The white rose I picked up cried and said she liked me.

Yuncheng Cemetery was quiet and solemn, even the chill in the air carried a sense of solemnity.

In front of a stone tablet, the boy squatted down and carefully swept away the snow in front of the grave.

With a gentle touch of the index finger, a faded photograph reappeared.

The smiling woman in the photo is Xu Xi's biological mother, Li Yu.

"Mom, I've come to see you."

Xu Nian placed a smoked chicken in front of the grave and knelt on the cold stone steps.

"I'm sorry, I broke my promise."

"Xu Xi has grown up and has the ability to protect herself."

"My existence will only be a burden to her."

"I hope you can forgive me."

The sky was overcast and the stars were not visible.

Xu Nian murmured, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.

He remained silent, kneeling before the grave for a long time.

He didn't want to tell Li Yu the fact that Xu Xi had fallen for him.

If Li Yu knew that her outstanding daughter had fallen in love with an illiterate man, she probably wouldn't be able to rest in peace even in the afterlife.

Fine snowflakes, like goose down, landed on the boy's collar, turning into a very faint damp stain.

He recalled the little girl who had snuggled inside his coat two winters ago, murmuring softly.

"Brother...likes..."

Did Xu Xi already like him from that time?

He shook his head with a wry smile.

If he had discovered it sooner, he would have kept a good distance from Xu Xi.

Allow the other person to hug and kiss without any boundaries.

In a way, he also contributed to this ill-fated relationship.

For a moment, Xu Nian was so ashamed that she wanted to disappear.

How I wish the pure snowflakes could bury all of this.

After leaving the cemetery, he bought some daily necessities and returned to Compound No. 5.

Night falls so quickly in winter; it was only five in the afternoon, and it was already pitch black.

"I'm back!"

Pushing open the heavy iron door, the spacious room was pitch black.

"You're back!"

"They're here!"

"Yes!"

The only response he received was his own echo.

Xu Nian was stunned for a moment, then silently walked into the house.

Standing in the empty living room, he looked around and pursed his lips.

Two years seemed like a fleeting, unreal dream to him.

In his dream, an angelic girl entered his life.

No matter how beautiful it may seem, it is ultimately just a dream.

Zhuangzi dreamt he was a butterfly, and the Emperor Wang's heart was entrusted to the cuckoo.

Now it's time for him to wake up from his dream.

He composed himself, went into the kitchen, and began preparing dinner.

Crack the eggs into a wok, slice the tomatoes and arrange them on the table.

The oil sizzled in the pan, and soon the kitchen was filled with the aroma of cooking.

The once quiet house was now filled with a lively atmosphere.

While cooking, Xu Nian hummed a little tune, and her low mood vanished.

Living alone is not a big deal.

That's how I spent those ten years, wasn't it?

Serve on a plate and sprinkle with chopped green onions; a bowl of hot, fragrant food warms the heart.

A plate of scrambled eggs with tomatoes and a plate of stir-fried bok choy—both are visually appealing, delicious, and satisfying.

He served himself two bowls of rice, placing one in front of him and the other opposite him.

"Little Stream, dinner's ready!"

"Dinner's ready!"

"Dinner's ready!"

"Yes!"

The old-fashioned clock emitted a series of mechanical sounds, as if mocking his wasted effort.

Xu Nian's smile gradually faded, and she sat silently at the dining table.

The two steaming dishes seemed to have lost their color, resembling cold stones.

A dark cloud once again loomed over the boy's head.

He stood up and slapped himself.

It is you who will leave Xu Xi's life.

Now you're reminiscing about old friends, what kind of nonsense is this?

He picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of egg, and put it in his mouth.

It tasted good, but unfortunately it was like chewing wax.

He irritably threw down his chopsticks, turned his head away, and stared blankly at the clock on the wall.

Xu Nian admitted that she missed Xu Xi a little.

Is she doing well now?

Have you had dinner? What did you eat?

She should be able to take care of herself without me around.

......

In the midst of the heavy snowfall, he put on his coat and went outside.

When he returned, he had two cases of beer in his hands.

"Sizzle!"

As the pull tab was lifted, wisps of white foam emerged from the can opening.

He tilted his head back, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, and downed the ice-cold beer in one gulp.

The bitter taste of alcohol choked her throat, and Xu Nian's brows furrowed deeply.

He had even forgotten when the last time he drank was.

All he remembered was that after drinking, he forgot everything and couldn't recall anything.

They say good medicine tastes bitter, and the more bitter it is, the more it can help him forget his loneliness.

Empty cans quickly piled up on the table, and several rolled to the ground, making a clattering sound.

"Burp~"

With a thud, Xu Nian collapsed onto the dining table, her cheeks burning red.

Great... I can't remember anything anymore, finally free from this damn nightmare.

He smiled wistfully, then gradually closed his eyelids.

A soft snore echoed in the room.

He had a strange dream.

In her dream, Xu Xi wore a beautiful wedding dress and affectionately linked arms with a handsome man of elegant demeanor who wore an expensive watch on his wrist.

From the emcee's introduction, it can be inferred that he is a postdoctoral fellow who returned from overseas, works at a top research institute, and holds numerous awards.

At the same time, his family has been in business for generations and possesses assets that ordinary people cannot imagine.

"Beautiful Miss Xu Xi, are you willing to marry the man beside you, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?"

Xu Xi turned around and looked around the audience, seemingly searching for something.

However, she didn't seem to find what she was looking for.

After a brief moment of disappointment, she smiled sweetly and said, "I do!"

The audience applauded and cheered, offering their warmest blessings to the newlyweds.

At this moment, Xu Nian, standing in the corner holding the red envelope she hadn't yet given away, suddenly felt a sense of suffocation.

It felt like something was tightly gripping my neck.

He tried to break free, but he couldn't muster any strength.

He wanted to scream, but couldn't exhale a single breath.

She watched as Xu Xi closed her eyes, a smile on her face, and kissed the man beside her happily.

He felt as if a large chunk of his heart had been ripped out, leaving it bleeding profusely.

"ah!!!"

Xu Nian suddenly stood up from the dining chair, panting heavily, her chest heaving violently.

His lips were as dry as cracked earth, and when he opened his mouth, it seemed as if flames were shooting out.

He felt a warm, wet touch at the corner of his eye, and when he reached out to touch it, he found it was a cloudy tear.