Xia Miao carried her laptop back to the living room and curled up on the sofa, browsing for scenic destinations while the sounds of Shen Chi bustling in the kitchen brought her a sense of comfort.
She had just shortlisted a few places when her phone suddenly rang.
Glancing at the caller ID, Xia Miao answered, "Hey, Xiaozhu, what's up?"
Gao Xiaozhu's enthusiastic voice came through, "I'm getting married next month—I want you at the wedding!"
They had been inseparable friends during their student days and had stayed in touch after graduation, which was why Gao Xiaozhu had called to invite her.
Xia Miao still remembered how Gao Xiaozhu would sigh whenever she saw couples passing by on campus, lamenting her own lack of a boyfriend. Ironically, Gao Xiaozhu never found the right person during college, so hearing about her wedding now filled Xia Miao with happiness.
"Send me the time and place, and I’ll be there to celebrate."
Gao Xiaozhu immediately agreed, then mused, "You know, back then, we all thought you’d be the first one to get married. Who’d have guessed I’d beat you to it? Remember how everyone in college assumed you and the campus heartthrob would end up together?"
Xia Miao paused. "Campus heartthrob?"
"You don’t remember? Si Mugu—that rich, arrogant young master who acted like he was above everyone else. He ended up eloping with some girl from an ordinary background, and they’ve been missing ever since."
Back then, Si Mugu’s relationship with Tian Meimei, an unremarkable girl, had caused an uproar. His family had vehemently opposed it.
Eventually, both Si Mugu and Tian Meimei vanished. People speculated they had run away together, perhaps living happily somewhere far from prying eyes.
Gao Xiaozhu chattered on, "Xia Miao, your memory can’t be that bad. The year Si Mugu and his girlfriend disappeared was the same year our new dean died suddenly from illness."
Both incidents had happened a decade ago.
Xia Miao chuckled. "Of course I remember. I just didn’t connect it right away when you brought it up."
Gao Xiaozhu teased, "I thought a beauty like you wouldn’t bother recalling things that didn’t concern her."
Still scrolling through images on her laptop, Xia Miao replied, "I’m not that oblivious."
"True, you’ve always been too busy to care about certain things. Like all those guys who had crushes on you—you never paid them any mind. Remember that stalker the police caught ten years ago? If someone hadn’t stopped him in time, you would’ve been his next target."
"Honestly, it’s still unbelievable. That guy literally grabbed a knife bare-handed and risked his life to stop the creep. Turns out the stalker had been following you for ages."
"Xia Miao, do you think that guy was just being heroic, or did he do it for you?"
Xia Miao’s fingers froze over the keyboard. "Why didn’t I know about this?"
"Wait, you didn’t?" Gao Xiaozhu sounded shocked. "Did none of us ever mention it because we assumed you already knew?"
After a pause, she continued, "Well, we were just guessing back then. He was probably just a good Samaritan. If he really had a crush on you, wouldn’t he have used such a heroic act to win you over? If he’d confessed, you’d have definitely been moved!"
So everyone concluded it had nothing to do with Xia Miao.
But of course, it did.
Even after risking his life, the boy hadn’t dared to approach her for even the slightest reward.
In his fantasies, he had altered his own memories, imagining himself as her boyfriend, stepping forward to protect her when she was in danger.
His delusions only highlighted his cowardice—his fear so profound it bordered on the pitiful.
"Xia Miao… Xia Miao! Hey, are you listening?"
Xia Miao snapped back to reality. "I’m here."
Gao Xiaozhu sighed. "I’ve got more friends to call, so I’ll let you go. Oh, and could you keep an eye on my hopeless little brother for me?"
She was referring to Gao Fei, the adventurous young man with boundless energy and a knack for mischief.
Xia Miao smiled. "Sure, I’ll try."
After hanging up, silence settled over the living room.
Shen Chi was preparing the final dish—salt-baked prawns, Xia Miao’s favorite. Standing at the counter, his tall, slender frame seemed almost ethereal, as if he might dissolve into the darkness if the lights went out.
Xia Miao pressed herself against his back, wrapping her arms around him. Shen Chi chuckled softly. "The food’s almost ready, Miao Miao."
She hummed in response, resting her cheek against him, unwilling to let go.
Sensing something amiss, Shen Chi finished plating the dish, turned off the stove, wiped his hands, and turned to face her. "What’s wrong, Miao Miao?"
Xia Miao buried her face in his chest for a long moment before looking up, her eyes glistening. "Shen Chi, you’re such an idiot."
Shen Chi faltered. "Miao Miao, I’m sorry."
This was how he always reacted—apologizing the moment he thought he’d upset her, as if saying sorry would keep her from growing tired of him, allowing him to cling to a corner of her heart.
The ache in Xia Miao’s chest intensified. Cupping his face firmly, she warned, "From now on, you’re not allowed to apologize to me. Understand?"
Shen Chi nodded. "Understood."
His obedience, his willingness to yield to her every whim, only made her want to cry harder.
"Shen Chi, listen to me—you’re the best person in the world. If I’d met you sooner, I’d have fallen for you at first sight!" She leaned closer, enunciating every word. "So you’re not allowed to hide anymore. If you like me, you have to stand boldly in front of me and let me see you clearly. Got it?"
Shen Chi’s eyes shimmered with unshed emotion. His throat bobbed as he swallowed back the feelings threatening to spill over. Lowering his head, he surrendered to her kiss, a trembling whisper escaping him:
"Mm. I’ll remember."
She had given him all the courage he needed. From now on, no matter when or where they met, he would always stand bravely before her.
"So…" Xia Miao’s eyes curved into crescents as she murmured, "Let’s bring out what’s been hidden, okay?"
He secretly hid the bones Xia Miao had brought back and preserved beneath a pile of clutter, as if doing so could soften the blow of her realizing he was already dead—and as if he could deceive himself into believing that he and she were no different from any other couple in the world.
At its core, it was all because he was afraid.
But now, he had found the courage to change.
Shen Chi bent down and pulled her into his arms, as though using his lover to steady himself.
He closed his eyes and murmured softly, "Okay."
Xia Miao raised her hand and gently patted his hunched back, letting out an encouraging laugh. "Shen Chi, you're amazing."
Her tone was exaggerated, like she was coaxing a child.
Shen Chi buried his face, flushed with embarrassment, into the crook of her neck, his lashes fluttering and the tips of his ears turning red.
In the end, the boyish figure pressed his lips together and whispered,
"Xiao Miao."
"I like you so much."
"Praise me a little more."
