Chapter 3, Who is Lonelier than Whom

After a moment of silence, he spoke: "When did you book the flight?"

She rested her arms on the table, gazing at everything before her through the pale golden margarita. She did not drink alcohol, and certainly did not enjoy margaritas. However, she knew that Xu Mofei liked them

In March, the warm spring brings a resurgence of life, with greenery flourishing everywhere. The air, filtered by the spring breeze, is particularly fresh, infused with the sweet scent of sunlight, mingling with the fragrance of camellias, creating an enchanting aroma that permeates the entire being

"How did you know I am an Aquarius?" She took out her phone, hung that thing up, and waved it in front of his eyes, "Hmm, it looks great! Thank you!" She opened her arms and embraced him.

"It is not a recovery, I have simply come to understand." She took two steps closer to him, the distance between them very small, and she could almost smell his breath—the intoxicating scent from that night in her memory. "I will no longer be afraid of getting hurt. Xu Mofei, I didn't tell you last time, but I truly like you—since six years ago, you have been the only one in my heart! I will not forget what happened that night, because it is a very important memory for me. Xu Mofei, I didn't tell you last time, but I truly like you—since six years ago, you have been the only one in my heart! I will not forget what happened that night, because it is a very important memory for me. You do not need to feel burdened, nor do you need to tell me that you do not have those kinds of feelings; I will not believe it. I will wait until the day you come to like me!"

Letting go of the burdens in her heart, Zhanqing had an exceptionally enjoyable day today

"I said, you little rascal—" Zhan Qing raised her fist, hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not strike down, "Forget it, considering you gave me a gift, I will spare you!"

What an outrageous young man, I must go back and confront Cen Bo to settle the accounts

He has left?" Zhan Qing was taken aback, "But his backpack is still here—"

Margarita is a drink meant for women

Although she is not overly worried, she has spent a few days with him in this long-distance relationship, and not long ago they were happily traveling together. Now that he says he is leaving, she cannot help but feel a sense of melancholy.

"What are you looking at?" He clearly wasn't looking at her, yet he knew she was watching him. "Have you discovered that I am quite handsome? Actually, even if you don't say it, I already know that everyone who sees me thinks this way. However—" He turned his head, leaned closer to her, and his slightly upturned, narrow eyes shimmered with an alluring charm. "Just remember, don't fall for me, Auntie, you really aren't suitable for me!"

Very well. Xu Mofei extinguished her cigarette, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips. Zhan Qing suddenly felt that she seemed to have been schemed against

In the studio, Xu Mofei hung up the phone, and his cold brows slowly furrowed.

"I love to shout, so what? Go ahead and bite me!" The young man's tone was somewhat aggressive

"When you were sleeping in the morning, I didn't help you book because I didn't know where your home was," she said slowly. "But don't worry, I have prepaid for a week's rent for this room, so you can stay a little longer. Moreover—" she took out her wallet and handed him some money, "this should be enough for your expenses and your flight ticket for the next few days! Remember, running away from home is not fun; your parents will be very worried if you do this. You are already so grown up, you should be more sensible. When you get tired of playing, just go back—"

"Youze! It's almost ten o'clock, how much longer are you going to play?" Zhanqing rubbed her sore knees, feeling grateful that she wore her travel shoes

You are indeed lying! He just told us that he left first. As for the backpack—he never puts books in his backpack; it is merely for decoration, so losing it is of no consequence!

Her smile clearly took him by surprise; he looked at her with a hint of confusion, but ultimately asked nothing.

Can a sixteen-year-old boy also feel lonely

After understanding the basic situation, Zhan Qing suggested that they first go to his school to see if Cen Bo has any of his photos

Zhan Qing was taken aback, "Is it you?!"

"I haven't seen you before, Yuze's friend!" A certain delicate-looking girl looked at her and the book with increasing confusion

Xu Mo Fei stared blankly at her, the cigarette between her fingers accumulating a long ash.

Stepping out of the apocalypse, a gentle, slightly chilly spring breeze brushed against her, and she suddenly felt that something was amiss. That kid, he shouldn't be able to return so easily!

"Understood, Xu Shao." She resumed her address and returned to her position as an assistant

Loneliness

Are you leaving tomorrow? " Youze's expression froze for a moment, a fleeting shadow of difficulty passing through his eyes.

Xu Shao, feel free to ask whatever you want, behaving like this could lead to internal injuries! Although they had only spent a few days together, Zhan Qing realized that she had learned the young man's sense of humor.

