"Why the long face?" Di Mingjue glanced at the red light ahead, then turned to Ye Ziyu in the passenger seat, who seemed lost in thought.
She hadn't said a word since they got in the car, her expression clouded with worry.
Ye Ziyu turned towards Di Mingjue's concerned gaze. "It's about Chen Han and Xixi."
"Who?" Di Mingjue's foot eased off the accelerator, causing the car behind them to nearly rear-end them.
Hearing the honking, Ye Ziyu looked back. "Focus on driving first."
As the honking intensified, Di Mingjue steered the car off the main road and pulled over.
Uncertain about what she wanted to discuss, pulling over to the side was the safest option.
"Go on, tell me what's going on with them that's got you so distracted," Di Mingjue asked.
Ye Ziyu confided her worries. "He asked me for help, so I gave him some advice: to boldly pursue Yu Xixi."
"If he likes her, he should pursue her. That's good. What's the problem?" Di Mingjue still didn't understand why she was so preoccupied.
It sounded simple enough. If it worked out, fine. But what if it failed?
Ye Ziyu fiddled with her seatbelt, leaning closer to Di Mingjue. "You're a man, you understand men better. With Chen Han the way he is now, if his pursuit fails, won't he be devastated and unable to cope?"
Unable to cope?
She gave him too much credit.
In matters of the heart, Ye Chen Han's feelings for Yu Xixi were love at first sight. The feelings weren't deep, so failure wouldn't wound his true self.
Di Mingjue placed a hand on Ye Ziyu's. "Don't worry. He's an adult, he has adult coping mechanisms. Don't fret. You've had too many worries lately; your eyes are starting to show crow's feet."
Crow's feet?
Ye Ziyu opened the vanity mirror and cautiously examined her reflection. "Liar!"
"If I didn't tell you, would you even realize your current state?" Di Mingjue said tenderly. "Don't get too caught up in other people's lives. Everyone has to bear the consequences of their own actions."
Even if it brought pain, it had to be endured.
Di Mingjue reached over and unbuckled Ye Ziyu's seatbelt.
"What are you doing?" Ye Ziyu asked, surprised.
He pulled out the car key, exited the driver's seat, and walked around to the passenger side, opening the door. "Get out, I'm taking you somewhere to relax."
Relax?
Ye Ziyu looked around. They were still a long way from the Ye residence, and it was all commercial buildings. There seemed to be no place to relax.
Her hand was held by Di Mingjue. Dressed in their formal professional attire, they stood out among the passersby, yet were remarkably striking.
"Mingjue, where exactly are you taking me?" Ye Ziyu pressed.
"You'll know when we get there."
His voice mingled with the air as they wove through the crowd freely. It had been so long since she felt this unburdened. Ye Ziyu let go of her inhibitions, enjoying the freedom of running.
The wind rushed past her ears. Ye Ziyu panted, her hands resting on her knees. She looked up at Di Mingjue, who showed no signs of fatigue, and asked, "Aren't you tired?"
Di Mingjue shook his head, looking at her breathless and weary state, and playfully teased, "You need to work on your stamina."
She had excellent stamina!
Ye Ziyu rolled her eyes and playfully swatted at him. "It's all your fault, dragging me along like this."
"Alright, alright, it's all my fault. Then, to make amends, I'll carry you." Di Mingjue didn't wait for Ye Ziyu to react before scooping her up into his arms.
"Hey!"
"Hold on tight, I won't be responsible if you fall."
Feeling the jostling, Ye Ziyu quickly wrapped her arms around his neck, afraid of falling.
They passed through a forest and arrived at the seaside. The night sea glittered with phosphorescence, as if scattered with starlight.