Inside the office.

After much contemplation, Xu Ge finally spoke up slowly when faced with the request from the man who had stayed with the company through its most difficult period, even when everyone else was leaving:

“Are you sure… you’ve thought this through? The company is finally getting back on track, waiting for the license to come through, the new game is launching, everyone’s about to get raises and bonuses.”

“I’ve made up my mind, Xu Ge.” Mei Fang nodded, “I have things at home I can’t leave behind, and I’ve already handed over the work that needed to be passed on. The rest we can handle online, but today is officially my last day.”

“How about a leave of absence, or working from home? Think it over a little longer.”

“Please, Xu Ge.” Mei Fang shook his head gently, “My role as the lead planner needs me to be present. If I’m working from home, things can’t move forward properly, and I can’t guarantee I’ll always be in front of the computer. So, for the good of the company, it’s better for someone else to take over the role.”

“Hmm… Alright then. If you’re so determined…” Xu Ge thought for a moment before sighing deeply, “I never thought I’d see you leave, not unless the company went bankrupt.”

“I’m sorry,” Mei Fang said softly, “I’ve let everyone down.”

“Don’t say that. You haven’t wronged the company, I’m the one who hasn’t done right by you.”

After a brief pause, Xu Ge added, “When you leave, I’ll have HR give you six months’ salary as severance. Be sure to check the payment when it comes.”

Mei Fang quickly waved his hands, shaking his head, “Xu Ge, I’m leaving on my own terms, not being fired, so I don’t need the severance. The company still isn’t fully stable—”

“Don’t be so modest. I know your situation, you could really use the money right now, and it’s not much, anyway. It’s only fair, given how much you’ve contributed and how underpaid you’ve been…” Xu Ge insisted, and eventually, Mei Fang reluctantly accepted the compensation.

After leaving the office, Mei Fang noticed many of his colleagues standing up to watch him, which left him feeling unexpectedly emotional.

He began packing his things, and his colleagues crowded around to help him.

One of his old subordinates, Xiao Cao, timidly asked, “Aren’t we having a meal together, Fang Ge? Let us treat you.”

“Not today… Maybe another time,” Mei Fang replied.

“You’re dumb, don’t you know what day it is today? There’s no way we’re letting you treat us to dinner,” Xiao Cao said, scratching his head.

“Wait, is today Qixi already? That came up fast!” he exclaimed.

Xiao Cao sighed and grumbled, “How come there are so many Valentine’s Days every year? How am I supposed to survive as a single dog?”

Mei Fang couldn’t help but tease, “Aren’t you going to the dumpster today?”

“Nope, I’m happy staying at home playing games. Baldur’s Gate 3 is the best!” Xiao Cao replied.

“You brat…” Mei Fang laughed.

The group burst into laughter, which helped ease the somber atmosphere of departure.

After saying his final goodbyes to everyone and agreeing to meet up sometime in the future, Mei Fang dragged his suitcase and took the ride back home.

Seeing the severance payment credited to his phone, he sighed with relief and then closed his eyes.

The golden sunset spilled through the taxi window, casting light on his face, where deep dark circles were evident, and his exhaustion was clear as day.

When he got out of the car and rushed into the house, he heard loud noises coming from inside. He hurried in, not bothering to change his shoes, and dashed into the bedroom. There, he saw Lin Youxi collapsed on the floor.

“What happened? Are you okay?”

Lin Youxi rubbed her eyes and the back of her head, her voice filled with grievance. “I fell off the bed while turning over… It hurts so much.”

“Did you hit the back of your head? Let me check…” Mei Fang rushed to her side.

Lin Youxi leaned into Mei Fang’s embrace, lowering her head so he could inspect her condition.

“There’s a bump here. I’ll go get some red oil to rub on it.”

As Mei Fang tried to stand up, Lin Youxi grabbed the hem of his shirt.

“Ah Fang…”

Her voice quivered slightly, and her disheveled hair covered her forehead.

“Don’t leave me… Don’t leave me alone.”

“How could I? I’m just getting some red oil,” Mei Fang reassured her.

“I had a dream earlier. In the dream, you left me because you couldn’t bear my torment. You went far away.”

“Do you think it’d be better if I just died?”

Lin Youxi rubbed her eyes, tears falling freely.

“You and Xiao Yu would be much happier without me…” she whispered.

“Don’t say that… Don’t think like that,” Mei Fang replied gently.

