Chen Ziming offered no reply; he understood the logic, but it offered no comfort.
Seeing him about to sink into despair again, Su Yue felt a pang of sadness. She stood up, walked over, and gently embraced him.
After a short while, he pulled away again.
They couldn't even focus on the movie. With no other choice, she led him out of the room and helped him lie down comfortably on the sofa.
She stayed with him, offering quiet, somber companionship.
...
For the following period, attending school was out of the question. Su Yue had her roommates record her lecture videos.
She spent her days with Chen Ziming, and after he fell asleep at night, she would study.
During this time, she had also received calls from his family and friends. They were clearly worried about him, but dared not contact him directly.
Su Yue felt grateful for her own difficult life experiences for the first time, as it allowed her to face these pressures and anxieties with a degree of composure.
However, she remained helpless against his despondency.
This continued until the arrival of a special day.
She decided to seize the opportunity to do something to comfort his heart.
So, the day before, after he had fallen asleep, she quietly went to the community entrance and collected some things from friends waiting there.
After bringing them home and putting them away, she returned to the bedroom and snuggled into her own bed.
In the dim light of the night, she softly placed a kiss on the sleeping man's cheek.
Silently, she whispered, "Goodnight."
Then, she settled in and fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, when Chen Ziming woke up, the girl beside him was gone.
Knowing she wouldn't leave, he didn't feel anxious. He sat up, took a moment to gather himself, and went to the bathroom to wash up.
However, as he exited the bedroom, he was a little surprised.
Su Yue was arranging flowers by the living room's coffee table. Seeing him emerge, she smiled sweetly and said,
"You're awake? Are you hungry? Auntie didn't come today, I made breakfast. Come and try it~"
He then noticed the many flowers arranged around the house. Different varieties and colors, they added a lot of life to his monochrome home.
Even his mood felt significantly lighter.
Chen Ziming didn't go to the dining room. Instead, he sat down beside Su Yue and asked gently,
"Why so many flowers?"
Su Yue feigned surprise and asked, "What day is it today? Don't you remember?"
Her question genuinely stumped him. After a moment's thought, he shook his head.
"It's your 25th birthday. Happy birthday!" she said, her eyes crinkling into a smile. She casually handed him a trimmed rose.
He then remembered that it was already late November.
"These flowers were bought by Jin Yan and the others. Go check your phone; everyone has sent you birthday messages," Su Yue said, then returned to trimming other flower stems.
Chen Ziming, however, didn't move. He gazed absently at the girl diligently arranging the flowers.
The house was heated, and she was wearing only a loose, oversized white long-sleeved t-shirt and casual shorts. Her slender, fair legs were bent as she sat on the floor, her long hair casually falling behind her.
The winter sunlight streamed in through the balcony window, bathing her face and reflecting a flawless radiance.
She seemed to have applied a little makeup, her lips looking crystal clear and rosy, even captivating.
He suddenly felt as if a spark had been ignited within his heart, instantly flaring into an uncontrollable inferno.
Unable to hold back any longer, he reached out and cupped her chin, turning her face towards him.
The next moment, he leaned in to capture her enticing lips.
Su Yue was not surprised by his kiss. Quite calmly, she pulled away when he attempted to deepen it.
"You go eat first, then reply to everyone's messages. Otherwise, I won't let you kiss me."
A hint of playful coyness appeared on her face, though her eyes held a smile as she gently coaxed him.
"Okay, I'll listen to you, darling." A smile finally appeared on his face too. Before getting up, he kissed her forehead.
Then, he obediently went to the bedroom to get his phone, replying to messages as he walked to the dining room.