With a single thought, she suddenly understood and immediately returned to the end of the world

Does he really go by the name Youze? Zhanqing does not quite understand why he has two names, and it seems he is quite averse to the three characters "Li Huze".

Perhaps in this world, only those who are lonely can see the loneliness of others

The opponent dodged the counterattack and retaliated with another punch. The surrounding students scattered, and the girls occasionally let out screams, creating a somewhat chaotic scene

She thought to herself that she admired Xu Mofei quite a bit. In order to find a reason for her to be temporarily unable to be by his side, he actually had her, his personal assistant, return to the country to supervise and guide a friend's child—reportedly a very talented child whom he wanted to nurture. However, the child was still young and had a very rebellious personality, requiring someone to supervise, guide, and correct him. Of course, her most important job remained as his music director.

Many times, she followed Xu Mofei to the bar, and she always noticed that he would order a Margarita. A beautiful curved glass, filled with a pale golden liquid, with crystal-like ice cubes floating, quietly placed in the corner of the table. From the beginning to the end, he did not take a single sip, and during their light conversations, he would occasionally cast a faint glance at it.

The end of the world is lively; besides drinking, many people on the other side of the bar are wildly shaking their bodies to the pulsating music in the dance floor

For the students nearby, the End of Days is a very stylish and personable bar.

They played for a whole day, participating in the snow festival, shopping, and enjoying various different cuisines. As night fell, fireworks followed suit. When hundreds of colorful fireworks burst above their heads, the dazzling brilliance illuminated the ice sculptures and silver plants beside them, creating a scene of fiery trees and silver flowers, a beauty so exquisite that it is beyond words to describe

A strand of dark purple hair reflected in her eyes through the light golden liquid. The young man had left the private room at some point, and due to the lighting, he did not see her; he simply sat alone at the bar not far from her and ordered a beer from the bartender. He seemed to have already consumed quite a bit, as his usually bright eyes appeared somewhat dim, floating with a loneliness that belied his age.

He shook his head and said, "It's only 10 o'clock, the fun has just begun, Auntie, if you can't keep up, you might as well go home!"

Zhan Qing only felt that several nerves in her brain had snapped again

I am called Youze, believe it or not! The young man tossed his backpack aside and leaned back on the bench, propping his legs up. After a moment, he suddenly thought, "Don't tell me you are the new supervisor?"

Private Academy of Qicheng

"That was bought with the last of my money! Don't get me wrong, I mainly bought it for myself, but it was a buy one get one free deal, so you can have this one!" His tone was indifferent

The cold nights of Hokkaido are deep and prolonged

China, City S

Kurihara? It is a Japanese surname. Why didn't Xu Mofei tell her

"I am at least older than you, so could you show a little courtesy?" She raised an eyebrow and smiled, not getting angry with him

However, just as she was about to reach the door, he suddenly called out to her

After thanking the receptionist, she returned to her room and began to daze off

Forget it, I won't argue with you. Anyway, after tonight, I will have to leave. In fact, thinking about it, he is still a child. Why should she argue with a child?

A slight sting of pain surged in her heart, but she quickly let it go, regained her smile, and took a few steps forward to place a small gift box on his desk, "A gift from Hokkaido!"

Well, I will take a bus back to Sapporo tomorrow at noon, and I have booked a flight for the afternoon. She nodded and smiled.

Could his expression be due to his concern for her? This speculation was denied by her after she called out to him. When he turned his face to see her, the haze and subtle loneliness instantly retracted and vanished. He gazed at her, still with that indifferent and cold look in his eyes

Inside the private room, several fashionably dressed young men and heavily made-up young women stared suspiciously at the suddenly appeared stranger, engaging in animated discussions.

"Why didn't you knock before coming in?" He still frowned, but it was a sign of his dissatisfaction with her

Looking out, the sky of my homeland is vast and blue, with a few wisps of light clouds gently floating and occasionally changing shape

"Call again and see!" Li Huzhe turned around, his flame-colored light brown eyes glaring at the extra person beside him

Why do you care so much about me? You haven't even sorted out your own affairs, you inexplicable woman

"Stop messing around! Li Huze!" is a female voice

"That's enough!" He finally interrupted her with a low shout, "You—go out and work!"

Zhan Qing! He never expected her to say such words

According to the information at hand, the other party resides at Villa No. 18 by the lake in City S. Both parents are not in the country, and there are no siblings. The household typically consists of an elderly butler nearing fifty, two or three maids, and a gardener who manages the courtyard.

