Afterwards, Zhiye and I went to the first floor of the department store and spent quite a bit of time buying the necessary ingredients. Among them were tomatoes, eggs, milk, cucumbers, beef, pork, celery, garlic, as well as some pudding and mineral drinks for supplementation. It felt like we were stockpiling for winter, maybe a bit too much.

After leaving the department store, besides feeling surrounded by the heat, my hands also felt heavy. One-third of the way, my arms started to ache and I couldn't go on.

"Zhiye... let's take a break," I said, noticing a park nearby that should have benches to sit and rest on.

"Hmm..." Zhiye nodded, although I had taken on most of the burden, she still carried half of the weight I was carrying.

We entered the park and found a bench under a shade tree. We placed the things on the ground and I sat down on the bench as if I had been rescued. At the same time, Zhiye gently placed the things down and sat on the chair.

It was a hot day, and carrying such heavy things had caused me to sweat a lot.

"Jie..." Zhiye handed me a bottle of drink.

"Thank you..." I took it without hesitation and unscrewed the cap, gulping down half of it. "Ah... rescued."

The thirsty throat was moisturized by the liquid, and the heat surrounding my body seemed to gradually dissipate.

At the moment when I felt this comfortable, Zhiye seemed to have something on her mind.

"Zhiye, you've seemed down since earlier. Did something unpleasant happen?"

"Nothing..." Zhiye denied.

"Is that so?" But her appearance seemed to suggest otherwise. "If you have any worries, you can tell me. I might be able to help."

After all, keeping worries to oneself was not a good feeling.

"I want to marry Jie," she suddenly said.

"Cough... cough..." Zhiye's sudden words caused the drink in my throat to enter my windpipe, resulting in a violent cough.

"Jie... are you alright?" Zhiye anxiously patted my back.

"I'm... fine."

I almost thought I was going to die like that. It was just a bit uncomfortable.

When the discomfort gradually disappeared, I asked again, "Zhiye, what did you just say?"

"I want to marry Jie." Hearing it again was still impactful, and Zhiye's gaze showed that she wasn't joking at all.

"Why did you suddenly bring up marriage?" I asked, puzzled.

"Because I love Jie, and I want to marry Jie."

No matter who hears it, their face would blush and their heart would beat faster. Maybe for a brief moment, I also experienced that, but after that brief moment, I felt empty and at a loss.

"I haven't thought about this kind of thing, so I don't know how to respond to you," was the blank reply my brain gave me.

"Do you like me, Jie?" Zhiye's eyes carried a hint of vulnerability, and her voice trembled slightly. I didn't know how to answer, and I became confused.

However, this confusion didn't last long. I hurriedly stood up and picked up the plastic bags, as if I wanted to escape. "We've rested long enough, it's time to move on."

Zhiye fell silent for a moment, then picked up the plastic bags with a faint smile. "Yes, we need to put these meats in the fridge quickly, or they'll spoil."

"Alright then, let's hurry up and go," I agreed.

So I walked in front while Zhiye followed behind, matching my pace. Zhiye didn't continue asking about our conversation earlier, which relieved my nervous heart a little. What would I have said if Zhiye had pursued it? Maybe I wouldn't have been able to provide an answer. After all, I already had Su Yuqian as my girlfriend. How could I possibly have any other thoughts? But the whimsical decision that my mother made for me in college, forcing me to make a choice, troubled me. And to make matters worse, Su Yuqian actually agreed to it, and even tore up the marriage application form on the spot. It felt as if some kind of relationship had ceased to exist. But even so, I couldn't face Zhiye's feelings. So all I could do was embrace a sense of guilt, knowing that I had resorted to such a pitiful way of escape.

As I felt remorse, I unknowingly arrived at the entrance of the apartment building. When I took out my access card to swipe and enter the lobby, a girl wearing a beautiful straw hat and a white dress with a bright smile on her face was waving at me. I walked straight towards the card reader.

"Hey, hey, You... why are you ignoring me?" I thought she mistook me for someone else, but it seemed that wasn't the case. She actually grabbed my arm directly.

"Um... I think I don't know you," I said, looking at her innocent appearance that still held some naivety. But I had no recollection of her at all.

"Forgetting your elementary school classmate... um... it can't be helped... but, You, you were Xi's first love, you know," she said, tears in her eyes.

"First love... what the heck?" I said.

"It's that... kind of experience when you fall in love for the first time... You're so bad, making me explain it in so much detail," the girl called Xi said, tears streaming down her face.

"No... it's not... I really don't know you. Are you sure you've got the right person?" I asked.

"Xi would never make a mistake. You're the one who forgot about Xi after just a few years," Xi pouted.

"Then what's my full name?" I asked.

"Xu Youjie... am I right?" Xi said fluently, and I froze for a moment.

"Even if you got it right, it could still be a coincidence," I said.

"Waaah... You really don't believe Xi? Even though Xi came all this way just to see you, that's so mean. Xi really wanted to cry," Xi wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, but it felt like she was pretending to cry because whenever I paid attention to her, she would cry loudly. It was quite suspicious for someone with an unclear identity to suddenly appear.

"So, what's your real name?" I asked her reluctantly.

"You forgot Xi's name? Waah, that's so mean. Xi remembers your name so clearly," she said solemnly.

Why did this make me feel annoyed out of nowhere, especially with the wailing sound? "Okay, fine, I'll listen carefully. Please just say it already."

"Being impatient is a flaw of mine... ahem... Well then... Let me introduce myself. My last name is Yu, and my first name is a single character, Xi. I apologize for any inconvenience caused by my lack of hospitality."

Xi Tian smiled and introduced herself, but even though she said her name, I still had no impression of her. And the last sentence clearly had a problem, right?

"Yu... Yu... Is that Yu's sister? She's so pretty."

Xi continued talking to herself and walked over to Zhiye's side.

"Nice to meet you. I didn't expect Yu to have such a beautiful sister. Wow... Xi also wants a sister. Um... After marrying Yu, Yu's sister will be Xi's sister."

Xi said happily, but the atmosphere around Zhiye gradually became oppressive.

I quickly put down the plastic bag and pulled Xi over.

"What are you doing, Yu? Xi is trying to get along with your sister."

"I don't care what your intentions are, but right now, please shut up."

"Why should Xi be quiet?"

"Just shut up for now."

"Yu is such a meanie. Clearly, Xi can't stop talking."

Xi pouted and said as if throwing a tantrum.

"All opposite-sex individuals who like Jie must be killed, all opposite-sex individuals who like Jie must be killed."

Zhiye exuded a terrifying aura and drew out the dagger.

"Eh? What's wrong with sister? Is this some alternative welcoming ceremony? Even though I don't understand, Xi really likes it."

"You're in serious danger, and you're still so calm." I couldn't help but comment.

"Danger? This joke isn't funny at all. Yu, you should read more humorous storybooks and learn some jokes. Xi's sense of humor isn't that low."

This Xi is completely oblivious to the danger she's in. In this situation, I had no choice but to hug Zhiye in desperation.

"Yu... being so openly affectionate in front of Xi, who is torn between two choices, is that really a good idea?"

Xi glared at me and said, and I could only respond helplessly, "Just stop!"