The rest of my life is destined for you.

　　That bright and gentle boy from her youth was like the hazy, blossoming intoxication of midsummer, always capable of brewing layers of joy. He came with a bright light, and he answered with the rest of his life—I love you.

　　At eighteen, it was Yu Zhanyu who followed Wu Qi to buy qingtuan (a type of glutinous rice dumpling) in the alley; it was Yu Zhanyu who wouldn't allow other boys near her; it was even Yu Zhanyu who ran the drills for her on the parade ground during military training…

　　She hid her girlish feelings, her heart churning like a dream, the gentle sound of the sea breeze in her ears, the traces of tears from her youth—the very essence of her heart's flutter.

　　Four years later, Wu Qi worked at the L City Court, the very place she had always dreamed of. She thought she would never see Yu Zhanyu again.

　　But Wu Qi never expected that upon their reunion, Yu Zhanyu would still be that same boy.

　　"Attorney Wu, can you sentence me to life imprisonment for the rest of your life?"

　　The rest of her life came to him.

　　From the moment he met her, his remaining life was filled with thoughts of her.

　　The

　　courthouse entrance exuded a solemn atmosphere. As Wu Qi emerged, she could still hear the rustling of the judges' voices. Wearing newly bought pure black high heels, her short, neat hair fluttered gently in the breeze.

　　"Let's go," Wu Qi stopped, smiling at Yu Zhanyu in his black suit. Yu Zhanyu, too, looked at her with gentle eyes.

　　A breeze ruffled Wu Qi's bangs. The person who had been with her from her youth to her first day in society would accompany her for the rest of her life.

　　"Come home with me," Yu Zhanyu said, opening his hands, a smile playing on his lips.

　　Wu Qi's swan-like eyes held a surge of joy, and warm tears welled up once more. It was as if the treasure box of time had finally been opened; from now on, this journey home would always be accompanied by the person she cherished most.

　　2.

　　In the scorching summer heat, the earth felt like a steamer, the heat unbearable, and not even a breeze seemed to dare to blow.

　　Under the clear blue sky, the blazing sun had even caused the leaves to curl up. The stifling heat created a sense of oppression, and large beads of sweat rolled down their foreheads. The boys and girls in camouflage uniforms stood motionless at attention, their freshman year military training nearing its end.

　　After standing for two hours this morning, they were finally granted a fifteen-minute break.

　　As soon as the instructors called for a break, the students breathed a sigh of relief, but even with dozens of people standing separately, waves of heat still lingered in the air.

　　"See that girl? I think she's pretty."

　　"Let's get her contact information later."

　　Just as they were whispering among themselves, the boy sitting alone to the side suddenly stood up. He removed his camouflage hat, sweat dripping from his forehead, a cold glint in his eyes, revealing a youthful arrogance.

　　The boy caught a glimpse of the girl under the tree out of the corner of his eye. Although he could only see her profile, Yu Zhanyu's gaze remained fixed on her. This girl… her name was Wu Qi.

　　While Wu Qi was still resting against the tree, the two boys had already approached her, their tone rather aggressive. "Hey, give me your phone

　　number." Wu Qi looked up, revealing a clean, fair, oval face, and a pair of bright, round eyes that seemed to sparkle. Her bangs were blown across her forehead by the wind. She frowned slightly, glancing sideways at the boy, her tone not very gentle. "No."

　　"You!"

　　Just as the two boys were about to persist, the scorching sunlight in front of Wu Qi was suddenly blocked, and a tall figure shielded her.

　　Yu Zhanyu?

　　Wu Qi hadn't expected him to step forward. Yu Zhanyu's tone was equally unfriendly. He raised an eyebrow, "She said she wouldn't give it to me."

　　Yu Zhanyu spoke with an aura that made it impossible to argue with him. The two boys still wouldn't leave…

　　"Get out of the way!"

　　One of the boys put his hand on Yu Zhanyu's shoulder, but Yu Zhanyu quickly twisted his wrist, causing him to howl in pain. More and more people gathered around. Wu Qi stood up from the ground.

