CHAPTER 346: IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO KNOW 140 NOW.

Shen You’an took a deep breath and didn’t turn back. "Up late at night without sleeping? Enjoying the moonlight outside?"

"Couldn’t sleep. Came out to sit for a bit. What about you?"

Shen You’an suddenly turned around and walked step by step toward the rain pavilion.

Under the moonlight, the girl’s jade-like complexion and flower-like beauty were breathtakingly stunning.

The silvery moonlight paled in comparison to the girl’s slightly pale visage. Between her brows seemed to linger a faint trace of light sorrow, which added even more captivating grace to her features.

With skin like ice, bone like jade, as lovely as spring peaches and tender plums, she stood there quietly, as if even the moonlight dimmed before such unparalleled beauty.

The boy tilted his face upward, his eyes trembling.

"Crash." The porcelain cup in his hand dropped to the ground, rolling to his feet.

"Had a nightmare. Came out to get some air."

Shen You’an sat across from him, took the teapot, and poured herself a cup of tea without a second thought.

"No wonder you can’t sleep. Drinking this strong tea will only make insomnia worse."

Liu Runxi realized his blunt staring was inappropriate and quickly averted his gaze. His fingertips, resting on his knees, were trembling faintly.

In this moment, his heart was anything but calm, as though a monstrous wave surged within a once-tranquil lake.

The fleeting glimpse of that stunning visage replayed endlessly in his mind. Unable to resist, he raised his eyes again.

The girl sat quietly, lowered her gaze, and sipped her tea.

It was the familiar Shen You’an, yet her face was beautiful to the point of feeling strange, almost startling.

"An’an, you..."

Simply removing a pair of glasses—how could her appearance change so drastically?

This was beyond belief.

But Liu Runxi’s good upbringing kept him from probing further. Instead, he shifted his attention to what Shen You’an had just said.

"Nightmare?"

Shen You’an lowered her head and chuckled softly. "Yes, a terrible nightmare."

Liu Runxi’s gaze turned profound, and when the girl lifted her head, he promptly diverted his eyes, the motion carrying a tinge of awkwardness.

Faced with absolute beauty, only a saint could remain unmoved.

He was just an ordinary person.

Liu Runxi’s fingertips trembled slightly as he rasped in a quiet voice, "Could you tell me? Nightmares, when spoken aloud, can be broken."

Shen You’an pondered for a moment, then began to speak slowly. "A young actress who rose from the bottom, earnestly and resolutely pursuing her craft. But her hard work didn’t earn her rewards—instead, because she refused unspoken rules, she was maliciously blacklisted and vilified. Even breathing seemed a mistake. Her life was impoverished, and she ultimately froze to death on the streets one winter’s night. Living like that—isn’t it tragic?"

As Shen You’an spoke, she laughed. A faint smile, light as mist, as though it might dissipate the next moment in the haze.

The next instant, a coat slipped onto her shoulders, warmth surrounding her.

Shen You’an froze briefly, and when she looked up, the boy was already seated across from her again.

Shen You’an touched the coat on her shoulder, a fragmented image flashing swiftly across her mind.

"What does it matter if your clothes get stained, as long as your resolve remains intact? To stay true to one’s moral compass and principles in a world tainted by corruption—such idealism is admirable and worthy of respect. In this society, it’s incredibly rare and valuable."

The boy’s gentle gaze resembled the spring waters, seemingly capable of embracing all things.

Shen You’an paused, caught in the vast darkness of the night, quietly watching him.

"Isn’t she foolish?"

"Foolish?" The boy smiled and shook his head.

"Someone with faith and principles in their heart—how could they be foolish? Weathering great storms yet remaining steadfast in their resolve—at the moment of facing death, if she were to look back at every choice made in her life, I think she wouldn’t feel regret. Without regret, even a short life can be dazzlingly brilliant."

Shen You’an’s bright gaze rested on him.

No one had ever told her this before. Shen You’an, you made the right choice. You are worthy before heaven and your own heart.

"This society inherently unleashes human desires, equating the pursuit of different cravings on a flat plane. Idealists breathe a hint of spirit into the mundane existence, proving their nobility through their uniqueness. As long as today isn’t the end of history, their vitality will always remain."

The boy looked at her tenderly.

The cold night deepened, yet warmth surrounded her slowly, imperceptibly.

"To know the pine’s purity, wait until the snow melts. Only through the baptism of reality does her soul become even more resplendent."

Shen You’an’s soul trembled suddenly.

Unknowingly, her eyes felt a little warm.

She had walked alone in the darkness for a very, very long time, already exhausted beyond measure. When she couldn’t persevere, she had questioned the choices she made back then. Yet no matter what, she ultimately clenched her teeth and pushed forward, even if battered and bruised, even if stumbling and falling—she kept moving forward.

One day, someone had gently and resolutely told her, "Your choice was not wrong."

It turned out that in this world, there was indeed someone who understood her.

"If only she had met you earlier."

The boy smiled slightly. "Meeting now is not too late either."

Shen You’an looked up sharply.

The boy’s dark eyes were warmer and brighter than the stars above, as though they could see through everything in the world.

In his gaze, Shen You’an saw her reflection clearly.

That lone boat drifting for so long across the vast sea, battered by countless storms and waves, had finally reached the clearing skies and guiding light. Following the call of destiny, she saw a harbor waiting to embrace her.

Night enveloped them; cold dew thickened. Afterward, neither spoke again. Only prolonged silence and wordless companionship remained, along with the faint sounds of unknown insects chirping from distant valleys and mountains, bringing a touch of elegance to the night.

Shen You’an gradually forgot her physical pain, and the nightmares that haunted her dissolved in an instant, sinking into the deep sea of memory.

Some words did not need to be said aloud; understanding was mutual.

Long afterward, amidst the night wind, the boy’s soft voice drifted over. "It’s late. Go back and rest. A dreamless night, a peaceful sleep."

"Alright, you too. Don’t drink any more strong tea."

The boy lowered his gaze and chuckled. "Perhaps it’s already become a habit."

No one knew that Liu Runxi, under his serene and radiant exterior, battled chronic insomnia year-round.

His forehead felt a faint, cool kiss, like ice melting into his brow.

He froze for a moment.

In his ears, the girl’s laughing voice lingered. "Actually, I can use magic. I’ve already cast a spell on you. Go back and rest—you’ll have a peaceful sleep tonight."

With that, she turned gracefully and walked away, disappearing into the night.

The delicate fragrance unique to her swirled in the wind, fading smoothly into the darkness. An inexplicable emptiness rose in his chest; instinctively, he reached out, wanting to grasp something. Yet only the ruthless winter wind slipped through his fingers.

On impulse, the boy raised his hand and touched his brow.

As his fingertips met his skin in that instant, his once-still heart surged with waves, a torrent crashing down and drowning him utterly.

Sitting alone for a quiet moment, he pushed aside the now-cold teacup and stood to leave the rain pavilion.

The room was unlit. Familiar with the darkness, he navigated it expertly, reaching the bed and lying down after removing his shoes.

He stared at the ceiling, though not for long this time. At some point, his eyelids drooped shut.

The boy’s tightly furrowed brows relaxed at some unknown moment, and his lips held the hint of a soft smile as he sank into sleep.

No nightmares devoured him; only birdsong, flowers, and peace awaited there.