Dilraba's rise to fame began with her appearance on Running Man.

Deng Zhe looked at her puffed-out cheeks and gently pinched them with his fingers: "Are you feeling better?"

"You're something else!" Dilraba slapped his hand away. "All you do is annoy me!"

Deng Zhe's antics dispelled some of the gloom that had been building up in Dilraba's mind, and her tense shoulders relaxed.

Deng Zhe took out his phone: "I'll call a car."

"No," Reba stopped him. "I want to walk around."

Deng Zhe put down his phone and looked at her: "Are you sure? It's six or seven kilometers from here to the hotel."

"Then I'll go too." Reba said firmly, and then lifted her foot to walk forward.

"You've gone the wrong way," Deng Zhe's voice came from behind. "This way."

Dilraba paused, immediately turned around, and walked to Deng Zhe's side.

The two walked side by side on the empty street.

The streetlights stretched the two shadows, then slowly shortened them, stretching and shortening.

It was quiet all around, with only the sound of their footsteps and the occasional passing car.

After walking in silence for a while, Dilraba suddenly spoke up, "Deng Zhe, am I really not doing well?"

"Hmm?" Deng Zhe turned his head to look at her.

"We've known each other for so long... and I didn't even know your birthday."

Dilraba looked down at her toes. "I only found out today that we... share the same birthday."

Deng Zhe smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "I'm just an assistant, you don't need to remember my birthday."

"No, that's not it!" Dilraba suddenly raised her head, her tone urgent, "You're mine..."

She paused, as if searching for the right word. Friend? Neither seemed quite accurate.

That delicate state of being "more than friends but less than lovers" left her momentarily at a loss for a suitable term.

Seeing her embarrassed expression, Deng Zhe teased her deliberately, "What am I to you?"

Dilraba's cheeks flushed slightly under the dim streetlights. She turned her head away from Deng Zhe, a hint of arrogance in her voice: "I'm not telling you!"

After saying that, she quickened her pace and walked a little ahead of Deng Zhe.

Deng Zhe caught up with her in a few steps, keeping pace with her, his voice softening: "Silly girl, there's a long road ahead, no need to worry about these things."

Dilraba slowed her pace, her voice filled with worry:

"After filming Running Man... you'll be famous. Then you'll definitely have a lot of work and appearances... and we won't be able to stay together like this anymore."

Deng Zhe stopped walking, turned to Reba, and looked at her earnestly: "No, it won't happen."

Reba also stopped and looked at him.

"I don't need those jobs, I'll always be with you." He paused, then added, "From now on, we'll celebrate our birthdays together every June 3rd."

Reba stared at him blankly. In the dim light, his figure appeared exceptionally tall and straight.

He looked just like his father who protected him when he was learning to ride a bicycle—just as tall and imposing.

Dad, I think I may have really found the other person you were talking about to lean on.

Thinking of this, the frustration and unease in her heart were instantly dispelled.

A smile involuntarily crept onto her lips, and her eyes lit up. She jogged a couple of steps to Deng Zhe's side, calling out, "Deng~Zhe~!"

"Um?"

"I'm tired," Dilraba blinked, "Will you carry me on your back?"

Deng Zhe's eyes widened in surprise, both amused and exasperated: "Young Miss, you're already tired after walking less than a kilometer? Who was it that insisted on walking back just now?"

He pretended to take out his phone again: "I think I'll just call a car."

"No way!" Dilraba grabbed his hand holding the phone. "I want you to carry me! Otherwise, I'm not leaving!"

After saying that, she actually plopped down on the roadside flower bed, hugged her knees, turned her head to the side, and refused to look at Deng Zhe.

He looked like a spoiled child, with "I'll cry if you don't comfort me" written all over his face.

Deng Zhe was both annoyed and amused by her appearance.

He sighed resignedly, walked up to her, and squatted down with his back to her: "Alright, alright, come on! My dear!"

Dilraba's expression immediately brightened, and she nimbly climbed onto Deng Zhe's back, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Her legs swung back and forth as she happily shouted, "GOGOGO! Time to go home!!"

Deng Zhe steadily carried her on his back, weighed her in his arms, and shook his head helplessly: "Just keep showing off!"

"Hehehehehe!!" Reba pressed her face against his neck and blew into his ear triumphantly.

Deng Zhe carried her on his back and continued walking along the road illuminated by the streetlights.

Under the streetlights, the two shadows that were originally one merged into one, stretching and shrinking, stretching and shrinking.

Half an hour later, Reba, who had been chattering away, gradually fell silent.

The small head with long hair rested on Deng Zhe's head, and its breathing became even.

She fell asleep.

Deng Zhe immediately noticed and unconsciously slowed his pace, taking each step very steadily, afraid of waking the sleeping beauty on his back.

The remaining three or four kilometers took him a full hour to walk, and he arrived at the hotel close to midnight.

The hotel lobby was brightly lit, and the young woman on night duty was looking down at her phone.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up, her gaze falling on Deng Zhe and Reba on his back.

"Sir, do you need any help?" she asked immediately, standing up.

"No need, thank you!" Deng Zhe turned and replied, adding as if afraid she might misunderstand:

"My friend is asleep, I can carry her back to her room!"

"Yes, sir, have a pleasant stay."

The young girl was very professional; she recognized the two people but did not go up to take a photo or pose for a picture.

Deng Zhe carried Reba up to the fifteenth floor, to the door of room 1508.

He turned slightly to the side, letting Reba lean against the door frame, and used one hand to steadily support her, making sure she wouldn't slip.

His other hand reached into her coat pocket and rummaged around. He quickly found the room key.

"drop."

The door unlocked with a click. Deng Zhe pushed the door open with his shoulder and carried Reba inside.

Deng Zhe did not linger in the living room, but went straight into the bedroom.

He walked to the bedside and gently placed Reba on the bed. Reba, who was asleep, only hummed unconsciously.

Deng Zhe knelt on one knee by the bed and first helped her take off her shoes, then neatly placed them next to the stool at the foot of the bed.

Then, he gently lifted her upper body, helped her take off her coat, folded it, and placed it on the chair next to her.

After doing all that, he pulled the fluffy blanket over her carefully, covering her up to her chin.

The soft blanket seemed to bring great comfort.

Dilraba let out a satisfied "hmm" in her sleep, unconsciously curling up in the blankets to find a more comfortable position. She rubbed her cheek against the pillow, a smile appearing on her lips.

Just as Deng Zhe was looking at her peaceful sleeping face and preparing to get up and leave, a very faint murmur escaped from her lips:

"Deng Zhe... I like you... I like you so much..."