"Hey! You are only 16 years old, you cannot go in—" Before Zhan Qing could finish her words, he had already slipped through the main gate

So, you are only sixteen years old?! In the green park by the roadside, Zhan Qing looked at the furious face and sighed inwardly, "Name, age, not a single truth from you?!"

Zhan Qing smiled faintly and reached out her hand towards him, but he took a step back to avoid her, as if he were afraid of her proximity

Li Huzhe turned out to be Youze, a fact that surprised her greatly. She had never imagined that she would see him again so soon, and under such coincidental circumstances

"Only an idiot would come here!" He swung his long legs and disappeared into the ice sculpture in a few moves. Moments later, he reappeared from another spot, flashed her a mischievous smile, and then a snowball hit her squarely.

Shortly after ringing the doorbell, she was warmly received by the butler and several servants, who had already been notified and arranged her room. After Zhan Qing finished unpacking her luggage and came downstairs, the butler hurriedly instructed to serve tea and snacks, standing respectfully to the side and continuously inquiring if there were any instructions. Being treated with such reverence as a nanny made her feel somewhat overwhelmed.

The students who were aware of the situation were in an uproar, discussing that there would be more people to be beaten again

In the end, isn't a teacher just a caretaker

As a result, she became a full-time nanny for a sixteen-year-old child

"What of it if I call you Li Huze! If you have the ability, don't take this name!" The boy who was beaten was furious and retaliated with a punch, "I just want to call you that—"

Zhan Qing rubbed her forehead and could only follow along

"You actually know how to smile?! Don't scare me!" Youze curled his delicate thin lips, a mischievous smile hidden in his eyes

She sighed helplessly, took the cigarette from his fingers and tapped the ash into the ashtray, then placed it back between his fingers. "I am not a monster, so why are you afraid of me? This action is quite hurtful... but it can't hurt me now." She brushed her long hair back, "You don't need to be afraid, I won't force you to respond to me. I just can't help but want to care for you—Xu Mofei, do you know? You always seem so lonely, I just hope you can no longer feel lonely... hetushucom .com

Yuze! Being struck in the face by the bone-chilling ice and snow at temperatures below zero degrees was an experience that could only be described as terrifying. She scooped up a larger snowball from the grass and chased after it.

It seems you have recovered well he nodded to her

Wait a moment! Are you willing to help me with any task, no matter how difficult it is?

In the game room, snack street, and cinema... Youze wandered around with his long legs and hands in his pockets, refusing to go home. What was even more outrageous was that, knowing she was following him, he would turn around and smile at her every time he needed to pay, signaling her to take out her money! His handsome and beautiful young face, with a smile that was bold and arrogant, seemed to convey to her that no one in this world could restrain him; he possessed absolute freedom

Youze turned his head, lightly touching the elegant tip of his nose as he cast her a sidelong glance, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes. "Auntie, what kind of cold joke are you telling! What do you mean by 'you are good, I am good, everyone is good'? Listen carefully, don’t think that just because we know each other, you can get close to me! First, I never play along with this kind of thing; second, you offended me in Hokkaido, so I should be intensifying my bullying of you now!"

Enough! He was furious, suddenly standing up, the flickering flames in his light brown eyes. "Don't think that just because you provided me with food and shelter for two days, you can teach me a lesson! On what grounds? You wanted to go back yourself, so why does it concern me? I will return this money to you! I won't need your help in the future!" After throwing the money back at her, his anger did not subside. "Also, you don't need to reserve a hotel, because starting tonight, I will part ways with you, and we will have nothing to do with each other from now on"

"Alright, alright, do as you please." Zhan Qing brought the item in her hand closer to her eyes and discovered that it was a small wooden zodiac phone charm. "Where did you get the money to buy this? Didn't you say you were broke?"

"Why didn't you say so earlier!" Zhan Qing immediately pushed the door open and left

Children from wealthy families, combined with long-term solitude, are likely to have rather reclusive personalities

Zhan Qing huddled in the corner of the sofa, her eyes twitching. "I have been sitting here for half an hour already. I am Youze's... friend! Because you were playing a game called Truth or Dare earlier, you didn't notice me. That kid might have gone to the bathroom, and I am here waiting for him to come back!" A bunch of rude little brats!

"Who said I ran away from home! Don't speak carelessly about things you don't know!" The young man suddenly became angry

She drew back the curtains, and the warm winter sunlight poured in, waking the boy who was curled up on the floor under a heavy blanket

He indeed did not leave

"Old enough!" Youze scoffed coldly, "In any case, if you want to come, then come; if you don't want to, then go back by yourself! As for me, I am going there now—" He pointed, and she followed his gaze. It was a bar with avant-garde decor, with two large characters at the entrance that read: Doomsday.

