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

"By the way... are you really, really planning to go abroad in the future?"

After waiting for a long time, Zhou Juzi finally couldn't help but speak:

"Just to...see birds?"

"right."

Xia Weichan said this as if it were the most natural thing in the world. In fact, it was just an excuse he made up because he was too lazy to explain.

I hate this kind of life where I'm constantly entangled in all sorts of things.

He could already imagine himself living a life of financial freedom after receiving the system rewards, thanks to the wealth he had accumulated in the first three playthroughs.

Then they could travel the world, enjoy life, and live a happy life like watching birds whenever they had free time.

From beginning to end, what he pursued was the ultimate reward he could obtain after raising the girl: a healthy and long-lived body.

However, compared to his relaxed and longing expression,

Zhou Juzi's expression was noticeably gloomy; she wanted to get information about her future from Xia Weichan.

Even just mentioning her would be fine.

Clearly, Xia Weichan's planned future did not include her.

While the idea of ​​hoping to appear in someone's future plans is clearly a bit too abnormal.

Zhou Juzi's eyes drifted to the car roof, her little tiger teeth lightly brushing against her lower lip. After a moment's hesitation, she spoke:

When are you planning to go abroad?

"About three months later."

Xia Weichan said that he only has three months in this cycle, and more than a week has already passed. He will have another week to prepare.

Unless he fails to develop it and dies.

But there's no need. If it dies again this time, Xia Weichan is prepared to completely give up. She won't look for a new pet for the next playthrough; watching birds die in one playthrough is best...

"I've been thinking about this for a long time."

"..."

Zhou Juzi's expression froze for a moment, then gradually darkened, as if the air inside the car had become somewhat stuffy.

Three months later,

As agreed at the beginning, their relationship would end, and they would have no further contact...

"Well...don't you still have a company that needs you...?"

"Just leave it to someone else to manage."

Xia Weichan interrupted Zhou Juzi's question and then said seriously:

"If it weren't for training you, I would have become a hands-off manager long ago."

Xia Weichan was not deceiving Zhou Juzi. Many of the properties he inherited were managed by an organization that specializes in managing assets.

However, this would obviously inadvertently stir up the "fertilizer" that Zhou Juzi's feelings were already sprouting.

"Then I..."

"You're asking too many questions."

Xia Weichan was somewhat confused as to why the girl had kept asking him about what happened after they got in the car.

Where he went afterward was completely unimportant to Zhou Juzi.

Xia Weichan further emphasized:

"I made it very clear from the beginning that you are now a free agent. Whether you switch jobs or go solo is none of my business; that's your freedom."

"..."

Zhou Juzi hesitated, but couldn't find the words to say...

The hand resting on the thigh gradually clenched:

"Could you please stop saying things like that?"

"What?"

The girl's voice was so soft that Xia Weichan, with the car window open, couldn't hear it clearly at all.

"I didn't hear you clearly."

"...I'm hungry."

.......

The restaurant wasn't very big.

Rather, it's the Japanese restaurant that serves as a bridge between the previous and subsequent episodes, where Natsumi Yu confessed her feelings to Tsuruo Kurimaki last week.

Xia Weiyu often brought Li Juanhexu to this place, which was exquisitely decorated and had a unique style, with a total of two floors.

The main reason Xia Weichan brought Zhou Juzi here was because she was familiar with the place and knew the owner.

Although Xia Weiyu was the one who met him

But Xia Weiyu is just like him; going to familiar places to eat is the underlying code of almost all men.

This restaurant is relatively quiet, and the yakitori there is really delicious.

The boss, who had just come downstairs, saw Xia Weichan and paused for a moment, seemingly surprised, before giving a wry smile:

"Mr. Xia's younger brother, right?"

"Um."

Perhaps out of remembrance for an old friend, the owner personally led the two to a nice spot.

Xia Weichan handed the menu to Zhou Juzi and asked softly:

"Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

"You order..."

The girl shook her head, her expression seemingly somewhat gloomy.

"All right."

Please, I only brought you here to eat because you said you were hungry.

Xia Weichan was somewhat helpless, but since Zhou Juzi didn't have any dietary restrictions, he ordered food according to his usual habits.

The girl didn't seem to be in a very good mood, even though she was quite happy when she first received the new guitar.

Although it's unclear what Zhou Juzi is worried about, Xia Weichan is also quite troubled right now.

I accomplished nothing today; I couldn't find a binding target, and I didn't go to the Ke family's house.

In the afternoon, I originally planned to see Zhou Juzi off, then wander around by myself to see if there were any new targets to tie up with, and then go bird watching.

As a result, they couldn't find a suitable partner for the girl, and they didn't even get to see the birds properly.

On the bright side, if the system hasn't found a binding object after searching for so long, it basically means that the ghosting display is a bug.

Ignoring the factor of Ke Yueci...

Come to think of it, I should also take care of her problem.

Thinking this, his phone rang again…

It was a very good time.

The sudden sound also drew Zhou Juzi's attention to Xia Weichan.

"Your phone?"

"..."

Xia Weichan waved to signal her not to speak for the time being, because he was familiar with the caller ID number.

The phone number for Zuoqiu Hangyu.

It's like a proverb: when you're looking at the moon, the person you're missing is also looking at the moon.

Although this statement doesn't quite apply to their current relationship, Xia Weichan did think of Zuoqiu Hangyu...

