When Ji Yu drove back to his place, the first thing that caught Shi Xing’s eye was a high-end residential community set in a beautiful, tranquil environment.

Lush trees lined the area, with carefully designed water features and comfortable leisure spaces, creating an atmosphere of calm elegance.

After parking the car, Ji Yu took her hand and led her upstairs. On the way, she teased him lightly.

“This seems to be my first time coming to your place.”

A lazy smile curved at his lips as he replied casually,

“There will be plenty of chances in the future.”

Shi Xing did not continue the topic. She was afraid that if something unexpected happened tonight, this might even become her last visit.

At that moment, Lin Jue was sitting upright in the living room. Even when they walked in, she did not look at them, only saying lightly,

“You’re here.”

Ji Yu gave a soft response, “Mm.”

Shi Xing took a deep breath and greeted her politely. Lin Jue merely acknowledged her with a brief, indifferent reply.

Shi Xing fell silent instinctively.

Noticing her discomfort, Ji Yu quickly stepped in and asked,

“You called us back—was there something you wanted to talk about?”

Lin Jue seemed dissatisfied with his tone. She glanced at Shi Xing from the corner of her eye and lifted her chin slightly, motioning for them to sit.

As soon as she spoke, Ji Yu led Shi Xing to sit down on the other side. The scene felt faintly glaring to Lin Jue.

Once they were seated, Lin Jue lifted her teacup, took a small sip, and looked at Ji Yu.

“How is your waist injury recovering lately?”

Ji Yu pressed his lips together, tightened his jaw, and nodded.

Lin Jue then turned her gaze to Shi Xing. Her tone softened slightly.

“I heard you even went to learn traditional acupuncture for his sake.”

Shi Xing was startled to be addressed so suddenly. She paused for a moment, then shook her head.

“Not entirely. I also wanted to improve myself.”

Lin Jue asked a few casual questions. Only after Ji Yu had been sent away did she finally reveal her real purpose.

“I truly didn’t expect the two of you would end up together again.”

Perhaps because she had grown used to Lin Jue’s manner, Shi Xing felt calmer than she had the first time.

She spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly.

“Is there anything else you want to say this time?”

She deliberately stressed the words “anything else.”

Lin Jue’s expression flickered almost imperceptibly, but quickly returned to normal.

This time, I don’t plan to stop you anymore.”

Instead, it was Shi Xing who was caught off guard.

Lin Jue chuckled when she saw her reaction.

“What? You don’t believe me?”

Shi Xing frowned slightly and asked in confusion,

“Why…?”

“You’re wondering why I suddenly agreed, right?”

Shi Xing nodded.

Lin Jue continued slowly,

“Ever since Ji Yu lost that competition, I’ve thought it through.”

“When he was young, his father and I were always busy with work and often neglected his needs. That made him distant from us for a long time. Later, when I tried to make up for it by interfering in his life and forcing him to follow the path I expected for him, I only pushed him farther away.”

“For the past few years, he has lived outside and rarely come home. I know he resents me for going to find you back then. Even so, I stubbornly refused to admit my mistakes.”

“Until the moment I saw him collapse before the competition, my heart suddenly tightened in pain.”

“I used to dislike you very much. I thought you were completely useless to his career, and might even hold him back. But I have to admit—without you, he probably wouldn’t have been able to hold on until now.”

After saying so much in one breath, Lin Jue fell silent.

Shi Xing listened quietly, unconsciously curling her fingers tighter.

After a short pause, Lin Jue set her teacup down.

“There’s actually one more thing I never told you. On the night you broke up four years ago, he waited for you all night downstairs at your school.”

Shi Xing looked at her in shock. Her pupils contracted, and for a long moment she could not speak.

Only after a long while did she answer hoarsely,

“He never told me any of that…”

When Ji Yu returned and saw Shi Xing sitting on the sofa, he walked over quickly.

Thinking that Lin Jue might have said something again, he was about to ask—only for Shi Xing to suddenly bury herself in his arms.

In a soft voice, she said,

“You did so much back then. Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

Ji Yu let out a quiet sigh, as if he understood what she meant.

“I did it willingly.”

Shi Xing’s eyelashes trembled. She did not know what else to say.

“My mom only told you those things?”

Before Shi Xing could reply, Lin Jue came out of the room and said with mock complaint,

“What? Am I such an unforgivable villain in your eyes?”

Ji Yu shook his head.

For once, the mother and son spoke calmly and gently with each other.

After they said goodbye to Lin Jue and returned home, Shi Xing wrapped her arms around Ji Yu’s neck again and muttered softly,

“Honestly, I really thought I’d have to fight a long battle with your mom this time.”

