Since shopping wasn’t the point, May hadn’t bought much.
Naturally, Chen Yaoyi handled the bags—but in the end, he only held a 700ml bottle of lemon tea. Leaning against the railing, he gazed at the glittering sea and felt the cool breeze on his face.
This observation deck drew tourists yearly, yet it wasn’t peak season. Locals didn’t think much of their own scenic spots.
But to Chen Yaoyi, it felt fresh—this was May’s world. Her stage.
She stood beside him, unusually not linking arms—not even their elbows brushed.
Sunset light draped her silhouette, every line glowing with ethereal grace. Had Chen Yaoyi not been there, May might have vanished like a fairy into the twilight.
Only now did he see how stunningly she’d blossomed—no longer the heartbroken, weary girl pining for Zhao Xiaoluo.
If only he could hold her hand, strolling slowly along the coast under neon lights, pacing gently side by side, savoring quiet moments meant just for two… perhaps that would be life’s sweetest blessing.
“Are you really leaving?”
Her gaze stayed fixed on the shimmering horizon where sea met sky.
Chen Yaoyi tore his eyes from her and followed her stare.
He’d already said he’d go. No matter what happened between May and Zhao Xiaoluo, his time was up.
This was his first mission failure: May’s heart no longer belonged to Zhao Xiaoluo. The story’s heroine had long shifted from May to Su Ziqing and the country girl, Chuchu.
Earlier that afternoon, Yaya’s text confirmed it—May was now the “defeated heroine.”
Still, Chen Yaoyi would’ve punched that scumbag Zhao Xiaoluo anyway. That’s why he stood up for her.
Ironically, he’d stolen May’s heart—unintentionally. He’d pulled off the classic blond rival move from manga: NTR’d the original love interest and claimed one of the harem girls.
“Mm… heading abroad, I guess.”
“Can I call you?”
“Umm… not sure if long-distance works where I’m going—”
*(Truth was, he didn’t know if cross-world calls were allowed. And he shouldn’t have gotten this close—it was strictly work.)*
“You’re not going to Siberia or the North Pole, right…?”
“Probably getting a new SIM card.”
“Can I have your new number?”
“No.”
*Be firm,* he reminded himself. Once he left this world, there’d be no return.
“Haha, you’re *so* good at bullying me!”
May laughed with forced lightness—uncharacteristically distant. She no longer clung to him like before.
No trace of tears in her voice, but Chen Yaoyi knew: she was forcing a smile, hiding her fragility.
“What if I treat other girls the same?”
“Only now, right before leaving, do you play villain? If you want me to let go… don’t erase yourself from my heart!”
She muttered, then lightly punched his arm. It didn’t hurt—but pierced straight through him.
“Yaoyi, I need to ask you—”
A sudden gust snatched her loosely fastened baseball cap. It flipped backward and flew.
“Ah!”
May turned left to grab it—but Chen Yaoyi sidestepped right and caught it midair.
The motion pulled her fully into his arms.
The girl who’d vowed not to cling anymore trembled at his warmth, his breath.
Her hands clutched his shirt. Her forehead rested gently against his chest.
“You pervert… I have something to ask—”
She breathed deep. Her shaking body made him listen.
“Loved you. Save the baby. Save my mom.”
He blurted the clichés. *Not my scene,* he thought. *This is main-character stuff—don’t dump it on a minor blond rival like me!*
“Dodging again? Hey! This is when you hold my waist!”
She let out a bitter smile, slid her hands to his waist, and hugged him tight, cheek pressed to his chest.
Tear tracks glistened at her eyes, yet a relieved smile lingered.
*If he softens now… please don’t look back. Or all my effort turns to foam.*
She steeled herself. *Of course. He still won’t give me what I want.*
“Tch… so clueless.”
“Alright, brat. What is it?”
He settled the cap over her face, fingers gently stroking her head through the fabric.
“Can I… keep thinking about you?”
“More than your leaving, more than the evidence, more than your words—I feel you’re vanishing from my life. No photos. No contact. Like you’ll erase yourself completely…”
“So… do you not want to stay in my memories? If you say ‘stop,’ I’ll try. But… even then… can I still think of you?”
Her voice cracked.
“What if I say no?”
“Then… I’ll try harder?”
“Why a question?”
“Because no one will guide me anymore. It’ll be hard.”
No hesitation. Raw truth.
“The truth?”
He didn’t believe her.
“You damn pervert! Scumbag! Don’t carve a hole in my heart and run!”
The words hung in the air—then he crushed her against him. Tight enough to ache. Tight enough to steal her breath.
And in that embrace, bathed in the sunset’s golden afterglow.
