How did things turn sour when everything was going so well?

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It was nearly two in the afternoon, and she still wasn’t satisfied with her drawing.

Yiyang could even hear the protest from her stomach.

"Alright," Yiyang ruffled her short hair indulgently, "People are iron, food is steel. If you skip a meal, you’ll feel faint. Let’s eat out. Once we’re full, we can come back and draw again. Who knows, maybe you’ll get it right all at once."

In the end, hunger prevailed—she was a foodie at heart.

Cheerfully, she followed Yiyang out to enjoy a meal.

Yiyang glanced at the exuberant Xiao Qi by his side and smiled.

She always seemed so joyful and carefree, as if nothing in the world could trouble her.

His gaze drifted to the large tree across the street. Summer seemed about to bow out amid the lingering heat.

She had been back for a while, and they had only met once.

Yiyang took out his phone, opened his contact list, and looked at the name Anna.

He dialed, then hung up.

He dialed again, and again hung up.

"Yiyang, what are you doing?" Xiao Qi called from ahead, "Come on, I’m starving!"

"Coming," he pocketed his phone, lacking the courage to make that call.

He watched Xiao Qi bouncing ahead.

He remembered five years ago, when Xiyang used to walk like that, and his brother would poke her forehead, telling her to walk properly.

Back then, his brother would scold him but still smile at the corner of his mouth.

Later, when Xiyang left, she became a line his brother could never cross. At the time, Yiyang hadn’t understood his brother’s feelings.

Now, he understood them deeply. No—he had felt it years ago, when she left too, without a word or goodbye.

Yiyang thought, perhaps everyone in this world has an untouchable corner of their heart; that person deep inside might be their deepest wound.

And not everyone can endure long loneliness as his brother did.

What about himself? How long could he endure this endless solitude?

Or, perhaps, like his brother, he would wait until the one he loved finally returned.

Anna, you have already come back, but when will you finally turn around?

…………………………

Before five o’clock, Yichen left the company.

Fang Li watched his boss leave early for several days in a row—truly a rare occurrence.

But this rarity, he thought, might soon become routine.

He drove to the restaurant and walked inside.

Upon asking, Aunt Fang replied, "Wasn’t Xiyang going to your place?"

Yichen’s expression darkened.

"She hasn’t been here all day?"

"No! And she didn’t take her phone," Fang Yun said, feeling the comfortable temperature around her drop into a chilling cold.

Yichen left expressionless.

Now Fang Yun grew anxious.

So Xiyang hadn’t gone to Yichen’s place all day?

Where could she have gone?

Could she be out on a date with someone else?

Suddenly, a thought struck her.

Oh my god, could she be with Yiyang?!

What Fang Yun could imagine, Yichen could also guess.

He drove straight to Yiyang’s place.

But there was no one there.

He called Yiyang, who picked up quickly. Before he could speak, Yichen’s cold voice demanded, "Let Ye Xiyang answer the phone."

Yiyang couldn’t quite understand why his brother sounded so angry for no apparent reason.

But he answered honestly, "I just had dinner with Xiyang; she’s already gone back."

He had intended to walk her home, but she insisted on taking a stroll to digest her food.

Yichen hung up without another word.

Yiyang didn’t much care for his brother’s mood either.

That day, he had been debating whether or not to make that call.

Because he really wanted to see her.

People say love requires courage.

If you don’t even have the courage to call, how can you expect to win love?

This time, without hesitation, he dialed the number.

#

Yichen drove straight back to the restaurant.

But this time, he didn’t go in.

He sat in the car and waited.

Night fell, growing darker and harder to see, as if a pair of lovers gradually appeared before his eyes, walking away together.

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Yichen rubbed his brow, then slowly pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

His phone rang, and he answered.

"Mr. Lin, it’s already eight o’clock. Do you still want the couple’s private room you reserved?"

He replied heavily, "If I haven’t arrived by ten, cancel it."