　　"Yu Zhanyu, just ignore him," Wu Qi reminded him.

　　Yu Zhanyu glanced at the boy, simply letting go of his hand. The instructor was also attracted by the crowd, and the students quickly made way for him…

　　The instructor looked left and right, only to see a boy with a wronged expression clutching his wrist, complaining to him, "Instructor! Yu Zhanyu is bullying my classmate! He twisted my hand so hard it hurts!"

　　The instructor looked at Yu Zhanyu. This student was usually quiet and well-behaved during military training. Why would he be bullying his classmate now?

　　Out of concern, the instructor still asked, "Is what he said true, student?"

　　Yu Zhanyu nodded, not taking the matter too seriously, and directly admitted to the instructor, "Yes."

　　Wu Qi became anxious. She rushed forward, straightening her back, "Reporting, Instructor! It was Zhao Xiaohua who verbally harassed the girl first. Yu was trying to protect me."

　　The instructor nodded, but Zhao Xiaohua still wouldn't budge, "Instructor, my hand is like this!" "

　　..." The instructor remained silent.

　　"It's your own lack of manners. Isn't it right to teach you a lesson?" Yu Zhanyu's gaze was cold, fixed directly on Zhao Xiaohua.

　　Yu Zhanyu didn't seem to consider the instructors present, and the instructor who had originally intended to let Yu Zhanyu off the hook frowned upon hearing this, "Yu Zhanyu, run three laps as punishment."

　　Wu Qi looked at the blazing sun, her heart clenching. She wanted to beg the instructor to let Yu Zhanyu off the hook, but Yu Zhanyu had already accepted the punishment, not giving her a chance to explain.

　　"Yes, Instructor." After saying this, Yu Zhanyu started running around the drill field with his long legs.

　　Although Yu Zhanyu didn't think he had done anything wrong, he figured that if he talked back to the instructor, it would probably implicate Wu Qi.

　　Wu Qi was anxious but helpless, and Zhao Xiaohua even deliberately stuck out her tongue to provoke Wu Qi. Wu Qi clenched her fists; if the instructor hadn't been there, she might have punched Zhao Xiaohua a couple of times!

　　Looking at that figure on the drill field under the scorching sun, Wu Qi bit her lower lip tightly, still feeling uneasy. She had to apologize to Yu Zhanyu this time.

　　Today's military training ended, and the night on the drill field was hazy. It had been incredibly hot during the day, but there was a faint, refreshing breeze at night.

　　Wu Qi was still wearing her camouflage uniform, and sitting next to her was Yu Zhanyu, who had been punished twice that day.

　　Several rows of streetlights lined the edge of the playground, their snow-white pillars entwined with summer vines in full bloom. A sliver of moonlight, filtering through the slanting leaves, cast dappled silver light on the ground.

　　Wu Qi handed Yu Zhanyu the dinner she'd bought from the cafeteria. Yu Zhanyu had been punished by the teacher today, probably because Zhao Xiaohua had secretly reported her, leaving Yu Zhanyu without dinner.

　　Wu Qi thought to herself that Yu Zhanyu had stood up for her, rushing to the playground after buying dinner. Luckily, Yu Zhanyu hadn't left yet.

　　Wu Qi sighed, "Actually, you didn't need to stand up for me today."

　　At most, he'd just get a few scoldings from two boys, but now he's in trouble—punished by the instructor and left with a bad impression on the teacher.

　　It's only the beginning of the semester, why does it feel like everyone's targeting him?

　　Wu Qi recalled when she first met Yu Zhanyu, many students were gathered around discussing him. Wu Qi initially thought it was because of Yu Zhanyu's looks, but what she heard were all sorts of offensive things…

　　"I heard Yu Zhanyu's parents are not easy to mess with, let's stay away from him."

　　"What? His parents divorced a long time ago, he doesn't have parents now."

　　Wu Qi hadn't taken these comments to heart, but to point fingers and insult someone for not having parents just because their parents are divorced—what kind of character is that?

