Despite her attempts to stay busy and forget about Lu Huaicheng, Xia Liyang had spent the past few days in a daze.

She had no appetite for food, couldn’t focus on her books, and even kept making typos in her autographed copies.

As for her Ph.D. proposal, she couldn’t concentrate enough to work on it.

Song Jinhe told her she was in the first stage of heartbreak and that she’d get through it eventually. She suggested Xia Liyang return to Beicheng for a while to change her environment, so she wouldn’t be reminded of him every time she looked at the villa outside her window.

“Let me try for a few more days,” Xia Liyang managed a faint smile over the video call. “Otherwise, I’ll never finish signing this stack of books in time.”

“You could just mail them back home for signing. Are you afraid your dad will find out your pen name? He already agreed to you studying literature and writing novels, didn’t he?” Song Jinhe asked.

“Yeah…” Xia Liyang bit her lip and answered softly, “But I still feel a bit awkward about it.”

“Tomorrow is Saturday. How about I accompany you for a bit of shopping and a change of scenery?” Song Jinhe asked.

“It’s okay. It’s rare for you to get a two-day weekend, and I don’t really feel like going out; I’m feeling exhausted,” Xia Liyang replied.

“Alright,” Song Jinhe nodded. “If you’re feeling down, just video call me. I’ll be available.”

“Okay, thank you,” Xia Liyang smiled gratefully at her.

Thanks to Song Jinhe, she at least had someone to talk to and release her emotions.

Yesterday, when Xu Songnian came to her place to get the keys, he noticed she was in a bad state and asked a lot of questions.

But, for some reason, she didn’t want to tell him about it. She just vaguely mentioned it was a relationship issue, unrelated to him, and asked him not to press further as she was really down, so he let it go.

After hanging up the video call, Xia Liyang glanced at the calendar reminder on her phone.

Tomorrow at 7 PM, at the riverside Western restaurant—a meeting to clear things up with Lu Huaicheng.

She doubted he would show up for this dinner.

Xia Liyang gave a bitter smile and looked out at the pitch-dark riverside villa through the floor-to-ceiling window.

The lights in his house hadn’t been on for several nights in a row.

That night was no exception.

She guessed he had probably gone on a business trip to Beicheng again, with no plans to return anytime soon.

But by Saturday night, hearing the sound of thunder outside, Xia Liyang still put on a dress, did her makeup to cover her tired complexion and dark circles, styled her slightly curled long hair, took an umbrella, and stepped out in high-heeled sandals.

She could have canceled the reservation at the restaurant entirely, but deep down, a small glimmer of hope remained, clinging to the impossible miracle.

Just like that time she bought a midnight movie ticket.

The rain outside wasn’t too heavy yet, so Xia Liyang held her umbrella and walked quickly, arriving at the restaurant about ten minutes early.

She put away her umbrella, took a seat by the floor-to-ceiling window, ordered a drink, and began to wait anxiously.

But by 7:30, there was still no sign of Lu Huaicheng, and her drink was already empty.

Outside, the rain had grown heavier, blanketing the entire Qingjiang River in an endless mist, and the lights across the river had turned blurry.

Feeling a hollow emptiness, Xia Liyang withdrew her gaze, glanced at the waiter lingering nearby, seemingly waiting for her to order, and helplessly opened the menu, ordering a salad and a mojito for herself.

After the food arrived, she slowly moved her fork, chewing on the tasteless lettuce, her eyes constantly looking out at the people holding umbrellas along the riverside.

But she never saw that familiar figure.

It seemed that the miracle she hoped for wasn’t coming.

Xia Liyang gave a self-deprecating smile, and after her empty plate was cleared away by the waiter, she ordered a Long Island iced tea.

The restaurant wasn’t far from her home, so she thought she might as well drink and get a little drunk, go back, and sleep.

No more need to feel sad or disappointed over that night’s fruitless wait.

After finishing the drink, the rain had stopped outside, and the restaurant was about to close.

With her head slightly foggy, Xia Liyang paid the bill, stood up with a lonely expression, and walked toward the restaurant’s entrance.

