The temperature dipped very low at night. Even with a skintight garment on and an additional windbreaker, it was not enough to withstand the cold night breeze.

The streetlights were dim, and the shadows on the ground appeared long.

A cold breeze came and rustled the yellow leaves that fell all over the ground until they danced gently.

Dongfang Liuyun wore a long black windbreaker. With her hands kept in those thin pockets, she slowly walked along the street engulfed with cool winds from every direction. The clear and rhythmic sound of her high heels against the clean floor could be heard.

Right now, the late night street was actually quite quiet. The liveliest time had passed, and soon the Lantern Festival would be over with the next morning about to arrive.

She had walked along this quiet and endlessly long street many times. After this traffic light, there will be another one ahead, then another one, and another one. Outside the city, there would be that wide road…

She walked through the sidewalk and reached the plaza that she used to frequent.

From afar, she could hear distant singing. However, it was not the song she usually heard but another one…

It was still the same with quite a number of people surrounding the place.

Dongfang Liuyun stopped her steps and found a nearby bench to sit on. She leaned against the chair and silently shut her eyes as she quietly listened.

‘There was a young lady who sent her warrior to war. They said goodbye in the dark of the night on those flights of steps…’

As she listened, for some reason, her eyes began to lose focus until a familiar presence appeared beside her. When she turned to look, she saw that Qi Lei was sitting beside her.

“I’ve come here many times after that, but this is my first time seeing you here.” Qi Lei’s low voice was heard though he did not look at Dongfang Liuyun. His gaze was quietly fixed on the people before them instead.

“Well, I’m not all that free. I heard about your father. Are you okay?” Dongfang Liuyun looked at him from the side and asked calmly.

“Do I look like I’m not okay?” he asked instead.

Dongfang Liuyun suddenly smiled. “I wasn’t planning on consoling you not to be sad or anything since that isn’t practical. But it wouldn’t be great if anything happens to him either, so you’re wishing for him to get well.”

“Other people would console me to not be sad or to not worry. You’re quite the odd one.” Qi Lei’s tightly furrowed brows slowly eased up as he squinted at her.

“Odd one?” Dongfang Liuyun softly muttered. She thought about it and then continued to say, “Do you think I’m too cold?”

“Oh, do you realize that too? Many times, talking to you feels like I’ve walked into a refrigerator. No matter how enthusiastic one might be, it’s hard to keep the zest,” Qi Lei sighed and said calmly.

“Don’t slander me. I’m a very passionate person. Cold beauties only appear in fairy tales,” Dongfang Liuyun smiled and defended herself on this rare occasion.

“Life is somewhat like a story too. In a thousand years, can you guarantee that we won’t be the protagonist or a supporting character in fairy tales?” Qi Lei responded in a lowered voice.

“A hundred years? A thousand years?” Dongfang Liuyun raised her brows and looked at him.

“Mmm.” He nodded.

Dongfang Liuyun thought about it for a long while before she suddenly asked, “Do you believe that a person’s soul still exists after they’re gone?”

Stunned, Qi Lei paused, then said, “I don’t know, but I want to believe in that. That way…” Although he did not finish, from the tone of his voice, he sounded desolate.

Dongfang Liuyun leaned forward slightly and propped her chin on her hand as she silently watched the surrounding crowd. “If there’s such a thing, then your mother would’ve been reincarnated now, but all we can do is cherish the memory of them. Even though I studied history and learned from the many stories and events of previous generations, the more I got into it, the more I felt the miracle of life. Humans are actually so insignificant, yet we can make our lives so great.”

Qi Lei fell silent for a moment, then turned to her and asked, “Do you believe in it too then?”

Dongfang Liuyun sighed and suddenly leaned back against her chair. Qi Lei waited for a long while, but she did not answer.

After a long while, she said, “I’m leaving for City Z tomorrow. May your father get well soon.”

“Leaving? To where?” Qi Lei subconsciously frowned.

“The inspection team wants to go to a historical site in the Gobi Desert near Xinjiang. University A’s application for a doctorate program has been approved, so I’ve become freer. Then, I applied for leave from the university,” Dongfang Liuyun answered as her calm gaze looked at him in a lukewarm manner while her tone was filled with encouragement. “I hope that by the time I get back, everything will have turned out for the better for you.”

Qi Lei paused, then silently nodded. “I’m counting on that. You take good care of yourself too.”

Upon hearing that, Dongfang Liuyun chuckled softly. “As they say, I’ve traveled quite a fair bit, thus naturally I’ll know how to take care of myself. You’re different. Only you will understand your own stressors and hardships. You need to take care of yourself more.”

“I’m very sorry about today. It should’ve been a happy occasion.” Qi Lei’s tone was a little helpless and sorrowful.

“There’s no need to blame yourself for it since it was unexpected. I don’t want to pity you either because that’s not a good thing for us.”

“Are you so proud that you don’t want other people’s pity?” Qi Lei laughed.

Dongfang Liuyun lowered her gaze, fell silent, and did not say anything towards the end. She slowly got up as her hands snuck back into the pockets of her windbreaker habitually.

“Go home. It’s quite chilly outside. I’m going home now. When I get back, I’ll treat you to a drink,” she said, then her firm steps walked ahead, leaving only so much as a cold figure behind.

“Let me send you home since it’s along the way anyway.” Qi Lei got up and reached into his pocket to take out his car keys.

When she heard that, Dongfang Liuyun paused, turned to look at him, and her eyes seemed surprised.

“There’s only one road that leads ahead from here, I’m going to the hospital too,” Qi Lei explained.

Dongfang Liuyun’s exceptionally beautiful face flashed with tenderness as she shook her head. “No need. I want to take a walk alone. Goodbye now.” Then, she continued to walk ahead, and soon her frail figure drowned in the twilight ahead.

Qi Lei did not chase after her, and he did not hesitate to walk towards his car before quickly starting it…

He had merely come over to take a look when he was passing by. After beating Qi Feng up, he felt much better. As for that bet, he did not give a toss about it!

Did Qi Feng really think that Qi Lei was still that young and reckless fool he knew?

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