Spring Night Kiss.

The door closed, and the house fell silent.

Song Qingjia sat on the sofa for a long time.

Various images flashed through my mind frame by frame: my father sitting in that old rattan chair reading the newspaper, and Cheng Yizhen's lowered back as she made a phone call in the kitchen.

And then there's Nie Yuhuai's mother, that gentle and kind woman, smiling as she asks her if she wants some milk.

My mind is a complete mess.

Cheng Yizhen was not a third party; she did not betray her father, nor did she break up anyone else's family.

After struggling with this issue for so many years, she finally had an answer, and it was the answer she had hoped for most.

But it seems...

I wasn't feeling very relaxed either.

Song Qingjia buried her head in her knees and hugged herself tightly, just like when she was a child and was scared by herself.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated, and it was especially clear in the room where you could hear a pin drop.

Song Qingjia seemed to be pulled back from a very long dream by the vibration, and looked up blankly. On the phone screen beside her was Xu Zhouye's name.

She paused for a few seconds, then answered the call.

On the screen, the man was wearing a racing suit, seemingly having just taken off his helmet. His hair was soaked with sweat, and stray hairs clung to his skin as he swept them back.

Just like that day in the bathroom.

Song Qingjia stared at him, remaining silent for a moment.

Behind him, there was a constant commotion and the clicking of camera shutters, but he simply smiled and looked at her. Amidst the bustling crowd, his eyes were only on her.

Song Qingjia belatedly realized that today was the main competition day of the Silverstone Grand Prix in the UK.

She smiled and leaned back: "Is the game over?"

"Hmm," the man replied lazily.

Did you go up on the podium?

"I got it, second place." His smile deepened. "I hadn't heard from you for a while, and I thought second place didn't deserve your congratulations."

The sense of grievance was practically overflowing from the screen.

Song Qingjia was amused: "How could that be? The second place winner is also very impressive." Her voice lowered, "Xu Zhouye, you are very impressive."

When a man is praised, he feels so good that if he had a tail, he'd probably be wagging it in the air.

"What's that behind you?"

His gaze went over her shoulder and landed on a certain spot.

Song Qingjia turned around following his gaze and saw the old wooden photo frame on the cabinet, with a faded photograph tucked inside.

"This?" She got up, walked over, picked up the photo frame, and held it up to the camera. "Me and my dad."

The little girl in the photo is about seven or eight years old. She has two braids, is wearing a white princess dress, and is standing next to a man. She is smiling and showing a row of teeth that haven't fully grown in. Her eyes are curved into two crescent moons.

Song Qingjia thought it looked a bit silly, so she flipped the photo frame over and turned her back to him: "Back then, I had just lost my baby teeth, and when I smiled, my eyes blew through the air, so I looked a bit ugly."

Xu Zhouye chuckled softly: "Not ugly, very beautiful. I want to steal it and raise it myself."

Song Qingjia glanced at him: "Stealing children is against the law."

"Then I'll steal from you, the adult, and steal from you right now."

Song Qingjia hummed softly, put the photo frame back in its place, and gently stroked it.

Looking at the somewhat unfamiliar scene on the screen, Xu Zhouye asked, "You're not in Shanghai?"

"I'm back in Suzhou, the place where I lived when I was a child." Song Qingjia turned around and looked around the space filled with old furniture and old objects.

"show me."

She didn't refuse; holding up her phone, she showed him around the small house.

The house has an old-fashioned decor, but it's very cozy. Even though no one has lived there for a long time, it's been well maintained.

"There used to be a pothos plant here, grown by my dad. He loved it so much that he watered it more punctually than he fed me," Song Qingjia said, pointing to an empty flowerpot next to the sofa with a smile.

Xu Zhouye listened quietly without making a sound.

She didn't turn to look at him, and continued, "The room I lived in when I was little was over there. It was very small, with a north-facing window, and it was especially cold in winter. But my dad would put a hot water bottle next to my feet every night."

Song Qingjia walked to the door, pushed it open, and her private space from her childhood was revealed to him.

It was a small room, with posters from that era still pasted on the walls. On the desk sat a model car, entirely red.

Song Qingjia picked it up and faced the camera: "You might not believe it, but my dad is a Buddhist monk, and he's a huge fan of Schumacher."

Xu Zhouye raised an eyebrow: "Then it seems that Uncle will definitely like me too."

Song Qingjia scoffed, "You're really shameless."

She went on and on for a long time, and Xu Zhouye listened attentively, occasionally responding with a comment.

Song Qingjia turned his head and looked at the screen. Several photographers with cameras had already gathered around him at a distance, waiting for him to turn around so they could take pictures.

"Did I say too much?" she asked.

"Not much," he said. "I want to hear."

Song Qingjia glanced at him: "Your photographers have already surrounded you. If you don't go back to accept the award soon, they'll think you're running away."

He glanced at the waiting cameras behind him, but didn't move: "They can wait a little longer."

"Go quickly," her voice was a little softer than before, "the podium is waiting for you, my champion."

"champion?"

"Yes, in my heart, you are the champion."

He looked at her, his smile growing wider: "Then... wait for me to come back."

Song Qingjia: "Mm."

Xu Zhouye hung up the video call, his smile vanished, and his brows furrowed.

Her emotions were very strange, even though she pretended to be nonchalant and kept smiling.

After receiving the award, he strode down from the stage. The team members were still celebrating, and a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted when they saw him. He hugged and thanked them one by one.

Lucas said, "We'll take a group photo in a bit, and the PR team says they'll release a news flash."

Xu Zhouye handed him the trophy: "Sorry, I have to go now."

Lucas was taken aback: "What is it?"

There wasn't even time to take a group photo and celebrate together?

Xu Zhouye didn't even turn his head: "It's very important."

He walked through the crowd and soon disappeared at the end of the road.