　　Wu Qi couldn't stand it anymore and said coldly, "Leave some face in front of others, so you can meet again in the future. If you don't want me to tell the teacher, then keep gossiping."

　　If she hadn't spoken up for Yu Zhanyu that day, maybe the two of them wouldn't be sitting here eating bread together today.

　　Why did she have this strange feeling that they were both at odds?

　　Yu Zhanyu finally finished the strawberry sandwich. He looked at Wu Qi, who was standing beside him in a daze, and managed to squeeze out, "Thank you."

　　After saying this, Yu Zhanyu turned his head away. He wasn't good at expressing his feelings; perhaps because his parents were divorced and he grew up with a nanny, he didn't quite understand how to interact with others.

　　But he had always remembered Wu Qi standing up for him that day. This was the first time in his life he had received care from someone outside of an employer-employee relationship.

　　So, he wanted to say thank you to Wu Qi again.

　　Wu Qi snapped out of her reverie, waved her hand, and smiled, "You're welcome. Anyway, they wouldn't dare do anything to me..."

　　Wu Qi let out a long sigh of relief. It seemed that from now on, she and Yu Zhanyu were going to be famous at school.

　　"Looks like having the principal's daughter speak up for me was really lucky that day."

　　Yu Zhanyu took a sip of water, while Wu Qi's face immediately darkened. How did even Yu Zhanyu know she was the principal's daughter?!

　　Wu Qi looked around nervously, then leaned close to Yu Zhanyu, putting a finger to her lips. "Yu Zhanyu! Keep your voice down!"

　　Yu Zhanyu stiffened, and Wu Qi realized they were too close. She quickly leaned back, bracing herself on the grass. "I'm so sorry!"

　　Because it was dark, Wu Qi didn't see Yu Zhanyu's flushed face. This was the first time in her life she'd been so close to someone.

　　"It's okay..."

　　Yu Zhanyu quickly picked up a water bottle from the ground, twisted off the cap, and gulped down several mouthfuls, managing to calm her racing heart.

　　The two sat under the starry night, their heartbeats hidden in the gentle glow of the stars. At that time—

　　young love was about protecting the one you love.

　　3.

　　Yu Zhanyu transferred schools. This happened shortly after military training. When Wu Qi heard the news, she couldn't believe it, but a text message from Yu Zhanyu arrived on her phone. She

　　heard classmates gossiping, saying that Yu Zhanyu's family had a good background, and he could transfer schools so easily.

　　Wu Qi recalled her first meeting with Yu Zhanyu. The boy's face held both arrogance and integrity; he didn't seem like someone who would rely on connections. Why would these people listen to rumors and judge someone's character so easily?

　　Wu Qi lowered her head, staring intently at the text message Yu Zhanyu had sent.

　　Yu Zhanyu: "I'll be leaving for a while. Thank you for speaking up for me."

　　Yu Zhanyu, he's just gone like that?

　　Wu Qi hadn't even had a chance to say goodbye. Yu Zhanyu had entered her life so quickly, only to leave so quietly.

　　Wu Qi felt a pang of sadness. She was probably the only classmate Yu Zhanyu had ever said goodbye to. She wondered how people would treat him at his new school.

　　Even though they had only known each other for half a month, Wu Qi could clearly sense that

　　Yu Zhanyu was an absolutely kind and gentle person.

　　On weekends, Wu Qi would go home. On her way home, she would always pass by the alley where the qingtuan (a type of glutinous rice dumpling) was sold. The old lady selling qingtuan always smiled like a flower.

　　Wu Qi carried a heavy bag of law textbooks in her schoolbag. As the principal's daughter, she bore a heavy responsibility; how could she let him down?

　　Wu Qi took a deep breath and stopped her bicycle in front of the old lady, revealing the gentlest expression of a young girl. "Grandma, three green rice dumplings, please."

　　"Okay."

　　While the old lady was getting the dumplings, Wu Qi took out her booklet and began to recite diligently.

