After reading my mind, everyone collectively begged me to watch the drama unfold!

Xu Qiuye recalled the conversation before she left home and regretted letting the other person lead her astray.

He lowered his head, his expression unreadable: "Lin Guiyi."

Hearing him call his name unexpectedly, Lin Gui turned his head to look.

She could only vaguely see Xu Qiuye's lips opening and closing, and the content of her voice entered her mind.

“I appreciate your presence today, but please don’t offer me any financial assistance. I have hands and feet, and I can work and study as I always have. Besides, I’m used to it.”

At this point, Xu Qiuye raised her face, her lips twitching into a smile: "At worst, I'll just spend the breakup fee I received."

The two stopped, and Lin Guiyi quietly looked at the smile on his face, which was so bitter, filled with endless sorrow, yet he smiled to hide these feelings from being seen.

"Stop laughing."

A gentle breeze carried these soft words to Xu Qiuye's ears.

His heart skipped a beat for no reason, his eyelashes trembled, and his eyes welled up with tears. He subconsciously lowered his head so that no one could see.

Lin Guiyi sighed: "Xu Qiuye, I'm not just sponsoring you personally, I'm simply attracted by your potential. I think investing in you will yield greater returns."

Xu Qiuye's eyes were slightly red, and she lowered her head.

A pair of hands brushed against my shoulder, and a voice said, "Okay, stop thinking too much, let's keep going."

The two walked silently down the street without saying a word.

Most of the shops on both sides of the street had their shutters down, with only a few convenience stores and food stalls still lit up.

The food stalls exuded an enticing aroma, displaying a variety of foods that attracted passersby to stop and linger.

"Are you going to eat?"

"Can"

They each bought some snacks and continued walking.

Their footsteps were unhurried, the soft rustling of their shoes against the ground creating a melody in the quiet night.

The two ate the food in their hands, breaking the previous inexplicable silence.

Lin Guiyi laughed and said, "The snacks outside are indeed the best. I wonder what seasonings these vendors add."

I advise you not to know.

The two looked at each other, smiled, and then bent over laughing.

At this moment, Xu Qiuye reached out and picked up a leaf from her shoulder, then casually tossed it onto the lawn.

After walking for a while, the two started walking forward.

"Xu Qiuye, we're friends, right?"

Xu Qiuye paused for a moment, then chuckled, "Of course."

"So, it's normal for a friend to lend you some money temporarily to help you out, right?"

……

Xu Qiuye remained silent. He knew that Lin Guiyi wouldn't give up until she gave him a definite answer, and deep down he himself was also... After a long while, he slowly spoke, "Of course."

Hearing this answer, Lin Gui smiled. He thought Xu Qiuye was going to refuse again, and he was prepared to just do it first and ask for permission later.

"Afterwards, I will send your WeChat to someone, and you two can chat on your own."

"Okay, I'll pay you back later."

"whatever"

After finishing this task, Lin Guiyi felt much more relaxed and suggested, "Let's have a race and see who can get back to your building first."

After agreeing to the other party's financial assistance, Xu Qiuye originally thought she would feel awkward and uncomfortable, but unexpectedly she felt relaxed instead.

Hearing her suggestion, he nodded: "Okay!"

Lin Guiyi pointed to a line on the road: "Let's use this as the starting line."

The two stood in place and said in unison, "One, two, three, begin!"

After saying that, the two started running back the way they came.

After running for a long time, Lin Guiyi finally reached the finish line. She was panting, with a smile in the corners of her eyes and a smile on her face: "You won."

"Fortunately."

Lin Guiyi rested for a while, then looked at him and said, "That's enough for today, I'm going back."

Xu Qiuye looked up at the sky and said, "Why don't you sleep at my place tonight? You can sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the sofa."

"No"

Seeing her resolute expression, Xu Qiuye didn't insist and suggested, "I'll take you."

"What? Afraid I'll run into danger?" Lin Guiyi smiled with a mocking expression.

"Well, you are a girl after all, so you should be careful late at night."

"Oh...is that so? I thought you'd fallen for me instead."

Instantly, Xu Qiuye's face turned bright red, and she quickly waved her hands, "No, no, no."

Lin Guiyi tilted his head slightly: "Why? Am I not good-looking? Am I not a good person?"

“No, I…” Xu Qiuye lowered her head and whispered, “I only like boys.”

Lin Guiyi absolutely adored him like this. She went over and hugged him, saying, "There are plenty of fish in the sea. Don't just be hung up on one, especially a rotten one."

"Yeah. I know."

Seeing him like this, Lin Guiyi was completely relieved. She knew that her actions today would not make him forget Lin Shufeng easily, but it was good enough that he was willing to give up slowly.

Besides, there's so much time ahead; time will eventually heal these wounds.

The taxi arrived, and Lin Guiyi got in, looking out the window at the people outside: "Let's go back."

Seeing the other person obediently nod, she looked away.

When Lin Guiyi returned home and entered the living room, he was somewhat surprised to see his father sitting on the sofa watching TV.

"dad"

Lin's father turned his head and saw her: "You're back."

"Um"

Lin Guiyi greeted them and then went upstairs to wash up.

Lying in bed, Lin Guiyi recalled the phone call he had made earlier that day.

Hey mistress, check up on Lin Xiaoxiao's scandals!

【OK】

The system's excited voice rang out, "We can enjoy some gossip again! And it's about the female lead, so it's bound to be quite sensational."

Within seconds, the system replied: [Host, found it!]

Lin Guiyi looked at the panel that appeared in front of him and subconsciously closed his eyes.

Forget it, I'm not watching anymore.

【Ah~】The system’s disappointed voice rang out: 【Host, why aren’t you watching?】You were so eager to follow the gossip before, and now that you’ve found some juicy gossip, you’re not watching it anymore.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The dim light from the bedside lamp cast a faint glow, projecting Lin Guiyi's figure onto the white wall. She lay quietly on the bed, her soft hair spread out freely on the pillow, like a messy ink painting.

Her body occasionally shifted slightly, as if resisting some invisible force.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from her smooth forehead, shimmering under the light like a layer of crystalline gauze.

Her brows furrowed unconsciously, forming a small "川" (river) character, an outward manifestation of her deep-seated unease and fear.

Her breathing gradually became rapid and erratic, her chest rising and falling slightly. Suddenly, her lips trembled slightly, uttering a few indistinct murmurs, her voice filled with panic and helplessness. Her hands instinctively gripped the blanket tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force, as if it were her only support in the darkness.

As the dream progressed, her struggles intensified, her body writhing restlessly, as if she were sinking into an inescapable nightmare abyss. Her eyes darted rapidly beneath her tightly closed eyelids, as if she were desperately running and hiding from something in the dream.

"Don't, don't..."

Tears streamed down her cheeks.