Later that night, once I was sure Zuo Zuo was fast asleep, I quietly slipped out of the room.

Out on the balcony, Jiang Ran was standing in silent contemplation, staring off into the distance.

Hearing my footsteps, he turned around and asked softly, “Care for a drink?”

“Sure.”

I knew he had a million questions, and this time, I had no intention of dodging them. I pulled out a chair across from him and sat down.

“You know Chi You?”

“Not just know him. We go way back.”

Jiang Ran froze, a flicker of shock passing through his eyes. “Chi You is Zuo Zuo’s father?”

I stayed quiet, offering no denial. A moment later, I turned the question back to him: “When did you two meet?”

He set his glass down on the table, letting out a self-deprecating laugh. “Three years ago. When I first met him, everyone was already talking about how brilliant he was…”

I lowered my head, cutting him off before he could continue.

Nobody could have seen this coming—not even me in my wildest dreams.

He and I—two people who had seemingly nothing in common—had been madly in love for two whole years. And then it all ended in the blink of an eye, before either of us could even process it.

At the thought, I fell silent, whispering under my breath, “It’s fine. It’s all in the past now.”

Jiang Ran stood up and finished the last drop in his glass. “Li Yao, I still want to say this. I’m ready to be a father to Zuo Zuo and protect both of you.”

I raised my glass, offering a gentle smile. “Thank you.”

His retreating footsteps faded into the distance, and the door clicked shut behind him, leaving the apartment so quiet I could hear the wind brushing against the glass.

I turned back to look out the window, the twinkling city lights stirring up a sudden rush of old memories. That face filled my mind again—a face that was cold and aloof to the rest of the world, but impossibly tender whenever it was just the two of us.

He used to hold me so tightly, nuzzling his face into the crook of my neck, softly chanting my name over and over: “Yao Yao…”

Then his soft kisses would trace a path from my cheek down to my lips, his voice dropping to a needy murmur: “Yao Yao, don’t ever leave me.”

And I, voice trembling with emotion, had promised him back: “I’ll never leave you.”

Yet I was the one who said those words. And I was the first one to break them.

I was just about to open my mouth when she cut me off:

“Mr. Chi definitely won’t show up. He never goes to these kinds of events.”

I knit my brows in annoyance, but Jiang Tian immediately grabbed my hand, giving it a playful tug. “Please? Just come with me.”

“Fine,” I sighed. “I’ll ask Jiang Ran to watch Zuo Zuo for a bit.”

Maybe getting older naturally makes a person more grounded, I told myself. Still, the thought of running into familiar faces—people who had witnessed the days when Chi You and I were attached at the hip—sent a quiet ripple through my heart.

Even so, I was confident I could face them with total composure. But as it turned out, mental preparation rarely survives contact with reality.

Those old faces reappeared like a blade, softly yet sharply reopening the wounds of memories I had buried deep inside.

In front of the restaurant, Jiang Tian gave my shoulder an encouraging pat, offering a reassuring smile. “Let’s go.”

I nodded and stepped inside. The grand hall was brilliantly lit, filled with the continuous clinking of glasses and cheerful chatter. Old classmates who had once shared the same campus were gathering once again.

The exact second I walked through the doors, the room fell dead silent.

I froze for a fraction of a second before forcing a polite smile onto my face.

Nobody smiled back.

The crowd slowly parted, revealing the man standing at the center of attention. It was Chi You.

I bit my lip and glanced over at Jiang Tian. She couldn’t hide her utter shock either. And right then, Chi You’s low, deep voice resonated across the room straight to my ears:

“Look who’s here. Fancy meeting you again, Li Yao.”