It wasn’t until the two of them walked out of the gate that Chen Jiayu finally took his hands out of his pockets. Dropping his usual casual, unserious manner, he looked at Shi Xing with rare seriousness.

 

“I have something I want to say to you.”

 

Shi Xing seemed to already know what he was going to say. She was about to brush it off when he interrupted her.

 

“Let me finish,” Chen Jiayu said, locking eyes with her, his tone extremely earnest.

 

She froze for a moment.

 

After a brief pause, he spoke slowly.

 

“I like you.”

 

“Would you be willing to give me a chance?”

 

Before she could even respond, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind them.

 

“She won’t.”

 

They both turned around and saw Ji Yu standing right behind them, his gaze dark and fixed on the two of them, his voice tightly suppressing anger.

 

As soon as the words fell, he strode forward, pulled Shi Xing behind him, and said coldly,

 

“Do you not understand human language?”

 

Sensing the tension thickening in the air, Shi Xing quickly tried to smooth things over.

 

“We’re leaving now.”

 

Although she did not openly take anyone’s side, the word we quietly drew a clear line between them.

 

Chen Jiayu understood what she meant.

 

He watched helplessly as Ji Yu took her away.

 

When he finally came back to his senses and unwillingly tried to chase after them, he saw a scene that felt like a knife cutting into his heart.

 

Under the shade of the trees, Ji Yu had wrapped an arm around Shi Xing and pulled her into his embrace, lowering his head to kiss her lips.

 

Perhaps because he noticed Chen Jiayu watching, after releasing Shi Xing, Ji Yu lifted his chin slightly, his eyes carrying unmistakable provocation and mockery.

 

Chen Jiayu’s mind went blank.

 

A sharp pain suddenly stabbed into his chest. He tugged the corner of his mouth into a self-mocking smile, as if laughing at his own foolishness over the past period of time.

 

Shi Xing, however, knew nothing about all of this.

 

It was not until they returned home that Ji Yu finally curved his lips faintly and said in a calm voice,

 

“If I’d arrived a little later, were you already planning to say yes?”

 

Shi Xing immediately shook her head and hurried up to him.

 

“Of course not. I clearly told him that I have a boyfriend.”

 

“Oh?” He raised his eyebrows slightly, signaling for her to continue.

 

Seeing this, she wrapped her arms around his arm and muttered softly,

 

“My boyfriend is the best in the whole world.”

 

Ji Yu was clearly pleased by that. He gently rubbed her head and teased her,

 

“Why are you saying it so quietly? Afraid someone might hear you?”

 

Shi Xing knew he was deliberately teasing her, so she didn’t bother responding. Instead, she changed the subject and praised him sincerely,

 

“You did well this time. You didn’t get into a direct confrontation with him.”

 

Although Ji Yu’s thin lips were pressed into a faint line, the coldness in his eyes could not be concealed.

 

If he hadn’t been afraid of making Shi Xing angry, he really would have taught Chen Jiayu a lesson on the spot. But even so, he had no intention of letting Chen Jiayu off easily.

 

Just then, Shi Xing lay down on the sofa and sighed with relief.

 

“Finally done with Teacher Chen’s classes.”

 

Ji Yu chuckled lightly.

 

“You’re that happy?”

 

She nodded solemnly, then smiled mischievously.

 

“From now on, your rehabilitation is entirely in my hands.”

 

He cooperated with her playfully.

 

“Alright. I’ll leave it to you, Doctor Shi.”

 

---

 

The next day, the two of them walked to work together.

 

After finishing her own tasks, Shi Xing went to the rehabilitation room and saw Ji Yu chatting with his attending team doctor.

 

She walked over and asked curiously,

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

When Ji Yu saw her, he naturally made some space for her and explained,

 

“Precautions during the rehabilitation period.”

 

After listening for a while, Shi Xing suddenly seemed to remember something. She took out the rehabilitation plan she had prepared and handed it to Ji Yu’s doctor.

 

She asked tentatively,

 

“If we add traditional Chinese acupuncture and massage as supportive treatment, do you think the results would be better?”

 

The doctor took the papers and his eyes lit up. As he read, he nodded repeatedly.

 

“I only learned a little about acupuncture, but I think some of your treatment concepts are really good. It’s worth trying. Let’s officially start after New Year’s Day.”

 

Shi Xing nodded happily.

 

Seeing her like this, Ji Yu couldn’t help but be affected by her mood.

 

“Are you really that happy?”

 

“Of course. Don’t forget—I said I would stay with you and help you recover from your back injury,” she said seriously.

 

Something soft in Ji Yu’s heart was touched.

 

Ever since he began training in badminton, injuries of all sizes had become routine for him.

 

As for that disastrous tournament during his career low point—although the overwhelming ridicule had hurt him at first, he had long since gradually forgotten about it.

 

Even his obsession with fully recovering from his back injury was not particularly strong. After all, after so many years of playing badminton, he had already achieved the honors he should have.

 

But Shi Xing had always stayed by his side, unwavering.

 

She had even sought out renowned teachers and relearned acupuncture and therapeutic massage specifically for his injury.

 

It was this that reignited his fighting spirit and made him unwilling to give up his professional career so easily.

 

After the team doctor left, Shi Xing turned to look at him.

 

“How has your recovery been lately?”

 

Ji Yu straightened his back slightly and replied in a tone that was hard to read,

 

“Pretty good.”

 

Shi Xing did not catch the deeper meaning in his words and simply took it at face value. She naturally placed her hands around his waist and began checking his injury.