As she picked up her umbrella and pushed the heavy wooden door open, someone happened to pull the door open from outside.

With the momentum, Xia Liyang stumbled forward, right into a solid chest.

The familiar, cool scent, mixed with the aroma of airplane coffee, instantly flooded her senses.

Startled, she quickly took a step back, disbelief in her voice as she looked up, “… Mr. Lu?”

“It’s me.” Lu Huaicheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, his voice calm, but his dark eyes filled with a complex array of emotions as he looked at her.

He was in a suit, but unlike his usual meticulous appearance, his shirt and pants had a few creases, and a few buttons at his collar were undone.

He looked rushed, as if he had hurried over from somewhere.

“I thought you wouldn’t come,” Xia Liyang bit her lip slightly, feeling a pang in her nose, almost on the verge of tears.

Seeing the hint of tears in her eyes, Lu Huaicheng’s heart tightened, and he replied in a hoarse voice, “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting so long.”

“Yes, the restaurant was about to close,” Xia Liyang tried to maintain a calm exterior, gripping the umbrella in her hand.

After a pause, Lu Huaicheng gazed at her deeply and said slowly, “Well, you lied to me for so long, and I made you wait this long. Now we’re even.”

Xia Liyang was taken aback, looking at him in surprise.

The fact that he showed up already felt like a miracle to her.

She hadn’t expected him to forgive her so easily for deceiving him.

She wanted him to come tonight only to have a chance to confess her feelings properly.

She hadn’t hoped for anything more.

“Mr. Lu, does that mean you’ve forgiven me?” Xia Liyang swallowed and cautiously asked.

“What else?” Lu Huaicheng’s gaze softened, a hint of helplessness in his low voice, “I can’t let go of you.”

The moment he had woken up from a dream that morning, seeing her crying in his dream had cut him to the core.

The fact that he loved her would not change, even if she had deceived him.

Hearing this, the long-suppressed emotions in Xia Liyang’s heart suddenly surged, and tears that she had held back rolled down her face as she whimpered, “Then why did you block me? When I went to your house, you weren’t there, and I couldn’t go up to your office either…”

Lu Huaicheng froze, feeling a sharp pain in his heart at her tear-streaked face, and hurriedly explained, “I was angry at that time, feeling like you toyed with my feelings. Plus, there was a lot of work in Beicheng that needed my attention, so I left…”

“And I already removed your WeChat from the blacklist this morning.” After saying that, he added somewhat awkwardly.

“I-I didn’t play with your feelings,” Xia Liyang said, wiping her tears with some embarrassment, her voice choked. “I originally wanted to invite you to dinner today to confess, but I didn’t expect you to find out first…”

“However, I did realize my feelings too late, and I kept avoiding it afterward…”

Xia Liyang sniffed, her eyes red as she looked at him softly and said, “Because I have always liked you too, and I didn’t want to be the person you hate the most.”

Hearing this, Lu Huaicheng could no longer suppress the impulse to hug her. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist and held her tightly, filled with regret as he said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize your feelings either. I shouldn’t have blacklisted you and should have given you more time and opportunities to explain.”

“This isn’t your fault; it’s because of my own cowardice and indecision. And my deception truly hurt you. I really don’t know how to make up for it…” Xia Liyang bit her lip, tears already soaking a large part of his shirt.

“Your confession is enough for me,” Lu Huaicheng said gently, tenderly ruffling her fluffy hair. “Besides, you helped my mother secure a spot for the clinical trial at Huake Hospital.”

“…” Xia Liyang paused, her crying red face lifting in surprise. “How did you know?”

“I happened to overhear it,” Lu Huaicheng paused, as if trying to cheer her up, and joked, “Why would you hide something like this from me? Trying to be a ‘living Lei Feng’?”

“I… I was just afraid of exposing my identity,” Xia Liyang said, feeling a bit shy.

“You don’t have to worry about that anymore. Just tell me anything directly, okay?” Lu Huaicheng looked at her with deep, warm eyes and spoke gently.

“Okay,” Xia Liyang obediently nodded.

