Not long after Shi Xing arrived at her post, Yu Jing called her into the office to discuss matters regarding the smart moxibustion device.

Shi Xing knocked lightly on the door, and Yu Jing, still working on some documents, looked up. Her eyes curved slightly, and she nodded for Shi Xing to enter.

As soon as Shi Xing sat down, Yu Jing got straight to the point:
“How’s the promotion of your moxibustion device going in the team?”

Shi Xing pulled out a carefully prepared spreadsheet from her bag and handed it to her, speaking earnestly:
“I surveyed their feedback. Overall, it’s good, but there are a few minor issues that need improvement.”

Yu Jing studied the data carefully, nodding with approval:
“Not bad.”
She looked up at Shi Xing and continued,
“Tomorrow I’ll go with you to coordinate on-site. We should try to mass-produce it during this period. The Olympics are coming up, and there will inevitably be places that need it.”

Shi Xing nodded. At that moment, Yu Jing noticed the small work badge hanging in front of her. Smirking slightly, she teased,
“You’ve already got your badge?”

Shi Xing paused, embarrassed, and let out a shy laugh while lowering her head.

At lunchtime, Shi Xing went to the cafeteria—a rare visit. Since it was also training time for the athletes, the cafeteria was unusually crowded.

She ordered a few dishes and found a nearby seat. Halfway through her meal, she sensed a presence blocking her view. Looking up, she happened to meet Ji Yu’s eyes. His gaze was warm, and before she could react, he swiftly sat across from her.

“You’re here so early. I was just about to come find you.”

Shi Xing instinctively glanced around. People nearby were subtly observing them. She whispered to Ji Yu,
“Let’s keep a low profile.”

Ji Yu wasn’t particularly bothered by the attention, but seeing her flustered expression, he reluctantly agreed. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he shifted the conversation:
“We’re leaving for training tomorrow.”

Shi Xing frowned slightly, puzzled:
“The competition isn’t for a few months—why train now?”

Ji Yu shook his head helplessly, then teasingly emphasized:
“Don’t miss me too much while I’m away these days.”

Shi Xing rolled her eyes at his narcissism and muttered softly:
“No way.”

Ji Yu, noticing her expression, lowered his head against his jaw and chuckled lightly, then fell silent.

Back at home, he began packing his bag as usual. Shi Xing sat on the sofa. Though the TV was on, her attention drifted to a movement in the distance.

Ji Yu, still counting items, noticed her gaze from the corner. Turning sharply, their eyes met.

Shi Xing froze, quickly looking away. Realizing she had been “caught” spying, her face flushed crimson.

Ji Yu tugged at the corner of his mouth, letting her off the hook. After a moment, he stood up. Xi Yu, unaware of the situation, waddled over. Ji Yu patted its head and murmured to himself,
“Let’s go.”

Shi Xing curled her hands around the pillow, hesitant. Ji Yu approached again, this time serious:
“Leaving for real. Take good care of yourself.”

Though reluctant, Shi Xing stubbornly replied,
“I know.”

Ji Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly, a faint smile on his lips. Without another word, he left. Xi Yu ran after him, barking a few times until the door closed.

On the screen, a scene of characters parting reluctantly played. Shi Xing lowered her gaze, hesitated, and then hurried to the balcony. Snow fell softly outside, shimmering under the streetlights.

She called out Ji Yu’s name, and as if on cue, he looked up and met her eyes.

Snowflakes clung to his black coat, and the dim streetlight cast slanted shadows over him, making it hard to read his expression.

Shi Xing pressed her lips together and slowly said her farewell:
“Goodbye.”

Ji Yu’s eyes were dark, his smile faint, and his voice low:
“Mhm.”

In the foggy night, they exchanged a smile, their emotions quietly spreading in the cold wind.

Only when his figure disappeared from her sight did Shi Xing return inside. Xi Yu rushed to her side. She petted it and sat down, staring at the empty room. For some reason, an unexplainable melancholy welled up in her chest.

The next morning, the alarm woke Shi Xing from her haze. She rubbed her eyes, got out of bed quickly, and, with Ji Yu absent, fed the puppy and prepared breakfast for herself.

Once done, she left and followed the address to a suburban factory to meet Yu Jing. Upon arrival, she realized Yu Jing had been waiting for a while. Shi Xing hurried out of the car, apologetic:
“Sorry, Jing Jie, I’m a bit late today.”

