Alone in America for nearly two months now, I’d buried myself in the library whenever free. Only constant motion could make me forget, even briefly.

Exhaustion clung to me every night as I dragged myself home, praying memories wouldn’t surface. But how could they not?

Soaked in the bathtub, I scrolled endlessly through photos on my phone.

One showed a girl kissing a boy’s cheek while he looked utterly flustered—clearly ambushed.

I closed my eyes slowly. Flashbacks flooded my mind: our meeting, growing close, weathering storms together. So much had happened, each memory feeling like a half-remembered dream. I’d never imagined it would end like this.

Lying in bed, I stared at the star-speckled sky outside my window, thoughts swirling.

*It must be noon where you are. What are you doing? Eating properly? Still that bottomless appetite?*

My eyelids grew heavy, weighed down by a thousand unspoken words...

Weekend dawn hadn’t broken when my doorbell started ringing nonstop.

I’d lived here for ages—no visitors, not even a fly. What now?

I opened the door. A figure crashed into my arms, carrying a familiar floral scent.

"Xia Tong?! How—why are you here? I thought you—" I froze, recognizing her.

"So you’re really obeying that old man? Planning to ignore me for four whole years?" She pouted up at me.

"I... I..." Words failed me. Her arrival shattered my composure.

Xia Tong watched my flustered face, then burst into a radiant smile that pierced straight to my heart. The air between us crackled, thick with unspoken longing.

"I... I missed you," I finally choked out.

"*Missed* me?" Her voice trembled. "If you missed me, why didn’t you call? Why ignore my calls? Why hide where you were? Why... why did you leave me?" Her scolding dissolved into sobs against my chest. "Do you know how long I searched for you? Why trust *him* over *me*?"

"I’m... sorry." That was all I could offer her shaking form.

Her fingers clutched my shirt like lifelines, her trembling body twisting my heart.

Then—warm fingers brushed my lips. Her eyes burned with fierce tenderness. Her kiss crashed over me like a storm, honeyed and urgent. My mind went blank before instinct took over. I kissed her back fiercely. She melted against me, eyes fluttering shut as if this was where she belonged.

Thoughts vanished. I only knew I had to hold her—tighter, closer. *Never letting go again.*

"How did you even find this place?" I asked while unpacking her suitcase. A faint blush still stained her cheeks.

"Who do you think? My mom."

Her casual tone hid the truth: prying this from her mother was harder than facing her father.

I was right. Xia Tong had begged her mother for two months straight—ever since I vanished without a word.

"Xia Tong... thank you," I said, raw sincerity in my voice.

"You didn’t have to come. You didn’t have to obey him."

"If it meant losing your family’s blessing? That price was too high. I couldn’t accept it."

"Just four years. Wait for me, okay? When I return, I’ll never leave you again."

"If only you’d said this sooner," she whispered, head bowed. "I wouldn’t have done so many foolish things. My father wouldn’t have..."

I pulled her close, cradling her head on my shoulder. "It was my fault. Not yours. I shouldn’t have doubted you. Give me time. I’ll spend my life making it up to you."

"Mm." Her arms tightened around me. "However long it takes, I’ll wait."

"Not long. Trust me." I buried my face in her hair.

***

***

S City. The Xia residence.

Xia Shu rubbed his temples after closing a merger. *Getting old*, he admitted. *The future belongs to the young.* He wondered how that boy was faring.

At home, he found his wife unusually parked on the sofa watching TV.

"Where’s Xiao Tong? Why isn’t she glued to you today?" he asked, puzzled. She’d been inseparable from her mother lately.

Lu Qing glanced up. "She flew to America."

"*What?*"

"Don’t act shocked! Why do you think she clung to me? Try having someone buzz in your ear nonstop for two months. And your ‘no contact for four years’ rule? Ridiculous. She’s probably landed by now. What more do you want?" She ignored his stunned expression.

"I’m not blaming you! Fine, fine—you two decide. I just set a high bar. If he wants my daughter, he’d better earn it."

"Good. Don’t consult me about this again. Those two brats’ drama has given me a headache. Finally, some peace!"

"Alright, alright. Let’s drop it. Go change."

"Where to?" Lu Qing frowned.

"Qixi Festival! I cleared my schedule. Tonight’s just for us—no kids, no problems."

"Oh? You still have it in you?" A smile touched her lips. "Wait here." She hurried upstairs.

Xia Shu watched her go, grinning.

*That girl... held out longer than I expected. Four years is too harsh. Time to adjust the terms.*

***

***

"Enough about that," I cupped Xia Tong’s shoulders. "How long can you stay?"

