Headache.

Chen Xi was naturally intelligent and had an innate understanding of relationships between men and women. After being rejected, she became even more reckless, making Yan Feng wonder if she was the same person he had known before…

Recalling the cold and guarded look in the young girl's eyes when they first met, compared to her current dependence and clinginess, he really didn't know if this was a good thing…

The good news was that Chen Xi had become much more cheerful.

The bad news was that she had developed feelings for him.

But regardless of the reason, he knew very well that he had to keep his distance from the young girl.

…………

The next day was Saturday, a special day.

When Yan Feng got up in the morning, he looked dejected, staring at the empty ceiling for a long time before letting out a long sigh.

He got up and washed up.

The young girl happened to be in the bathroom too. Hearing the sound, she came over and stood beside him, deliberately getting very close.

He could even smell the scent of locust flowers emanating from her.

Yan Feng didn't say anything, just silently moved half a step to the side, but Chen Xi was like a piece of sticky candy that he couldn't shake off. Wherever he went, she followed, almost pushing him into a corner.

Fortunately, washing up didn't take long, and it was quickly over.

"Uncle, you seem unhappy today?" During breakfast, Chen Xi, sitting at the dining table, reached out to hold the man's hand and asked in confusion, "Are you worried about us? It's okay, Uncle, you can think it over, I can wait, we can take it slow..."

Yan Feng quietly withdrew his hand, remained silent for less than five seconds, and then said:

"Little Xi, there's no possibility between us. You should find someone your own age to date, not someone like me..."

"Not someone like you, an uncle, right?" Chen Xi interrupted, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth. "But I just like your type, so what should I do?"

Silence fell between them again.

The young girl smiled with her eyes, while the man wore a troubled expression.

After a long while, Yan Feng sighed, stood up to clear the table, and instructed, "I have something to do today, so I'll be going out. Stay home and don't go far if you go out to play, understand?"

Hearing this, the young girl smiled knowingly and teased, "Worried about me, Uncle? Are you afraid I might really fall for another guy?"

"I just don't want to have to explain things to your mom later." The man replied calmly, ignoring the young girl's stiff smile.

Leaving the house, he got on his electric bike. Today, he was going to a special place.

To visit... a friend he hadn't seen in a long time.

The destination was far, located in the suburbs, and it took him about an hour to get there.

After parking the bike, the man took a deep breath, trying to relax, and looked up at the somewhat simple building in front of him, with two prominent characters on it—

[Cemetery]

As he stepped inside, an old man appeared, bent over, tending to the flowers beneath him.

"Uncle Zhang," Yan Feng greeted, "long time no see."

The old man straightened up, still hunched, and looked at the visitor with a cheerful smile. As he walked towards a nearby house, he said, "You come to see me every month, so it hasn't been that long... Is it the same as usual?"

"Yes." Yan Feng nodded, his gaze falling on the thriving flowers, and continued, "Thank you."

Hearing this, the old man nodded and then went inside to find something.

They weren't very familiar initially, but ever since Bai Xi passed away, Yan Feng had made it a point to visit her every month, to talk to her and bring some offerings.

The old man happened to manage this cemetery and sold the corresponding offerings. Over time, they became familiar with each other, developing a mutual understanding. If Yan Feng wasn't busy during his visits, he would stay a bit longer to chat and pass the time.

Not long after, Uncle Zhang came out, holding freshly cut chrysanthemums and some paper money, which he handed directly to the man.

"Go ahead," the old man said with a smile, "you're a bit late this month; that girl must be getting impatient."

Yan Feng nodded, hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Uncle Zhang... can I borrow a broom?"

…………

In the silent place, the sky was clear and bright.

There weren't many people visiting today, making the already quiet cemetery even more peaceful. The man was now looking at the name etched in his memory, slowly squatting down to place the flowers he brought.

[Bai Xi]

Yan Feng caressed the two characters, silent and wordless, over and over, as if he were touching the face of a lover, or questioning his own heart.

Pain, shame, guilt.

Those two characters were not only carved into the stone but also into his heart, accompanying every heartbeat, coursing through his body with the guidance of his blood, becoming the sole faith of his life.

But now...

The faith had been tainted, the blood poisoned, leaving only an empty shell, shattered along with nails and hair, becoming a scorned wretch.

That's how he saw himself now.

Yan Feng silently withdrew his hand, took the paper money from behind him, lit it, and placed it in the brazier beside the tombstone.

In the past, when he visited Bai Xi, he would always smile and talk to her about many things, like work or people he met.

But today, he remained silent, holding a stack of paper money, watching the flames in the brazier, mechanically sending them to her one by one.

He couldn't bring himself to talk about Chen Xi.

For Chen Xi to find him in the end, it meant Bai Xi had already seen him as the last hope. Besides him, no one else could continue to take care of the young girl, but now...

Unable to figure it out, he chose not to dwell on it. The man sighed, finished burning the paper money, stood up, and picked up a broom to clean the concrete ground around the tombstone.

He swept meticulously, leaving no speck of dust untouched, whether out of longing or guilt.

After sweeping the grave, Yan Feng chose to leave directly, bidding farewell to the old man. Before leaving, he glanced back at the resting woman, his lips moved, but no words came out.

He... felt a bit sad.

Too many things had happened recently, too chaotic, leaving him somewhat exhausted, his suppressed spirit increasingly weary, desperately needing to vent his frustrations.

So he found himself in a place both unfamiliar and familiar.

By now, it was nearing nightfall. The man stood in front of a bar, hesitated not, and pushed the door open.

"Welcome... Eh? Old classmate, is that you?"

There weren't many people in the bar. A man in his thirties sat at the bar counter. Seeing Yan Feng, he laughed and greeted, "Isn't the company keeping you busy? How come you have time to visit me?"

"Cut the crap," Yan Feng walked up, jokingly scolded, sat on a stool, and said in a muffled voice, "Aren't you a bartender? Mix me a drink..."