The doorbell suddenly rang.

Long Aotian stood up with a smile. "I think our trees have arrived. Let's get ready—we're planting them today!"

Watching Long Aotian's retreating figure as he jogged to the door, my heart churned with mixed emotions. Taking a deep breath, I got up and followed.

Sure enough, the trees had arrived.

With the workers' help, the two saplings were placed into the pre-dug holes.

Watering and filling the soil went much faster than digging.

With the addition of the two trees, the yard immediately took on a different atmosphere.

Just then, the gate creaked open again.

Lin Wanning wheeled her bike inside. "Hey, I'm back!"

"You're back so early today?" Long Aotian glanced at the time—barely past nine—and chuckled.

"What, don’t you want to see me, Brother?"

"There’s still some lean meat porridge Yuying made in the pot. Go have some."

After tamping down the soil, Long Aotian grabbed a rake and headed toward the vegetable patch. "I’ll loosen the soil. Tomorrow, we’ll plant our own vegetables."

"Sis, isn’t Brother being unusually diligent today?" Lin Wanning remarked with amusement.

Normally, they were all so well taken care of at home that they’d even gained a few pounds.

Watching Long Aotian bustle about, Hu Yuying exhaled deeply, her gaze never leaving him. "It’s good for him to stay busy."

Some emotions needed an outlet. No matter how hard he tried to act normal, his subconscious actions betrayed him.

And his eyes never lied.

By eleven, Li Qingxue had also hurried back.

Seeing her return, Long Aotian laughed. "You guys aren’t actually worried about me, are you?"

"Come on, do I really look like someone you need to worry about?"

"No one gets to keep their youth forever. We all grow old with time. Life and death are just part of the cycle—some come sooner, some later. If we keep dwelling on it, how are we supposed to live our lives?"

"So, are you coming shopping with us?" Li Qingxue asked playfully.

"Sure, but shouldn’t we have lunch first?"

"What do you feel like eating, Long Aotian?"

"Hot pot. It’s been a while."

At the meal, Hu Yuying unexpectedly bought a case of beer and even opened a bottle for Long Aotian herself.

"Where are we going after this?"

"To the forest park to see the peach blossoms," the three girls chorused.

"Ah, so you’ve already planned this out."

......

After lunch, the four of them set off.

The forest park wasn’t exactly close—even by subway, it took a while—so time was tight.

This was peak season for peach blossoms, and by the time they transferred to the final subway line, the train was packed.

"Stick close once we get off. If you get lost, I’m not coming to find you," Long Aotian teased, shielding the three of them in a corner of the crowded car.

"We won’t get lost!"

"Seriously, you always treat us like we’re three years old. I’m nineteen now!"

"Even if we do get lost, I’ll find my way back."

The northern section of the forest park was the city’s largest viewing area for mountain peach blossoms, stretching into a vast pink sea.

The sheer visual impact left every visitor breathless.

Hu Yuying and the others were no exception. In that moment, their joy felt like a release.

They pulled Long Aotian along as they merged into the crowd.

"Take pictures of us!"

(Note: The unrelated line about user login issues has been omitted for coherence.)

"And take one with us!"

"We have to get a group photo here!"

Long Aotian obliged every request.

Usually the one who dreaded walking and shopping, today he seemed like an endlessly charged robot, never tiring.

As the hours passed and the three girls eventually wilted from all the photos and fun, Long Aotian remained full of energy.

But he was smiling—genuinely happy.

Standing amid the peach blossoms, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. The rich floral scent was intoxicating, washing away all worries.

"Ugh... everything here is so expensive," Li Qingxue grumbled.

"Says the one who’s been eating nonstop." Long Aotian handed out the mini cakes he’d queued to buy.

"Long Aotian, don’t you dare call me a glutton!" she protested.

"Fine, fine, no complaints. Hurry up—I think there’s candied hawthorn up ahead."

Seeing the smile on Long Aotian’s face, Hu Yuying finally relaxed.

"Hey, isn’t that the contestant from the music show? She looks so familiar..."

"Hold on, let me check... I think she’s Contestant 08, what’s her name again..."

Hearing the chatter, Lin Wanning immediately turned her back to the speakers, facing Long Aotian.

No one had recognized her all day, and now, just as they were leaving, someone did.

Not surprising—it was Friday.

At noon, the park had been filled with middle-aged and elderly visitors.

But after school let out, younger crowds who followed entertainment shows had arrived.

Meeting Lin Wanning’s gaze, Long Aotian mouthed silently, "Your fans. Want to say hello?"

Lin Wanning wrinkled her nose. "Manager, I haven’t even debuted yet. What kind of fan wouldn’t recognize their own idol?"

Before the onlookers could finish searching on their phones, Long Aotian had already ushered the three away.

After a full afternoon of fun, they were exhausted—but not too tired to review the day’s photos.

They edited all the best shots before finally, satisfied, heading to bed.

......

Listening to the steady breathing of the others as they slept, Long Aotian slowly opened his eyes.

He slipped out of the room without a sound.

In the yard, he lit a cigarette and sat on the steps.

The moonlight cast a haze over his pupils, reflecting a confusion he couldn’t put into words—like losing his bearings on an endless road, adrift.

All day, he’d forced his thoughts into submission, burying himself in activity to forget.

But in the quiet of night, his mind wandered unchecked, and memories of Shen Mengjie flooded in unbidden.

Her confidence, her pride, her sorrow, her willfulness, her whims—until it all dissolved into that final image of her smiling softly, her hand resting on her belly...

Four months along... the baby would have taken shape by now...

How hopeless must she have been, to lose all faith in this world...

The calm he’d clung to shattered like an explosion, tearing open the facade he’d so carefully maintained.

His entire body trembled. If only he hadn’t left that day—would everything have been different?

Suddenly, Long Aotian froze. Why had he never once considered taking responsibility for Shen Mengjie?

That misunderstanding with Hu Yuying back then—the excitement and joy he had felt in his heart—still felt vivid even now as he looked back...

He racked his brain, searching, as if trying to claw out an answer.

But the more he thought, the blurrier his vision became. In that hazy moment, a figure seemed to materialize before him. She stood with her arms crossed, a hint of reproach in her voice: "You drank all my wine..."

Long Aotian rose and stumbled toward the shadow, empty bottles rolling underfoot before clattering heavily to the ground.

Gazing up at the bright moon, he covered his eyes and let out a helpless, anguished sob...

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