Shi-Han muttered the words under her breath and was about to call an ambulance when Jun-Yu, from the sofa behind her, raised one hand to his head and the other slightly upward and said—
Jun-Yu: "No need, Miss Shankchunni. Could you give me some water? My head is spinning badly and I feel nauseous."
As Jun-Yu spoke in a broken, breathless voice, he slowly lowered his hand. Seeing him seemingly normal, Shi-Han forced a fake smile and quickly handed him a glass of water.
Shi-Han: "Sorry, Jun-Yu. I'll bring it right away. Here, have some water."
Jun-Yu took the glass with trembling hands, took a sip, and let out a deep breath.
Jun-Yu: "If you keep acting so reckless, one day you'll end up in jail for murdering me, Shankchunni. And that day, I won't be alive to prove your innocence."
Jun-Yu's words made Shi-Han feel slightly lighter, and she said in a playful tone—
Shi-Han: "Jun-Yu, do you really think I'm that close to you, that even if I killed you, you'd still forgive me if you had the chance?"
Perhaps Shi-Han said this out of her hidden feelings for Jun-Yu. But Jun-Yu, after hearing her words, said nothing. He simply pressed his lips tightly together and sat in silence.
Seeing his condition, Shi-Han quickly changed the topic and said with a smile—
Shi-Han: "Sorry, sorry. I'll tell you everything later. If you're feeling too bad, the washroom is over there. I'll help you."
The moment Shi-Han said that, Jun-Yu removed his hand from his face and said, slightly breathless—
Jun-Yu: "I'm fine, Shi-Han. But do you know I always have headaches these days? Especially after waking up from sleep. And now, because of what you just did, I can't even explain how badly my head hurts."
Shi-Han: "Jun-Yu, I'm still telling you—come to the hospital with me. If something happens to you like that day, I won't be able to face you ever again."
Jun-Yu: "Miss Shankchunni, listen. I came here to apologize to you."
As soon as Jun-Yu said that, Shi-Han remembered that day's incident. She felt too embarrassed to face him. After insulting Jun-Yu, she had been slapped by him in public at the bar. Shi-Han had been holding a deep resentment toward him. Although she later stayed by his side for a while, once things calmed down, she had quietly started avoiding him.
Jun-Yu: "It's been two days since I last saw you. And my mother has been with Shu-Yang for the past two days. I thought I'd bring some healthy food for them, and after coming from the hospital, I would take you out."
Before Jun-Yu could continue, Shi-Han interrupted—
Shi-Han: "I'm sorry for what happened just now. I was a little disturbed. If you want, I can hold my ears and do sit-ups, but please forgive me, Jun-Yu. I'm grateful to you."
Saying that, Shi-Han sadly held her ears in front of him. No matter how much resentment she had toward Jun-Yu, she knew she had done wrong by humiliating him. Jun-Yu raised his hand and said—
Jun-Yu: "No need. And the question of forgiving you doesn't even arise, Miss Shankchunni. Since the day I became your friend, I've been your punching bag. You were disturbed, and besides, I slapped you in public at the bar, and you hit my head. It's even. But I'm giving you one last chance—change yourself. Don't make yourself look like someone who can be looked down upon in public."
Shi-Han: "Sorry, Jun-Yu, I—"
Jun-Yu: "You don't need to say sorry. I actually came to apologize for the bar incident. That's why I wanted to take you out tonight. But it's fine. I don't know your background, but I'll say this—earning respect and maintaining it is very difficult. People won't respect you, they'll respect your talent. The moment your ability is misused even slightly, your earned respect will turn into a kingdom of quicksand. In an instant, everything you built will collapse and be washed away by the raging waves of the sea."
After saying that, Jun-Yu stood up from the sofa and took two steps forward before stopping again. Shi-Han had martial arts training, so she could endure physical pain better than normal people. But Jun-Yu was the opposite. Moreover, the head is the most vulnerable part of the body. He stood there holding his head, feeling like the world was still spinning.
Thinking about how Shi-Han kept hurting Jun-Yu again and again, her heart felt like it was being torn apart. She didn't know what to say.
"What have I done, Shi-Han? Do I really love Jun-Yu, or am I trying to destroy him? How much more will he have to suffer because of me?"
Unable to find an answer, Shi-Han felt like crying, but she held herself together and said—
Shi-Han: "Jun-Yu… should I walk you home?"
