The night ended with the cheerful clinking of glasses.
Under the vast starry sky, with the bright moon above, Ji Yu finally laid down a burden in her heart. Invited by Zhang Jun and Chen Haoting, she went along to a barbecue place—not for the food, but for the excuse: celebrating her return to singlehood.
They didn't hate Mo Yachen, but in their eyes, Ji Yu was only ever a true match for Tang Li.
Of course, they were still students. After the toasts and laughter over Ji Yu's first failed romance, the topic shifted inevitably to exams and summer vacation.
Ji Yu had managed her classes fairly well, but the same couldn't be said for the two boys across from her. Between sips of fruit wine, they swapped tricks about cheating, shared heartbreak stories, and consoled one another with little schemes to soften the looming threat of failing grades. For Ji Yu, it was also a gentle way to distract herself from the sting of heartbreak—and to feel closer, even in small steps, to Tang Li, whom she hadn't seen in months.
Time rolled into July.
The sky over Yuyang was still clear blue, but the sun blazed so fiercely that Ji Yu wondered if last month's cool breezes had been an illusion.
In the little Ji family apartment, life had seemingly returned to normal. The potted orchid on the windowsill thrived under her care, though even it drooped under the scorching heat. Down in the garden, the mingled calls of birds and insects filled the air, while sunlight filtered through Ji Yu's carefully arranged window decorations, scattering patterned light across the floor.
But things had changed.
The first change was with the two elder Ji women. Normally away all day with work, they now lounged at home, watching TV like it was their new job. Ji Yu didn't know why, but she could tell it wasn't because they'd been fired. Still, their unusual idleness made even Ji Yu—on summer break herself—uneasy.
The second change was Mo Yachen. He had stopped calling every morning just to hear her voice, stopped assigning her student council tasks. Instead, his sketches posted online told the story silently—the girl in his paintings was unmistakably her. People noticed, but no one spoke of it. His silent one-sided affection lingered, unacknowledged.
And the third change—
Tang Li.
After Ji Yu reached out to him once, he began initiating conversations again. Yet every time they talked, there was another girl's voice in the background. Ji Yu never asked directly, though it gnawed at her. Eventually, she learned the girl's name—Gu Yu.
Her chest tightened. Was it jealousy? Or something darker? The name was too close to her own.
Her heart felt hollow.
One morning, Ji Yu set the table with breakfast for three, only to see Ji Yu's older sister dragging a suitcase out of her room—at the exact same moment their mother stepped out with another case.
Confused, Ji Yu stared at the luggage, then at the sunglasses perched on her sister's nose. Before she could ask, her mother reached out, gently brushing her hair.
"You're going on a business trip again?" Ji Yu asked softly, slipping off her apron, a trace of hurt on her face.
Her sister chuckled, pinching Ji Yu's cheeks. "What's this? A few days ago you were complaining we were lazy at home, and now you can't bear to let us go?"
Her cheeks flushed, Ji Yu pouted—but then her eyes caught on a third suitcase.
"Ji Yu," her mother said warmly, "I've been too busy working all these years. I never had the chance to take you and your sister traveling. But now… finally, we have the chance to go on a trip—all three of us."
Ji Yu froze. Travel?
The word was foreign to her. In all her life, she had never left Yuzhou. Her mother's smile only deepened her disbelief.
"Really? Travel?"
Her mother explained: the company's head office was holding a meeting and a designer exchange in Hucheng. Their boss had even agreed to cover the expenses so the family could enjoy the trip together.
Ji Yu's plain, pretty face lit up like never before, her blue eyes sparkling. "Wait—so we get to go on a trip for free? Seriously? …This isn't some scam, right?"
Her mother and sister nodded with amused patience.
"Where are we going? Do I even need to pack?"
Her sister smirked, handing her three plane tickets.
"Hucheng."
Ji Yu's eyes widened. "Hucheng?!"
Of all places… Fate truly had a sense of irony. That was exactly where Tang Li was.
She grinned mischievously. "So this was your big surprise? Trying to give me a heart attack?"
Her sister swatted her lightly on the head. "Exactly. We worked so hard to keep it a secret, and now you're just making noise. Feel guilty yet?"
Clutching the tickets, Ji Yu glanced from her sister to her mother. Their eyes were bright with the same warmth and expectation. She tucked the tickets carefully into her pocket and declared:
"Alright then! I'll accept these tickets on behalf of the Ji sisters. Now let's eat, so we can get going!"
The giant bird of steel soared into the sky, carrying them eastward.
Through drifting clouds, the plane crossed into new horizons. Within a few short hours, the city lights glittered below—the grand, international metropolis by the sea.
The Eastern Capital—Hucheng.
A city famed for its prosperity, always green and lush thanks to the southern climate and abundant rainfall. Even in July's sweltering heat, it thrived, blessed with rolling coastal grasslands and golden beaches. Tourists and locals alike filled its streets year-round, adding to its endless vitality.
By the time they rolled their luggage out of the airport, night had already fallen. Their mother hailed a car with practiced ease, striking up friendly conversation with the driver and gathering tips about the city's best sights.
Above them, stars shimmered, the moonlight softening the noisy city into something calm, almost tender.
But within Ji Yu's chest…
something restless stirred.