Gao Wu: I'll enjoy the benefits, but you'll bear the side effects.

"Brother, you've been acting like a madman since you came back. What's going on? You'd better explain yourself."

As Huang Xu spoke, his brows furrowed deeply, and his eyes widened, filled with urgency and concern.

He strode anxiously to Gao Jie, and before he could even stand still, his hands, like two iron clamps, grabbed Gao Jie's shoulders and shook him violently, as if he wanted to drag Gao Jie out of a nightmare.

Gao Jie was shaken and became unsteady. He lowered his head and sighed heavily, a long and deep sigh as if he wanted to expel all the frustration in his heart.

Then, his head shook slowly, like a disobedient rattle, his lips pressed tightly together, filled with frustration but unable to find an outlet.

But in this oppressive, almost frozen atmosphere, fate, like a mischievous and playful child, deliberately stirred up this murky water.

Huang Muran appeared silently at the doorway like a ghost.

The moment her figure came into view, the already tense atmosphere in the room became even more subtle, as if invisible threads were mysteriously intertwined in the air.

When Gao Jie saw her, his expression instantly turned extremely awkward. His face flushed red, and he opened his mouth, but something seemed to be stuck in his throat. He managed to squeeze out a few words, which were stammered and hesitant:

"I'm so sorry, what I said to my uncle was so different from what he understood. I never expected it to turn out like this. But don't worry, I've explained it to him. The boy he misunderstood isn't what he thinks at all."

"We've thoroughly discussed this matter, so you can rest assured. There will absolutely be no more mishaps. I assure you, a similar situation will never happen again."

Huang Muran quickly replied, her voice sharp and fast, with a hint of urgency, as if afraid that if she hesitated even for a second, the atmosphere that had just eased up would take a sharp turn for the worse.

As she spoke, she took a few steps closer to Gao Jie, her eyes full of expectation, hoping that her words could soothe Gao Jie's emotions and also dispel the awkward atmosphere that lingered between them.

Upon hearing this, Huang Muran unconsciously frowned, a small knot forming between his brows. His heart felt as if a jumble of emotions had been spilled, a mixture of sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and salty feelings surging up all at once.

She had no idea how things would turn out. Her mind went through the whole series of events over and over again, like a movie playing in her head. She just couldn't understand how things had developed into this incredibly frustrating situation.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt that some key issues had completely exceeded my imagination. It was as if an invisible, calloused hand had coldly and casually manipulated everyone into a strange and tricky game of chess, and everyone had become a pawn with no choice in the game.

Gao Jie remained silent, and the room fell into a deathly silence.

Just then, Huang Xu approached, looking puzzled. He scratched his head, making his already messy hair look even more like a bird's nest. His eyes were full of doubt, and he asked with great curiosity:

"No wonder your uncle kept asking me about Gao Jie. I found it really strange at the time. I never imagined your uncle had taken a liking to Gao Jie! Can I ask you, what's going on between you two?"

In reality, Qi Laoda noticed by chance that Huang Muran seemed to be in love, so he began to keep an eye on her without making a sound.

After observing for a while, I found that my niece's heart seemed to be completely devoted to Gao Jie.

Upon learning of this, Boss Qi was stunned, filled with disbelief. However, having been a seasoned veteran of the underworld for many years, he quickly came to his senses.

Young girls are often easily attracted to boys with unique qualities, and Gao Jie is probably that special person in her niece's eyes.

So, relying on his years of experience and keen insight accumulated in the underworld, Boss Qi quietly launched a series of investigations.

He would occasionally take the opportunity of chatting with others to subtly inquire about Gao Jie's daily life and hobbies;

At times, he would subtly observe Huang Muran and Gao Jie's subtle expressions and actions when they were together, not letting go of any clues.

After careful analysis, he became certain that his niece was most likely interested in Gao Jie.

Now that the situation was clear, Qi Laoda's mind was racing, calculating how to find a breakthrough through Gao Jie and smoothly facilitate this marriage.

In his view, this would not only satisfy his niece's worries, but also win over Gao Jie, a promising young man, killing two birds with one stone.

But who could have predicted that once this matter started, the subsequent developments would be like a runaway horse, completely out of control, full of unbelievable twists and turns, making people want to applaud in amazement.

What was originally a simple adolescent affection has been tangled up by various coincidences, misunderstandings, and entanglements, and is now known to everyone. It has become the most unbelievable topic in everyone's eyes. After meals, on the streets, everyone is chatting and speculating with great interest, trying to piece together the whole story.

