By the time I finally waded through the freshly deepened, almost knee-deep snow to reach the coffee shop door, it was nearly 8:20.

I stared at the dark, unlit café and couldn’t help muttering to myself—

Could it be closed today because of Christmas?

So Xiao Yu came, found it shut, left right away. I hadn’t brought my phone or anything—no way to contact me, no way for me to know.

I nodded.

Hmm, that actually made perfect sense.

Since Xiao Yu’s gone home, I might as well head back too.

As I thought this, I turned to walk toward home.

But honestly, I just didn’t want to go on this date.

When someone truly anticipates a date, they’ll push through any weather, time, or place mishaps without hesitation.

But we were different.

I genuinely never wanted this date from the start.

So those guesses weren’t guesses at all—just excuses to run away.

Now that I’d admitted it, my mood lightened. I spun around to slip off quietly.

But a voice suddenly sounded behind me, warm and gentle like a spring breeze.

“Excuse me, are you Miss Bai Susu?”

I froze, staring at the Santa Claus impersonator, and forced out:

“Yes, I’m Bai Susu. What—what is it?”

The “Santa” beamed a hearty smile and bowed respectfully.

“Please come in, guest. Tonight, our coffee shop is exclusively reserved by your friend. She instructed us to wait here for you and escort you inside.”

Reserved?

Could a coffee shop even be reserved like that?

I almost laughed at the absurdity.

But the “Santa’s” expression and eyes held no trace of deceit.

I sighed, waved thanks, and let him lead the way.

He gestured “follow me” and guided me to the dark café entrance.

I hesitated, turned, and asked:

“Aren’t you coming in?”

The “Santa” chuckled softly.

“The guest who booked us didn’t grant us entry privileges. Or rather—tonight, Liyou Coffee Shop belongs solely to you and your friend.”

So domineering?

I didn’t know what to say, so I pouted cutely, stuck out my tongue, and pushed the door open.

Inside was pitch black—no lights. I felt my way along the walls, guided by faint moonlight.

This was awful. I couldn’t see a thing.

Finally, I called out: “Xiao Yu? It’s Su Su… I’m here for you!”

Then the lights snapped on.

The sudden, slightly yellowish glow from overhead bulbs flooded the room, blinding me.

I covered my eyes instinctively. As they adjusted, I curiously scanned the space.

And froze completely.

The café’s interior had utterly transformed.

Its usual clean, elegant decor was now a forced replica of our high school classroom—desks piled with books.

Walls were aged with deliberate cracks, faking the weight of time.

Everything felt hauntingly familiar, like a scene etched deep in my memory.

Chalk stubs on the podium, knife-carved words on desks, the slow passage of years—all laid bare before me.

The image from my mind’s deepest vault had become real.

An overwhelming absurdity crashed over me, drowning me in shock and panic.

What—what was happening?

Why had this café turned into my high school classroom from fifteen years ago, before my rebirth?!

My nerves trembled, snapping one by one.

What was going on?!

I rushed frantically through the achingly familiar space, examining each cherished detail—until my gaze landed on my old desk-mate’s seat.

Empty. Only a massive black tome with huge gilded Latin script lay there.

Xiao Yu’s ever-present book.

A guess struck me.

But my reason and heart both refused to accept it.

Too late.

Xiao Yu opened the door and stepped in from outside.

I saw the blue-and-white vintage school uniform seared into my memory, her painfully familiar smile—and suddenly understood.

So… this was it?

Xiao Yu lowered her head apologetically, arms outstretched, wearing a smile that shattered me.

“Welcome back, Bai Su.”

Time seemed to stop.

I finally grasped the truth.

Why Xiao Yu acted that way about Bai Su liking me. Why she adored Bai Su so much. Why Bai Su’s name always brought that familiar expression to her face.

So that’s how it was…

I didn’t know how to face her. I forced a bitter smile.

“Long time no see—Wang Lu.”

Yes. Wang Lu. My desk-mate for all three high school years. My… first love.

In those grass-scented days, we were quarrelsome partners, teasing each other daily for fun.

But she always won.

That crybaby—whenever she lost, she’d fake tears. To cheer her up, I’d agree to her ridiculous, one-sided demands.

One promise was born right here:

I’d never abandon her.

That naive vow.

That’s why she remade this café.

I abandoned her—through death to life.

Seeing Wang Lu’s joyful face at her name, my heart ached heavily.

I’d been right from the start. She was always a pitiful child.

I didn’t know how to act. So I stayed silent.

But she leaped over happily, hugged me tight, crouched down, and buried her face in my neck.

Warm drops fell on my skin—drop by drop.

I couldn’t hold back anymore. I wrapped my arms around this broken girl.

Across fifteen years of time, we clung together—

Never! To! Be! Separated! Again!

[Second Side Story - End]