　　At that moment, the light beside Wu Qi was suddenly blocked by a tall figure. She heard a familiar voice, with a clear laugh, "I'll have two green rice dumplings too."

　　Wu Qi looked up and, sure enough, saw him—Yu Zhanyu!

　　Wu Qi hadn't seen Yu Zhanyu for almost three months. After sending that text message, he seemed to have suddenly disappeared, as if their paths had returned to parallel lines.

　　"Yu Zhanyu, what are you doing here?!" Wu Qi exclaimed in surprise.

　　"What, you're not welcoming me?" Yu Zhanyu took the two bags of qingtuan (a type of glutinous rice dumpling), handing Wu Qi her small bag, a rare smile on his face.

　　This was the first time Yu Zhanyu had smiled in three months.

　　Wu Qi shook her head. It had only been three months since she'd seen Yu Zhanyu, but he seemed to have matured a bit. However…

　　Wu Qi's heart tightened. She put her book back in her bag, wanting to reach out and touch the bright red wounds on Yu Zhanyu's neck, but then stopped herself.

　　"What happened?"

　　Yu Zhanyu smiled and pulled his collar up a little. "It's nothing, I just accidentally cut myself."

　　Wu Qi seemed to suddenly remember something. She hurriedly took out a band-aid from her pocket and handed it to Yu Zhanyu. "Take good care of yourself over there, and try not to get hurt again."

　　Yu Zhanyu paused for two seconds, then slowly took the band-aid from Wu Qi and nodded in a muffled voice. "Thank you."

　　Wu Qi walked side by side with Yu Zhanyu, holding her bicycle. Wu Qi hadn't expected to meet him on her way home so coincidentally. However, he looked thinner than before.

　　"Yu Zhanyu, are you doing alright over there?"

　　Wu Qi and Yu Zhanyu had reached their doorstep. The walk wasn't long or short, but it felt much slower than before. Yu Zhanyu didn't urge her, but quietly escorted her to her door.

　　Yu Zhanyu smiled, his face revealing little emotion. "I'm fine."

　　Wu Qi ultimately didn't ask why Yu Zhanyu had transferred schools. Just as Wu Qi was about to see Yu Zhanyu off, the door was pushed open.

　　A flicker of shock, even a touch of girlish shyness, flashed in Wu Qi's eyes. The smiling man looked at Yu Zhanyu beside Wu Qi, "Is this Qi'er's boyfriend?"

　　"..."

　　"..."

　　Wu Qi remained silent, for she hadn't expected her father, a university president, to be so gossipy!

　　Finally, Principal Wu invited Yu Zhanyu into her home for tea. Yu Zhanyu was on high alert; this was his first time visiting a girl's home. As

　　Yu Zhanyu entered, he observed the decor of Wu Qi's house. Principal Wu walked in front of them, and while Yu Zhanyu's palms were still sweating with nervousness, Principal Wu turned around. "I'll make some tea. Qi'er, take good care of him."

　　"Oh, I know."

　　Wu Qi sighed, rubbing her forehead. She never received such treatment at home; tea was always served as soon as she got home.

　　Wu Qi gestured for Yu Zhanyu to sit on the sofa. Seeing that Principal Wu hadn't come over, Yu Zhanyu cautiously moved closer to Wu Qi, yet then slightly distanced himself. "Principal Wu, have you misunderstood something?"

　　Wu Qi noticed Yu Zhanyu's face was already red. Why was Yu Zhanyu acting more like a shy young girl than she was?

　　Wu Qi nodded. "Very likely, so do you regret taking me home? Be careful, Old Wu won't let you leave!"

　　Wu Qi teased Yu Zhanyu with a playful look, but unexpectedly, Yu Zhanyu wasn't shy at all. His eyes even held a hint of seriousness. He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Then I'll have to think about how to put Principal Wu's mind at ease."

　　"..."

　　Wu Qi was about to explain that he was just joking when Principal Wu arrived with two cups of tea. One was Wu Qi's favorite lemon tea, and the other was Pu'er tea for entertaining guests.