However, Gao Jie's intense reaction to Boss Qi's suggestion was a bit too irrational and excessive.

At least in Huang Muran's eyes, Gao Jie's resistance seemed particularly strange, and more than anything, it made her feel as if she had been doused with cold water, filled with sadness.

She couldn't help but wonder to herself, was she really that bad that he would avoid her like the plague?

Is being with myself something shameful?

Once this thought popped into her head, it was like a sharp thorn, piercing deep into her soft heart, causing her eyes to instantly redden and tears to well up.

Huang Muran didn't want to stay in this awkward and heart-wrenching scene for another second. She bit her lip, turned around and left quickly without leaving a word of farewell or explanation, leaving only a slightly lonely figure behind.

Witnessing this sudden and perplexing scene, Huang Xu was even more puzzled, a huge question mark seemingly above his head, completely baffled. He instinctively spread his hands and raised his voice, shouting:

"Can anyone tell me what's going on?"

Only an empty silence answered him; the sound dissipated into the air without causing a ripple. Before he could finish speaking, the situation seemed to have taken a new turn, like an undercurrent surging beneath a calm lake.

For two or three days, Gao Jie locked himself in his dormitory, drawing the curtains tightly shut to block out all light and sound, as if he wanted to completely isolate himself from the outside world.

During this time, Devila came several times. Each time, she stood at the door, hesitant to go in, her lips moving as if she had something crucial, a matter of life and death, to say. But when she looked at the closed door, she found it hard to speak. After struggling with herself, she hesitated again and again, but finally gritted her teeth, sighed, and turned away dejectedly.

Huang Xu, on the other hand, had been a dutiful watchman these past few days, keeping a close eye on Gao Jie's every move.

The more I looked at his distraught and dazed state, the more I felt that this guy was like a completely different person, which was unbelievable and simply unbelievable.

Until this morning, Gao Jie seemed to finally wake up from a long and heavy nightmare, determined to break free from his self-isolation and willing to go to class.

He dragged his tired and heavy steps into the classroom listlessly, his eyes subconsciously glancing at the seat where Huang Muran usually sat. He searched back and forth several times, but couldn't find a single person.

Gao Jie's heart skipped a beat, and he felt a sudden panic. He didn't care about anything else and rushed straight to the principal's office to get to the bottom of things.

"Principal, why isn't Huang Muran here? Is he feeling unwell?"

Gao Jie was panting heavily, his chest heaving, and fine beads of sweat on his forehead slid down his cheeks and dripped onto his collar.

Hearing the sound, Davidra slightly raised his head, gave Gao Jie a half-smile, and his eyes revealed a hint of mockery:

"I thought you were really indifferent to everything, but I didn't expect you to care about people so much. That's quite interesting."

As she spoke, she crossed her arms and leaned leisurely against the desk, the playful look in her eyes becoming increasingly apparent.

"But even if it's interesting, it's not like you're in this state. It seems you still have some thoughts about Huang Muran's situation, isn't it?"

"Tell me, what exactly are you thinking?" David tilted his head slightly, his gaze fixed intently on Gao Jie.

"Don't worry, I just want to get a general idea. As for the specifics, I'm quite interested. Why don't you tell me more about it?"

Gao Jie looked at David, his lips trembling slightly. He remained silent for a while before finally managing to speak, recounting all the unpleasant things that had happened in the past few days.

But the moment he finished speaking, David suddenly burst into laughter without warning, a laugh that was particularly jarring in the quiet office.

"So that's how it is. Actually, Huang Muran is quite pitiful. Her parents passed away a long time ago, and the only person she can rely on is her uncle. And you should know very well what kind of person her uncle is."

Davida's smile faded, and she sighed softly, a hint of regret appearing on her face.

"However, everyone has their own ambitions, and some things cannot be forced. You should understand this better than I do."

She patted Gao Jie on the shoulder, as if to comfort him, or perhaps to hint at something.

Upon hearing these words, Gao Jie was stunned for a moment, his mind seemingly short-circuiting. After a brief moment, he regained his senses and hurriedly asked:

"So what do you mean? Aren't you aware of these circumstances? Or do you have nothing to say right now? Huang Muran, where did this person go?"

His voice trembled slightly with anxiety, and his eyes were filled with panic and unease.

Davidra remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking. The smile on his face seemed forced, filled with a deep bitterness that was more heartbreaking than crying.

"If you insist on getting to the bottom of this and want to know the truth, then I don't think there's any need to hide it from you anymore. Let me put it this way: Huang Muran is most likely no longer in the country. To put it bluntly, she has gone abroad."