“Then let’s go home,” Lu Huaicheng said, lightly brushing away the remaining tears on her face with his fingers and tidying up the strands of hair stuck to her cheek.

Xia Liyang shyly lowered her long wet eyelashes and asked, “By the way, have you eaten, Mr. Lu?”

“I had a bit on the plane,” Lu Huaicheng replied.

“Then should we find a late-night barbecue to eat! I just had a salad and now I’m already feeling hungry, and I want to drink beer too!” Xia Liyang said, lifting her eyes, her bright gaze sparkling.

“Did you already drink some alcohol?” Lu Huaicheng looked at her uncertainly.

“But we’ve made up, so we should celebrate with some drinks, right?” Xia Liyang smiled.

Not sure if it was the effects of the last Long Island Iced Tea starting to kick in, she suddenly felt a bit dizzy, her body light.

Noticing the deepening blush on her cheeks and the increasingly dazed look in her eyes, Lu Huaicheng furrowed his brow slightly and gently advised her, “It’s too late today; let’s celebrate tomorrow. I’ll take you home, and if you want barbecue, I can order takeout for you.”

“What about beer?” She tilted her head, her slender fingers wrapping around his waist.

Lu Huaicheng’s muscles tensed, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. “I remember someone saying they felt dizzy after just a couple of sips of red wine last time.”

“… I was lying! I can handle my alcohol!” Xia Liyang blinked playfully.

“I can’t tell you can handle it,” Lu Huaicheng said, his lips twitching slightly, feeling that she was clearly tipsy and could boldly claim she was teasing him.

“I’ll show you when we get home,” Xia Liyang said, her eyes crescent-shaped as she playfully poked his side. “Just drink with me.”

Lu Huaicheng’s throat moved, quickly catching her mischievous hand and soothingly saying, “Let’s go home first.”

“Okay!” Xia Liyang chuckled, her head spinning slightly as she linked her arm with his. “Let’s go, Mr. Lu.”

The sudden rush of drunkenness made her exceptionally high-spirited. As she took a wobbly step forward, her stiletto got caught in the gap of the doorway, causing her heel to twist and nearly make her fall.

Lu Huaicheng quickly wrapped his large hand around her waist to steady her, his eyelids lowered as he said, “You can’t even walk straight, and you say you’re not drunk.”

“I tripped!” Xia Liyang pouted in protest.

Then she shook off his hand and declared, “Don’t help me; I’ll prove to you that I’m stable and can even march in place.”

Lu Huaicheng sighed, finding her amusing and a bit ridiculous.

“Watch carefully.” Xia Liyang shoved the umbrella into his hand, straightened her back, lifted one leg high, and was ready to move forward.

Seeing her sway again, Lu Huaicheng quickly stepped forward and scooped her up in a princess carry.

“Okay, the performance is over,” he said, a hint of helplessness in his tone.

“?” Xia Liyang was taken aback for a moment. After a while, she reached out to wrap her arms around his neck and laughed, “Mr. Lu, you’re not really going to carry me home like this, are you? Where’s your car?”

Lu Huaicheng’s mouth twitched, patiently explaining to her, “My flight was delayed. I thought you had gone home already, so I went to your house first. When I saw you weren’t there, I came to the restaurant. The driver went back to rest earlier.”

“Oh.” Xia Liyang nodded thoughtfully, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she said, “Mr. Lu, you really ran over here, didn’t you?”

“Yeah.” Lu Huaicheng nodded slightly, feeling that she was about to come up with some strange idea.

Sure enough, the next second, he heard her say, “I can hardly imagine you running in a suit. Why don’t you show me?”

“……” Lu Huaicheng paused, then said, “I’m currently carrying you.”

“It’s okay, just think of it as carrying extra weight while running. I want to get home early!” Xia Liyang blinked her bright, sparkling eyes, smiling radiantly.

Lu Huaicheng gazed at her with a complex expression for a few seconds and sighed gently, “Hold on tight.”

He then took long strides, running in the humid evening breeze of summer night, carrying her all the way home.