Sweetie, don't look at him, kiss me.

Lin Qingmian hung up the phone and placed it on the bedside table.

The sound of water in the bathroom was very soft. She turned on the shower, and warm water fell down, enveloping her in a white mist of steam.

She stood with her eyes closed for a while, her mind still a mess. Zhang Yuzhu's words, "Mom is really happy for you," were like a fine thorn—not painful, but impossible to pull out.

When she came out of the shower, she passed by the door of the study.

A sliver of light shone through the crack in the door. Inside, it was quiet; there was no sound of turning over documents or typing on a keyboard.

What is he doing in there?

She stood at the door for a few seconds, raised her hand, and then lowered it again.

She turned and went back to the bedroom, lay down on the bed, and pulled the blanket over herself.

She lay there with her eyes closed for a long time, so long that she thought she would probably be sleepless until dawn, but her consciousness was still like a feather scattered by the wind, drifting aimlessly and unable to settle down.

She turned over twice, finally lying on her side facing the bedroom door, listening to the occasional faint sounds coming from the living room.

She didn't know how much time had passed when she heard the study door open.

Footsteps came from the hallway, paused briefly at the bedroom door, and then continued into the bathroom.

The sound of water rang for a while, then stopped.

She kept her eyes closed and didn't move.

The mattress dipped slightly, and a warm body pressed against her from behind. An arm slipped through the gap between her waist and the mattress, wrapping around her waist as usual.

She didn't open her eyes or speak.

Ji Linzhou did not speak.

He simply pulled her slightly towards him, resting his chin on the top of her head, his arms around her a little tighter than usual.

She could feel the warmth of his chest seeping through the fabric of his pajamas, a comforting warmth carrying a hint of moisture from his recent shower.

Her breathing gradually calmed down, and those lingering thoughts finally found their place, sinking little by little into the darkness.

When she woke up the next morning, the bed next to her was empty.

She turned over and reached out to touch the sheets on the other side; they were still a little warm.

She sat up and glanced at the bedside table. A glass of warm water sat on it, with a note next to it, the handwriting still in that crisp, cold style: "Breakfast is on the table."

She drank the water, changed her clothes, and left the bedroom.

The living room was quiet. The plates on the dining table were covered with a heater cover. She lifted it and peeked out: fried eggs and toast, with a small dish of fruit next to them.

She sat down and slowly finished her meal, then put the dishes away in the kitchen and picked up her phone.

There are no new messages on the screen.

She found Bai Cheng's number, hesitated for a few seconds, and then dialed it.

The phone was answered quickly: "Madam."

"Bai Cheng," she said, holding her phone, "I need your help with something. Could you please book a quiet place for me to meet someone around two or three in the afternoon?"

"Yes, madam. Who would you like to see?"

"Ji Xingye." She paused for a moment, "Just tell him the time and address for me."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"Okay, I'll arrange it. Tell me your schedule, and I'll send it to your phone once it's finalized."

"Thanks."

She hung up the phone and put it down.

Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow across the living room floor.

At 2:40 PM, Lin Qingmian arrived at the address sent by Bai Cheng.

It's a teahouse hidden deep in an alley. The storefront isn't large, and a row of slender bamboos grows in front of it, rustling in the wind.

She pushed open the door and went in; the waiter led her to the innermost private room.

She had barely sat down when the door was opened.

Ji Xingye stood at the door, wearing a dark gray coat. His hair was slightly styled compared to yesterday, but the dark circles under his eyes were still there.

He stood at the door for a moment, then stepped in and sat down opposite her.

The private room was quiet, with the bamboo curtain half-rolled up, allowing the afternoon light to filter through and cast long, thin shadows on the table.

The teapot on the table was steaming, and the cups and saucers were already set out.

Lin Qingmian poured him a cup of tea and pushed it in front of him.

He didn't pick it up, nor did he say anything; he just looked at her.

She spoke first.

"I asked you out because I wanted to clarify some things."

She looked into his reddened eyes.

"The past is the past. I don't hate you. But we can't go back to where we started."

Ji Xingye remained silent for a long time before asking her in a hoarse voice, "Do you love him?"

Lin Qingmian's fingers tightened slightly as she held the teacup.