 

It was only meant to be a routine examination, but under Ji Yu’s ambiguous gaze, the atmosphere gradually turned intimate.

 

As she gently pressed and checked his waist, she muttered,

 

“I hope you recover soon.”

 

Hearing this, Ji Yu raised his eyebrows slightly and deliberately teased her.

 

“What if I don’t?”

 

Realizing she had fallen into his trap, Shi Xing felt helpless and deliberately went against him.

 

“Then I won’t want you anymore.”

 

The moment the words left her mouth, he pulled her straight into his arms.

 

Shi Xing was startled and quickly pushed him away, glancing around. Thankfully, there was no one else in the rehabilitation room.

 

She complained,

 

“What if someone sees us?”

 

Ji Yu, however, did not care at all. He curved his lips slightly and said casually,

 

“This is my private rehabilitation room.”

 

It was the first time Shi Xing had heard him say that. When she looked around more carefully, she realized that the décor really was very different from an ordinary rehabilitation room.

 

Just as she was marveling at it, Ji Yu quietly walked over to her again. This time, his expression was a little serious.

 

“There’s something I need to tell you. During the New Year’s period, I probably won’t be able to go home with you. I have to go to another province…”

 

Although he had not finished his sentence, Shi Xing already understood what he meant.

 

She felt a little disappointed, but still forced a smile.

 

“Okay.”

 

Seeing that she was unhappy, Ji Yu suddenly comforted her,

 

“I’ll try my best to get back in time.”

 

As New Year’s Day drew closer, the atmosphere at work became increasingly lively. After reminding Ji Yu of a few things, Shi Xing returned to her post, packed up, and prepared to get off work.

 

At that moment, Wei Shufen called her and asked roughly what time she would be home.

 

Shi Xing checked the time, gave her an estimate, then took a taxi straight to the high-speed rail station.

 

Time passed quickly. By the time night fell, the high-speed train arrived in Shenbei City on schedule.

 

Shi Bohua and Wei Shufen had received the news early and were already waiting for her at the station exit.

 

In the freezing winter night, both of them were bundled in down jackets, breathing out clouds of warm air. Even so, they still refused to leave, stretching their necks toward the exit, trying to spot their daughter.

 

Shi Xing felt a warmth rise in her chest. She softly called out to them.

 

Hearing her voice, the couple both turned at once and hurried toward her—one taking her bag, the other draping a coat over her shoulders.

 

“You child, it’s so cold and you still don’t know how to dress properly,” Wei Shufen complained, but her arms were already wrapped tightly around her.

 

Beside them, Shi Bohua couldn’t help exposing her.

 

“She’s been talking about when you’d come home the whole time you were gone. Now that the kid finally made it back, you start nagging again.”

 

Wei Shufen was embarrassed and immediately snapped back,

 

“What’s it to you? She’s my child. I can say whatever I want.”

 

“Fine, fine. You make it sound like she’s your child alone.”

 

Seeing that the two of them were about to start arguing right outside the station, Shi Xing quickly stopped them.

 

“Let’s go home. I’m starving.”

 

Only then did the couple stop bickering.

 

After getting into the car, Wei Shufen casually asked,

 

“Why didn’t Xiao Ji come back with you?”

 

Shi Xing sniffed, still chilled from the cold.

 

“He had some things to take care of.”

 

None of them mentioned what had happened earlier.

 

After they got home, the heater was already on. Wei Shufen hurried into the kitchen and brought out the reheated dishes.

 

At the dining table, she started nagging again—mostly trivial things, like which neighbor’s child had been admitted to a top university this year, or who had gotten married and had a baby.

 

Shi Xing grew impatient and interrupted,

 

“I know.”

 

Her perfunctory response clearly displeased Wei Shufen. Her voice suddenly rose.

 

“I only said a few words and you already find me annoying. If I get old someday…”

 

Listening to the familiar speech she could practically recite by heart, Shi Xing rubbed her temples. Shi Bohua sighed softly and went back to his room, closing the door.

 

The dinner dragged on for two whole hours.

 

Only when someone came to look for Wei Shufen to chat did she finally leave the house.

 

After finishing eating, Shi Xing washed the dishes, put them away one by one, and returned to her room.

 

That was when she noticed a message from Ji Yu, sent several hours earlier.

 

Did you get home?

 

She quickly typed a reply and also asked how things were going on his end.

 

Not long after she sent it, a second message came in.

 

I’m already in another province.

 

She paused slightly. She hadn’t expected him to move that fast. At the same time, curiosity rose in her heart about what exactly he had gone to do.

 

When she looked around the room, she realized that Wei Shufen had already made her bed for her. Complex emotions quietly welled up in her chest.

 

Outside, fireworks burst into the night sky with loud crackling sounds.

 

Looking around, Shi Xing couldn’t help sighing that another year was about to pass just like that.

 

When she thought back on everything that had happened over the past year, she suddenly felt how quickly time flew.

 

Five years ago, around this same time, she had just started dating Ji Yu. She never imagined that after so many setbacks, they would be able to reunite again.

 

---

 

The next morning, when she woke up, she happened to see Wei Shufen making dumplings in the kitchen.

 

She walked in and asked,

 

“Do you need help?”

 

To her surprise, Wei Shufen waved her off immediately.

 

“No, no, no. Go sit outside. Don’t get in my way.”

 

Since she was rejected, Shi Xing could only go sit at the table.

 

At that moment, the door opened.

 

She looked up—and saw a familiar figure standing there.