Mou Yichen did not reply immediately and started to gulp down the beer. After half a bottle, the bitterness of the beer was just like his heart’s. They both made him drunk.

A faint sorrow spread across his face. With a heavy disappointment, he started to tell his woe. “Back then, we were still at City S. I was in my first year of high school, and Xiao Xi was in her second year. Xiao Xi is older than me by three months, but she is one year ahead of me; she’s my senior. We both represented our level to take part in a math competition in the city and I saw her almost tripping over a manhole cover. She almost fell into it and sprained her leg. I quickly pulled her out of it and that’s how we met.”

Mou Yichen gulped down a few mouthfuls of beer and continued, “Xiao Xi used to wear a very crazy black-framed glasses and she always wore the uniform plainly, hiding her glow. But she was good at studying, she would always get the highest marks for all subjects. Every year, she was always the first in level. She was a genius at school, but she kept low. She didn’t interact with many people. Since we both liked math, we always discussed math problems together, and that’s how I became one of her few friends. Back then, I didn’t realize my feelings for her. When she was graduating, she wanted to go to University Z in City A. That was when I realized she was leaving me, and I freaked out. I finally realized my feelings for her. When she was in her first year at university, she withdrawn from school and completely disappeared. Later when I asked her about it, she told me that she fell very sick and her parents arranged for her to go somewhere far to heal. She didn’t explain much, but I always felt that there was being very mysterious back then.”

Mou Yichen paused and thought for a while. Suddenly, he asked, “Did you know that Xiao Xi has a daughter?”

Lu Yang froze and shook his head. This piece of information struck him like a thunderbolt. He was beyond shocked. He did not mind that Xiao Xi was unwedded with a kid; she was still a very good girl in his heart, so he did not think badly about her. Instead, he was taken aback by her experience. What could a young girl like her have gone through to have a kid at this age?

Mou Yichen was surprised that Lu Yang did not know about the kid, he thought that he would at least know about it. Mou Yichen’s gaze had a gloomy filter as he continued, “When Xiao Xi returned that year, she went back to study. I also successfully got into the same university. Xiao Xi’s good friend Xuanxuan had also taken a break from school to wait for her. Both of them went back to school together when Xiao Xi returned. That’s how the three of us entered our university life successfully.

“But when Xiaoxi first started school, she unexpectedly found out that she was pregnant, we don’t know what she had gone through and who the father is. She wouldn’t tell us when we asked. Xiao Xi’s mother passed early and her only kin is her father. But in order to fulfill his wife’s wish, he went to Africa to take part in an international no-border relief program when Xiao Xi just graduated from high school. Xiao Xi did not let us contact her father, yet she insisted on having the kid. So Xuanxuan and I helped to keep her secret. Luckily, she was already skinny, and the baby bump wasn’t obvious. She wore big-sized dresses and nobody could tell. During winter, it became obvious and Xiao Xi always wore big winter coats. She only went to school when there were classes and she would leave immediately after class. Just like that, she managed to hide until winter break. During then, she was only eight months pregnant but had an early delivery. When school reopened, she took two months of sick leave. After returning, she would have a baby sitter during the day and went home to take care of her child after school. She attended school and worked as a writer at the same time. On top of that, she also received a scholarship from the school. Although life was tough, she successfully brought up Niannian. Xiao Xi hopes that no one around her knows about this, only Xuanxuan and I know.

“Ever since she gave birth, Xiao Xi became more introverted. I’ve been by her side for six years and I’ve always liked her. But she seemed to have sealed her heart and did not allow anyone to walk into it. I don’t know if it’s because of the child or if she really cannot allow herself to like me.”

After speaking, Mou Yichen cupped his face in his hands and rubbed his cheeks, wanting to get rid of all these sorrows.

Silently, Lu Yang listened to everything there was to know about Xiao Xi. He also listened to Mou Yichen’s one-sided love towards her. A determined heart like his was already moved and had become wobbly. If Mou Yichen was not his love rival, he would have pitied him and wished that he could help him to his best ability. It was so rare for an heir to a business empire to love only one woman for six years, given his wealth and environment.

Lu Yang raised his wine bottle and made a toast to Mou Yichen. He lifted his head and downed the whole bottle. He was using men’s method to comfort a man who was love-sick. Between men, there are many times when not much words are needed. They would naturally understand each others’ heart. Mou Yichen lifted his bottle and gently tapped it against the table as a signal towards Lu Yang. He too downed the whole thing.

After a round of alcohol, the two men seemed to have formed an alliance. Although they were love rivals, they have explicitly opened up towards each other. They were going to have a fair competition and remain friends at the same time.

