She sat on the terrace, legs crossed like a child, leisurely eating watermelon while attentively listening. When the story reached a fascinating part, she couldn’t help but become lost in thought, her spirit soaring. This crude yet gallant man really seemed like a hero.

Seeing her naive look, Wan Donglin couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. This girl, unconsciously, was behaving just like before.

Especially the way she looked at him—that admiring gaze—made him feel elated.

Indeed, his extreme infatuation with her had started with that very look. It was a look that ninety-nine percent of women reserved only for expensive jewelry or luxury goods.

In his entire life, she was the only woman who had ever looked up to him like this. Between people, it really did come down to fate.

"Homely Hero, I want some sunflower seeds..."

"Homely Hero, this tea is cold. I want a hot one."

Unknowingly, she had started bossing him around again.

He delightedly placed the items in front of her.

She quickly asked, "What happened next?"

With an enigmatic smile, he asked, "Do you still want more watermelon?"

She suddenly snapped to her senses, her face flushing crimson.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand his feelings. This was clear from how he had consistently and deliberately nurtured her: improving her inherent qualities, her self-reliance, and even paving the way for her future career. Even when he left, he had never truly allowed her to fall into danger—someone had always been protecting her in secret.

This love had never ceased.

It was just that, for the moment, she couldn’t quite escape the shadow of the past two-plus months.

People who have survived a plane crash, even if by sheer luck, often spend the rest of their lives too afraid to ever fly again.

Yan Xixi felt much the same way.

Especially since he was just as affectionate and doting as ever—completely without any lingering resentment or awkwardness.

But she couldn’t.

"Yan Xixi, you must never lose the courage and ability to live independently!"

"Yan Xixi, if you want to marry Donglin, you must be prepared to withstand pressure! Remember, you don’t have the qualifications to just be a decorative vase."

The words still echoed in her ears. How could she dare to repeat the same mistakes?

Right then, she truly wasn’t prepared to withstand the pressure, nor had she cultivated enough inner strength.

Perhaps one day she would finally be able to, but that would take time and a process.

Certain fears had already taken root deep within her, subtly, persistently reminding her that she had to consider the cost.

Dependence, over time, turns into inertia.

She had painstakingly eliminated most of this inertia. But was it going to flare up again in an instant?

To her own dismay, she even noticed her surrender accelerating. She was gradually getting used to him being around the house again. Every day, no matter where she went, she would hurry back home, terrified that he might disappear again at any moment.

"Xixi..."

She said hurriedly, "I just remembered I have something to do... You go ahead and get busy..."

Wan Donglin watched her retreating figure and couldn’t help but sigh softly to himself.

The temperature reached a record high, and the boutique district saw noticeably fewer pedestrians.

It was a little after 4 p.m. when Yan Xixi walked in, feeling as though a layer of salt had crystallized on her skin.

Xu Xiaoya quickly asked, "Xixi, have you booked your flight yet?"

"Not yet. I’ll take a look. Maybe next week."

"Sigh... You’re leaving. I really won’t be used to you not being here. We haven’t been separated for long in so many years."

Yan Xixi laughed. "Once I’m settled, you can come visit. And I’ll come back during the winter and summer breaks."

Xu Xiaoya still looked crestfallen.

Let alone married couples, even close friends felt the pain of a long separation and were reluctant to part.