For a moment, all her memories unraveled from the present and were pulled backward, returning to the time when they had first begun to date.

…

It was New Year’s Eve.

Shi Xing had been dragged by Ying Xiaoxiao to a New Year’s gathering, attended mostly by close friends of the two of them.

After dinner, the group moved on to a KTV lounge. As the atmosphere grew livelier—perhaps fueled by alcohol—someone suggested playing Truth or Dare.

Shi Xing wanted to refuse, but Ying Xiaoxiao wouldn’t let go of her arm. Left with no choice, she agreed.

She managed to narrowly avoid the spinning arrow in the first few rounds. Just as she was secretly congratulating herself, the pointer landed squarely in front of her in the very next spin.

Annoyed, Shi Xing regretted popping champagne midway through the night.

Ying Xiaoxiao was even more excited than she was, shaking Shi Xing’s arm enthusiastically.
“Xiao Xing, pick dare!”

Shi Xing glanced at her, confused by her enthusiasm, but eventually nodded.

She drew a card at random. When she read its contents, her expression froze.

Ying Xiaoxiao leaned over and read it aloud for everyone:
“Play one round of Truth or Dare with the opposite-sex contact you most recently chatted with on WeChat.”

Shi Xing rubbed her temples, speechless. How was this even a dare?

Meanwhile, the corners of everyone else’s mouths curved into barely concealed smiles.

Urged on by Ying Xiaoxiao, Shi Xing pulled out her phone and scrolled. When her eyes landed on the name Ji Yu, she tapped into their chat window and hesitantly sent a message.

“Want to play a dare with me?”

After sending it, she quickly locked her phone and explained to the group,
“He might not reply. He’s had competitions these past few days—he’s probably already asleep.”

Ying Xiaoxiao took a small sip from her bottle, raised an eyebrow, and teased,
“Then why is your face so red?”

Shi Xing immediately patted her cheeks and shook her head.
“It’s too hot in here. I’m suffocating.”

The group exchanged knowing looks, clearly choosing not to expose her. Everyone could see that the two of them were stuck in that delicate, ambiguous stage—just one step away.

Soon, Shi Xing’s phone lit up.

“Okay.”

Following the instructions, Shi Xing rolled the virtual dice first. It landed on 2.

Ji Yu sent his roll shortly after.

1.

Ying Xiaoxiao immediately placed another card in front of Shi Xing.

After reading it, Shi Xing frowned and hesitated.
“Isn’t this… kind of inappropriate?”

Ying Xiaoxiao gave her no room to refuse, gesturing for her to send it.

After a brief struggle—and encouraged by alcohol—Shi Xing finally typed out the message.

“Would you be willing to try dating me?”

She added quickly:
“Send this sentence to the person you like.”

Her heart pounded violently, slamming against her chest. Every second that followed felt like torture.

Then Ji Yu repeated her words back to her.

“Would you be willing to try dating me?”

“Yes, that one,” Shi Xing replied.

“I already sent it.”

The moment that message arrived, Shi Xing’s mind went completely blank.

Ying Xiaoxiao burst into excitement, and the crowd erupted into cheers.

At that moment, her phone rang.

Amid the noise, Shi Xing hurried outside to answer.

“Hello?”

Outside, fine snow had begun to fall. The biting winter wind brushed against her face, clearing her head slightly.

“That message earlier… I lost a dare,” Shi Xing hurried to explain, afraid he might misunderstand.
“So you don’t need to feel pressured. If you don’t want to, we can just pretend nothing ever happened—”

Before she could finish, Ji Yu interrupted her.

“But I’ve already taken it seriously.”

The moment she heard that, it felt as though electricity surged through her entire body. A tingling numbness spread everywhere, leaving her momentarily speechless.

After a brief silence, she asked softly,
“Then… where are you right now?”

“Turn around.”

Shi Xing turned her head—and collided straight into a pair of deep, dark eyes.

Ji Yu stood behind her, dressed in a black hoodie. His sharp brows, high nose, and thin lips gave him a cold, striking presence.

Snowflakes drifted down, settling on his hair and long lashes. The depth in his eyes gradually softened into a smile.

At that moment, the clock struck midnight.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fireworks exploded across the sky, scattering brilliant light through the darkness.

Cheers and New Year’s wishes rose from the streets, drowning out their voices.

Yet Shi Xing still read his lips clearly:

“Happy New Year.”

Watching him, the corners of her lips curved unconsciously, faint dimples appearing on her cheeks.

Amid the bustling crowd, an unfamiliar emotion quietly spread through her heart.

Even years later, whenever she thought back to that night, she felt a deep sense of nostalgia.

