Jiang Shuyi looked at Wen Yao.

Deep down, she knew very well that Wen Yao had no obligation to comfort her.

Wen Yao had simply had a meal with her former classmate and teacher.

It was her own choice to join them for dinner, and it was also her own fault for feeling gloomy and unhappy alone.

". . ." Jiang Shuyi looked at Wen Yao and slowly lowered her head.

For some reason, Jiang Shuyi felt that the thoughts in her mind were jumbled together, creating a chaotic mess.

She stared blankly at her own shadow.

"Wen Yao."

"Whenever I'm with you, I feel like I become a different person."

"I become childish, insecure, I know I'm not this self-deprecating, undignified person."

"Just being with you makes me feel like a narrow-minded, easily angered, and aggressive child."

When Xiao Jiayu served me food, I childishly said I was allergic to seafood.

He responded playfully, and I didn't even bother to reply politely...

I resembled a child throwing a tantrum for no reason.

I sulked for a long time about how you both had to dip the deep-fried goose in goose sauce.

Jiang Shuyi felt that this version of herself was truly embarrassing, and she couldn't help but bite her lip.

Looking at Wen Yao, her voice was low,

"I've been looking forward to today's Christmas for so long..."

"But I really feel unhappy today."

As Jiang Shuyi spoke, her head lowered even more.

Jiang Shuyi wiped her eyes, released Wen Yao's hand, and stepped back a few paces without saying anything.

Wen Yao's fingers froze in place as she looked at the redness in Jiang Shuyi's eyes, feeling a pang in her heart.

". . ." Wen Yao watched her walk away and silently followed, grabbing Jiang Shuyi's sleeve.

Jiang Shuyi looked at her sleeve, caught by Wen Yao, feeling a bit wronged, and bit her lip.

"I really feel terrible."

"I'm angry that you always act indifferent, pretending nothing's wrong."

"I'm angry that you smile at others but not at me."

"I really hate that during dinner, when you were talking together, I felt like I couldn't join in, like I was someone insignificant to you..."

". . ."

"I've never thought of you as someone insignificant, Jiang Shuyi."

Wen Yao held Jiang Shuyi's sleeve, speaking each word with care.

". . ." Wen Yao lowered her head, as if wanting to say something but stopping herself, quietly repeating,

"I never thought that way."

"Jiang Shuyi."

"To me, you're not an insignificant person."

"It's not yet midnight."

Wen Yao looked at Jiang Shuyi and slowly took a breath.

"Christmas isn't over yet, do you want to go for a walk?"

She invited her, which was rare.

---

The two of them casually walked from Central Street to a commercial area and then to a residential area.

They passed by Wen Yao's middle school and elementary school.

Wen Yao didn't say much, only mentioning as they passed these places, "This is my elementary school."

"This is my middle school."

Since it was Christmas, the surrounding trees were decorated with white or orange neon lights.

Pedestrians hurried past, and it was hard to tell what they were thinking.

From people's outward appearances, it was difficult to discern what someone was truly thinking.

Eventually, Jiang Shuyi and Wen Yao stopped at a small park.

There was a sandbox, swings, and a slide for children.

This place looked very playful, not like a place Wen Yao would come to.

Wen Yao slowly sat down on one of the swings in the small park.

"This place is very close to my old middle school."

". . ." Jiang Shuyi glanced around and nodded, sitting beside her.

Perhaps this was a place Wen Yao often played when she was younger.

Jiang Shuyi thought.

Because of Wen Yao's family situation, she rarely talked about her past.

Jiang Shuyi waited silently for Wen Yao to continue.

Wen Yao stared at the upscale residential area across from them, remaining silent.

Jiang Shuyi also said nothing.

"...Do you see that house with the blue roof?"

After a while, Wen Yao suddenly asked.

". . ." Jiang Shuyi immediately looked in the direction Wen Yao indicated.

She thought something incredible might happen, but in reality, it was just a very ordinary house.

It was a typical standalone house in a high-end villa area.

It looked quite clean, brightly lit, and through the glass windows, one could see exquisite decor and dazzling crystal chandeliers.

There was nothing unusual.

"...Hmm, I see it."

Jiang Shuyi didn't understand why Wen Yao wanted her to look there and began to swing the swing idly.

After a while, Wen Yao quietly looked at Jiang Shuyi.

"I used to live there."

". . ." Jiang Shuyi's swinging motion stopped.

"My parents and I used to live there, the three of us."

Wen Yao continued, her expression unchanged.

"But I don't live there anymore."

"Two years ago, we sold it to pay off debts."

She spoke as if it were someone else's business, very calmly.

". . ."

Jiang Shuyi didn't know what to say.

Jiang Shuyi recalled what Zhou Jingtang had told her about Wen Yao during middle school.

Born into a wealthy family, with parents in a happy marriage.

Whether in academics or sports, she was outstanding to the point of being unattainable, with a crowd of admirers behind her.

Like a star who had it all.

Like a superhero who could do anything, seemingly invincible.

Jiang Shuyi had once thought that the part about her wealthy family was just a lie.

"When I was in middle school, that was probably the easiest time in my life."

"When I talked to Teacher Liu and Xiao Jiayu, I might have remembered those times."

Wen Yao stared blankly at the distant lights, looking like a lost and pale ghost.

"If I made you feel like you were insignificant to me earlier..."

"I'm sorry." she said softly.

---

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