"Alright, Mr. Lin."

He didn’t know how long he waited before a bouncing girl appeared in his view.

He opened the car door and got out.

She skipped through the flowerbeds, then suddenly stopped and looked up.

Under the streetlight, he stood there, his gaze locking onto her through a haze of smoke, silent and unwavering.

Huh? Why was he here?

And at this hour, too.

Xiao Qi walked toward him cheerfully, but when she saw his displeased expression—his eyes like she had committed some unforgivable crime—she wondered,

Why is he looking at me so fiercely?

I don’t think I’ve done anything to upset him!

Seeing her obvious confusion, Yichen’s gaze darkened further. He spoke coldly, "Where did you go?"

Xiao Qi answered truthfully, "I went to see Yiyang!"

She was nothing if not honest.

"Why are you back so late?"

"Is it late?" Xiao Qi glanced at her watch. "It’s just nine o’clock, isn’t it? That’s hardly late! Some people’s nightlife is only just starting!"

Yichen sneered coldly, "What, you want to experience nightlife too?"

"I’d like to, but I have to deliver food during the day…" Suddenly she remembered, "Oh, are you mad because I didn’t bring you lunch today? But you called me this morning and told me not to deliver today."

Yichen ground his teeth, "That’s all you remember?"

Xiao Qi was puzzled, "Is there something else I should remember?"

Yichen abruptly turned his face away, struggling to suppress his urge to scold her, and quickly strode back to the car.

Her small hand seized his.

"What’s wrong with you?"

He glanced at her and said coolly, "Nothing, just my mistake…"

"I remember now," Xiao Qi slapped her forehead, annoyed. "I was supposed to take you to the movies today, and you were going to treat me to dinner. Sorry, I totally forgot."

"You just forgot?" Yichen scoffed. "So should I thank you for remembering now?"

Why was he being so sarcastic?

It was just a missed movie, after all.

And she hadn’t eaten his food—she’d saved him money!

So why was he still so mean?

Xiao Qi let go of his hand. "I said sorry. Worst case, I’ll take you to the movies tomorrow!"

He watched her drop his hand and heard her nonchalant tone. His dark eyes grew even deeper. "Ye Xiyang, you are the dullest fool I’ve ever met."

Bang—the car door slammed and the engine roared to life.

Stung by his words, Xiao Qi grew angry too. She slapped the window, not caring if he heard, and shouted, "Fine! If I’m so dull and foolish, then don’t eat my food again and don’t come looking for me, you annoying Earthling!"

She huffed and stormed back to the restaurant.

By this hour, the restaurant was already closed.

She took out her keys.

Suddenly, a tall shadow loomed over her, and the keys were snatched from her hand.

Damn it, when will this end!

"What on earth—"

Before she could finish, she was pulled into a hard embrace and her lips were seized without warning.

By now, Xiao Qi had developed a reflex to dodge his sudden, shameless advances.

His lips landed on her cheek, but she couldn’t push him away.

Yichen didn’t back off, but instead pressed angry, punishing kisses over and over on her cheek.

Xiao Qi felt as if he was biting her, as if he wanted to ruin her soft skin.

She couldn’t help but curse.

"Let go of me, damn it!"

Yichen ignored her, his cold lips moving downward, pouring out all his suppressed anger with wild abandon.

Xiao Qi felt like she was being devoured by his burning lips.

She was swept up in his sudden, overwhelming passion, the air thick with an ambiguous, dangerous tension.

Suddenly, a hand moved over her body.

She snapped awake and, breathless, burst out angrily, "Lin Yichen, I hate you!"

He froze, his head still buried in the crook of her neck, panting heavily.

A long silence.

At last, his hoarse voice sounded, "You hate me?"

"Yes, if you don’t let go, I’ll hate you."

"After all these years, all I get is your hatred."

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His voice sounded so desolate.

She wasn’t Ye Xiyang to begin with, and she could never have an Earthling boyfriend.

