After their confessions were rejected, they regretted it for the rest of their lives.

That gloom seemed to have never dissipated since Xia Weiyu's funeral, constantly obscuring the sunlight.

A gentle breeze ruffled Zuoqiu Hangyu's long hair, which cascaded over her shoulders, leaving some strands disheveled.

"I... hiccup."

The crouching body suddenly trembled.

Her fair neck twitched slightly, and the words she wanted to say were cut off by a sudden hiccup-like sound.

Zuoqiu Hangyu skillfully and quickly took out a small bottle from the inner pocket of his chest, poured out two pieces, and put them in his mouth to swallow.

She closed her eyes, her slender white hands pounding her chest forcefully, and the suffocating feeling that had just surged up gradually subsided.

"I really shouldn't have come to see you."

He tried his best to suppress the gloomy emotions spreading in his heart, but his unspoken thoughts, like a burst dam, pierced Zuoqiu Hangyu's heart with memories.

After a moment, she braced herself with one hand on the ground, raised her head, and tried her best to keep the grave out of her sight as she slowly got up despite feeling dizzy.

Wiping away the tears that welled up in the corners of my eyes, I inwardly mocked myself for acting like a child.

It's one thing for that guy to call me a child, but I can't act like a child and cry like that.

Gently bite her thin, pink lips.

Returning to reality from a dreamlike state, the blood-orange hue of the sunset on the horizon left Zuoqiu Hangyu feeling somewhat lost.

No wonder my legs were shaking, like I'd been electrocuted and felt numb; it turns out it's been quite a while...

This feeling is exactly the same as when I was still hospitalized.

Before I knew it, a whole year had passed.

With her head down, Zuoqiu Hangyu kicked at the pebbles on the path with her toe. Because of her recent relapse of illness, she didn't dare to look back even once.

The burning sensation in my chest still lingers faintly.

He let out a heavy sigh, preparing to leave.

At that moment, Zuoqiu Hangyu caught sight of a figure that seemed somewhat familiar.

"she is..."

She blinked, and only then could she confirm that the figure standing in the twilight was not a hallucination.

......

Her short, curly chestnut-brown hair was messy, and a chestnut-curled tsurugi mask hung on her delicate ears.

The girl's expressionless face seemed to have reverted to its previous aloof and indifferent state, but the overall demeanor she exuded was vastly different.

This is a farewell gift that belongs only to her...

If it weren't for wanting to see him one last time, Kurimaki Tsuruo wouldn't even have had the courage to come over.

After getting out of bed, she didn't bother with her appearance, simply throwing on a loose coat, slipping barefoot into the slippers provided for hospital patients, and putting on a mask and hat for going out.

There were still needle marks on the back of her fair hand.

She arrived too late.

When I woke up and saw that note, the funeral was already nearing its end.

Kurimaki Tsuruo's expression was numb; she even seemed to have forgotten how to shed tears.

It was as if the entire world had vanished, leaving only her... and the tombstone in front of her inscribed with "Xia Weiyu".

The person she relied on and trusted most has died.

Because of her career, and in order to cultivate her...

Xia Weiyu has given so much, but what has been her reward?

Was it my own bad temper, or was it that my carefully prepared confession was rejected by the person I liked?

The summer evening breeze carried a subtle warmth, but as it swept over Tsuruo Kurimaki's body, it brought a chill that penetrated deep into every part of her being.

For the young girl, this might be what the end of the world felt like...

Xia Weiyu often told her that for an idol to appear in public with a lazy attitude is a huge mistake.

You need to be impeccably dressed when you go out, ensuring you're in your best physical condition to face fans disguised as strangers.

Such reminders, so persistent, even gave the girl the illusion that she would be reminded of them for the rest of her life.

No amount of bitterness or pain can describe the feelings in my heart.

A stagnant pool of water—that's what Kurimaki Tsuruo is like now.

She didn't even notice that someone was standing next to her...

Zuoqiu Hangyu glanced at her eyes, which were covered with a layer of gray. In the afterglow of the setting sun, her whole demeanor was like a cracked glass cup, which would shatter irreparably if touched even slightly.

"Kurimaki Tsuruo? Is that right?"

Zuoqiu Hangyu asked softly, vaguely seeing her former self in the other person.

Seeing that the other party did not respond, she coughed lightly twice.

"Ms. Tsuruo Kurimaki?"

The sudden sound startled Kurimaki Tsuruo, who looked at the beautiful face beside her and hurriedly moved away.

This is the safe distance between a girl and a stranger.

Is anyone still here?

His own fans?

Once this idea came to mind...

Kurimaki Tsuruo frowned, instinctively reaching out to cover her haggard face, and hurriedly put on a mask.

"It can't be that bad..."

Seeing the other party's wary reaction, Zuoqiu Hangyu spread her hands to indicate that she had not taken any photos and was not a paparazzi.

"I just came to take a look, I didn't expect it to be Ms. Kurimaki."

"Who are you?" Kurimaki Tsuruo's tone was distant and indifferent.

"Please wait a moment..."

Zuoqiu Hangyu fumbled in her pocket and pulled out her lawyer's license.

He said quite naturally, "Well, Xia Weiyu is also an acquaintance of mine."

"He has never mentioned you to me."

"Men rarely mention another beautiful woman to their female friends."

Zuoqiu Hangyu changed his tone, "My name is Zuoqiu Hangyu. If you search for news from a year ago, you should be able to see my name. However, considering that you hadn't come to China to develop your career at that time, I can understand your reaction. It's enough that I know you."

"..."

Kurimaki Tsuruo also scrutinized the other person. Contrary to her age on her lawyer's license, this girl named Zuoqiu Hangyu looked younger and prettier than in her ID photo.

The information asymmetry between the two parties made the girl more wary and resistant.

If the emotions conveyed in one's eyes could be visualized...

The Zuoqiu Hangyu must have become an ice sculpture by now.

But she didn't care. Since she couldn't get any clues from Xia Weichan, she might be able to find out something from the idol who had been with Xia Weiyu as a producer before his death.

"You really like Xia Weiyu?"

"..."

"Sorry, I seem to have said something pointless."

"Don't... try to test me indirectly!"

As she spoke, Kurimaki Tsuru's knuckles clenched so tightly they turned white, perhaps because a girl who spoke to her in a very familiar tone was Xia Weiyu.

The girl's heart was filled with unease.

"All right..."

Zuoqiu Hangyu's eyes darted left and right.

"Originally, I wanted to talk to you about Xia Weiyu."

"What?"

"Well... I probably know more about your agent than you do..."

"...?"

"...What kind of look is that?"

Zuoqiu Hangyu looked at the fleeting hostility that flashed in those beautiful brown eyes.

It looked like a tiger was about to bare its claws at her.

Zuoqiu Hangyu had no doubt that if she continued talking, something bad would happen.

She quickly waved her hand and explained:

"Don't feel inexplicably threatened by me; I have my own lover."

That's how jealous women are; if they see a pretty girl mention someone she likes, they'll show hostility...

Fortunately, it wasn't a real love rival, otherwise I wouldn't be much worse off.