The girl clutched the microphone tightly, her gaze passing through the crowd to meet Lu Xixiao's.

She thought, this was probably the bravest moment of her life.

"Hello everyone, tomorrow is someone's birthday." She looked at Lu Xixiao resolutely. "I'd like to sing a song, 'Can't Say It', for him, and wish him a happy birthday."

The crowd below erupted in cheers and jeers.

As the girl sang with a green yet earnest voice, many people followed her gaze to Lu Xixiao.

The latter sat there leisurely, his emotions unreadable.

By the end of the song, the girl's voice was tinged with the unique bitterness of a secret crush.

Finished, she stepped off the stage, walked back to the booth, and raised her glass, "Lu Xixiao, let me be the first to say it, happy birthday."

The guys around them started to hoot and were about to applaud when Lu Xixiao stopped them with a look.

The area around the booth fell silent.

Lu Xixiao didn't embarrass her. He picked up his glass, clinked it against hers, and downed it in one go. "Thanks."

He placed the empty glass back on the coffee table, then got up, lighting a cigarette as he walked out. "Stepping out for a bit."

The girl froze, her eyes quickly turning red. "...Lu Xixiao."

She mustered her last bit of courage to call out to him.

Lu Xixiao turned back.

"I—"

I like you.

Before she could finish the last words, Lu Xixiao interrupted her, "Sorry."

The girl couldn't even tell if this was Lu Xixiao's final act of politeness or his final act of cruelty.

In the end, she couldn't tell him her feelings face to face.

His face was expressionless, cold and distant under the bizarre, dazzling lights, silently pulling the distance between them infinitely far apart.

Lu Xixiao didn't look at her again. He pointed a finger outside and turned to leave.

The girl watched his retreating back and thought, he would probably never understand what passion is—that kind of blind love that almost makes you lose yourself.

He could probably remain calm and self-possessed at all times, able to pull away soberly anytime, anywhere.

Resolute and cold.

In the Arcade, Zhou Wan turned off the lights and locked the door.

Just as she stepped out, her phone buzzed with a message from Lu Xixiao.

It was a bar location.

[6: Come over.]

Zhou Wan froze for a moment and glanced at the time. It was already 11:05 PM.

[6: Drank too much.]

[Zhou Wan: You have a cold, you shouldn't be drinking.]

[6: Mmm.]

Zhou Wan stared at her phone screen, a little hesitant.

It's so late.

After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Wan still decided to go.

She didn't know how much Lu Xixiao had drunk. If he was really drunk and she left him there alone, and with the weather being so cold, she was afraid something might happen.

After all, Zhou Wan was in the wrong for using him in the first place.

She could only make it up to him by going along with his wishes, trying her best to make him a little happier.

The Arcade was over ten kilometers away from the location he sent. To get there quickly, Zhou Wan hailed a taxi.

She rarely went downtown late at night. It was the first time she had seen the bustling, lively nightlife of Pingchuan City, with its dazzling lights and decadent scenes. She looked out the car window, the lights illuminating her fair face with a crystalline glow.

The taxi's GPS announced that the destination was 500 meters away.

From far away, Zhou Wan saw the flashing, pulsating sign of the bar.

As the car got closer, she saw Lu Xixiao standing outside the bar.

He was leaning lazily against the wall, tall with long legs, becoming a scenic view amidst the neon lights.

Zhou Wan pursed her lips.

"We're here, little lady," the driver said, stopping the car next to the bar.

"Thank you, sir." Zhou Wan lowered her head to get money from her wallet.

Just as she pulled out a 50-yuan bill, the car door next to her opened.

Lu Xixiao placed a hand on the car roof, bent down slightly, and leaned in. His voice, tinged with alcohol, was even more magnetic and hoarse, with a nasal tone, "Sir, how much?"

"25."

Zhou Wan quickly said, "I can pay for it myself."

Lu Xixiao ignored her, blocking her hand with his own. He put the cigarette between his lips and scanned the payment code. "Done."

The taxi drove away. Zhou Wan stood beside Lu Xixiao and was pulled by the wrist to the inner side of the pavement. He exhaled a puff of smoke and looked at her, "Hungry?"

"Not really."

"Let's go get a bite then."

He walked ahead, leading her to a coffee shop nearby and ordered a chicken wrap.

Zhou Wan asked, "Aren't you eating?"

"Not hungry."

The heating in the coffee shop was turned up high, making it stuffy. After buying the chicken wrap, they went back outside.

Zhou Wan tore open the wrapper and took a bite. The chicken was tender, wrapped with lettuce, and the juices overflowed. It was delicious.

She looked at Lu Xixiao smoking beside her, observed him for a moment, and said, "Did you drink too much?"

His gaze swept down at her sideways. "Yup," he said carelessly.

But he didn't look drunk at all.

His face wasn't red, and his eyes were clear.

"Were you drinking alone?"

"Jiang Fan and the others are all here," Lu Xixiao said. "They're still inside."

"Then why did you come out first?"

He bent a finger, tapped the ash off his cigarette, and said lazily, "Someone inside was trying to hit on me."

Zhou Wan froze.

His words were too sudden and too blunt.

For a moment, Zhou Wan didn't know how to react.

The way Lu Xixiao said this was a bit strange, and the fact that he was looking at her when he said it made it seem a bit deliberate, like... he was fishing for praise.

As soon as this thought appeared in Zhou Wan's mind, she shook her head, thinking she must be too tired and not thinking clearly.

She only ate half of the chicken wrap and couldn't finish the rest. Zhou Wan went back into the coffee shop to ask for a bag and put the rest inside.

Tomorrow was Sunday, so there was no school. Zhou Wan stifled a yawn and asked, "Are we going back now?"

Lu Xixiao: "Walk with me for a while."

"Walk where?"

"Anywhere."

Zhou Wan followed by his side, accompanying him as he wandered aimlessly on the neon-lit streets.

The surroundings were quiet; passersby talked and laughed as they walked by.

But the two of them were very quiet.

It was the first time Zhou Wan had felt such a strong sense of loneliness from him.

It was even heavier than when he was languishing at home alone on the anniversary of his mother's death.

Even though the surroundings were so lively.

But he was completely out of place.

The chirping of cicadas makes the forest seem more tranquil; the calls of birds make the mountains more secluded.

"Lu Xixiao."

He turned his head.

"Let me take you somewhere fun," Zhou Wan said.

Zhou Wan thought, 'For this period of time, at least, I should try to make him a little happier.'