He Yanzi’s first reaction was disbelief.

“You must have been staying here for a long time, right? These pigeons are all raised by you! The moment you show up, they all come to you. Not a single one of them will stay with us tourists.”

As she spoke, she couldn’t help laughing again.

Song Chengyu sighed dramatically.

“Miss, I’ve been here for less than a week.”

He Yanzi had already been in this famous overseas tourist city for more than ten days.

Even longer than him.

The hotel she was staying at was nearby. Almost every evening, she came here to feed the pigeons, feel the sea breeze, and watch the sunset.

“I’ve stayed here longer than you and I bring food every day. So why do the pigeons play favorites with you?”

Song Chengyu smiled helplessly.

“If we’re talking about favoritism… it’s not just the pigeons.”

He Yanzi looked at him in confusion.

Song Chengyu glanced around, whistled toward a snow-white, fluffy Pomeranian, and waved at it.

Then He Yanzi stared in astonishment.

The little dog’s leash was firmly held in its owner’s hand, but when it heard Song Chengyu’s whistle and saw him wave—

it ran toward him like it had just reunited with a long-lost family member, pumping its short little legs as fast as it could.

Even when the leash yanked it back, it didn’t turn around or stop. It kept struggling forward with all its might.

The owner noticed and quickly stood up, following along so the dog wouldn’t hurt itself.

The Pomeranian ran straight up to Song Chengyu, making soft whining sounds, wagging its tail hard and circling around his legs.

Its fluffy tail was practically spinning like an electric fan.

Not only He Yanzi was stunned — the dog’s owner was stunned as well.

“My God…”

Song Chengyu smiled, patted the dog on the head, played with it for a bit, and gently sent it back.

After that, he repeated the same trick.

Whether it was someone’s pet or a stray, big dogs or small dogs — even the lazy stray cats sunbathing in the square —

he could call them over and have them treat him like their owner, rolling over to expose their bellies and letting him pet them freely. The little animals closed their eyes and purred contentedly in their throats.

Without Song Chengyu needing to say anything, He Yanzi understood.

“You’re especially popular with animals!”

After saying that, she immediately corrected herself.

“No, that’s not quite right. Kids like you a lot too. You’re just incredibly approachable.”

Song Chengyu nodded.

“That’s right. I’ve been a ‘king of the kids’ since I was little. And even after growing up, children still like to stick to me. Same with small animals…”

As he spoke, he noticed the envious look in He Yanzi’s eyes and stopped, amused.

“Actually, sometimes it’s quite troublesome. It’s not entirely a good thing.”

He Yanzi let out an envious sigh.

“I get it, I really do. Please stop showing off!”

Song Chengyu fell silent — but one second later, he stretched out his long hand again. In his palm was a piece of candy.

“Want some?”

He Yanzi barely hesitated. She took it, peeled off the wrapper, and popped it into her mouth, saying indistinctly,

“You’re treating me like a kid, aren’t you…”

Song Chengyu said with a gentle smile,

“Candy helps people forget sad things and remember only sweetness. That applies to both adults and children.”

He Yanzi fell silent.

Song Chengyu, thoughtfully, did not ask anything further.

The two of them stood by the railing, feeling the sea breeze and watching the sunset. Pigeons and seagulls circled over the surface of the sea.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed everyone in a warm orange light.

Before she realized it, He Yanzi had eaten all the remaining candy in Song Chengyu’s pockets.

When she came back to her senses, she felt a little annoyed with herself.

“If I end up with cavities, Xiao Yu, you’ll be largely to blame.”

Song Chengyu laughed.

“You won’t. And even if you do get cavities, it’s fine. I know a really good dentist. I can recommend one to you.”

He Yanzi snorted.

“So you get a kickback, huh? I see right through you.”

She couldn’t help laughing after saying that.

Song Chengyu sighed softly.

“It’s good that you’re smiling. A-Zi, you’re not meant to be gloomy. You’re much better suited to smiling.”

He Yanzi nodded.

“Thank you. I know. I’m trying to find my smile again.”

Even though she desperately wished she had a magical blackboard eraser — one that could wipe away Huo Junfeng from her memory completely, as easily as erasing chalk from a blackboard, so that he would never affect her again—

the truth was that such an eraser didn’t exist.

The mark Huo Junfeng had carved into her life was far too deep. Even though she had already given up on him, she still couldn’t control her sadness and pain.

That day, with her father’s help, He Yanzi slipped away from the film set by faking her death, and was immediately driven to the airport in her father’s car, flying straight to the other side of the world.

On the plane, He Yanzi suggested taking a round-the-world trip to clear her head.

Her father agreed without hesitation.

So she changed her environment and put everything and everyone back home completely out of her mind, traveling around and seeing the world.

The card she used was her father’s supplementary credit card.

No spending limit. No cap.

Whenever she found a place she liked, she stayed a few extra days. If she didn’t like a place, she moved on.

Until, in this romantic and gentlemanly tourist city, she met Song Chengyu.