The Show Begins

At first glance, Lin Yu even hoped he was mistaken. Could that girl by the roadside, with slightly disheveled hair looking like she hadn't rested well, possibly be Tao Yaoyao?

After all, he often mistook her for her.

But when Lin Yu looked closer, that last shred of hope, fragile as a life-saving straw, quietly shattered.

The gentle and proper Tao Yaoyao would probably never let herself become as disheveled as the girl before him.

She seemed to have just gotten off a train not long ago, her body bearing the weariness of a long journey. Even the hem of her plain white dress showed creases from sitting for too long.

She stood by the roadside now, holding her phone with both hands, seemingly hesitating about something.

Looking at her, Lin Yu felt a complex mix of emotions—both touched and heartbroken.

But what rose above all else was relief.

Thank goodness.

Thank goodness.

At least they had both come on the same day. If she had run into Sister Zhuzi tomorrow, that would have been real trouble!

After a moment's thought, Lin Yu actively walked over, intending to greet her.

As he got closer, Lin Yu realized just how haggard Tang Manman looked.

Dark circles under her eyes, her usually lively gaze now dull and numb, as if she had pulled an all-nighter with hardly any sleep.

Lin Yu frowned. Looking at her state, could she have come here on an overnight train hard seat?

Don't even say it!

But really, don't even say it!

Given her frugal nature that hated spending money, it was entirely possible she had come exactly that way!

Perhaps she was truly exhausted, for she didn't even notice Lin Yu walking right up to her. She still held her phone, staring down at it blankly.

Lin Yu quietly stood behind Tang Manman without a word, stealing a glance at her phone screen.

It was a chat window where only Tang Manman herself had sent messages, with no replies.

In the input bar at the very bottom was a line of text, followed by a cute emoticon.

Guess where I am right now? ✧｡(ˊᗜˋ)✧｡

Looking at it, Lin Yu's eyes darkened. A sour ache spread in his heart, gradually overwhelming all other emotions, rising straight to his eyes.

Tang Manman suddenly moved her fingers, tapped a few times on the screen, and deleted that line with the cute emoticon. Then she paused, deleted all the text in the input bar, and typed a new line that seemed less intimate.

I'm in S City. Tomorrow is your birthday, do you have time...

Tang Manman stopped typing halfway, as if she still hadn't figured out how to say it.

She seemed to have been standing here like this for a while now, hesitating, writing and deleting, unable to send a single message for the longest time.

Lin Yu quietly took a deep breath, blinked to hold back the surging ache in his eyes. After calming the emotions in his heart, wanting to lighten the mood and make this reunion a happier one, he raised his hand and pointed in front of Tang Manman, saying loudly:

"Look!"

"There are two old ladies fighting over there!"

The sudden, familiar voice made Tang Manman freeze. She looked up, but her gaze didn't follow the direction pointed by that big dark hand. Instead, she turned to look at the owner of the hand.

She would never forget this voice.

Never...

...

Lin Yu had read many novels and watched many romance movies.

Their storylines told him that at this moment.

At this moment after the girl's surprise, this tearful moment, he should gently cup her face, use his thumb to softly wipe away her tears, gaze at her deeply, and gently plant a kiss on her cheek, giving her full love and security.

But Lin Yu couldn't do that.

He could do nothing.

He could only watch as Tang Manman's emotions crumbled, unable to hold back her tears, and then saw her frantically wipe them away, hastily pulling herself together.

This wasn't just because Qing Mo was standing not far away, watching.

More importantly, Lin Yu couldn't betray Xia Muzhu, and even more so, he couldn't betray the vow of pure love he had once made to himself!

"What brings you here?"

"Perfect timing."

"We're going to get something to eat. Want to join us?"

Lin Yu didn't ask too much about why Tang Manman was here, just glossed over it with a sentence, then invited her to eat as if to change the subject.

Tang Manman had already composed herself by now. She nodded, indicating she was willing to go.

Lin Yu brought her back to where Qing Mo and Gu Yue were.

When the three met, Tang Manman's face showed some surprise, as if she hadn't expected to see these two here.

Gu Yue, on the other hand, looked awkward, clearly also not expecting to run into Tang Manman here.

Only Qing Mo remained her usual cold, detached self, showing no surprise at Tang Manman's appearance, just as she had when she saw Gu Yue with Lin Yu earlier, as if she had always known this person would show up.

Lin Yu glanced at her, feeling something was off, but couldn't pinpoint what it was.

Wanting to avoid any more unexpected acquaintances popping up, Lin Yu thought to hurry the three of them into the car to go eat. But before he could get the words out, his phone rang in his pocket.

Lin Yu's face stiffened. He took out his phone and saw the caller was Sister Zhuzi. His heart tightened, but he quickly realized he was just being nervous.

Sister Zhuzi had already agreed with him. She was on a flight tomorrow morning, arriving around noon, and then they would go out in the afternoon and evening.

She wouldn't secretly change plans and come a day early without a word.

Someone with her honest and conservative personality just wouldn't do that kind of thing!

Maybe this call was just her wanting to confirm the temperature here and other information in advance, to prepare early...

Thinking this, Lin Yu relaxed and answered the call, putting the phone to his ear.

"Lin Yu, where are you right now?"

Xia Muzhu's soft, warm voice came through, carrying clear happiness and even a hint of playfulness.

"I'm at the school gate right now."

"About to go eat with a few friends."

Lin Yu didn't hide anything, honestly stating his current situation and what he planned to do next.

"The school gate?"

"Which school gate are you at?"

Xia Muzhu asked curiously.

"The main gate of S University."

"Why?"

The moment he blurted out the answer to Xia Muzhu, Lin Yu vaguely sensed a feeling of impending doom.

The next instant, Xia Muzhu's words immediately confirmed the unease in his heart.

"The main gate of S University?"

"Why don't I see you?"

BOOM!!!

An invisible thunderbolt struck Lin Yu's head, scattering his wits.

Finally snapping back to his senses, Lin Yu's first action was to look at Qing Mo.

He saw her peerless face, usually so cold, now completely swept clean of its usual chill. The corners of her lips were curved in a smile, her eyes teasing, the picture of someone about to watch a good show.