The divorce comeback system arrived right after I was born.

That night, Chen Zhi's living room was even more lively than during the Chinese New Year.

"Oh dear, Second Aunt, please don't worry!"

Zhang Guifang sat cross-legged in the center of the sofa, facing the family's group voice message barrage, "Tonight at 8 PM, Zhejiang TV! Yes, yes, that show with the swivel chairs! My Wanwan is going to be on TV! What, whose Wanwan? She's Old Lin's daughter, my future daughter-in-law! Oh dear, she's not even married into the family yet, but it's only a matter of time..."

The usually mature and composed Lao Lin was unusually nervous sitting in front of the television.

Chen Zhi sat in the corner of the sofa, holding half a watermelon in his arms.

He looked at the room full of adults and felt both amused and strangely warm.

Since the college entrance exam ended and he and Lin Wanwan finally confessed their feelings, the relationship between the two families has grown even closer. Zhang Guifang, in particular, is eager to transfer Lin Wanwan's name directly to her own household registration.

"They're here! Don't say a word!"

As a burst of rousing drumbeats came on the television, host Hua Shao read out a long list of sponsors.

The scene shifts, and the stage lights suddenly dim.

A spotlight slammed into the center of the stage.

On the television screen, a girl in a simple white dress stood quietly, holding a microphone.

The Lin Wanwan on the screen seemed quite different from the girl he usually met, who wore a school uniform, climbed over balconies, acted coquettishly, and gave him hickeys.

She wore light makeup and had her hair styled in soft curls; under the soft light, she seemed to glow.

It's so beautiful.

"She's definitely my girlfriend," Chen Zhi thought to herself.

The prelude begins with a deep, narrative piano melody.

Lin Wanwan raised the microphone, closed her eyes, and her eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyelids.

"Honey, where are you hiding, lost in thought?"

"What's on your mind that you can't let go of?"

The moment the song started, Chen Zhi felt that the watermelon in his hand was no longer sweet; it couldn't be as sweet as Wanwan's.

Her voice was ethereal yet slightly husky, like an unsent love letter from first love, full of emotion that immediately captivated the listener.

The camera gave a close-up of the four mentors, and Na Ying's hand was already hovering over the button.

Both families held their breath, watching Lin Wanwan shine on stage.

On the television, the song reached its climax.

"You are the love I never want to lose touch with in this lifetime..."

"Why force me so cruelly? Gently let go of my hand..."

When Lin Wanwan sang this line, she suddenly opened her eyes and looked directly at the camera lens.

Those eyes were brimming with tears, concealing an emotion that only one person could understand.

Chen Zhi stared at the screen, his heart skipping a beat.

He had a strange feeling that this girl was either singing to the national audience or to him.

"Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!"

The four mentors pressed the turn button almost simultaneously!

After the song ended, the entire audience erupted in applause.

During the interactive segment, the mentors began a frantic competition to recruit contestants.

Wang Feng, the teacher who always asks "What is your dream?", adjusted his glasses and asked, "Young lady, you sang this song with so much emotion. I'd like to ask, why did you choose this song? Is there a special story behind it?"

The air in front of the television suddenly froze.

The four adults from both families, with eight eyes, all turned to look at Chen Zhi, who was huddled in the corner.

Chen Zhi: "..."

He scooped a spoonful of watermelon into his mouth, trying to appear calm: "Why are you looking at me? Eat some watermelon, it's quite sweet."

On the television, Lin Wanwan took the microphone.

She lowered her head and smiled shyly, a smile that was both bashful and sweet, as if she had remembered something happy.

"because……"

Lin Wanwan's voice was soft and gentle, carrying her usual charming naiveté.

"This song has that person's flavor in it."

"I want to tell him that no matter where he is, no matter how high I fly, I will never lose contact with him."

Zhang Guifang beamed with joy. "You rascal! Did you hear that? Wanwan is confessing her feelings to you! Wow, young people these days really know how to have fun, so romantic! Much better than your dad was back then!"

Chen Zhi blushed.

The TV program continued, and Lin Wanwan ultimately chose Li Jian, the youngest and most skilled mentor in love songs.

The show ended after 11 p.m.

The living room was finally quiet.

Chen Zhi returned to his room.

He lay in bed and tapped on Lin Wanwan's WeChat profile picture.

The last message she sent was yesterday afternoon, when she said she was going to record a pre-interview.

[Chen Zhi: Big star, congratulations on advancing! That song you sang was pretty good, just a tiny bit better than the original.]

The message was sent out, but it disappeared without a trace.

Chen Zhi stared at the screen for five minutes.

No reply.

He made another call.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is currently switched off..."

Chen Zhi tossed his phone aside and stared blankly at the ceiling.

A strange sense of loss welled up inside me.

On television, Lin Wanwan shines brightly, surrounded by spotlights, sought after by mentors, and watched by audiences nationwide.

He could only watch her through the screen.

"What should I do if I start missing her? Am I just love-struck?"

Chen Zhi turned over and buried his face in the pillow.

"What kind of big star is he? He doesn't even reply to WeChat messages. Thumbs down."

Chen Zhi muttered something and forced himself to close his eyes and go to sleep.

Time passed second by second.

The cicadas outside the window were making a racket that was really bothering me.

Why are the cicadas so noisy today?

One o'clock in the morning.

Chen Zhi still couldn't fall asleep; his mind was filled with Lin Wanwan's glance back on stage.

Just then.

"Yes."

A soft sound.

It sounded like pebbles hitting a windowpane.

Chen Zhi suddenly opened his eyes.

Auditory hallucination?

"Tap, tap."

Two more sounds.

This time I heard it clearly; it was coming from the window.

Chen Zhi sprang out of bed with a swift movement, rushed to the window in a few steps, pulled back the curtains, and pushed open the window.

The sweltering heat of the summer night was overwhelming.

He leaned out and looked down.

The dim streetlights downstairs cast long shadows of the trees.

A slender figure stood in the dappled shadows of the trees.

She was wearing a loose-fitting T-shirt, and a pink suitcase stood at her feet.

Hearing the sound of the window opening, the girl looked up.

The light from the streetlamp shone directly on her face.

Without the elaborate makeup she wears on stage, she looks a bit tired with her bare face.

But the moment she saw Chen Zhi, her eyes instantly curved into crescent moons.

Lin Wanwan stood downstairs, grinning foolishly at Chen Zhi upstairs.

In that instant, Chen Zhi felt all the disappointment and sentimentality in his heart were washed away by that silly smile.

What big star?

Isn't he still the same silly guy who stays up late at night and likes to climb over the balcony and crawl into his bed?

"Why are you back so soon?" Chen Zhi asked in a low voice, afraid of waking his parents who were already asleep next door.

Lin Wanwan didn't speak, but she put her finger to her lips and made a "shh" gesture.

Then, she pointed to the familiar gap between the two balconies.

-

I've almost reached 10,000 words today, so two more chapters aren't too much to ask, right? (16/36)