It had taken forever for Lin Meilin and Li Nian to squeeze through the mass of fans at the venue's exit. If they hadn’t been holding hands, they would’ve been separated and lost in the chaos.

Meilin exhaled heavily as they finally broke free into the open air. “Geez,” she muttered, releasing Nian’s hand.

All around them, people buzzed about Lu Ruiyan’s performance—squealing, reenacting his smile, even crying. One girl sobbed to her friends about how he almost touched her.

“So tell me, Meilin,” Li Nian said with a sly grin, “Don’t pretend you didn’t enjoy it.”

Meilin scoffed, brushing her hair back. “You know I’m not really into music.”

“And who said you have to be a music person to fall in love with Lu Ruiyan? Please. I’m pretty sure you’re crushing harder than I am.”

Meilin shot her a glare, and Nian only laughed louder.

Just then, Meilin’s phone started ringing. She checked it and groaned—it was Jiang Xun.

She let the first call end without picking up, but it rang again, so she moved a little farther away from the crowd to a quieter corner.

“Hello?”

“Hello? Meilin? Is that you?” Jiang Xun’s voice came through, clearly desperate and breathless.

Meilin rolled her eyes and said nothing. He called her number yet he was asking if she was the one,who was he expecting?.

“Please, Meilin. Listen to me. I’m so sorry about what happened earlier. I... I was just carried away.”

“Really, Jiang Xun?” she cut in, voice cold. “To be honest, I never expected that from you. I mean, we’ve not even dated for long, and you tried to force yourself on me? That’s beyond absurd.”

He sighed heavily on the other end. “Please, just forgive me. I swear it’ll never happen again. Just give me one more chance—I’ll prove it to you.”

She was so caught up in the call, she didn’t even realize she had wandered into the road.

“Meilin!”

“Hey!”

Several voices shouted at once.

Startled, Meilin turned and realized she had blocked the path of several black SUVs trying to pass. She jumped out of the way instantly, heart pounding.

The convoy moved slowly, and the first two cars were clearly police vehicles. A policeman inside one of them shot her a cold glare.

The third SUV was jet black with tinted windows,completely impenetrable. But the fourth had a partially lowered window.

And in that split second, she saw him.

Lu Ruiyan.

Sitting inside the vehicle, looking out. At her.

Several girls screamed around her.

“Lu Ruiyan!!!”

“He’s here!!”

“LOOK THIS WAY!”

But Ruiyan wasn’t looking at them. He was staring directly at Meilin.

Their eyes locked for a few unforgettable seconds. Her breath caught.

He looked... like a living sculpture. No, something more. Calm. Intense. Regal.

And then the car moved on, the rest of the convoy rolling behind.

“Meilin!” Li Nian rushed to her side. “Were you hurt? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Meilin muttered, tucking strands of hair behind her ear and trying to compose herself.

“Was that... was that really him in the car?”

Meilin nodded.

Li Nian’s eyes sparkled. “You mean you saw him—up close?? What did he look like? Oh my god, tell me!”

Meilin gave her a flat look. “Didn’t you already see him on stage?”

“I know. But—”

Meilin didn’t wait for her to finish. She turned and began walking away, and Li Nian scrambled to catch up.

They reached the parked car, and thankfully, Uncle Qiao,their driver ,was still there. They both slipped into the back seat.

“Uncle Qiao, please drop Li Nian off first before taking me home,” Meilin instructed.

The driver nodded and pulled out onto the road.

Almost immediately, Meilin’s phone rang again. Jiang Xun.

She sighed and picked it. “I’m busy, okay? I’ll call you when I get home.” She didn’t wait for a reply before hanging up.

Li Nian smirked. “Oop. Was that our secret boyfriend?”

Meilin gave her a glare.

“So why don’t you want to talk to him?” Li Nian teased again. “By the way, what did he even want earlier today?”

“None of your business.”she rolled her eyes, trying to act all normal.

Li Nian assumed that she was shy and knowing Meilin wouldn’t spill, she changed the topic and started rambling about the concert, Ruiyan’s mic stand, the backup dancer who tripped, and the sparkles on Lady J’s dress.

Meilin barely listened. Her eyes drifted to the window, mind returning to him.

Lu Ruiyan.

Those eyes. The way he looked at her. So intense, so... real.

She shook herself. What am I doing?

“Hey! Are you even listening to me?” Li Nian snapped.

Meilin scratched her nape awkwardly. “Sorry.”

They soon reached Li Nian’s home.

“Don’t be late to school tomorrow, Mei. Goodnight!” Li Nian said with a wink and hopped out.

Meilin waved and they drove off.

As they passed through a slightly congested area, Meilin’s stomach growled. That’s when she spotted a roadside beef seller.

“Uncle Qiao, please pull over.”

She got out and walked to the stand.

“Good evening. How much for one stick?”

“Two Yuan each, ma’am.”

She tried one and immediately ordered three more. They were delicious.

Just as she was about to head back to the car, something caught her attention—children playing with toy ponies nearby. They spun in circles, laughing loudly.

She stood and watched, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

She had always loved watching kids play. Probably because she never got to be one.

No birthday parties. No bedtime stories. Her mother had forgotten her tenth birthday entirely.

Meilin sighed.

She'd give anything for a normal childhood or at least her mother's love and attention.