"Just three days... I have classes." Her excitement dimmed.

"Perfect! More than enough." Unlike her, I beamed.

"*Enough?* It’s so little!"

"It’s plenty. Rest first—you must be exhausted from the flight. I’ll show you around when you wake."

"I slept on the plane! No wasting time—let’s go now!" She sprang up.

"Okay, but tell me if you get tired. We’ll head back."

"Mm!" She nodded eagerly.

"Wait here. You haven’t eaten—I’ll cook before we go."

I headed to the kitchen. Xia Tong smiled at my retreating back.

After touring my campus, we headed home as dusk fell. Xia Tong sent me to buy wine for a celebration while she went ahead. *Makes sense—she’s here. We should celebrate.*

I nodded, about to warn her not to get lost, but she’d already dashed off. *So impatient.*

Inside, the rich aroma of home-cooked food hit me—a rare luxury for someone surviving on takeout.

I’d planned to cook, but no delivery boxes sat on the table. Puzzled, I followed the scent to the kitchen.

Xia Tong stood stirring a pot of soup, tasting it thoughtfully—frowning, then smiling—oblivious to my presence. Sunset painted her profile in gold. Warmth flooded my chest.

I slipped my arms around her waist. "So you came back to cook? I thought you only came here to freeload."

She jumped, nearly dropping the ladle. "You scared me! Walk louder next time!"

"*You* were too focused." I released her, leaning in to sniff. "Smells amazing. Let me help."

"Nope! Wait outside. I want to show off what I’ve learned." She grinned proudly.

"Alright, Chef Xia. I’ll be your eager taste-tester." I sat down, watching her move through the kitchen—joy and guilt tangling in my chest.

Soon, she placed steaming dishes on the table, rubbing her nose sheepishly. "If it tastes bad... don’t force yourself to eat it, okay?"

"Since when do you cook badly? I’ve known you since high school."

"Where’s the wine?" she asked.

"Oh! In the kitchen. I got distracted watching you." I stood up.

"No, stay seated! I’ll get it." She blocked me, flustered.

"Okay, okay. Why so nervous?" I teased.

In the kitchen, she pulled two tiny blue pills from her pocket.

"*Jiang Chen’s sister said one pill... but what’s one extra?*"

*『No wasting them—I blushed so hard buying these!』* She dropped both into the wine bottle.

"You took forever," I said when she returned.

"First time opening wine," she admitted with an apologetic smile.

She sipped her glass delicately. I downed mine in one gulp.

The wine hit hard. Heat prickled my skin. My head spun. *This isn’t normal...*

Xia Tong set down her chopsticks and touched my flushed cheek.

"Ye Xi? Are you feeling unwell? Stop drinking."

I looked at Xia Tong, so close that my gaze drifted helplessly to her crimson lips.

Xia Tong caught my stare, let out a soft laugh, and tapped my lips lightly.

"Ye Xi… do you know why I came today?" Xia Tong asked.

"…"

I stayed silent, my mind already foggy, my body burning hot.

"Idiot!" Xia Tong scolded me with a chuckle. "It’s Qixi today! I won’t be like the Cowherd and Weaver Girl, meeting just once a year."

"I’ll make time to visit you later," I promised, screw that four-year wait!

Xia Tong pressed a finger to my lips.

"I don’t want promises. My first kiss and first love were both you—but you weren’t mine. Isn’t that unfair?"

"Huh?" I didn’t get why she brought up the past.

"So, I want us to share the same memories!" Xia Tong kissed me then, fierce and passionate.

With my last shred of control, I pushed her away.

"No. I can’t give you anything now. Can’t guarantee anything…"

"Ye Xi!" Xia Tong whispered in my ear, nuzzling close.

"Did you think I came empty-handed? Feel how hot your body is?"

"You!"

No wonder I felt off—Xia Tong had drugged me.

"Sister Jiang Chen said one pill would make you lose control. I used two!" Her hands roamed over me.

"Xia Tong, playing with fire has a price!" My eyes were bloodshot.

"What price? Will it make me regret it?" She left hickeys on my neck.

How could I hold back? I swept Xia Tong up, ignoring her gasp, carried her to the bed, and tossed her down…

………………

………………

Sunlight streamed through the window onto the bed. The girl slowly opened her night-dark eyes.

"Mmm… it hurts…"

She gazed at the sleeping man beside her, smiled softly, hugged his waist, and snuggled deeper into his arms.

"Ye Xi… I don’t regret it…"