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

As Lu Hao's voice faded, the guests below the stage erupted in cheers.

Wang Jile nodded emphatically to the drummer and bassist behind him, a knowing smile spreading across his face.

"Thump!"

A dull drumbeat struck, followed by a brutal sweep of the guitar strings in Lu Hao's arms.

The rousing, rugged prelude instantly tore through the ambiguous atmosphere in the bar.

The lighting technician also got excited and shone a spotlight on Lu Hao, making him appear as the sole ruler of the entire arena.

Lu Hao swayed gently to the rhythm, his feet tapping the beat, completely immersed in the world of music.

He tilted his head slightly, his lips pressed against the microphone, and his magnetic voice, tinged with alcohol and mixed with the graininess of rock music, poured into everyone's minds through the speakers.

"I fought for my youth, didn't I? Did I hold my rock 'n' roll? That bitter tea called time, even if it doesn't taste good, I'll still swallow it."

"I can't remember how I left my hometown and fought with reality. My dreams were covered in wounds and mud, but I swear I never forgot them, those words in my heart."

Lu Hao's singing grew increasingly powerful, his voice hoarse yet full of texture, with veins bulging on his neck, as if he wanted to roar out all his unwillingness and confusion.

Twenty-five years old.

He's twenty-five.

He was completely unprepared, like someone pushing him from behind while he was walking down the street, propelling him into this age that leaves one feeling helpless.

But today, he has to admit that he is already 25 years old.

Everyone around me is moving forward, dating, working, getting married, and making plans for the future and family.

Qin Shou is getting married soon, achieving success in both his career and love life.

Lin Ran was promoted to manager and also made a crazy rebellion against her parents.

Zhou Mengmeng has now entered the entertainment industry, and her future looks bright.

Ning Shu entered the hospital and obtained a stable job.

Even Su Yu now has her own company, standing in a position that many people can only look up to.

It seems like the whole world is rushing forward, but he's the only one foolishly stuck in place.

Do not!

He's not anymore! He's no longer that good-for-nothing who hangs out in nightclubs and lives a life of debauchery!

He now has his own company and his own team!

But what are the goals to strive for?

Is it just for the money?

He had no concept of money; he only knew that having a place to live and food to eat was the greatest happiness in life.

So what was the purpose?

Love? Friendship?

Or perhaps it's that laughable, yet unwilling-to-give-up kindness in one's heart?

Lu Hao suddenly closed his eyes, and all his confusion, anger, and resentment turned into a roar in his throat.

"I'm like a rolling stone; let whoever disdains me, I fear no road!"

"Always be a rolling stone, never stopping for anyone. Looking back after traversing mountains and valleys, twenty-five years have passed!"

The roar pierced through the speakers and through everyone's eardrums!

In Lu Hao's mind, flashbacks of the past twenty-five years flashed wildly.

Inside the orphanage, he clung to the iron gate, watching longingly as other children were led away.

On the elementary school playground, he punched all the guys who mocked him as a "bastard," leaving them bruised and battered, and shattering his last hope of being adopted.

In junior high school, he became known as a "local bully" by his teachers.

In high school, he looked at the chicken soup his classmates' parents brought him with envy. He then vowed to get good grades so that his teachers and classmates would know that even though he had no way out, he was no worse than anyone else.

During his university years, he was filled with longing for the future, for what lay ahead, and for his family.

Su Yu's appearance made him yearn for an ordinary life. He didn't ask for great wealth or status, only for peace, safety, and good health.

However, on graduation day, she dragged her suitcase and walked towards the airport security checkpoint without looking back, shattering all his fantasies about the future.

……

"Zheng—"

As the last note faded, its lingering sound echoed in the silent air, lingering for a long time.

After what seemed like an eternity, thunderous applause and screams erupted.

Lu Hao did not go to receive the applause that was his turn. After handing the guitar to Wang Jile, he silently walked off the stage.

Instead of returning to Zhou Mengmeng's booth, he turned around and walked out of the bar from the back.

Outside the back door was a dark alley, the air thick with the smell of dampness and decay.

The road surface was full of potholes and stagnant with dirty wastewater.

He stepped in, and dirty water splashed onto his shoes and trousers, but he didn't notice.

He simply raised his head, gazing at the night sky illuminated by the city's neon lights at the end of the alley, and walked there step by step.

The alley is not long, but it is like the road he has traveled for the past 25 years.

That glimmer of light ahead represents his future, a dream shimmering under the neon lights.

……

Inside the bar.

Zhou Mengmeng craned her neck, but still didn't see Lu Hao come out.

"That's strange, could he have fallen asleep?" she muttered to herself, then got up to go backstage to check.

The moment she moved, Su Yu placed her hand on her arm and said calmly, "Let him have some peace and quiet."

"Huh?!" Zhou Mengmeng looked puzzled. "You know him very well?"

"It's alright." Su Yu smiled faintly, got up, grabbed her bag, and walked out of the bar without looking back.

This scene made Zhou Mengmeng frown. She had previously suspected that Su Yu and Lu Hao were having an affair.

But Lu Hao didn't say anything, and she couldn't get anything out of Su Yu either.

Based on her womanly intuition, she knew that the two of them definitely had an ambiguous relationship.

She didn't insist on going to find Lu Hao anymore. She sighed, turned around, and prepared to help Ning Shu home.

But just then, she saw Ning Shu leave with a woman wearing sunglasses.

"Wait, what's going on today?"

Zhou Mengmeng was about to give chase when a waiter carrying a tray of drinks happened to cut in from the side, bowing politely: "Madam, may I ask what you need...?"

Because of this delay, by the time she got around the waiter, the two of them had completely disappeared from sight.

She hurriedly took out her phone and quickly sent a message to Ning Shu.

Soon, the phone vibrated, and two words popped up on the screen: "It's okay."

"..."

Zhou Mengmeng was so angry when she saw those two words that she almost crushed her phone.

"Garlic birds! Garlic birds! They're all so irrational!"

She grabbed her small bag, too lazy to pay any more attention to these mysterious guys, and stormed out of the bar.

At the other booth, Lin Ran finished his drink in one gulp, ignored Li Xu, and got up to leave.

Li Xu looked in the direction Lin Ran left and shook his head helplessly.

"I really don't understand. If you like someone, just go for it! Why sit here spying and make me deliver that lousy gift?" he muttered under his breath. "Is love really that complicated?"

He couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

He ignored him, got up and walked over to Wang Jile, and began his fun journey.

……

On the other side, Lu Hao had no idea how long he had been walking.

He stopped walking only when the damp river breeze brushed against his cheeks.

He walked along the stone path to the running track by the river. The river was dark at night, with only a few scattered lights on the opposite bank reflected in the water.

He braced himself on the railing, pulled a cigarette pack from his pocket, shook one out and put it in his mouth, then habitually rummaged through his pockets again.

After fumbling around for a while, I discovered that the lighter had fallen out again sometime ago.

"Hold."

He cursed under his breath and was about to take the unlit cigarette out of his mouth.

Just then, a slender, white hand reached out from the darkness beside him.

"Clatter."

With a soft pop, the flame leaped in the night wind and came close to the cigarette butt near his lips.