Coming out of the bar, the duo was headed in different directions. Since they both drank, they were unable to drive. Mou Yichen called a taxi and roamed around on the streets. Although he had an enjoyable conversation with Lu Yang, he still felt empty when he came out of the bar. Mou Yichen was good at drinking, but perhaps of his bad mood that night, he was already drunk after a few bottles. Looking out of the window, he stared at the cars driving past and the neon traffic lights. He still felt that he was surrounded by an eerie silence.

The taxi driver glanced at the lonely man at the backseat. He could not help but ask, “Sir, we have been driving along the loop for two whole rounds, where exactly are we going?”

Mou Yichen blurted out Yun Muxi’s address. Soon, they arrived below her apartment. Mou Yichen was still drunk when he got off the taxi. Leaning against a street lamp, he lifted his head and looked at her window. The faint light coming out of it caused him to reminisce deeply. He missed the people behind the window, he missed the gentle her.

After standing around for quite some time, Mou Yichen took out his phone and dialed Yun Muxi’s number. Not long after, the gentle voice that he missed was heard from the other end of the phone. Instantly, it caused a ripple effect in Mou Yichen’s heart. With a faint sorrowful voice, he said, “Hey! Xiaox Xi, I missed you a little.”

Yun Muxi heard the obvious abnormalcy in his voice. She hesitated before asking, “Did you drink?”

Mou Yichen continued in a soft voice, “I’m below your house, can you come down?”

Afterward, Mou Yichen saw a shadow appear at the window. It was the person whom he missed. He raised his hand and waved. The phone then went silent and the shadow disappeared. Mou Yichen felt dizzy and leaned against the pole. He did drink quite a lot today.

After a few minutes, Yun Muxi hurriedly walked out of the building. Coming towards Mou Yichen, she handed him a bottle of water. She said, in an unhappy voice, “Why did you drink so much? Are you in a bad mood?”

Mou Yichen looked at the person whom he had missed dearly standing in front of him. He pulled her into his embrace with one swift move. Yun Mux was taken aback and tried to get out of it. He hugged her even tighter and pleaded in a weak voice, “Xiao Xi, let me hug you for a while. Five minutes, five minutes is all I need!”

Yun Muxi stopped struggling and stood there quietly. Mou Yichen leaned his face against her shoulders. He was as fragile as a glass doll and seemed pitiful.

Suddenly, a glaring headlight shone at them. It was followed by a piercing honk, disturbing the peace of the silent night. Mou Yichen let go of Yun Muxi and the two furrowed their brows as they looked towards the source of the sound. The glaring light caused their eyes to hurt and they lifted their elbow to block it.

A man got off the car slowly and walked towards them. Having his back against the light, they could not tell who it was. However, they could clearly feel his cold aura. Yun Muxi was scared. As the man neared them, Yun Muxi finally saw who it was—it was Gong Yu.

Gong Yu had driven to the company because Seventh Brother asked for him at night. When he returned, this was the scene that he saw. From his angle, the action of Mou Yichen leaning into her shoulders, which coincidentally blocked her head, seemed as if they were having a sweet kiss. Without a doubt, this triggered Gong Yu. At this moment, his blood was boiling and it was all that he could think about. The veins on his forehead were obvious and his glare at Yun Muxi was cold.

Yun Muxi did not understand why he was mad. It was just a hug of comfort, was it necessary to be so worked up?

Mou Yichen was also made. He said coldly, “Gong Yu, what the hell are you doing at this hour?”

Gong Yu’s anger level shot up immediately. Stepping forward, he threw a punch across Mou Yichen’s cheeks. Since Mou Yichen was drunk, his reaction was slow. He did not expect Gong Yu to take action, so he got hit unexpectedly. Gong Yu’s strength was alarming. With just a punch, Mou Yichen was sent stumbling a few steps back and he almost fell over. His cheeks immediately swelled and a strong bloody smell filled his mouth. Mou Yichen spat onto the floor and a mouthful of fresh blood fell out. Afterward, he glared fiercely at Gong Yu and returned a punch. Gong Yu was fast and managed to dodge it. Having missed his shot, Mou Yichen squinted his eyes and started to focus. He was ready to fight.

The duo quickly sprang into action and threw harsh moves everywhere.

Yun Muxi was taken aback. She did not know what to do about this sudden escalation. She wanted to pull them apart but did not know how. The two men were quick with their actions and had fast reactions. Yun Muxi stretched out her hand to pull Mou Yichen, but he had already sprung to the other side. She tried to nudge Gong Yu but just as she was about to touch him, he did a round kick which landed on Mou Yichen’s stomach.

After a few rounds, Yun Muxi did not even manage to touch their clothes. She was agitated and could not care less about disturbing the neighbors. She shouted at the top of her lungs, “Stop it, the both of you!”