　　Principal Wu, being older, enjoyed brewing tea. He didn't like drinking or smoking; he just liked to paint and brew tea with Wu Qi.

　　Principal Wu hadn't expected to see his daughter walking with another boy at his doorstep today, a rare occurrence.

　　Wu Qi accepted the two cups of tea from Principal Wu and patted him on the shoulder. "Thank you, Dad."

　　Wu Qi handed one cup of tea to Yu Zhanyu. "This is my dad's collection of Pu'er tea. You must enjoy it."

　　Yu Zhanyu handled it as if it were a treasure. He nervously swallowed, and looked at Principal Wu as he took the Pu'er tea. "Thank you, Principal Wu."

　　Principal Wu only learned of Yu Zhanyu's identity after hearing Wu Qi's introduction. Yu Zhanyu was Wu Qi's classmate, but he had transferred schools, a fact Principal Wu knew.

　　Yu Zhanyu was somewhat worried that the school's reputation might affect Principal Wu's opinion of him, perhaps even prompting Wu Qi to stay away. He hadn't expected Principal Wu to greet him so warmly.

　　"Principal Wu, about what happened at school before..."

　　Yu Zhanyu wanted to explain to Principal Wu. Although he hadn't cared about people's opinions at school, for some reason, he didn't want Principal Wu to misunderstand.

　　Unexpectedly, Principal Wu smiled and poured him a cup of tea. "Child, what others say doesn't matter. What matters is that you believe what you're doing is right."

　　"Also, when malice comes, you should think about silencing them with your strength."

　　Wu Qi nodded repeatedly. "My dad's right!"

　　After Wu Qi finished speaking, he gave Principal Wu a high five. The two looked so in sync. At this moment, Yu Zhanyu longed to be part of this warm family...

　　Principal Wu was right, and Yu Zhanyu had indeed made the decision to leave in order to change.

　　4

　　The sky was dark, dark clouds gathered, a gust of wind swept up, and blinding lightning streaked across the sky.

　　Winter rain always comes suddenly. Wu Qi, who was still in the library, packed up her books and took out a spare umbrella she had prepared in advance from her bag.

　　Now she was a junior, and besides attending classes, she came to the library. On weekends, Wu Qi would tutor Yu Zhanyu.

　　The school Yu Zhanyu was in now was very good, but the rules were much stricter than here. At first, Wu Qi was worried that Yu Zhanyu wouldn't be able to handle such strict rules, but unexpectedly, Yu Zhanyu's progress was even more obvious.

　　When Wu Qi arrived at the cafeteria, it was already packed. She glanced at the sea of people and ultimately decided against going in.

　　"Hey, did you guys hear? That Yu Zhanyu who transferred schools before is now number one in the whole school!"

　　"Tsk, his dad must have pulled some strings for him!"

　　Wu Qi gripped her book tightly, about to confront them, when her phone rang, abruptly interrupting her.

　　"Hello?"

　　"Are you skipping dinner again?"

　　"How did you know?!"

　　A "tsk" came from the other end, and Wu Qi realized she'd let something slip again.

　　"Alright, I'm at the school gate, I'll take you to eat."

　　"..."

　　Wu Qi checked her watch. She was planning to go back to the library to study in half an hour. If she went out to eat with Yu Zhanyu now, would she still have time to study?

　　Across from her, Yu Zhanyu seemed to have anticipated the academic star's thoughts. He softened his tone, as if coaxing a young girl, "Sweetie, if there are no seats in the library, let's go to our usual restaurant."

　　Wu Qi finally agreed, "Okay, I'll go out now."

　　It was already past six in the evening when they finished eating. Wu Qi and Yu Zhanyu had just walked out of the food street when large raindrops began to fall. The sky was overcast, and they could hear thunder and lightning.

　　Just as Wu Qi was about to take an umbrella from her bag, someone put their arm around her shoulder. Before Wu Qi could even react, the umbrella was already open, tilted towards her.

