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

"Didn't you want a stable and peaceful life? Isn't this enough?" Su Yu's gaze was sharp as she looked directly at Lu Hao. "The team leader earns eight thousand a month, not including commission, which is much better than what you used to earn. And with me around, your promotion speed will definitely exceed your imagination. Isn't this stable and peaceful life exactly what you want?"

Lu Hao laughed, a laugh filled with self-deprecation.

He shifted his gaze from Su Yu's face to the setting sun outside the window.

Not to mention that he now has his own plans.

Even in the past, he wouldn't have agreed to Su Yu's conditions.

I'll go anywhere, except to Su Yu's company and work for her.

He knew it was just ridiculous pride acting up, but sometimes, men just have to live for their pride.

Anyone can look down on him, but she can't.

After a moment of silence, Lu Hao asked calmly, "Didn't you always hope I would be ambitious and make a name for myself? Why do you want me to settle down now?"

"I've thought about it for a long time, and I think I should respect your opinion." Su Yu smiled, a bright smile. "I can't mold you into what I imagine you to be, but I have the ability to make you live the life you aspire to."

Lu Hao turned around abruptly and looked at Su Yu's radiant smile in the sunset. He felt as if a stone was pressing down on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

People change.

After a long while, Lu Hao finally let out a long sigh.

He looked away again, refusing to gaze at the face that had once haunted his dreams.

"Oh?" Su Yu raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "So, you're planning to go all out now?"

"Hmm." Lu Hao let out a soft hum through his nose. "I have to think about the future. I'm already twenty-five, no house, no car, no savings. Thinking about it now, I'm really living a failure."

"It's great that you have this idea." Su Yu's smile deepened. She picked up her coffee, took a small sip, and said, "Look at Qin Shou. He's a manager now, with a car, a house, and a girlfriend he loves. They're getting married next month."

Hearing Su Yu mention Qin Shou, Lu Hao felt a pang of envy, yet also genuinely happy for him.

In comparison, he really is nothing.

Back in college, he was a prominent figure on campus, and Qin Shou was just a supporting character to him.

But now, the scales have been tipped over.

Others have achieved success in their careers and have beautiful women by their side, while he has just climbed out of the mire and his future is uncertain.

He knew that once Qin Shou got married, his wealthy fiancée, Jiang Yun, would definitely use her family connections to help him take his career to the next level.

The future is promising, and the prospects are bright.

However, while Lu Hao was envious, he also felt increasingly hopeful about his own future.

They all have one shoulder and one head, so how is Lu Hao any worse than anyone else?

Thinking of this, Lu Hao's lips curled up again. He turned his head and met Su Yu's gaze frankly, and said with a smile, "I'm planning to start a business. I just rented the venue today."

"Really?" Su Yu's eyes lit up, but her tone remained calm. "What for?"

"Let's set up a planning studio first, and then switch to GG Company later."

Su Yu nodded slightly, her eyes shining even brighter: "With your abilities, I have high hopes for you."

"The idea is good, but it's difficult to put into practice."

"I trust you."

……

After parting ways with Su Yu, Lu Hao returned to his rented apartment.

Ning Shu still hadn't left work.

He didn't turn on the light, but sat on the sofa, took out his cigarette case in the dark, and lit one.

He took a deep breath, and the crimson flame flashed briefly in the darkness, illuminating his sharply defined profile.

He exhaled a breath of gloomy mist, and it seemed as if he saw his future self in that mist.

That is... standing atop the clouds, looking down on all living beings, mocking the past decadence and misery.

There were many figures around him: Su Yu, Lin Ran, Ning Shu, Xiao Xiyue, and Zhou Mengmeng. Finally, the focus settled on a shadow whose face was completely obscured.

"hiss--"

A burning pain shot through his fingertips, jolting Lu Hao awake. He then realized that the cigarette butt had burned to the very end and fallen onto the wooden coffee table, leaving a small, charred spot.

He patted his still somewhat dazed face, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, and then felt a chill run down his back; he was covered in a cold sweat.

What happened just now?

Why did I think of those people?

Humans are just too greedy.

It's like at first you just wanted to know her name, but later you also wanted to know how she pronounces it.

Lu Hao chuckled self-deprecatingly and was just about to get up to take a shower when the phone screen on the coffee table lit up.

He glanced at it; the sender was Xiao Xiyue.

【come over!】

It was just two simple words, followed by an address.

Lu Hao searched on the map and found the riverside.

What's that crazy woman doing running to the riverbank so late at night?

Is someone so distraught that they want to jump into the river?

He hesitated for a few seconds, but still decided to go and take a look.

After all, it just doesn't seem right for a woman to be alone by the river in the middle of the night.

He replied with two words: "Wait for me."

Then he got up, went into the room, grabbed a coat from the closet, put it on, and hurriedly went out.

The Yong River, like a jade belt, divides the city of Yong in two, separating the old city's bustling atmosphere from the new city's prosperity.

Lu Hao got out of the taxi and walked along the stone path to the plastic track by the river.

A river breeze carrying moisture swept over me, dispelling the worries in my heart.

The skyscrapers of the new urban area on the opposite bank are brightly lit, their reflections shimmering on the river's surface.

He had no interest in appreciating the night view and headed west, following the map's directions.

There were no streetlights along this stretch of road; only a bright, clear moon overhead illuminated the road ahead in a silvery light.

Occasionally, night runners wearing headphones would pass by; further away, on a large rock outside the guardrail, the figures of several fishermen stood motionless like statues.

Lu Hao walked for about five minutes and saw a lone figure sitting on a huge rock outside the railing.

Under the moonlight, her long hair was blown wildly by the river breeze, and the black skirt clung to her slender legs, giving her a somewhat broken appearance from a distance.

He walked quickly over, used one hand to push himself up over the railing, and landed next to the person.

He glanced at Xiao Xiyue's feet, where several empty beer cans lay scattered about.

Feeling lonely and restless?

Lu Hao sat down next to her, picked up a can of beer from the unopened bottle next to her, opened it, and gulped down most of it.

Xiao Xiyue turned her head, the moonlight outlining her delicate profile, her eyes clear and cold as water.

She looked at Lu Hao and suddenly laughed: "If I'm so lonely, why don't I go find a model?"

"You dare!" Lu Hao blurted out.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake and quickly put on a nonchalant smile to cover it up, saying, "What I mean is, am I not more handsome than those petite models?"

"The melon seeds are shelled, the wine is poured, and she calls you 'sister' sweeter than anyone else. Can you really give her that?"

"I can still call you Mom."

"Then go ahead and yell."

"..."