Happiness seems like something that once it begins, it will naturally continue on its own.

Qian Wang and Zhao Ziqiang returned to the small inn just before midnight, calmly bidding each other goodnight at their respective doors. They exchanged the same old polite and affectionate wishes, and then had a peaceful night’s sleep.

The next two weeks felt like a compensation for all the years they had wasted, as they carelessly explored every nearby attraction, street vendor, and even roadside snack.

It wasn’t until Zhao Ziqiang’s wallet ran dry that it came to an end.

They had played and gone crazy enough. Zhao Ziqiang thought to himself that at least on the way back, he wouldn’t have to endure the misery of switching cars, feeling dizzy, and throwing up. Wang Qian eagerly volunteered as the free driver.

Zhao Ziqiang was, in a way, recovering from his illness, but the exhaustion of both body and mind had taken its toll. Most of the journey, he drifted in and out of a groggy sleep. Although they made stops in several cities along the way, they didn’t have the energy or mood to explore. Each time, they rested for one night before setting off again.

When Zhao Ziqiang finally woke up fully, the familiar smells and sights of the city hit him all at once.

Before leaving, Zhao Ziqiang had quit his job, originally planning to move away for work. However, a last-minute change of heart had thrown his plans into chaos. Now, he needed to go home and think things through properly, and he might even have to stay here for a while since he was out of money.

After entering the city, Qian Wang started to feel absent-minded and depressed, until Zhao Ziqiang said, ‘Drive me back to my place.'”

Only then did he start to feel a little less stifled.

Why? Subjectively, he believed that after the romantic journey, his relationship with Zhao Ziqiang had been restored, even reaching a new level. And since Zhao Ziqiang hadn’t chosen to return to work at the small restaurant, it meant he could relax a bit and no longer had to guard against that young wolf.

He had been quietly struggling with how to bring up the topic on how to start living together again with Zhao Ziqiang.

When the car turned into Zhao’s neighborhood and stopped at the building entrance, Qian Wang’s smile faded. Sun Wanjue, hands in his pockets and head lowered, casually walked out of the building they were about to enter.

Zhao Ziqiang also pulled a grim face because just as they spotted Sun Wanjue, the kid immediately looked up and saw them. To be precise, he first saw Qian Wang, and then noticed the man in the passenger seat.

The boy’s face immediately turned ugly. Qian Wang straightened up, casually pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, and got out of the car like a victorious aristocratic businessman.

Zhao Ziqiang also got out of the car from the other side.

Sun Wanjue sized up the two of them a few times before locking his gaze directly on Zhao Ziqiang. Zhao Ziqiang initially wanted to say that he hadn’t done anything wrong, standing tall and upright, feeling no need to fear a child like him. But at this moment, under Sun Wanjue’s stare, his confidence inevitably weakened. After all, even though he had said goodbye to Brother Sun and Sister Wang back then, he had kept things tightly hidden from Sun Wanjue.

It was essentially an unannounced departure.

Sun Wanjue stubbornly stared at them, his eyes feeling a bit sore for some reason. His expression remained emotionless, but his face twitched slightly. Meanwhile, Qian Wang stood proudly, leaning against the car and adjusting his sleeve cuffs with a smug look on his face.

Seeing the tension, Zhao Ziqiang just wanted to take the kid out for a meal, hoping they could make peace.

Just as he thought that, before he could smile and say something, Qian Wang somehow found the confidence to step in and interfere.

“Zhao Ziqiang, look, the house isn’t that big, and there’s always people around. Why don’t you move in with me?”

Zhao Ziqiang looked up in surprise, confused, and replied,

“Why would I leave my own home and move into someone else’s?”

His words were completely innocent, but they completely changed the situation. Qian Wang swore that the kid standing by hadn’t shown any change in expression, but his eyes definitely revealed a smile—a mocking one!

So, in a hurry, he added,

“We’ve been… these past few days…”

Only then did Zhao Ziqiang realize what Qian Wang was getting at. If he explained it, it would seem too deliberate, so he could only say it was driven by his emotions.

“Uh, Qian Wang, I’ve had a pretty good few days. It feels like all the bad moods just got blown away with the wind and sand. Don’t get me wrong, though—when we get home, we should just rest and forget the past. We all need to move on and start fresh. And… well, thanks for the ride, I really appreciate it, so…”

He glanced at Qian Wang, then at Sun Wanjue.

“I’m so tired I can barely move. How about we all head home and take a break, huh?”

Without paying any attention to their awkward or stiff expressions, he picked up his bag and walked toward the hallway, tossing a casual wave behind him.

After entering the house and going through the interrogation from his mom and sister, Zhao Ziqiang flopped onto the bed. He had to admit that he had acted impulsively. The whole “calm as still water” thing was better left to the Buddha.