　　Wu Qi stood frozen in Yu Zhanyu's arms, only hearing him clear his throat and say, blushing, "Weren't you going to study? It'll be too late if the rain stops. Let me take you...take you home." The

　　rain outside had lessened. It was midnight. Yu Zhanyu and Wu Qi rode shared bikes home. The night was refreshing after the rain. Because of the sudden downpour, the crowd that had gathered on the street had vanished, leaving only the two of them.

　　Wu Qi sneezed and almost crashed into a building, but luckily she swerved in time.

　　"Wait a minute,"

　　Yu Zhanyu suddenly braked, took off his coat, and handed it to Wu Qi. "Put this on. It's chilly at night. If you catch a cold, you won't be able to study tomorrow."

　　Yu Zhanyu knew that for Wu Qi right now, maintaining her top ranking in the school and not embarrassing Principal Wu was her biggest goal.

　　Yu Zhanyu escorted Wu Qi to her doorstep once again. Just as Wu Qi was about to take off her coat and return it to him, he stopped her. "No need, keep it on inside, it's chilly outside."

　　Yu Zhanyu smiled. "Then, I'll be going now."

　　Just as Yu Zhanyu turned around, Wu Qi suddenly raised her hand, unable to control herself, and took two steps forward. "Wait! Yu Zhanyu, I have a question I want to ask you."

　　Yu Zhanyu turned back, surprisingly calm. "Is it about the rumors at school?"

　　Wu Qi nodded, then hurriedly shook her head. "It's not that I don't trust you, I just feel...very angry."

　　Wu Qi couldn't understand why, even though Yu Zhanyu had been away from school for three years, these people still gossiped about him. The Yu Zhanyu they spoke of was completely different from the Yu Zhanyu she knew.

　　"Wu Qi, my father is the president of the court."

　　"..."

　　Wu Qi suddenly understood. Dislike doesn't need any reason; perhaps it can only be due to—jealousy.

　　Yu Zhanyu looked at Wu Qi with tenderness. He had also learned about care and love in the Wu family, and he had felt from Wu Qi that he could protect someone.

　　He realized that he, too, had someone he cared about.

　　Yu Zhanyu walked towards Wu Qi, step by step in the moonlight. He reached out and gently stroked her hair. "Thank you for teaching me love."

　　Wu Qi looked up. Yu Zhanyu, with his head lowered and eyes downcast, smiled slightly. His eyes shone with starlight, sparkling with faith and determination.

　　Yu Zhanyu knew he had found everything he wanted to protect. Only when he was strong enough could he protect her.

　　Rumors could hurt him, Yu Zhanyu, but they couldn't hurt the person he loved. Yu Zhanyu's

　　sixth

　　birthday should have been a joyous occasion, but before the clock struck midnight, he received news of his parents' divorce.

　　Why, when he already rarely saw his parents, did he now have to lose his family completely?

　　"Child, you're yours now."

　　The doll in Yu Zhanyu's hand fell to the ground in front of his parents' bedroom door. He watched his mother drag her suitcase away, not even glancing at him.

　　"Mom, do you still want me?" The little boy looked at the doll he once loved, but his eyes were empty.

　　Yu Zhanyu didn't receive a reply from his mother, nor did his father come out to see him. It was the nanny who led him back to his room.

　　In middle school, on the day of the parent-teacher conference for Yu Zhanyu's class, his parents had promised to come, but in the end, all the parents in the class showed up except for Yu Zhanyu's parents, who were once again "unexpectedly absent"...

　　"Ah, Yu Zhanyu has no parents!"

　　"No one loves him!"

　　Public opinion is always black and white; these words, once like needles, turned into numbness. He felt they were right; he truly had no one who loved him.

　　Later, his father's work wasn't as busy as before, and Yu Zhanyu could still have a few meals with him throughout the year. Although the two of them barely spoke, Yu Zhanyu could tell that his father was trying to make up for it.

　　But the love that had been absent for more than ten years couldn't be made up for in a single meal.

　　In Yu Zhanyu's world, there would never be a complete family again.

