Three years after our breakup, you came back to China, and I'm just giving up. Why are you cryi

Dusk enveloped the night sky.

The bustling main road was filled with traffic, and the headlights formed long rivers of light, flashing so brightly that it was hard to open one's eyes.

The night market shops on both sides of the street were brightly lit and bustling with people, and the lively atmosphere was amplified infinitely under the dim streetlights.

Lu Hao dragged his soulless body along the lonely road.

Zhen Youqu's words lingered deep in his heart, churning over and over again, tormenting his thoughts and making it hard for him to breathe.

He didn't know how long he had walked or where he was; he simply kept walking forward along the path beneath his feet.

He just wanted to keep walking until he was a place where no one knew him, until he could walk no more, and then he would fall to the ground and let himself fall into the boundless darkness, escaping all the entanglements, guilt and reality.

I walked alone, leaving the bustling shops behind me and the lively sounds of people fading away.

The streetlights flickered on and off, emitting a faint, dim yellow glow.

The once bustling traffic became sparse, and only once in a long while would one or two cars speed by, bringing a cool evening breeze before returning to silence.

After wandering around for an unknown amount of time, Lu Hao stopped at the entrance of a residential area. He slowly looked up and realized that he had actually arrived at the Tomato Residential Area.

As if possessed, he stepped inside.

Although it had been almost two years since he last visited, the security guard at the entrance remained unchanged, greeting Lu Hao with his toothless mouth.

"Little Lu, it's been a long time!"

Lu Hao simply nodded mechanically and wandered into the residential area like a lost soul.

The environment in the community remains unchanged, with lush greenery, clean paths, and a gentle rustling sound as the evening breeze passes through the branches and leaves.

Lu Hao wandered aimlessly in the garden, letting the evening breeze brush against his cheeks and dispel some of his worries.

Just then, several crisp, noisy sounds rang out.

Lu Hao slowly raised his head and saw several little kids standing in the square in the center of the garden, yo-yos gleaming in their hands as they danced in the darkness.

Lu Hao walked towards the children and stood quietly to the side watching.

Watching these children argue heatedly over the merits of a few yo-yo tricks, only to make up again as if nothing had happened, a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

The children playing quickly noticed Lu Hao standing not far away.

The little boy leading the group, Xiao Jiahe, had his eyes light up. He immediately put down his yo-yo and ran quickly towards Lu Hao, his face beaming with excitement.

"Brother Lu! You haven't been here in ages! Come on over, I've learned some amazing new yo-yo tricks, let's have a competition!"

Lu Hao shook his head, his voice low and weak: "No, I'll just watch you guys have fun."

"You're not scared, are you?" Xiao Jiahe raised her small face, deliberately provoking him. "I think you're just afraid that you can't beat me and will lose face."

"I guess so," Lu Hao said without refutation.

He was exhausted, both physically and mentally, and had no energy left to play with the children.

"coward!"

Xiao Jiahe glared at him disdainfully, then continued playing with his friends.

Lu Hao touched his nose, turned around and sat down on the bench next to him.

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigarette case, took out a cigarette, and lit it.

A spark ignited, and wisps of white smoke slowly rose and dissipated. He leaned languidly against the back of the bench, his arm, holding a cigarette, casually draped over the crossbar, his eyes vacant and unfocused.

Through layers of wispy smoke, I quietly watched the yo-yo's light and shadow constantly leaping and shuttling in the night.

Those tiny, bright, and colorful lights were like sprites in the twilight, leaping and frolicking in the darkness.

Looking at myself, I feel pathetic, confused, and cowardly, trapped in a cage of self-reproach, afraid to move forward and afraid to face reality.

Lu Hao gave a self-deprecating laugh.

He's a coward.

They are afraid to face reality, to face the outcome they don't want to face. They can only escape, using solitude to numb themselves, trapping themselves in endless internal conflict.

Time passed slowly, the night grew darker and darker, and the entire night sky became completely black, without a trace of light.

Xiao Jiahe and the others all went home, leaving only Lu Hao sitting on a bench in the empty garden.

He reached out and touched the cigarette box, finding it empty, then casually tossed it aside in the grass at his feet.

He then leaned back in his chair and looked up at the dark night sky.

The entire sky was dark and oppressive, without a single star, and the bright moon hid behind the clouds.

Just then, a cigarette with a faint fragrance was gently placed into Lu Hao's mouth.

Lu Hao suddenly straightened up and turned to look to the side.

Xiao Xiyue sat down beside him at some point, her eyebrows curved, a gentle and sweet smile on her face. She withdrew her slender, fair hand, then took out a lighter and lit the cigarette in his mouth for him.

Lu Hao stared at her blankly, his lips moving slightly, his voice low and hoarse, "You... how did you get here?"

Xiao Xiyue tilted her head slightly, her eyebrows curving into a sweet smile, "Because you're here."

Lu Hao paused for two seconds, took the cigarette from his mouth, and exhaled a thick cloud of white smoke. The smoke slowly dissipated, blurring his haggard face.

He asked softly, "How can you be so sure I'll be here?"

"Since you're not here anywhere else, we'll have to stay here."

Lu Hao's heart trembled slightly, and he asked in a low voice, "You went to many places looking for me?"

"Yes, I've been to all the places we've been to... Not just me, Fang Ruoyun, Lin Ran, Mengmeng, and Ning Shu, they've all been wandering through the streets and alleys of Yongcheng."

Lu Hao silently took a few puffs of his cigarette, the swirling smoke obscuring his face, his voice low and weary:

"Let them go back. Just tell them I'm fine and don't worry."

Xiao Xiyue didn't answer, but just stared at him intently, her eyes gentle: "I've already caught you, don't you want to go back?"

"You caught me?" Lu Hao frowned, his face full of doubt.

Seeing his bewildered expression, Xiao Xiyue's smile grew even brighter, tinged with the triumphant joy of a little girl, and she said softly:

"Weren't you playing hide-and-seek with us? Now I've caught you, you have to come back with me."

Seeing her gentle and lovely demeanor, yet feigning nonchalance, and watching her reassure him with affection as she put aside her worries, Lu Hao couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Ah Hao, if you don't want to go back, can I stay by your side?"

Lu Hao shook his head, stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, and pulled Xiao Xiyue up with him.

He looked at the gentle girl in front of him with an extremely serious expression. "Fine, I've already been caught by you. I can't run away now."

"So you're willing to come back with me?"

I want to go somewhere.

"Where?"

"Go to a place where you can relax."