Ji Yu chuckled quietly, one arm circling her waist.

Before she could continue, he lowered his head and kissed her.

This time, it was no longer a light, fleeting touch.

The kiss grew deeper and more intense.

They tumbled onto the bed together.

Shi Xing lay beneath him. In the darkness, their breathing was unmistakably clear.

A tender, intimate atmosphere slowly spread through the room.

He swallowed lightly and brushed gentle kisses along her neck.

Tickled by him, Shi Xing let out a small, soft sound and wrinkled her nose.

When Ji Yu finally lifted his head, the light from the hallway spilled through the narrow gap of the door, draping her in a soft glow.

A moment later, he buried his face against her again, nuzzling her gently.

The temperature in the room rose rapidly, filling the air with warmth.

Shi Xing’s chest rose and fell with her breathing. Her fingers tightened around the edge of the pillow, and a soft breath escaped her lips, her ears instantly flushing red.

No one knew how much time passed.

Outside, the rain grew heavier. The wind lashed against the branches, sending them swaying wildly.

Shi Xing let out a soft cry, and before it even faded, her lips were captured by his again. The familiar warmth returned, their breaths mingling closely.

After the storm finally passed, the world outside fell into quiet.

She pushed him lightly, hinting,

“What time is it?”

Ji Yu clearly had no intention of letting her off so easily.

“Probably after midnight.”

As he spoke, he kissed her earlobe again, leaving faint traces of moisture along the way.

This time, she was clearly overwhelmed. Her eyes turned glassy as she bit her lip, caught between lingering tenderness and the soreness of their closeness.

Sensing her emotions, Ji Yu rubbed his warm cheek against the side of her neck and whispered gently,

“One last time.”

Shi Xing nodded helplessly, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Outside, fine raindrops rippled across the ground, and the leaves were swept once more into the swirling wind.

---

The next morning, Shi Xing woke up with her entire body aching.

Ji Yu had already gone downstairs.

She quickly got dressed and washed up before heading down as well.

The moment she stepped off the stairs, she took a deep breath.

Just then, Xiyu suddenly pounced on her enthusiastically, nearly knocking her over.

Fortunately, Ji Yu appeared in time and rescued her.

After helping her onto the sofa, he still couldn’t help laughing lightly.

“Is it really that bad?”

Shi Xing clicked her tongue and pushed him lightly, threatening,

“Keep laughing and next time I treat you, I might accidentally miss the mark with the needle.”

Ji Yu lowered his head and laughed quietly.

“You’re really willing to be that cruel?”

She snorted and cupped his face playfully.

“Of course. If something happens to you, I’ll take your money and go find myself some younger, prettier men.”

Before she could finish speaking, he bit her cheek lightly.

His warm breath brushed against her ear, sending a shiver through her.

They lingered for quite a while before finally heading out.

When they were about to part at the workplace, Shi Xing suddenly heard someone call her.

“Sister Shi Xing!”

She turned around and saw Xiao Song standing behind her.

Her eyes lit up when she saw Shi Xing, and she hurried over.

“I almost thought I had mistaken you just now.”

Shi Xing was also pleasantly surprised.

“Why are you here?”

“I came to bring lunch to A-Wen.”

She lifted the lunchbox in her hand.

Shi Xing froze for a moment. Only then did she realize that this must have been the reason Ji Yu had gone to their hospital room that day.

Xiao Song scratched her head shyly.

“I’m still not familiar with this place. Sister Shi Xing, could you show me the way?”

Shi Xing nodded immediately and glanced at her watch.

There was still some time before work, so she decided to take Xiao Song there herself.

When they arrived at another training base, they happened to see A-Wen practicing in his wheelchair.

Because there were not many staff members around, he often had to practice serving by himself and then retrieve the shuttlecocks alone.

Before long, he was drenched in sweat.

Seeing this, Xiao Song’s eyes reddened.

She knew he was persisting for his dream, yet she could not help feeling heartbroken.

Shi Xing gently patted her shoulder.

“These days, all the teams are busy with competitions. Once staff adjustments are made in a few days, he won’t have to work this hard on his own.”

Xiao Song nodded.

After saying goodbye, she ran toward A-Wen.

Watching the two of them together stirred something deep in Shi Xing’s heart.

On her way back to work, she ran into Xie He again.

He whistled lightly and said in disbelief,

“How do we keep running into each other?”

Shi Xing shook her head helplessly.

“I’m wondering the same thing.”

It was probably because they both liked wandering around too much.

After joking with her for a moment, Xie He suddenly seemed to remember something important and quickly changed the topic.