Yu Jing shook her head with a smile, unconcerned by the delay, patting her shoulder:
“Let’s go inside.”

Shi Xing nodded and followed her, walking in single file. Suddenly, she recognized a familiar figure. She paused and tentatively called out:
“Chen Jiayu?”

Hearing her voice, he turned sharply, mouth slightly open in disbelief. Yu Jing, confused, asked,
“You two know each other?”

Shi Xing nodded. After a long time apart, Chen Jiayu seemed more composed and mature, no longer the casual attitude he once had. He scrutinized her and asked ambiguously:
“What are you doing here?”

Shi Xing explained everything from the beginning. Chen Jiayu listened, then raised his chin slightly and stated his purpose:
“I just happened to come check on my friend.”

After a brief exchange, Shi Xing bid him farewell. Chen Jiayu watched her leave thoughtfully, lips pressed together, seemingly lost in thought.

After the collaboration ended, he approached her again:
“Shi Xing, can we talk?”

Shi Xing froze. Seeing her hesitation, he gently explained:
“Nothing serious. Just a few things I want to say to you.”

Yu Jing sensed the tension and helped smooth things over:
“I’ll leave you two then.”

Chen Jiayu took her to a nearby café. Since they hadn’t met in a long time, the atmosphere between them was slightly awkward. Shi Xing looked down at her caramel latte to ease the tension.

Sensing the awkwardness, he casually started a conversation:
“How have you been lately?”

Shi Xing nodded, straightforwardly asking:
“Is there something you want to say?”
She noticed a faint scar on his forehead and curiously asked:
“What happened to your forehead?”

At her question, Chen Jiayu seemed to find an outlet for his frustration, his voice tight with suppressed anger:
“Who else do you think did it?”

Shi Xing froze, realizing the implication, and cautiously asked:
“Ji Yu?”

Chen Jiayu scoffed disdainfully, silently confirming it. After a moment, he looked down seriously at Shi Xing:
“You should break up with him soon. He’s too scheming; you can’t win against him.”

On her way home, Shi Xing’s mind replayed his words over and over. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, and she even forgot the way home.

Upon entering her apartment, her phone rang, pulling her back to reality.

She checked the caller ID—a number she didn’t recognize. After a moment’s hesitation, she answered. A familiar voice came through:

“Why are you only picking up now?” Ji Yu’s voice was soft.

Shi Xing looked at the display in disbelief:
“Ji Yu?”

He chuckled upon hearing her question, teasing:
“Who else could it be?”

“You’re supposed to be training?”

“Break time. I sneaked in to call you from another phone.”

Static crackled in the background as Ji Yu shared amusing stories from his training.

Shi Xing’s breathing grew heavier, her fingers clenching. Finally, she couldn’t hold back:
“What happened between you and Chen Jiayu—what exactly happened?”

Ji Yu froze for a moment, his tone deepening:
“You met him today?”

“Yeah,” Shi Xing replied calmly, continuing:
“Don’t you think what you did was too much?”

Ji Yu was silent for a long moment, then, unusually cold:
“Too much? Explain.”

Shi Xing, unaware of his emotional shift, spoke slowly:
“I clearly rejected him before. Why did you go and retaliate?”

Ji Yu scoffed lightly over the phone, ambiguous:
“If you already believed what he said, why ask me?”

“But the facts are right in front of me. How am I supposed to believe you?”

“So, does it matter whether I hit him or not? I did it. So what?”

Hearing him admit it, Shi Xing frowned, tone sharp:
“Aren’t you afraid—”

Before she could finish, Ji Yu interrupted:
“What is there to be afraid of? In your mind, any connection I have with him is automatically my fault, isn’t it?”

“This is different. You were wrong here,” Shi Xing retorted coldly, giving an example:
“If I argued with someone else and it was clearly my fault, you wouldn’t side with me either.”

Next moment, he said in his dark, calm tone:
“I would.”

“What?” Shi Xing was confused.

“I said I would side with you, because my subconscious will love you without reservation.”

Shi Xing didn’t expect him to say that. She froze, unable to speak for a long moment.

After he said it, the call suddenly disconnected. She stared at her phone, a ripple of emotion spreading through her chest.

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