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

The comfortable coolness on her fingers made Zhou Juzi's ears feel hot for a moment.

The idiom "ten fingers are connected to the heart" was perfectly exemplified at this moment.

Xia Weichan's pressing made the girl's heart feel like it had been brushed by a feather, with a strange itch.

"I...I can do it myself!"

"Your hands are shaking and stiff right now, how can you press?"

Xia Weichan glanced up at her, pressed down Zhou Juzi's restless hand, and said expressionlessly:

"You'll be coming here to practice every day from now on. You don't want to play guitar with sore hands the next day, do you?"

"oh…"

Zhou Juzi lowered her eyes and replied, then suddenly realized something and asked with wide eyes:

"But I still have classes to attend!"

"It's been abandoned."

"what?"

.........

Back in Xia Weichan's car,

Sitting in the passenger seat, Zhou Juzi looked at her hands; the swelling on her fair and slender fingers had subsided considerably.

How strange...

It was still aching slightly half an hour ago.

The girl was already used to the soreness in her fingers after playing the guitar.

Because she plays for a long time each time, at most she'll soak her numb fingers in ice water and stretch her arm to relieve the numbness, and that's about it.

She had experienced practicing while injured during her preparatory school years before…

His eyes were fixed on the faint sunset outside the car window.

This training session was clearly longer and more intense...

Can a simple cold compress and massage really achieve this level of effect?

"..."

Just as Zhou Juzi was lost in thought, a familiar, faint smell of alcohol wafted over, and a cool sensation spread across her cheek.

The first thing Xia Weichan did after getting on the bus was to find wet wipes and help the girl wipe the dirt off her face.

It was like wiping Tsuruo Kurimaki's face after each training session.

"I... I really can do this myself!"

A flush rose to her cheeks. Zhou Juzi snatched the wet wipe from Xia Weichan's hand, pursed her lips, and looked away.

"Seriously... you're really going to let me skip class? I just started school..."

"I'm only a junior in college too," Xia Weichan said nonchalantly.

Since completing the registration procedures, he has never been to the school again, and he is even too lazy to go to the dormitory that was arranged for him.

"And you can also apply for a semester-long leave of absence for entrepreneurship, it doesn't matter."

"..."

Zhou Juzi remained silent, clutching the wet wipe in her hand.

She still wanted to ask "why"...

After a moment, the girl turned her head and slowly spoke.

"So, how were you feeling today?"

"Your basic skills are very good, and you're quite quick to learn. In just one afternoon, you've completed about 80% of the piece I asked you to play."

Hearing Xia Weichan's words, Zhou Juzi finally let out a soft breath.

It's not surprising that the girl received this evaluation, since "Free Bird" is a very "basic" piece.

The entire solo consists of short segments of fifth-order notes, using basic fingering, but the transitions are very fast.

It really tests your plucking speed and strumming skills.

And it's especially hard on your fingers...

However, this wasn't a big problem for Zhou Juzi, as she was very good at playing fast-paced pieces.

In addition, Xia Weichan has the effect of "Nature's Dew", which can relieve fatigue and finger injuries for any living thing that stays by his side.

There's no need to worry about the girl developing joint wear and tear, tenosynovitis, or anything like that due to prolonged training...

Under the neon lights of the city at dusk, Xia Weichan drove at a leisurely pace. Zhou Juzi, seeing him with the window down, also rolled down the passenger window.

The evening breeze caressed the girl's cheeks and stirred her orange-yellow hair.

Zhou Juzi gazed at the scene outside, her thoughts racing, but she had no reason to speak to Xia Weichan.

When the car stopped at the school gate, and Xia Weichan helped her unbuckle her seatbelt, she blinked and then whispered:

"Should I go by myself tomorrow?"

"I'll pick you up, still at eight in the morning."

Zhou Juzi gave a soft "Oh," got out of the car, and watched Xia Weichan smile and wave goodbye to her.

For a moment, the girl actually had the illusion that the two were in a passionate relationship.

Three months...

Without this condition, Zhou Juzi would really think that this guy... was dating her with the intention of being in a romantic relationship with her...

Furthermore, Xia Weichan seemed genuinely serious about mentoring her.

But is three months really enough?

By the time Zhou Juzi wanted to ask Xia Weichan more questions about this, all she could see was the flow of traffic...

.......

"Alas--"

Xia Weichan tuned the car radio to a very soothing frequency.

Given his current mood, if it weren't for rush hour traffic, Xia Weichan might actually have used the handbrake to start the car and express his excitement.

It's just like when someone takes an ugly photo of a night heron, posts it online, and then turns it into a meme that spreads all over the internet.

Pleasure.

The first three playthroughs combined are not as good as the start of this one playthrough. Isn't that enjoyable?

While waiting at the traffic light, Xia Weichan tidied up her camera and hung it around her neck.

This joy must be shared with "old friends".

Two days later, he returned to the cemetery where "he" was buried...and the park next to it.

This is his favorite birdwatching spot.

During his first playthrough, he rescued a baby night heron, but he didn't know if it recognized him.

Just as Xia Weichan walked with a clear mind to the highest point of the long bridge by the park's lake, preparing to look for that familiar black-crowned night heron...

Looking around, I spotted another familiar figure...

Xia Weichan's smile gradually froze.

Long, straight, jet-black hair reaching her waist, a black trench coat...

Zuoqiu Hangyu stood in the middle of the bridge, his clear, dark eyes gazing into the distance, his delicate, petite face seemingly lost in thought.

As it grew dark, and because the girl liked to wear black, Xia Weichan didn't notice her immediately.

These days, even magpies can come to birdwatch.

All right...

Let's slowly back away like this.

"Why are you running away? I'm not a cat, and you're not a mouse."

Zuoqiu Hangyu's gaze did not move, as if he had been lying in wait, seemingly having anticipated someone's arrival.

Xia Weichan stopped in her tracks, walked directly to her side, and asked:

"Are you waiting for me?"

"Don't be too self-conscious."

Zuoqiu Hangyu's clear black and white eyes glanced at Xia Weichan, his voice crisp and clear:

"I'm only here to pay my respects and remember those who once lived here."

"Is that so?"

Xia Weichan replied calmly, and then the two consciously maintained a suitable distance.

He came to birdwatch...

Zuoqiu Hangyu caught a glimpse of the camera hanging around Xia Weichan's neck out of the corner of his eye and was slightly taken aback.

At that moment, she heard a series of croaking sounds, accompanied by the flapping of wings.

Zuoqiu Hangyu shook his head, took out the prepared dried fish from his inner pocket, and stretched out his arm to provide support for the night heron that was about to land.

As the sound of flapping wings disappeared, the expected weight was not felt on his arm.

Just as the girl looked down in confusion, wondering if it had landed at her feet...

She heard Xia Weichan's somewhat surprised voice:

"Oh, you startled me."

"..."

In Zuoqiu Hangyu's line of sight,

The night heron perched on Xia Weichan's arm, excitedly pecking at his hair...