That night in the desert, everything—the atmosphere, the mood, the surroundings—had aligned, making it a moment of connection. But afterward, they had acted like nothing more than two carefree travel buddies, just out to enjoy some fun and relaxation. How had he let that shameless man think he’d been so easily forgiven?

Thinking about it, Zhao Ziqiang became frustrated again. Why did he feel like it was so easy to forgive Qian Wang? Did he secretly believe that he would forgive him in the end?

Each of them had their own grievances.

After Zhao Ziqiang went upstairs, Qian Wang and Sun Wanjue stood there, staring at each other in silence. Sun Wanjue’s gaze clearly showed a mix of disdain, mockery, and contempt.

Qian Wang couldn’t help but admit that he was feeling frustrated. The sense of loss hit him like a whirlwind, tearing through his heart. He couldn’t understand why, after seeing their relationship almost rebuilt, Zhao Ziqiang’s sudden turn had reduced everything to ruins.

As the atmosphere began to take an odd and tense turn, Sun Wanjue’s phone in his pocket vibrated. Without even looking at it, he pressed it off and glanced toward the distance behind Qian Wang’s car.

Qian Wang instinctively followed the boy’s gaze. A slim, light-footed young man was running toward them. How should he describe him? Quite familiar, actually.

When the man saw Qian Wang staring at him, he shot him a nervous glance before awkwardly and fawningly walking over to stand next to Sun Wanjue.

Sun Wanjue began to get subtly annoyed. After a brief glance at Qian Wang, he turned and left.

The young man, like a follower of his older brother, tilted his shoulder and hurried after him.

Qian Wang felt that the whole argument earlier had been pointless. What was he even doing, arguing with a kid younger than his students? Compared to that, the sense of defeat that brought everything back to square one made him suddenly feel exhausted.

Once again, it was the bar, and it was Lao Wang.

The difference this time was that Qian Wang wasn’t drinking too much; he just held a cocktail, staring blankly, lost in thought. Old Wang had been called out by him for almost an hour, and they hadn’t said a word, which was starting to get on his nerves.

“I said, do you treat me like a prop? If there’s something, just say it. If not, I’m going back home to be with my wife.”

Qian Wang glanced at him, still seemingly lost in thought as he absently rubbed the rim of his glass.

“How’s school going?”

“I already told you, there’s nothing new. I’m wondering if you actually made some arrangements in advance and are just messing with me.”

“I’m messing with you? What, do I have nothing better to do?”

Qian Wang turned slightly, speaking with a serious expression.

“How come a grown man’s thoughts are so hard to guess?”

Old Wang rolled his eyes.

“I thought you had given up and went out to clear your head, but turns out you’re still thinking about him?”

Qian Wang frowned, as if he hadn’t heard, and said:

“You don’t know what happened in between, but I felt like we were almost okay again. Honestly, I can’t explain it, but it felt like there was just this thin layer left, and we were about to reconcile. So why is it so difficult?”

Lao Wang chuckled and said,
“Heh! Reconciliation? To mend a broken mirror, you have to give your heart. Do you even have a heart?”

Qian Wang froze, his eyes clearing up, but his expression became dim.
“How do you figure I don’t have a heart?”

Qian Wang stared at Lao Wang, his gaze sharp enough to make Lao Wang shiver deeply. Before he could say anything else, Qian Wang stood up and walked out, leaving Lao Wang with a bitter look on his face.

“What does this have to do with me? And I’m the one paying…”

---

This time, Qian Wang went completely silent. His phone was off, and when asked at school, they simply said, ‘He left.’

When Lao Wang went to the house and knocked, no one answered. After knocking again, the neighbor’s aunt shuffled out groggily.

“Yo, Xiao Zhao…long time no see! Now that you’ve sold the house, where are you planning to move?”

“……”

He ran to the large house, more than a hundred square meters in size, but it was empty. As for Qian Wang’s family, their son rarely came home, so no one knew anything.

Lao Wang hurriedly dialed Zhao Ziqiang’s number. After explaining the whole situation, he threw out one last sentence:

“Could it be that he’s really lost it?”

Zhao Ziqiang didn’t believe that this person was really in a state of despair. However, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t worried. After searching everywhere, he confirmed that the person had truly disappeared. He thought to himself, “He’s a grown man, a teacher, after all. He can’t really do anything reckless.” Since his family wasn’t worried, why should he be overthinking it? With that thought, he reassured himself and went home.

It had been over a month since Qian Wang disappeared, and summer had come, along with the start of the school’s summer vacation. After the first few days of Sun Wanjue pestering him, Zhao Ziqiang focused solely on searching for Qian Wang and finding a job.

And then… he was left with nothing but dead ends.