Jun-Yu lowered his hand and gestured—
Jun-Yu: "No, it's fine."
After saying that, Jun-Yu left Shi-Han's apartment.
As soon as he left, Shi-Han punched the wall and cried—
"Shi-Han, you're a demon. Grandma was right. You will never be able to maintain a good relationship with anyone. Jun-Yu, I'm sorry… why am I always the one to blame, Jun-Yu? I never wanted to hurt you. How do I make you understand that?"
★★★
Jun-Yu was standing in front of the spotless white basin wearing a black T-shirt and a dark blue towel around his neck, breathing heavily with long, deep sighs. The sound of running water from the basin tap could be heard clearly, and tiny droplets of water were visible on his face.
Suddenly, Jun-Yu turned off the tap, tightly closed his eyes once, and immediately opened them again. Then, while wiping his face with the towel, he walked to the dining table and swallowed two painkillers and two sleeping pills at once. After that, he threw the towel onto the single-seater sofa, moved to the three-seater sofa, hugged a pillow, and lay down on his side.
Within a short time, Jun-Yu fell asleep. And just after he had fallen asleep, Shi-Han rang the doorbell of Jun-Yu's apartment. Since Jun-Yu had taken sleeping pills, the sound of the doorbell did not reach his ears. Not seeing Jun-Yu open the door, Shi-Han worried whether Jun-Yu was okay and thought to herself—
Shi-Han: "Did Jun-Yu go somewhere? Is his body okay? Why am I so worried? I still have Jun-Yu's apartment key anyway."
That day in the hospital, Jun-Yu had given Shi-Han the key to his apartment, but she never returned it. Shi-Han was a bit disturbed, so she also forgot to return it.
Using that key today, Shi-Han entered Jun-Yu's apartment and saw him sleeping on the sofa. Shi-Han understood that Jun-Yu was asleep, and she slowly walked closer to him while thinking—
"Jun-Yu got a head injury a while ago. If I gently massage his head now, his sleep will be better. And if he sleeps well, his headache will also improve quickly."
Thinking this, Shi-Han began massaging Jun-Yu's head. But to Shi-Han, the sleeping Jun-Yu looked extremely cute and charming today. While she was massaging his head with both hands, her eyes kept drifting toward his rose-colored lips.
After a while, Jun-Yu, half-asleep, mistook Shi-Han's hand for a pillow and suddenly hugged it.
Shi-Han: "Jun-Yu! Ah…"
When Jun-Yu unconsciously held her hand, Shi-Han softly called his name, but there was no response. Due to the sleeping pills, Jun-Yu had fallen into a deeper sleep again.
Shi-Han was now standing beside Jun-Yu with his hand still in hers. How long would she stand like this? Jun-Yu was holding her hand tightly, and Shi-Han's hand was starting to hurt. Not knowing what to do, she moved to the front side of Jun-Yu's head, knelt down, and began gently stroking his silky hair with her right hand.
Suddenly, Shi-Han imagined herself in Jun-Yu's place. Shi-Han was sleeping on the sofa, and Jun-Yu was gently stroking her head and kissing her forehead.
When Jun-Yu kissed Shi-Han's forehead, Shi-Han jerked slightly and opened her eyes, realizing she had fallen asleep while watching him sleep. The kiss she felt was just her imagination.
Seeing this dream, Shi-Han smiled softly at Jun-Yu and lightly touched his soft lips, whispering—
Shi-Han: "Jun-Yu, if I were the one who owned your gentle lips, I would be the luckiest woman in the world."
After saying this, Shi-Han kissed Jun-Yu on the forehead. Then she looked at him once more and slowly fell asleep.
---
"Scene—86"
**Around 7 in the evening, Xiao-Tong was standing in front of the boys' hostel repeatedly calling Kai-Wen. Kai-Wen was not answering the phone. Since returning from Beijing, Kai-Wen had been avoiding Xiao-Tong. Today, Xiao-Tong had come to meet Kai-Wen.
After waiting for a long time, Xiao-Tong suddenly heard a voice behind her from the hostel entrance—
"Honey, come on, let's go for dinner together today."
Kai-Wen took out his phone from his pocket, ended the call, and showed it to the girl while saying—
Kai-Wen: "Baby, not today. Look, the office is calling me. I have to go there immediately. Don't be angry. I'll take you to the cherry festival in the park tomorrow."
