He has disappeared.

Lu Yichen seemed tireless and impervious to pain, charging forward again and again with reckless abandon, only to be thrown to the ground each time, then crawling back up to try once more. Gradually, a voice in his heart whispered to him: If you can defeat the coach, you’ll surely be able to be with Xia Yuwei! Blood streaked his lips, his body covered in bruises, yet his gaze remained sharp as he assumed an attacking stance once more. Yes, no matter how formidable the opponent, he would not be afraid; no matter how many obstacles, nothing could stop him from winning her heart!

Once…
And again…
Yet again…
One more time…

His stamina seemed extraordinary, growing fiercer with every bout. Coach Wang Qianqin, who had trained him in taekwondo since he was eight, watched in shock—what had gotten into this child today?

This time, Lu Yichen focused his mind on a single point, responding to movement with stillness. As Wang Qianqin launched a swift flying kick, Lu caught his opponent’s calf, flipped him over in a flash, and followed up with a spinning kick!

“Bang!” Wang Qianqin hit the ground, utterly astonished.

****************************************************

Xia Yuwei closed up her shop herself and took the bus home. After getting off, she bought some fruit at a nearby supermarket; she would usually pick up some vegetables too, to cook a meal. Today, she had neither the mood to cook nor the appetite to eat.

She put down her bag, changed into comfortable clothes, and stashed the grapes and pears in the refrigerator, absentmindedly shutting the door. Suddenly remembering she’d want fruit later, she opened it again, took out a bunch of grapes and a pear, washed them, placed them on a plate, and brought them into the living room.

She turned on the television and sat on the sofa, peeling the pear. Her eyes were fixed on the screen, but it was as if she saw nothing at all.

Ever since Lu Yichen, for once, obediently left the shop, her heart had not found peace.

Though she was only eighteen, she’d grown used to him calling her “old lady” since childhood.

In his eyes, she was an old woman; in hers, he was a child.

His domineering wildness, her indulgent pampering.

Since their first meeting when he was six, every one of his birthdays had been spent together.

He would wrap his arm around her waist and cling to her, he liked to eat the cake she’d already tasted, he would call her “old woman” and “auntie” without the slightest manners… Fine, she endured it all, because he was just a kid.

But today, how could he treat her this way?

Ah, her head throbbed—perhaps she regretted being too good to him…

“Blame your excessive beauty, like a venomous snake entwining our fates…”

A familiar ringtone startled her. She glanced at the screen—it was a number she vaguely recognized. She pressed answer. “Hello?”

“Miss Xia? This is Lin Boyang, the steward of the Lu residence.”

“Oh, hello! Is there something you need?” Why was he calling so late?

“I’m calling to ask if Young Master Lu is with you. It’s already nine o’clock and he hasn’t come home yet—I can’t reach him…”

“What?!” Xia Yuwei stood up abruptly.