He wasn’t in love with her—he was in love with someone else.

Since there was no future, it was better to be ruthless now.

Better for both of them.

"Lin Yichen, let me be honest. I don’t have human emotions, and I’ll never fall in love with anyone. So please, don’t waste any more time on me."

Never fall in love with anyone?!

Xiyang, do you know your words are like a knife to my heart, leaving no blood behind?

So now, you truly don’t like me, not even a little.

Silence.

Then he suddenly pushed her away, his dark eyes shining with distress and anger in the night. Coldly and resolutely, he said, "Blame it on my wishful thinking. Don’t worry, I won’t bother you again."

He turned and disappeared as abruptly as his kiss. If not for the faint sting on her cheek, she’d think it had all been a dream—a ridiculous dream.

Bittersweet sorrow welled up in her chest.

Xiao Qi slowly crouched down, hugging herself.

For the first time, her eyes felt dry and sore.

Something seemed about to spill out—but she forced it back.

"Lin Yichen, did you know? I cherish every day I spend here. Every day is precious to me. I love the food here, and the people around me. Everything I’ve seen and experienced here, I treasure. But sooner or later, I’ll have to leave. And I’m not Ye Xiyang. The one you love is not me. If you knew I’m Xiao Qi, an alien, you might even hate me—hate me for deceiving you…"

At an outdoor café.

Anna, dressed in a beige dress, approached the young man waiting for her. "Have you been waiting long?"

Yiyang looked up at the beautiful woman taking a seat across from him. He smiled and shook his head. "No," he said, pushing a drink toward her. "I wasn’t sure if you still liked soda."

Anna took it, sipped, and replied, "It’s fine. I don’t love it or hate it now. Did you call me for something?"

"Aren’t you helping me plan the art exhibition?" Yiyang gazed at her with a touch of longing. "It’s about to start, so I wanted to ask how things are going."

"You could have just called," Anna seemed to realize something, looking up. "Are you here to rush me?"

"…"

"Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything."

Yiyang nodded uneasily, hesitating. "Have you seen my brother lately?"

At that, Anna thought of the candlelit dinner Yiyang had arranged. Her expression darkened. "Yiyang, tell me honestly—does your brother like someone?"

She knew?

Should he tell her or not?

After a brief internal struggle, Yiyang chose not to. "Why do you ask if my brother likes someone? Did you…see something?"

"I saw something, but I’m not sure," Anna glanced at him. "There’s a girl who delivers food. Your brother seems to treat her differently. Do you know her?"

"I’m rarely with my brother, so I don’t really know," Yiyang’s gaze flickered as he tried to sound casual. "But my brother did order takeout from a restaurant. He said he really liked the food there, so maybe that’s why he treats the girl differently."

Anna felt a little relieved. "You’re right—how could your brother possibly like a girl who delivers food? I must be overthinking it."

He blurted out, "But what if he does?"

Anna frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing…" Yiyang took a breath and sipped his drink. "Anna, you and my brother really aren’t right for each other."

"Then who is? The delivery girl?"

"You’ve already been hurt once. Do you really want to be hurt again?"

For the first time in his life, his tone was unusually harsh.

Anna smiled. "If I get hurt, that’s my business—it has nothing to do with you."

With that, she left without looking back.

Nothing to do with me?!

Yiyang laughed bitterly and forlornly.

////////////

These days, Xiao Qi lingered in the restaurant, greeting customers.

She no longer delivered takeout.

This worried Fang Yun to no end.

Things had been just fine—how had they fallen out so suddenly?

Although Xiao Qi hadn’t explained, she did say, "Auntie, I’ll never deliver to TC again—in fact, I’d rather stop delivering altogether."

Fang Yun knew the truth then—the two had quarreled.

So the restaurant stopped accepting takeout orders for a few days.

They just did business in-house.

Ah, young love—never smooth.

Everything had been fine just days ago. She really couldn’t understand the love lives of young people.