They surrounded me right after the breakup.

Liu Meng stood at the bottom of the steps.

The hem of the coat was lifted by a corner in the wind.

The streetlight cast her shadow on the ground, a lonely, solitary figure.

Her desire to find someone to rely on reached its peak at this moment.

The door opened.

Jianghan appeared before us.

Wearing loose loungewear, a dark blue striped shirt.

The corridor lights shone from behind, outlining a broad silhouette.

Tall and composed, he seemed capable of shielding himself from anything.

Liu Meng looked at that familiar face.

It felt like a wad of wet cotton was stuck in my throat.

The emotions that had been bottled up inside for so long were suddenly pushed to their peak.

Liu Meng couldn't help herself.

She burst into tears.

Tears welled up without warning.

She has smiled at everyone over the years.

Smile at your mother, smile at your best friend, smile at your clients, smile at your investors.

He smiled without a trace of sarcasm.

Her smile made everyone think she was invincible.

Until this moment, the building collapsed.

Liu Meng took a big step forward without hesitation.

She threw herself into Jiang Han's arms.

She gripped his clothes at the waist with both hands.

The buttons on his coat hit his chest, but she didn't feel it.

Liu Meng pressed her forehead against Jiang Han's collarbone, tears streaming silently down her face.

The front of his loungewear was soaked.

Jiang Han didn't speak, but simply tightened his grip on her arm.

A hand was placed on Liu Meng's back and gently patted her.

Liu Meng's shoulder blades trembled slightly under his palm.

Her body odor is very faint, like the scent of a lavender sachet.

Unlike Lin Yaoyao's sweet, milky fragrance and Shen Qingning's cool-toned perfume.

It has a calming and reassuring aura, a scent that belongs to mature women.

Jiang Han lowered his head, his chin gently touching the top of Liu Meng's head.

His palm gently stroked her back.

Like comforting a kitten that has finally found shelter after being soaked in the rain.

That's right. Even a strong woman as capable as Liu Meng can only be a docile little woman in front of Jiang Han.

Liu Meng nestled in his arms.

I act impulsively, but my mind is clearer than ever.

She knows what she is doing.

I drove to my best friend's boyfriend's house in the middle of the night.

As soon as the door opened, she rushed into someone's arms and cried.

What a shame!

This is so unlike Liu Meng!

But she didn't want to push him away.

At first, she had no other thoughts about Jiang Han.

I just think he's reliable, easy to manage, and always dependable in crucial moments.

Later, she unconsciously compared Jiang Han to other men.

Compared to him, his blind date wasn't as composed.

His partners are not as decisive as he is.

Compared to him, his friends are not tolerant enough.

After comparing and contrasting, Liu Meng realized that she was using a ruler that only exists in the whole world to measure everyone.

She began to realize that something was wrong.

This ruler belongs to my best friend's boyfriend.

Therefore, Liu Meng deliberately kept her distance.

We don't meet alone, and we don't send private messages.

I didn't respond to his comments in the group chat.

She even came up with a reason for asking him to pretend to be her boyfriend last time.

It's to appease my mother, not because I want to see him.

Liu Meng used reason to suppress all the budding emotions.

But tonight, reason won't work.

It turns out that my peaceful youth was built on the ruins of others.

Days spent in the library during university, photos from the graduation ceremony.

The hardships of starting a business and the subsequent success.

All of these things she was so proud of carried with them a debt that she could never repay.

When I spoke up for Jiang Han in the group chat, he sent a facepalm emoji.

She helped him connect with resources, and he thanked her, Ms. Liu.

Never overstepping boundaries, never taking an extra step.

Instead, it was I who paced back and forth on the border.

Each time I get close, I comfort myself that it's the last time.

Each time, I couldn't help but take a little more steps forward.

But what can she use to pay off her debts?

Do business analysis for Xingyue Media? Connect Jianghan with a few influential figures?

Should I speak up for him in the group chat?

That's too insignificant!

Liu Meng even felt that she didn't even deserve to stand here.

But it just so happens that it's her standing here now.

She was also the one holding Jiang Han.

Liu Meng closed her eyes.

Tonight, let her be unrestrained just this once.

She didn't know how to make amends, she only knew that she needed someone to rely on at this moment.

And he was the one I was looking for.

Jiang Han lowered his head and pressed his lips to her forehead.

It was very light, as if it were confirming something.

Liu Meng's body stiffened for half a second, but she did not dodge.

Jiang Han traced his nose down the bridge, his nose tip brushing against her nose tip.

Her eyelashes trembled as they brushed against his cheek.

Then his lips covered hers.

Warm, slow, with a sense of certainty.

Liu Meng's breath shattered completely at this moment.

She reached out from under her coat and wrapped her arms around Jiang Han's neck.

The knots that had bound him for so long finally came loose.

The atmosphere of the Jianghan region enveloped her, enveloping her entirely.

Liu Meng appeared exceptionally slender in the broad arms.

She is usually decisive and capable of handling things independently at the company.

At this moment, stripped of all armor, she is simply a woman who needs to be embraced.

Jiang Han tightened his arms around her, supporting her more steadily.

Liu Meng could feel the warmth of the other person's chest cavity, transmitted through their loungewear.

Her back rested on his forearm, her waist slightly bent.

This position allows you to snuggle into someone's arms.

The faint scent of lavender on her body mingled with the smell of his shower gel.

The two scents mingled together in the night air.

Her lips were soft and warm.

It carried the slight chill of the late autumn night wind, and also the salty taste of tears.

Jiang Han supported the back of her neck with one hand, his fingertips gently brushing against her earlobe.

Liu Meng's body trembled in his palm.

Those deliberately maintained distances, those thoughts suppressed by reason.

And the secrets that were forcibly pressed under the pillow on countless nights.

Everything was broken…

Liu Meng tiptoed and pressed herself even more tightly into the man's embrace.

The kiss lasted a long time.

So long that she forgot who she was, forgot where she was, and forgot all her debts and guilt.

All that remained was the scorching heat, the heavy breathing, and the pressure on the back of my neck.

When they finally parted, Liu Meng's breathing had not yet calmed down.

She pressed her forehead against his chin, not daring to look up.

Jiang Han didn't speak, but gently raised his hand and used his thumb to wipe away the tear stains from the corner of her eye.

Liu Meng gripped his collar.

"Jianghan".

"Um?"

"My mom said she owes your dad an explanation."

"I owe you too, I've owed you for a long time, I owe you so much!"

Jiang Han lowered his head, the light from the corridor lamp falling on his profile, obscuring his expression.

After a while, his voice came down from above.

"You don't owe me anything, and neither does your mother. The Jiang family owes me, not you!"

Liu Meng buried her face in his clothes, and the tears she had just stopped welled up again.

The corridor lamp cast the shadows of the two people onto the steps, where they overlapped.

The night was exceptionally quiet, so quiet that you could hear each other breathing.

Liu Meng didn't know how long she had been hugging him.

I only know that my arms have no strength left, but I still don't want to let go.

Jiang Han lowered his head, his lips brushing against the tip of her hair.

"Come in, it's cold outside."

Liu Meng nodded.

He rubbed the corner of his eye with his fingertip.

As she stepped across the threshold, it was as if she had overcome a hurdle in her heart.