him, and no matter what he did or how far he went, that person would always be waiting for him at the starting point.

Perhaps this feeling is what one calls reassurance.

But now, he was uncertain—unsure if Cheng Zhou was still waiting for him after he finally realized that he liked him.

Moments later, Nie Shanglin received a text message from his assistant, which contained Cheng Zhou’s whereabouts and the hotel where he was staying.

Nie Shanglin checked the date and had his assistant book a flight to Country F for noon.

——————

Cheng Zhou had a good sleep without being disturbed and, after tidying up, went to the art exhibition in the afternoon.

At the exhibition, he encountered Mu Chenfeng.

“What a coincidence,” Mu Chenfeng greeted him with a smile, his demeanor friendly, as if they were long-time friends without any barriers between them.

Cheng Zhou remained calm and nodded with a smile. “It is quite a coincidence.”

“This art exhibition is not bad,” Mu Chenfeng remarked.

Cheng Zhou nodded. “Mm.”

Mu Chenfeng asked, “Are you pursuing photography as a job?”

Cheng Zhou replied, “Just enough to get by.”

Mu Chenfeng teased, “I didn’t expect you to have such an artistic flair.”

Cheng Zhou responded noncommittally, “Well, that’s true.”

As the sky darkened, Cheng Zhou didn’t intend to continue the awkward conversation with Mu Chenfeng. However, he heard Mu Chenfeng say, “How about we have dinner together?”

“No need.”

“You don’t have to be so distant with me; it’s just a meal.”

Cheng Zhou replied, “If I’m not distant with you, how should I treat you? Thank you for taking the Cheng family business from Nie Shanglin?”

Mu Chenfeng was momentarily silent.

When he and Nie Shanglin targeted the Cheng family business, it was partly because taking control of Cheng’s would bring him significant benefits and advantages. On the other hand, he thought that even if Cheng Zhou no longer held the majority of shares, he could still live comfortably as a shareholder with the shares he had left. In business, there are no friends; he believed he had let go of his grip on the situation. However, he didn’t expect Cheng Zhou to throw caution to the wind and directly sell off the remaining shares at a low price.

By the time he found out, Cheng Zhou had already packed his bags and left Nie Shanglin.

On the surface, the Cheng family business was taken over by Nie Shanglin, but Mu Chenfeng thought he could still continue being friends with Cheng Zhou. Little did he know that Cheng Zhou had learned of his involvement in this situation and straightforwardly pointed it out.

Cheng Zhou left Nie Shanglin. He couldn’t deny that he felt a sense of triumph in his heart, but immediately afterward, Cheng Zhou also cut ties with him, which was not what he wanted.

Cheng Zhou was clear-cut in his likes and dislikes, and he was decisive—what he said was final. If he truly resolved to sever ties with him, then there would be no going back to the way things were.

“Sorry, I’m not in the mood for dinner yet.” With that, Cheng Zhou packed away his camera and bag and walked out of the art exhibition, with Mu Chenfeng following closely behind.

The exhibition was not far from the hotel where Cheng Zhou was staying; after just a few steps, he arrived. Ignoring Mu Chenfeng beside him, Cheng Zhou headed toward the hotel.

Mu Chenfeng wanted to say something more: “Then you…”

“Chen Feng?” Nie Shanglin, who had just gotten off the plane, asked tentatively as he waited at the entrance of Cheng Zhou’s hotel.

Mu Chenfeng instinctively looked ahead and saw Nie Shanglin standing at the bottom of the hotel, his hair disheveled and looking weary from travel, clearly just having arrived.

“What are you doing here?”

Upon seeing the two of them, Cheng Zhou thought to himself, great, they’re all here, so he said, “What a coincidence! You guys continue your chat; I’m heading back.”

He entered the hotel.

Nie Shanglin wanted to chase after him but saw Mu Chenfeng looking at him, so he had to give up the idea of pursuing Cheng Zhou and asked, “Chen Feng, what are you doing here?”

Mu Chenfeng didn’t answer him but countered with a question, “What are you here for?”

“To look for someone.”

Mu Chenfeng immediately frowned and asked, “Cheng Zhou? What do you want with him? Aren’t you two broken up?”

His reaction was too intense, making Nie Shanglin suspicious. “What about it?”

“Cheng Yuze?”

“Chen Feng,” Nie Shanglin realized he could hardly recognize Mu Chenfeng anymore. What puzzled him the most was that Mu Chenfeng asked the same question as Cheng Zhou. “What do you mean?”

“Let’s talk while walking.” Mu Chenfeng didn’t want to discuss this in depth at the hotel entrance.

Mu Chenfeng asked Nie Shanglin, “Have you taken the time to understand Cheng Zhou?”

Nie Shanglin questioned, “What do you mean?”

With his hands in his pockets, Mu Chenfeng slowly replied, “Perhaps you were once very important to him, but the Cheng Zhou you just saw is doing just fine without you.”

Nie Shanglin said, “But how does that relate to whether I should get back together with him?”

Mu Chenfeng looked at him and suddenly smiled, “Do you know why Cheng Zhou fell in love with you?”

Nie Shanglin was puzzled.

Mu Chenfeng continued, “Do you know how Cheng Zhou’s biological mother passed away?”

“From illness?” Nie Shanglin replied.

“You really have never thought about getting to know him,” Mu Chenfeng said.

Uncertain of his own feelings, Mu Chenfeng began to recount the story of Cheng Zhou’s mother.

“I really… didn’t know,” Nie Shanglin said, his expression a bit dazed after hearing the details.

He felt an overwhelming sense of pain—a deep, unshakeable sorrow.

Mu Chenfeng shook his head. “What do you really know about him?”

“Don’t bother him anymore; you have no right to interfere.” With that, Mu Chenfeng turned and walked away.

Because he had no right either.

Nie Shanglin sat dumbly on a bench by the roadside, surrounded by a diverse crowd speaking different languages and accents, creating a deafening noise in his ears.

He had never understood why Cheng Zhou had fallen so deeply for him, nor had he ever bothered to find out. Over the years, he had recklessly indulged in the care and love Cheng Zhou offered, never responding in kind or attempting to understand him, nor had he ever tried to soothe his wounds.

He gained Cheng Zhou’s love merely by chance, and their meeting came at just the right time; apart from that, he had no real merits and had even diminished Cheng Zhou’s affection.

He must have had feelings for Cheng Zhou all along; otherwise, he wouldn’t have had only Cheng Zhou in his life all these years. However, those feelings had become insignificant under his self-righteous mindset. Thus, during their time together, Nie Shanglin could disregard his commitments and come and go as he pleased.

But now that Cheng Zhou has left, that man shows no signs of longing or nostalgia.

In the days following their breakup, Nie Shanglin convinced himself not to think about it, not to inquire, pretending that Cheng Zhou’s absence had no effect on him. It turned out he had only deceived others and himself.