After they had been together for a year, both of them faced new challenges.

Shi Xing began preparing for graduate school exams, while Ji Yu was gradually promoted to a seed player on his team, making his mark in major competitions. They saw each other less and less.

She could clearly feel their conversations dwindling along with their time together.

When they went out to eat, long stretches of silence filled the table—so different from the affectionate chatter of the young couple beside them.

Occasionally, Ji Yu would smile when she spoke and quietly place her favorite dishes onto her plate.

Over time, even Shi Xing began to doubt whether he had agreed to be with her on impulse.

She feared that what he had fallen for was the girl standing in the crowd that night—
not the person sitting across from him now.

Once that thought took root, it lodged itself deep in her heart like a thorn.

Until the day Ji Yu’s mother came to see her.

In a café, the two women sat facing each other.

Shi Xing studied her carefully. Mrs. Ji wore her long, curled hair immaculately styled, light makeup on her face, pearl earrings at her ears, and a white wool coat. Every movement radiated authority.

Mrs. Ji lifted her coffee, took a delicate sip, and spoke calmly.
“Miss Shi, I came today for only one reason—to ask you to break up with Ji Yu.”

Shi Xing was momentarily stunned by her bluntness, but quickly composed herself.
“May I ask why you insist that we break up?”

Mrs. Ji glanced at her coolly.
“Because in the future, you won’t be able to offer him any support. On the contrary, you’ll hold him back. You’re two years older than him, and as his success grows, the gap between you will only widen. For both your sakes, I hope you end things as early as possible.”

Listening quietly, Shi Xing lowered her gaze slightly, then replied calmly,
“Isn’t the real reason you came to me because you know Ji Yu wouldn’t agree so easily?”

For the first time, a crack appeared in Mrs. Ji’s composed expression.

After a pause, Shi Xing took a deep breath and continued,
“But don’t worry. I will leave on my own. However, please understand—my decision today isn’t because I think I’m unworthy of him. It’s because I don’t want a future where I might have to live under the same roof as someone like you.”

With that, she picked up her bag and walked out of the café without looking back.

Mrs. Ji was left sitting there alone, her face livid with anger.

What followed was a blur. Shi Xing only remembered sending Ji Yu one final message before he left for overseas training, blocking all his contact information, and dragging Ying Xiaoxiao to a bar to drown her sorrows.

Only the deafening music and glass after glass of strong liquor could numb her mind, if only briefly.

After countless drinks, Ying Xiaoxiao returned from the restroom and placed a ringing phone in front of her, sighing.
“Maybe you should answer it. He’s called my phone so many times. You two should just clear things up once and for all.”

Shi Xing picked up the phone and stepped outside.
“Do you still have something to say?”

“Did my mom say something to you?” Ji Yu sounded anxious.
“Don’t listen to her. Where are you right now? I’ll come find you.”

It was the first time Shi Xing had heard him speak so much in one breath.

Her nose stung, but she still refused him.
“No need. Get some rest. You’re leaving the country tomorrow.”

“I’m waiting for you at your school gate.” His voice was hoarse.

The freezing wind burned her eyes red. Shi Xing closed them, forcing her voice to remain steady.
“I stopped liking you a long time ago. Let’s end this here—it’s better for both of us.”

As she said those words, sharp pain pierced her chest. Her hand trembled violently around the phone.

After a long silence, he finally said,
“Okay.”

She hung up.

After that, Ji Yu never called again. They never met again.

That night, the snow fell even heavier than before, blanketing everything—her heart included—in silent white.

…

Shi Xing snapped back to the present, staring at him in a daze.

Ji Yu sat on a bench, one hand braced against the seat. His breathing was uneven—it was clear his injury was severe.

As she stepped closer, she saw beads of sweat covering his neck, sliding down past his throat, while his face remained unnaturally pale.

Noticing her, he lifted his gaze. Though clearly exhausted, he forced a greeting.
“Long time no see.”

Her eyes stung as she looked at him.
“You…?”

Seeing her concern, his voice softened, hoarse but casual.
“An old problem. I’m used to it.”

Unable to bear it, Shi Xing turned her head away, her gaze darkening.

Silence settled between them once more.

It wasn’t until Xie He and the others rushed in that the tension broke.

“I asked around,” Xie He said angrily.
“The team doctors are either in meetings or out on assignments.”

“I called an ambulance,” another teammate added urgently.
“They said it’ll take at least an hour. At this rate, he won’t make it.”

Standing in the corner, Shi Xing listened quietly, her gaze never leaving Ji Yu.

In the end, she stepped forward.

“Let me try.”

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