For Whom the Tears Fall

In the past, the original owner used to ride an old bicycle to take Xia Qiuzhi to school.

Xia Qiuzhi immediately remembered those old days.

She sniffled and asked somewhat cautiously, "Can I sit on the back, Yi-gege?"

Having lost the original owner, Xia Qiuzhi was no longer the proud little princess she once was.

Zhou Yi slowly revealed a smile: "What, you still think I'm angry?"

Xia Qiuzhi was stunned for a moment, a huge surge of joy bursting forth in her heart.

Could it be... Yi-gege had forgiven her!?

Xia Qiuzhi widened her eyes in disbelief and asked, "Yi-gege, y-you, you're really not angry with me anymore?"

Zhou Yi showed a doting yet helpless smile. He got off the bicycle and walked up to Xia Qiuzhi, speaking as gently as he did in the past:

"How could I be angry with A-Zhi? Even if I was, it would only be for a while. After all... we've been friends for over a decade."

"In my heart, A-Zhi will always be my little princess."

The tears Xia Qiuzhi had been desperately holding back could no longer be controlled at this moment and streamed down her face.

She threw her arms around Zhou Yi, crying so hard she could barely catch her breath.

She felt as if she were dreaming. Something she hadn't dared to hope for suddenly happened just as she had given up all hope. She simply couldn't control her emotions.

The girl clung tightly to Zhou Yi, crying and apologizing between sobs:

"I-I'm sorry, Yi-gege. Only now do I realize how awful I was before. I really, truly know I was wrong. I'll never be like that again. Please don't ignore me anymore..."

"I almost thought you would never forgive me. I was so sad, feeling unhappy no matter what I did, like a piece of my heart was missing."

"Only now do I know, my life cannot be without you."

For Xia Qiuzhi, Zhou Yi was her childhood sweetheart she had grown up with for over a decade. Even though, influenced by Wang Xuan's provocations in the past, she had felt annoyed with Zhou Yi, cutting him out of her world was something she could never do.

When Zhou Yi told her he wouldn't bother her anymore, it felt no different from carving out her heart.

That person had already grown into her very bones and blood over time.

Before, she didn't understand love. She only thought of Zhou Yi as a friend, a brother, and mistook her temporary infatuation with Wang Xuan for love.

But when she recalled everything, she finally understood. What she felt for Wang Xuan wasn't love, and her feelings for Zhou Yi were even more than what a single word like 'love' could describe.

They were friends, family, partners, and could even be lovers.

They were lovers in all but name. They hadn't kissed or done anything inappropriate, but they held each other in their hearts.

The two grew up in an orphanage, where the matron couldn't attend to every child.

Without parental guidance or proper education about love, Xia Qiuzhi didn't understand love, and the original owner understood even less.

They were both treating each other in the wrong ways.

The end result was that neither got what they truly wanted.

Xia Qiuzhi desperately wanted to return to the past, but that person was no longer there.

Seeing Xia Qiuzhi crying uncontrollably, Zhou Yi patted the girl's back to comfort her:

"I was just trying to teach you a lesson. It hurts me to see you cry too. Now that you know you were wrong, I'm not angry anymore."

Xia Qiuzhi lifted her tear-streaked face, finally showing a relieved smile:

"It's good that Yi-gege isn't angry anymore. As long as you don't ignore me, I'm willing to do anything."

Looking into those eyes, Zhou Yi felt a momentary pang.

But it ultimately faded away.

He wasn't the original owner; he couldn't be like him.

Zhou Yi just smiled, took her hand, and led her to the bicycle's rear seat: "Sit. I'll give you a ride like I used to."

Xia Qiuzhi wiped her tears and sat on the back.

After Zhou Yi got on, he took her hands and placed them around his waist. Xia Qiuzhi wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his back.

As Zhou Yi slowly started pedaling, Xia Qiuzhi said softly from behind:

"I remember when we had to get up early for school and I was too sleepy, I would lean my head on Yi-gege just like this."

"Back then, I even complained that your back was too bony. Thinking about it now, I was so inconsiderate. You were so thin because you worked hard for me. I shouldn't have said that."

"Now I know, Yi-gege is the person who treats me best in the whole world."

Zhou Yi lowered his eyes and said, "Yeah, you were quite the delicate child back then. You even complained the bicycle seat was uncomfortable, so I made a cushion for the back so you could sit more comfortably."

Xia Qiuzhi's eyes also curved into a smile. She said with a bright sparkle in her eyes:

"All the kids at the orphanage were so jealous of me back then because you were so good to me."

"Actually, I was really happy inside. I would secretly brag about you to the other kids. They even begged me to ask you to recognize them as little sisters too, but I refused. You were mine alone."

Xia Qiuzhi reminisced about the past from behind, and Zhou Yi occasionally responded with a word or two.

Just like that, Xia Qiuzhi's heartthrob value soared straight up to 95.

She thought her Yi-gege had returned, pouring all that love onto Zhou Yi.

Later on, Xia Qiuzhi's tone suddenly turned somber for a moment:

"Yi-gege, if you get angry in the future, please don't ignore me, okay? I was really scared. It felt like the sky had fallen, everything was pitch black."

For Xia Qiuzhi, Zhou Yi was the only light in her lonely life.

He was the stars, the moon, all the light that could illuminate her.

Zhou Yi also replied, "Okay, I won't ignore A-Zhi."

Xia Qiuzhi let out a sigh of relief and said with a smile:

"Actually, compared to how handsome Yi-gege is now, I prefer it like this."

"Before, even though I couldn't see your face clearly, no one was competing for you."

"Now Yi-gege is a superstar admired by thousands. So many more people like you. I'm happy for you, but I can't help feeling sad and jealous."

Xia Qiuzhi voiced her innermost thoughts.

Of course she was jealous, jealous that those people received Zhou Yi's attention.

In the past, she was Zhou Yi's one and only.

This was beyond doubt; among all things, she ranked first.

If it were before, she could have said this without hesitation, but now she didn't have the courage.

Zhou Yi comforted her: "They're fans. They only like the glamorous version of me. It's not like you, who grew up with me. Besides, A-Zhi has seen all my ugly sides. A-Zhi accepts everything about me. It's different from them. I understand."

Xia Qiuzhi was cheered up by Zhou Yi's words and teased him with a smile:

"Exactly. What version of you haven't I seen? They have no idea about the time you wet the bed and cried secretly as a kid."

Zhou Yi let out a helpless sigh: "Why are you still making fun of me with that? It's so embarrassing. It happened so many years ago, I thought you would have forgotten by now."

Xia Qiuzhi hugged him tightly again, feeling the warmth emanating from his body.

"Because Yi-gege rarely cries. I know the reason for every single time you did, except for this one. All the other times were because of me."