She stood outside the private room, peering through the glass gap in the door to take a look inside, and smiled broadly

Cen Bo, you can just call me Zhan Qing

They are wrapped in snowy garments, traversing through the snow-white and crystalline castles and temples, where sunlight shines and refracts on the ice sculptures, appearing like a beautiful crystal palace, enchanting and splendid, as beautiful as a dreamlike realm

"Stop hugging and cuddling! Are you disgusting or what!" The young man quickly pushed her away, "I already said I'm not interested in you! As for your zodiac sign, I could tell just by looking at your ID that day! Auntie is so stupid!"

She stood on the bridge in front of the school gate, the hem of her brown knitted long shirt fluttering gently in the wind, revealing her long and slender legs. The warm sunlight poured down, reflecting off her chestnut-colored long hair, which shone beautifully. The fine strands of hair occasionally brushed against her cheeks and neck, and her plain oval face seemed to be enveloped in a soft glow, clear and pure.

At that moment, several administrative staff members appeared at the school gate. Zhan Qing felt extremely unlucky; could it be that she was going to encounter a problem on her very first day in office? A thought crossed her mind, and she grabbed Li Huze, shouted for him to get out of the way, and then turned to run.

Just as Li Hetushu was about to deliver the third punch after being countered by Hu Ze, a pair of slender hands tightly grasped his arm

"You have even booked the plane tickets? Your actions are indeed swift!" He looked up at the fireworks in the sky again, but the brilliance that had been on his face earlier was now gone. After a moment, he took something out of his pocket and placed it in her hand, "Auntie, this is for you!"

"Are you really his friend?" The other person crossed their arms and walked in front of her, scanning her from head to toe. "You must be lying! If you were his friend, how could you not know that he left, and still be sitting here so foolishly?"

Come here! Zhanqing bent down and picked up a snowball from the grass.

Who is this? A lunatic? What are they doing in our private room? A pervert? A lovesick fool? A madman ... ...

Hurry up! I just called the front desk, today is the first day of the Winter Festival, and there are a lot of people. We need to move quickly! Under Zhanqing's urging, the young man muttered phrases like 'What time is it?' as he was pulled and dragged into the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face

He happened to understand her temperament, and as soon as he used the tactic of provocation, she immediately replied: "If this is your wish, fine, I will help you"

"Is there any other explanation for your actions besides running away from home?" Zhan Qing fixed her gaze on him

She thought for a moment and couldn't help but say, "It is to part ways."

France, Paris

Her head suddenly hurts a lot

It seems that our aunt is in a good mood today! Having fun, Youze still cannot help but tease a few times

Clearly, her words displeased him greatly, but she knew that these words had to be spoken. After tomorrow, he would be left alone in a strange place, and this could not continue. "Youze! You must listen! No matter what happens at home, you must remember that for parents, the most important and beloved thing will always be their children! After you have had enough of being stubborn, go back and do not let them worry"

Who exactly is Xu Mofei looking at through it

Not far away, the school gate stands wide open, and students are emerging from the school in small groups, playfully chatting and laughing with one another. The crowd is bustling, and she cannot distinguish one person from another based solely on their names.

"Supervision?" Zhan Qing helplessly replied, "Call me whatever you like, as long as you understand my work. In any case, we have finally met, and I hope we can cooperate well over the next year and a half. If you are well and I am well, then everyone will be well!"

There is no mistake; loving you this way is a very lonely affair. However, I accept it, because not loving you would make me even lonelier and more isolated. She looked him in the eye and stubbornly continued, "After saying all this today, we will still be in the relationship of boss and assistant. However, if one day you feel that you have developed feelings for me, you must remember to tell me at the first opportunity. Do not deceive me, nor deceive yourself"

In Dazhong Park, the crowd is bustling, and the sound of laughter fills the air. In the center of the park stands a towering snow-white structure over ten meters high, where travelers can ascend to the top to overlook the entire snow festival venue and admire the crystalline ice sculptures in various forms. It is said that at night, there is also a grand and magnificent fireworks display, which is quite spectacular.

They sat in a corner of the park, the fireworks illuminating the figure beside them, revealing a rare and tranquil beauty on his face, radiating a splendid brilliance, possessing a striking and extraordinary charm.