　　When Yu Zhanyu first saw Wu Qi in college, the corners of his lips, which hadn't turned up since he was six, curved into a smile. The girl's angry expression was unexpectedly cute.

　　Why would someone he didn't even know help him?

　　But public opinion didn't let Yu Zhanyu off the hook. After a military training session, everyone said that Yu Zhanyu was dating Principal Wu's daughter.

　　It seemed like the whole world was saying that Yu Zhanyu wasn't qualified to be with Wu Qi, and if he had gone to that strictest school in L City, he would have been expelled long ago.

　　Hearing those words, Yu Zhanyu clenched his fists. "I'd like to see if I get expelled."

　　Yu Zhanyu went to the school himself to ask the teacher. When he got the chance to transfer, he was unexpectedly reluctant to leave. He couldn't bear to leave the girl who spoke up for him, the girl who bought him dinner.

　　But...

　　he wanted to prove that he wouldn't let those who spoke up for him lose face. The arrogant eighteen-year-old boy made a decision he would never regret.

　　At dinner time, Yu Zhanyu saw his father at the table. He hesitated for a moment, changed into slippers, washed his hands in the bathroom, and came out to find only a few simple home-cooked dishes on the table, yet it was unexpectedly warm and cozy.

　　All this warmth should have ended on his sixth birthday, but he never expected to have the opportunity to feel the lingering warmth of family again.

　　Yu Zhanyu didn't sit down to eat with his father. Instead, for the first time, he spoke to him proactively. His eyes darkened, and he finally made up his mind. "Dad, I want to transfer schools."

　　His father knew which school Yu Zhanyu wanted to attend. His grades were indeed good enough, and transferring now wasn't too late. However, there would be no chance to regret it later. Wasn't he afraid he wouldn't be able to handle the strict school rules?

　　"Are you sure?" his father reminded him again.

　　Yu Zhanyu simply replied frankly, "The more resolute you were when you two divorced, the more resolute I am now in getting closer to the person I love."

　　He, Yu Zhanyu, was used to the harshness of public opinion, but Wu Qi couldn't be affected. If he wanted to protect the person he loved, he had to become strong first.

　　And he would never give up on the person he loved.

　　If he had the chance to be with Wu Qi, he would never let go. For about

　　six

　　months, Wu Qi and Yu Zhanyu communicated online. Both of them ranked first in their respective schools.

　　Wu Qi scrolled through the recent messages Yu Zhanyu had sent her. Yu Zhanyu had been ranked first in his class for a year straight, and the boy she once knew seemed to have matured a bit.

　　Wu Qi touched her long hair; she was almost graduating, yet she still had the same long hair she had in her freshman year.

　　Even though she was already a senior, she still seemed like a little girl…

　　Wu Qi thought it must be because of the person who had been by her side from freshman to senior year, protecting her simple and innocent girlish heart.

　　On a rare weekend with some free time, Wu Qi and Principal Wu were painting at home. Principal Wu glanced at Wu Qi's painting; although it only showed a rough outline, he had a sharp eye and felt he seemed to recognize the person in the painting.

　　“Qi’er, are you still in contact with Zhanyu?”

　　“Ah, yes, yes.”

　　Wu Qi pretended to be calm as she stared at the canvas, but her hand trembled slightly. So she still remembered Yu Zhanyu.

　　Principal Wu laughed, "Aren't you going to bring him home for a meal during the New Year?"

　　Wu Qi's hands were genuinely trembling this time. Why was she bringing Yu Zhanyu home for dinner? She quickly put down her paintbrush; if this continued, she definitely wouldn't be able to paint Yu Zhanyu.

　　Wu Qi stood up, "Dad, I'll go make you a cup of Pu'er tea!"

　　Watching Wu Qi's "fleeing" appearance, Principal Wu muttered to himself, "I thought I couldn't tell he liked that kid."

　　His eyes were very sharp.

　　Yu Zhanyu had disappeared for a long time; Wu Qi hadn't even seen him at her graduation ceremony. Wu Qi looked at the last message Yu Zhanyu sent her on her phone, just a few words of concern and advice.