Hearing Kai-Wen's voice, Xiao-Tong turned around with a furrowed brow and saw Kai-Wen standing at the hostel entrance with a girl, holding her shoulder and talking.
Xiao-Tong never imagined she would see Kai-Wen like this with another girl.
Xiao-Tong: "Kai-Wen."
When Xiao-Tong called him, Kai-Wen tightened his grip on the girl's shoulder. Seeing her beloved like this made Xiao-Tong feel as if her chest was being torn apart. Still, she controlled herself and walked toward Kai-Wen, then suddenly started hitting him using martial arts she had learned for love's sake.
Xiao-Tong kept hitting Kai-Wen, and the girl with him angrily shouted at Xiao-Tong—
Girl: "Who are you? Why are you hitting my boyfriend? Who gave you the right to hit my boyfriend?"
The girl raised her voice arrogantly, but Xiao-Tong slapped her hard across the face and said—
Xiao-Tong: "Shut up, you shameless, disgusting, characterless girl! Who is your boyfriend? Kai-Wen is my boyfriend! How dare you claim him as yours?"
Hearing this, the girl angrily looked at Kai-Wen. Kai-Wen then held the girl's shoulder tightly again and said—
Kai-Wen: "Shin-Ran is my future wife. How dare you touch her? Apologize to my girlfriend right now, or I'll call the police."
Hearing Kai-Wen's words, tears rolled down Xiao-Tong's eyes. She stepped back from them, but emotionally she again tried to pull Kai-Wen's hand away from Shin-Ran and said—
Xiao-Tong: "Kai-Wen, what are you saying? Our relationship of so many years… we never even had any fight. Why are you doing this to me?"
Kai-Wen: "At Bo-Hai Park, what did you say about that boy? 'Break-up, that boy is so handsome, I didn't know there were such handsome guys in Beijing… if I had known earlier, I wouldn't have been in a relationship with you.' Have you forgotten all that?"
The boy Kai-Wen was talking about was none other than Jun-Yu.
Xiao-Tong grabbed Kai-Wen's left hand and pleaded—
Xiao-Tong: "Kai-Wen, that boy was Jun-Yu. Shi-Han likes him. I only said that to make you jealous as a joke. You knew it yourself. Even you teased Shi-Han about Jun-Yu that day. You're still holding onto that joke. I'm sorry for that day. You also know I have no feelings for Jun-Yu. Please forget everything and let's start again."
Kai-Wen forcefully pulled his hand away and said—
Kai-Wen: "Wow, so you even know his name now. Listen, Xiao-Tong, I had no interest in you, and I don't have any now either. You were just my time pass. From today, even that is over. Don't call me again, and don't follow me anymore. Shin-Ran, let's go for dinner. Don't misunderstand, I've already explained everything. Let's go."
Kai-Wen held Shin-Ran's hand and left. Xiao-Tong watched them go and cried out—
Xiao-Tong: "Kai-Wen, listen! You can't do this to me! Stop! Please listen to me once! Give me one last chance!"
But Kai-Wen did not look back. Xiao-Tong only cried loudly.
Her head felt heavy, everything was spinning—
"In this world, the person I trusted the most also left me. No mother, no father, no relatives… I am alone. How will I survive? Who will I live for? Why should I live? I have no right to live like someone useless…"
Lost in these thoughts, Xiao-Tong walked toward the main road in front of the hostel gate. She was still in a dazed state when suddenly a bright light flashed and a car came speeding toward her, honking loudly.
But Xiao-Tong didn't notice. Just as the car was about to hit her, someone suddenly pulled her away and rolled to the side of the road.
Xiao-Tong was underneath, and the boy who saved her was on top of her—he was none other than Ji-Shuan. He was breathing heavily, showing how much risk he had taken.
Ji-Shuan looked at Xiao-Tong and kept breathing heavily. After a few moments, Xiao-Tong lost consciousness upon seeing him.
Ji-Shuan didn't know that Xiao-Tong had almost been given a lethal overdose of heroin just two days ago. Seeing her faint, Ji-Shuan gently tapped her face and called her—
Ji-Shuan: "Sister! Xiao-Tong, wake up! Sister… It looks like she fainted from extreme shock."