"Feed?"

Good evening, Xia.

On the other end of the phone, the clear, melodious female voice reached not only Xia Weichan's ears but also Zhou Juzi's.

This caused a surge of inexplicable irritation in the already somewhat troubled girl, making her frown and forget Xia Weichan's earlier warning to keep quiet.

She pursed her lips and spoke uneasily.

"Who is that?"

Zhou Juzi deliberately raised her voice, enough for the girl on the other end of the phone to hear.

"An acquaintance," Xia Weichan said casually.

"Oh? You're with a girl?"

"You don't need to ask that."

He casually turned the volume down, and only after confirming that Zhou Juzi couldn't hear him did he continue:

"Let's get down to business. What's the matter that you called me about?"

"All right."

Zuoqiu Hangyu directly stated his intention:

"I can help you with your brother's inheritance for free."

"..." Xia Weichan remained silent for a moment.

How did you get my phone number?

"Just check the changes in the shareholding structure of your artist's company."

Listening to Zuoqiu Hangyu's matter-of-fact answer:

"Besides, I've done some research, and the lawyers you've hired before don't seem to be very reliable, so you probably need someone to help you?"

"..."

The cicadas are silent at the end of summer.

To put it bluntly, he genuinely wanted this guy to help him out. Zuoqiu Hangyu was indeed trustworthy in terms of professional competence, after all, he had personally trained him.

However, things that are "free" are worth considering.

What do you want?

"I'm planning to go back to the legal profession, so I'm going to boost my win rate. Also, if possible, I'd like to hear your brother's story."

Zuoqiu Hangyu on the other end of the phone sounded sincere, and what he said seemed to be quite reasonable and well-founded.

The success rate is indeed a very important metric for lawyers, but Xia Weichan always felt that this guy had other motives...

But the next moment, Zuoqiu Hangyu asked curiously:

Have you investigated me?

"Who would bother investigating you for no reason?"

"Oh...that's true."

Zuoqiu Hangyu deliberately drew out his voice, as if his words carried another meaning.

However, Xia Weichan didn't pay any attention; he got up, intending to leave the table temporarily.

But just as he stood up, he was suddenly grabbed by Zhou Juzi.

"Don't go..."

"..."

Xia Weichan sensed a low, oppressive atmosphere emanating from the girl.

He sat back down and continued speaking to Zuoqiu Hangyu:

"...Since you've put it that way, I agree."

.........

"Thank you for your trust, I won't bother you any longer."

Zuoqiu Hangyu hung up the phone and stood up from the sofa in the living room.

Her beautiful eyes fell on the notebook on the table, and after a long while, she smiled with interest.

"hehe…"

Testing...

He had originally planned to volunteer and find a suitable reason to contact the Ke family to investigate the missing piece of information.

But then there was an unexpected bonus.

Xia Weichan knew she had once been a lawyer.

However, Zuoqiu Hangyu remembered that at first she only said she was a detective.

Although her resume could be easily found out with a little investigation...

But did Xia Weichan actually investigate?

Or did he instinctively know she was a lawyer?

This is a very important point.

.........

"Who was that girl who just called you?"

"This is the third time you've asked."

After finishing her meal, Xia Weichan, without any apparent reaction, turned the car key in the driver's seat to start the car.

"My answer remains the same: just an acquaintance who knows the law."

"..."

Zhou Juzi's expression was even more somber than before. She bit her lip silently, and her right leg trembled involuntarily.

For some reason, although Xia Weichan didn't act intimately with the girl on the phone,

It's just normal communication between acquaintances.

But upon hearing the girl's voice, which clearly sounded familiar to Xia Weichan...

Besides a bitter feeling, Zhou Juzi also felt a sudden surge of anger.

I have too much anxiety building up today, especially after being vaguely stimulated by Xia Weichan's words.

That phone call became the fuse, and Xia Weichan's indifferent attitude on three separate occasions became the fuel for the fire.

Finally, in the somber atmosphere, the girl suppressed her emotions, yet seemed unable to contain them; even her voice trembled slightly.

"Don't you think that's a bit much...?"

"?"

"You were having dinner with your girlfriend, and then you took calls from other girls. Your explanation afterwards was extremely perfunctory. Such behavior is outrageous!"

Zhou Juzi's tone grew increasingly harsh. She paused, and the shaking of her leg intensified. She looked up, her eyebrows twitching slightly as she faced Xia Weichan, her lips parting to reveal her canine teeth.

"Did you even consider my feelings today?!"

"...Would it count as giving you a guitar?"

"..."

"Or do you think that as your boyfriend, I should coax you and then give you a pathetic apology for a trivial phone call? Promise to cut off all contact with other women?"

"No...no..."

That one sentence shut down all the grievances Zhou Juzi was about to express.

Xia Weichan's cold tone was like a bucket of cold water poured on the girl, extinguishing the flame that was about to ignite, leaving only regret and panic for her outburst.

Zhou Juzi was at a loss for what to do.

"I'm sorry..."

"Yes, it's normal to feel irritable after spending so much time with me this afternoon."

Xia Weichan's voice was much softer than Zhou Juzi's just now, calm in tone, but exceptionally clear:

"But I'm not forcing you to come with me."

He paused, then emphasized again:

"Don't act like a girlfriend to me, don't interfere in my personal life. I have the right to absolute autonomy, and you have no right to interfere even if I find another girlfriend."