Peninsula: I'm being supported by a top idol.

"Eh..."

On the school path, Cui Shi'an rubbed his aching and numb right shoulder, limping along and muttering complaints under his breath.

"What a dark move!"

Fortunately, the situation is not entirely one-sided.

If she hadn't been floating around like a ghost, Cui Shi'an felt he would have had a better chance.

The cost of this is...

"Pay up! Pay up for this too! It's the latest Chanel!" Her scream still echoed in my ears.

Well, the debt from the coffin lid hasn't been paid off yet, and now there's another "clothing damage fee."

However, it wasn't all for naught. He took a small glass bottle out of his pocket and looked at it under the streetlight.

At the bottom of the bottle lay a thin layer of dark, ink-like wood shavings, which gleamed with a deep, mysterious luster under the light.

These are fragments of the coffin lid, probably only a few grams.

If you're using it to make tea like saffron, that should be enough.

Just as I was making plans, a familiar yet slightly hesitant female voice suddenly came from behind me:

"Is this Shi An?"

Cui Shi'an suddenly stopped in his tracks.

That sound...

He slowly turned around.

Under the soft light of the streetlights, Song Zhiya stood a few steps away, carrying a simple tote bag, wearing a beige knit sweater and light-colored trousers, with a hint of surprise on her face, as well as her usual gentle smile.

"Senior." Cui Shi'an straightened her back almost subconsciously, seemingly ignoring the soreness in her shoulders for the time being.

Song Zhiya took a few steps closer, her gaze naturally falling on the long wooden box in his hand.

Did you go out to buy anything?

"Oh, this..." Cui Shi'an subconsciously hid the wooden box behind his back, his movements somewhat stiff.

"I just helped someone out with something, it was... some documents."

He brushed it off vaguely, then quickly retorted, "Why is senior at school so late?"

"Come to the department to submit some additional documents and complete the final graduation procedures." Song Zhiya smiled, her gaze lingering for a moment on his slightly tired face.

"Have you had dinner yet? If not, let's go out to eat?"

Cui Shi'an looked into her eyes, the words "No need" swirling in his throat before he finally swallowed them back.

He thought of Songpo District, the Han River, and that invisible natural barrier.

I also thought of those... possibilities that might have existed in the past.

"...Okay," he heard himself say. "I'll treat you today."

The stewed chicken shop is doing good business; steaming hot food fills the air with its aroma.

The two chose a quiet corner by the window. While waiting for their food, Song Zhiya talked about her recent situation: submitting resumes, going to interviews, hesitating between several good companies, and having already made it to the final interview stage with two of them.

"Then congratulations, senior!" Cui Shi'an said sincerely, pouring her a cup of barley tea.

"Thank you." Song Zhiya took the teacup, her fingertips accidentally brushing against his, feeling its warmth and softness.

She lowered her head and took a sip. When she looked up, her eyes held a familiar look of concern for him.

"The holidays are coming up soon, Shi'an, do you have any plans? If you don't have anywhere to go, or... if you want to find a quiet place to prepare your thesis, I... have a room available."

She spoke tactfully and considerately, always taking care of his self-esteem and emotions.

Cui Shi'an's fingers tightened slightly as he held the teacup.

Songpo District.

South bank of the Han River.

The places he couldn't get through.

An option that he might have once been able to reach, but is now out of reach—a normal and warm one.

A subtle, indescribable bittersweet feeling welled up in Cui Shi'an's heart.

He lowered his eyes, avoiding that gentle gaze, his voice steady yet hollow:

"Thank you, senior. But... I'm planning to go back to China during the holidays. It's been a long time since I've been back, and I should see my family."

"I see..." A clear hint of disappointment flashed across Song Zhiya's voice, but it was quickly masked by an understanding smile:

"That's true. It's a rare holiday, so it's time to go home and visit."

"Hmm." Cui Shi'an nodded, feeling that the barley tea in his mouth tasted a bit bitter.

Just then.

The phone in my pocket suddenly vibrated.

He picked it up casually and glanced at the screen. There was a small message from the user he had nicknamed "Evil Cat Head":

↱【What are you doing? Have you eaten? (◔◡◔)】

Choi Si-an typed a reply on the screen:

[Eating at the school gate.]

Click send.

Then, I gently placed the phone screen-down on the table.

The next second, another message came.

↱【Are you alone?】Behind this is a winking cat head, as if spying and checking up on you from behind an invisible barrier.

Cui Shi'an suddenly recalled the moment she teased him, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. [No, it was with my senior.]

The moment Liu Zhimin opened the message, he jumped up from the sofa.

It startled several teammates who were eating nearby.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Kim Dong-dong asked hurriedly, "Unnie, what happened?"

"fine!"

Liu Zhimin gritted his teeth, gripped his phone, and typed furiously.

【Oh? Really? Your senior came all the way here to have dinner with you? That person must be so happy!!!】

On the other end of the phone, Cui Shi'an saw the "malice" emanating from the words and couldn't help but smile knowingly, gently placing the phone aside.

Seeing the smile on his lips, Song Zhiya, sitting opposite him, couldn't help but ask curiously, "Who is it?"

Cui Shi'an waved his hand dismissively: "Just a friend, don't worry about it."

Meanwhile, in the Aespa dormitory, Liu Zhimin stared intently at the screen after sending the message, waiting for Cui Shi'an's response.

After waiting for ages, not a single message came back, and he was seething with hatred for him.

After much deliberation, she picked up her phone again and sent a message:

【Hey, are you having so much fun with your senior? You're not even replying to my messages anymore?】

After posting this, she found it increasingly suspicious. It was late at night, and single men and women were having dinner together. There must be other activities planned for them later!

If we had a few more drinks, we might head straight to the hotel!

For a moment, she even considered going over to "catch them in the act."

Little did she know that her anxious and uncertain demeanor was being observed by her three teammates.

Ningning and Dongtian exchanged glances, their teasing undertones evident.

A while later, just as Liu Zhimin was pacing back and forth in the living room like a lion, Cui Shi'an finally replied.

[We've finished eating; the senior student has already gone home.]

Liu Zhimin's expression visibly softened, but it quickly hardened again as he furiously tapped the virtual keyboard with his fingertips, as if expressing his dissatisfaction in this way.

【Oh? Why didn't you go with her? Is it because you didn't want to? Or because you couldn't?】

After posting that message, she felt a great sense of relief. When she came to her senses, she found that her three teammates were watching her with great interest.

Why are you all looking at me? Are you done eating?

Kim Dong-won shook her head, biting her chopsticks, her eyes full of laughter: "It felt like unnie was doing facial expression training just now~"

Liu Zhimin's cheeks flushed: "You talk the most!"

Just then, Cui Shi'an sent another message: "If I get out of here, the first person I'll come to find is you, believe me?"

"Tch." Perhaps he was too focused, Liu Zhimin didn't even realize that he had laughed out loud.

Seeing this, Jin Dongtian immediately gave Ningning a wink, and the latter immediately leaned closer, then cried out in surprise:

"Oh my god! Is my brother-in-law coming to our dorm??"