Alright! Do as you please, but for now, I must go home for dinner. Uncle Cen has had a lot of dishes prepared—" Before the words were finished, Youze had already picked up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder, heading straight towards the bustling avenue

The result was that the old steward showed a look of difficulty, as the young master of their family had never liked taking photos since childhood. In the end, he could only write down the young master's school address and class name on a piece of paper for her

"To lure the tiger away from its mountain lair is indeed a clever tactic, but unfortunately, I am not just an ordinary maid." Zhan Qing did not go back inside; instead, she walked to the bar, chose a corner where she could see the private room's door, sat down, and ordered a margarita

Zhan Qing was speechless, "Please, don't call me Auntie anymore..."

"From the looks of the books, your young master truly has a unique personality!" Zhan Qing felt a twitch at the corner of her eye, almost foreseeing the miserable days that lay ahead of her.

Before going abroad, I always thought that the sky overseas was bluer. It was only after spending two years abroad that I realized it is only the air of my homeland that can bring a sense of peace.

Zhan Qing turned around, and although she found the question somewhat strange, she still nodded firmly

Style does not solely refer to the decor within the venue, but also encompasses the overall quality of the DJ, music, waitstaff, and other aspects. As for the warmth of hospitality, it pertains to the level of tolerance this bar extends to its guests—provided they do not appear to be at an elementary school level, all patrons, regardless of age, are equally welcomed.

He rose and walked to the window, lighting a cigarette. The smoke billowed and curled in front of him, obscuring the bright blue sky outside.

In fact, Yuze is not too worried about him. Over the past few days, she has noticed that although he does not have an ID and is underage, he speaks fluent Japanese while shopping and is quite familiar with the streets of Asahikawa. Given this situation, it is highly likely that he has been studying in Japan for several years and has only sneaked out to have some fun this time

Just as she was about to give up and leave, she heard someone loudly calling out the name "Li Huze" repeatedly

Asahikawa is one of the coldest regions in Hokkaido, with temperatures typically around several degrees below zero. Most of the works in Asahikawa's Winter Festival are created by the citizens of Asahikawa themselves, and many locals have been learning ice sculpting since childhood, enjoying it for decades.

Zhan Qing's nerves snapped once again, "Don't call me auntie anymore, I am only twenty-four years old!"

She pushed the door open and saw him lost in thought. After many days apart, his chiseled, slender face remained perfect, with a hazy look in his light gray eyes, surrounded by a faint sense of loneliness. He was wearing a fitted dark gray turtleneck cashmere sweater, which further accentuated his tall and strong physique.

Zhan Qing took a look at it.

She gazed at his profile, a sudden inexplicable warmth spreading in her chest

Under the blue sky and white clouds, Zhan Qing, carrying her luggage, is dressed simply yet elegantly—wearing a lightweight knitted long cardigan on top, paired with polished jeans and sneakers. Unlike her work as an assistant, she no longer needs to meet celebrities, socialites, or Xu Mofei, and thus does not have to wear makeup or spend time coordinating her clothes, accessories, and shoes. With this in mind, she finally feels a sense of relief regarding this job.

What a coincidence? She felt a stir in her heart and hurried towards the source of the shout, only to see the boy who had called out being knocked down by another tall and thin boy with a single punch

"In any case, Youze, if I hadn't encountered you this time, I fear I would have long since perished on the snowy peaks of Xuyue Mountain." She stood by the window, gazing at the fireworks still blooming in the distant sky, murmuring to herself, "Zhanqing owes you one. If we meet again... I will surely repay you everything I owe... It's just that, it seems unlikely we will meet again."

Under the same nightfall, the young man, carrying a backpack, gradually departs

When Zhan Qing finally squeezed through the crowd and returned to the hotel room, the young man had already packed his luggage and left ahead of her. Upon inquiring at the lobby, the receptionist informed her that a handsome young man with dyed purple hair had hurriedly left five minutes ago, tossing down a room card without leaving a word. When they initially booked the room, there were two room cards, and they each took one.

In fact, this young man has a naturally star-like face.

After a few casual exchanges, she learned that this young master is currently in the second year of high school at the only private institution in City S. Aside from causing trouble both on and off campus, he frequently skips classes and goes missing. If it weren't for his family's strong background, he might have been expelled long ago. In an effort to discipline him, the family had previously hired several tutors and instructors, but their presence only worsened the young master's behavior, leading to their dismissal.

Damn it! Youze was both angry and embarrassed, his face flushed with awkwardness, and he turned to run away