To make up for the debt owed to Lin Qingping and Gu Juncheng

After Zhiyuan finished explaining what he needed her help with, Qingtian fell silent.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to. I was the one who was being presumptuous,” Zhiyuan said.

“No, I’m willing,” Qingtian quickly replied.

Of course she does.

He saved her life, and she would do anything he asked! She was just wondering if, one day, he wouldn't need her as his girlfriend anymore, could she break free from this relationship? Zhiyuan, you want a fake girlfriend, but I truly love you.

However, she would still say without hesitation: I do.

After saying that, she laughed and said, "How many delicious meals do you have to treat me to to repay this favor?" She pretended that she also took this as a joke, and she absolutely couldn't let him know that she really liked it.

Zhiyuan smiled and said, "As long as you're willing to come out to eat, I'll treat you every time! How about tomorrow? To show my sincerity, I'll treat you to dinner tomorrow."

Qingtian shook her head and said with a smile, "Forget it, I was just kidding. I haven't even done the job yet, and I'm already taking the pay! That won't do. I can't accept a reward without doing anything."

“Why should we talk about not accepting something for nothing? Let’s do it tomorrow!” Zhiyuan said.

Qingtian shook her head again, "I have plans with my classmates tomorrow, I don't have time."

Zhiyuan frowned. "Male or female classmate? I'll get jealous if it's a male classmate! I'm your boyfriend now."

His serious demeanor made Qingtian's heart skip a beat, but Zhiyuan's immediate burst of laughter brought her back to her senses: he was just joking.

She laughed too, "He's a male classmate."

"You don't have a boyfriend, do you?" Zhiyuan asked curiously. "If that's the case, then it wouldn't be appropriate for me to ask you for help again."

"I'm not getting married," Qingtian said.

"Not getting married?" Zhiyuan repeated, but instantly understood. Having witnessed her mother's miserable marriage, how could she possibly want to get married?

Qingtian nodded. "Yes, I'm not getting married." Unless, that person is you, but obviously, she doesn't have that chance. She really doesn't know which man in this world is worthy of her trust.

"I'm leaving, I'm going back. There really is a discussion class." What discussion class?

Qingtian had lived for twenty-nine years and never knew what it felt like to fall in love with someone. She thought she would continue to live alone like this. Unexpectedly, during the Spring Festival before Zhangzhu's college entrance examination, she had a wonderful encounter with Zhiyuan.

It turns out that falling in love with someone means wanting to see them all the time, yet also wanting to flee in panic when you finally do see them.

"Sunny, I'll call you later!" Zhiyuan called out to her retreating figure.

She waved without looking back as the sun set, and ran away.

Zhiyuan couldn't help but find it amusing. Every time they met or said goodbye, Qingtian would rush forward as if something was chasing her.

Qingtian agreed to Zhiyuan's "mission," which she figured was just a matter of showing her face at a certain opportune moment and putting on a show for people to see. Or perhaps, she didn't even need to show her face; all she needed to do was for Zhiyuan to announce it unilaterally, and if he happened to run into her, she could handle the situation properly and not give Zhiyuan away.

But she never expected that her time to make her public appearance would come so soon.

That weekend, the health system union organized a social event, including climbing the Great Wall and eating farm-style meals. On Friday night, Zhiyuan called.