　　Wu Qi stood on the playground, looking at the place where they had once trained. That boy's arrogant face seemed to reappear in her mind. She couldn't help but smile. He was now the top student in the whole school...

　　"Hey, let me tell you, Yu Zhanyu seems to have gotten the qualification to study for a master's degree abroad!"

　　"Wow, this isn't something you can just get with connections!"

　　Wu Qi was stunned for a moment. A passerby bumped into her shoulder, quickly apologized, and walked away.

　　Wu Qi came to her senses, her pupils shining. She couldn't help but feel happy for Yu Zhanyu. At this moment, he had truly silenced those who had criticized him with his own strength.

　　But...

　　if Yu Zhanyu went abroad, did that mean they would never see each other again?

　　Wu Qi rode her bicycle into the alley. The summer breeze seemed to carry his scent. She passed through the alley they had walked together countless times, but suddenly, someone was missing.

　　Wu Qi felt an indescribable sense of oppression. She walked alone into the alley filled with the aroma of qingtuan (a type of glutinous rice dumpling). The old lady was still warmly greeting customers, but her eyes were slightly red.

　　"Qi'er, why are you here alone? Where's your boyfriend?"

　　The old lady had always thought that Yu Zhanyu, who had driven Wu Qi home for the past four years, was her boyfriend. Even Wu Qi had gotten used to this special status. It turned out that getting used to someone's departure was so heartbreaking.

　　As soon as the old lady asked her question, Wu Qi wanted to tell her that Yu Zhanyu wasn't actually her boyfriend, though this explanation was four years overdue.

　　"Grandma, Yu Zhanyu, he..."

　　Before Wu Qi could finish, that figure, who had quietly appeared, enveloped her once more, just like when he protected her on the playground, just like the gentle embrace he had given her on a rainy day—a tenderness that was impossible to escape.

　　Wu Qi looked up at Yu Zhanyu. The youthful ambition had faded from his face, replaced by a sharp, mature look that seemed to tell Wu Qi that he could now protect her.

　　Yu Zhanyu simply smiled and said, "I'm sorry I'm late."

　　He had never been late before, but this was the first time, and only this once.

　　Tears welled in Wu Qi's eyes. She gripped Yu Zhanyu's hand tightly, their fingers intertwined in perfect harmony, as if nothing could ever separate them again.

　　"Didn't you go abroad?"

　　Wu Qi took a bite of the qingtuan (a type of glutinous rice dumpling). The taste wasn't much different from when she was young; it was still soft and delicious.

　　Yu Zhanyu took Wu Qi's other hand, lowered his head, and gently kissed the back of her hand. Wu Qi's hand trembled slightly. She only heard Yu Zhanyu say, "I won't lose sight of the bigger picture for a small gain. I know what's most important in my life."

　　"..."

　　Yu Zhanyu never regretted refusing the teacher that day, and he didn't regret accompanying Wu Qi back to this seemingly winding and narrow crossroads, making the decision to walk through life with her.

　　His parents' decision influenced his entire life, and now he wouldn't easily make a decision he would regret.

　　Regarding the rest of his life, Yu Zhanyu wanted Wu Qi.

　　Yu Zhanyu lowered his head, looking at the hand he was holding. The person before him was the moonlight he had longed for countless times in his youth.

　　"Yu Zhanyu."

　　Wu Qi's voice was a little choked. She called out Yu Zhanyu's name. Yu Zhanyu looked up at her. Wu Qi was already crying. He was anxious and wanted to lean forward to wipe away her tears.

　　But the next second, Wu Qi gently tugged at his collar and leaned forward to lightly kiss his forehead.

　　"I will accompany you for the rest of my life, and I will never let you have any regrets."

　　The vow made was unchangeable.

　　No one was allowed to be absent from this journey of life.

　　Yu Zhanyu held Wu Qi's hand tightly; his heart pounding told him that this was the princess he would protect forever.