This news struck Gao Jie like a bolt from the blue. He felt a deafening buzz in his head, and for a moment, the whole world seemed to stop turning; he was completely stunned. In truth, Huang Muran had always known that while Jinling held many memories for her, staying there would ultimately limit her future development. The idea of ​​studying abroad had long been ingrained in her heart, but she hadn't yet encountered the right opportunity. More importantly, she couldn't sever the deep bond she shared with her uncle.

The trajectory of life can never be firmly grasped in one's hands.

Even if you've planted the seed of an idea in your heart long ago, if you never muster the courage to take action, it doesn't mean you can avoid all the storms and have a peaceful and prosperous life.

Like Huang Muran, the idea of ​​studying abroad had been hidden in his heart for a long time, but he was always held back by various constraints and never took that crucial step.

Who could have imagined that this thorny and difficult situation would suddenly appear before her without warning? Numerous problems were tangled together like a jumbled mess, and how could a young woman possibly consider them all?

So, in a seemingly ordinary yet extraordinary moment, the taut string in Huang Muran's heart snapped. She suddenly made a decision and resolutely chose to leave, as if only in this way could she escape from this suffocating vortex, and this uproar could finally come to a slow end.

When Gao Jie heard the news, his eyes widened instantly, filled with disbelief.

His gaze seemed unfocused as he stared blankly ahead, his mind flashing back to every moment he spent with Huang Muran.

I just can't understand how someone who was so vivid in my mind just a few days ago could leave so decisively, without even saying goodbye, just disappearing from my world so quietly.

Even though reason told him again and again that the matter was settled and irreversible, he couldn't get over the stubbornness in his heart. He still felt that the whole thing was absurd and unbelievable, and his heart was full of resentment and bitterness.

But what could he do now that things had come to this? The other person had already crossed mountains and seas to go to a foreign land. Could he really ignore it and chase after them abroad?

If someone were to do that on a whim, what kind of behavior would that be?

If word gets out, it will become the subject of ridicule and gossip.

Seeing Gao Jie's distraught, zombie-like state, David sighed softly, slowly reached out, and gently patted his shoulder with a hint of comfort before earnestly advising him:

"Some people are like an elusive wind, their free spirit and wandering nature are ingrained in their bones, and no matter how hard we try, we can't stop them. These people are like rootless duckweed, without a fixed course. They might drift east today when the mood strikes, and then west tomorrow when their thoughts change. In short, their life trajectory and footsteps won't obediently stop because of anyone's attempts to hold them back or their expectations. No matter how reluctant we are, we can only watch them go and can't force them to stay by our side."

"Don't keep taking this to heart. You have a long life ahead of you."

The past, whether happy or sad, will eventually fade and become history. And the new opportunities and challenges that are meant to come will come to us sooner or later.

All the turmoil and entanglements of past grievances have, in fact, come to an end at this moment. What good will it do to cling to them, except to cause yourself endless suffering?

"I'll say it again: go where you're supposed to be, do what you're supposed to do in a down-to-earth manner, and stop thinking about those convoluted and complicated problems that give you a headache all the time."

After all, there's always an insurmountable chasm between reality and imagination. What we see with our eyes is worlds apart from the picture we envision in our hearts. Overthinking only adds to our troubles.

"Let's just leave it at that. We all have to walk the path of life, every step is necessary. Do you understand what I mean?"

After speaking, Davida nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to walk away with unhurried and calm steps. She didn't seem to have a firm judgment on how this matter would develop, and could only leave it to time to decide.

Gao Jie felt as if all his strength had been drained away, and returned to his dormitory in a daze.

As soon as he entered the room, he didn't even bother to turn on the light. He went straight to the bed, sat down heavily with a "thud," and then sat there quietly like a statue, his eyes vacant, as if his soul had been taken away.

Every minute and every second was stretched out infinitely, becoming incredibly long. The agonizing feeling of each day dragging on like a year was ever-present, gnawing at his heart.

It is said that time is the best medicine to heal all wounds. It has a magical power that can slowly wash away all pain little by little, gradually smooth out the deep-rooted roots of those wounds, and let everyone forget everything they have suffered in the silent flow of time, even those deep-seated and unforgettable injuries.

At this moment, Gao Jie was still deeply mired in this sudden quagmire of sorrow, his mind filled with the lonely figure of Huang Muran leaving. He didn't know how many long days and nights he would have to endure before time could work its healing magic and he could look forward to the day when the gloom would dissipate.