"I haven't had this much fun in a long time." Mrs. Kiyono sat in the passenger seat, enjoying the breeze from the window.

"The location you chose was good," Dubian Che said.

"You told me yesterday that I might not make any money, I remember it clearly, and sweet talk won't help now," Mrs. Kiyono said resentfully.

"What I said was 'haven't made money yet', how did it turn into 'won't make money'?"

"Mr. Dubian," Mrs. Jiutiao turned on the right signal, "don't reason with women, just admit you're wrong."

"I was wrong to forget such an important principle."

"You learn fast," Jiutiao Meijie laughed.

"After all, I'm the national number one. By the way, Mrs. Jiutiao, you can drop me off at Shibuya Station."

"I'm getting off at Shibuya too," Kiyono Lin chimed in.

"Okay."

Upon reaching Shibuya Station, Mrs. Jiutiao looked for a place to park.

"Goodbye," Dubian Che waved to the three, "Meijie, see you at school tomorrow."

Jiutiao Meijie nodded gently.

"Mr. Dubian," Mrs. Jiutiao started the car and said, "when you guys get your summer break, let's go out again."

"Are you covering meals and accommodation? If not, I'll start a part-time job now to save up."

"I'll cover it," Mrs. Jiutiao replied with a smile.

"That's good."

"For summer vacation, how about a beach villa? Either domestic or international," Mrs. Kiyono suggested.

"Let's stay domestic," Mrs. Jiutiao said, "If you don't want to go to the beach, we can go to the mountains in Karuizawa to escape the heat."

"Beep—beep—" the car behind honked impatiently.

"Mr. Dubian, could you check the license plate of the car behind me?" Mrs. Jiutiao said with a smile.

"Beach or Karuizawa, let's discuss it during the summer break," Dubian Che said, stepping back and waving.

Mrs. Jiutiao looked at Dubian Che askance, her eyes coy and enticing.

She pressed the gas pedal and drove away.

Dubian Che watched them leave, then turned to Kiyono Lin and said:

"The day we left, wasn't it her who told me to abide by the law?"

"Yes," Kiyono Lin said, stifling a small yawn.

The first night, she wasn't used to the unfamiliar place;

The second night, after everyone had departed at midnight, she was still by the lake at one in the morning, discussing 'what is life' with Dubian Che.

"Get some good rest, I'll not walk you home," Dubian Che paused briefly, then added, "and no more roses either."

From today onward, giving flowers, peeking into personal diaries, hugging on crowded trains, returning home together, exchanging glances... all these things became things of the past, never to be done again.

No matter how close, they were just friends.

Dubian Che and Kiyono Lin, forever friends.

Thinking this, a wave of sadness began to spread.

Surrounded by the noisy crowd, the rushing traffic beside him, and the flickering traffic lights in the distance, though he was in the bustling Tokyo, Dubian Che felt as if he was in a deserted city ruin.

"I'm leaving," Dubian Che said, before he was overtaken by an overwhelming sadness.

"Mr. Dubian."

"Is there anything else, Miss Kiyono?"

"I can see through someone's lies, I don't care what someone says or does, I only see what's truly in their heart. Whether you actually walk me home or not, doesn't make a difference to me because your true intention is to accompany me."

"...You're telling me to be myself, how can I do that after you say such a thing?"

"Yes." Kiyono Lin smiled, "But if I can't keep to 'being myself', how can I ask that of someone else."

"That's true, I remember you saying something similar."

Dubian Che recalled a long time ago—it was only a year ago.

The two were helping Xiaoquan Aonai tutor students, during a barbecue at night, Xiaoquan Aonai told Kiyono Lin not to be too demanding towards friends about 'no lying', saying 'if you don't lie yourself, then you are entitled to ask the same of others'.

"So besides not lying, what kind of person do you want to be?" Dubian Che asked.

"Just like I've always been, pursuing what I want, letting loved ones love each other."

"That reminds me, actually, there's something I've always wanted to do." he changed the topic.

"What?"

"Get you and Meijie to be friends again."

Kiyono Lin was stunned, then smiled helplessly: "Are you worried about her, or me?"

"Both of you," Dubian Che said, "rest assured, I won't be forceful like your mothers, I don't like making people do things."

"But you like to bait your traps with things others need, letting people willingly fall for it."

"Just stating my intentions clearly, not forcing anyone—such a gentle act, why does it become a scheme with you, Miss Kiyono?"

"I never lie."

"Did I lie?"

"Ask yourself."

"I don't know if I have schemes, but you, Miss Kiyono, really do have a way with words."

"That's a sign I am smarter than you, don't be too disheartened, after all, intelligence is mostly innate."

"What about learned intelligence?"

"Counting that, you're still no match for me," Kiyono Lin said confidently.

"You can say whatever you want, I have nothing to say."

"Feeling any better?" Kiyono Lin suddenly asked softly and with a laugh.

"...," Dubian Che was truly at a loss for words this time.

"You're going back to tell the good news to Mayi Asuka and Xiaoquan Aonai, right? With a hopeless expression and thinking about another woman, they won't be pleased; you hid it so well yesterday, didn't you?"

"Is this also one of your techniques to make me fall for you?"

"Ah, didn't you fall for me long ago?"

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