He knelt down and held her, intertwining their fingers tightly.

Since they decided to walk down this destructive path together, Lin Youxi had developed several disturbing scars on her wrists, signs of her internal torment.

Mei Fang tried his best to spend more time with her. With Lin Youxi often losing sleep in her madness, he stayed by her side, watching over her to prevent her from doing anything impulsive.

After coaxing her to sleep during the day, Mei Fang would drag his exhausted body to work. Now, he had reached a point where he could hardly keep his eyes open.

For Lin Youxi, the best treatment would be to admit her to a psychiatric hospital for physical treatment—what people commonly referred to as electrotherapy.

However, after a few sessions, her symptoms had only worsened, and the sight of her crying and struggling in pain broke Mei Fang’s heart.

After rejecting the doctor’s suggestion for inpatient care, Mei Fang thought long and hard, eventually making the decision to leave his job and stay by Lin Youxi’s side as her full-time caretaker.

No more separations.

Not even death would separate them.

Holding Lin Youxi, Mei Fang felt her emotional state slowly stabilize, so he gently asked:

“Yoxi, today’s Qixi, should we go out for a walk? Let’s go on a date like we used to, celebrate me finishing my work life. What do you think?”

Lin Youxi shook her head.

“No… I’m too old and ugly… Going out would just embarrass you.”

“That’s not true. My Yoxi is beautiful, everyone would envy you,” Mei Fang reassured her.

After a little more coaxing, Mei Fang managed to help Lin Youxi take a bath, wash her hair, and dry it. While styling her hair, Lin Youxi stared at her disheveled reflection in the mirror. Her pale face was filled with terror and hesitation.

“Ah Fang, I… I don’t want to go out. My makeup’s expired, or I’ve run out of it.”

“I’m sorry, I’ve been so busy with work and haven’t gotten you new supplies. I’ll buy some for you right now.”

As Mei Fang fumbled with his phone to order, Lin Youxi snatched it away from him.

“It’s too late to order now. I’m not going out. It’s going to be crowded today.”

“Wait… Let me ask Xiao Yu, maybe she has some makeup, or she can help you do your makeup. What do you think?”

After a moment of hesitation, Lin Youxi gave a small nod.

Meanwhile, Liu Xiaoyu, who had been invited by her friend Yue Xinyi, was out for a meal. As they finally squeezed into the crowded restaurant, Liu Xiaoyu propped her chin up and asked curiously as Yue Xinyi was ordering:

“Why did you choose today to come out for dinner?”

“Heh! I just want to take up the spots for all the lovey-dovey couples, so they’ll have to wait and argue, break up and fight! Hehe!”

“You need to be more kind… Just because you don’t have a boyfriend doesn’t mean you can take it out on everyone else,” Liu Xiaoyu teased.

“Who cares! The world’s so unfriendly, I might as well punch it!” Yue Xinyi huffed.

“Alright, alright…” Liu Xiaoyu laughed helplessly.

While flipping through the menu, Yue Xinyi asked casually, “By the way, have you heard anything about Mei Fang and Youxi recently? Haven’t seen anything from them on social media lately. How are they doing?”

“Hmm…” Liu Xiaoyu shook her head. “I heard Mei Fang isn’t working anymore.”

“Is he just staying home to take care of her? Didn’t they almost lose Youxi a few times? Why didn’t he let her be hospitalized for treatment?”

“That hospital environment… He probably can’t bear leaving her there.”

“I think you’re worried about them too,” Yue Xinyi said, closing the menu and pointing at Liu Xiaoyu.

“Don’t get involved with them. I can see you’ve been looking poorly lately. You’ve been worrying about that unfortunate couple, haven’t you?”

“Really? I haven’t mentioned it today.”

“You’ve been scrolling through your phone while talking to me. Isn’t that waiting for news from someone else?”

Yue Xinyi sighed. “To put it bluntly, even if they went together, it’d be a kind of relief. What are you doing here? You were happier before meeting Mei Fang. Now you just look like a female puppy dog.”

Liu Xiaoyu frowned slightly, forcing a bitter smile. “What you’re saying sounds a bit harsh…”

“Can I not say it harshly? Look at you now—”

While Liu Xiaoyu and Yue Xinyi were talking, a message popped up on Liu Xiaoyu’s phone. Her attention shifted, and she immediately replied to the message, then left her seat to make a voice call.

After a while, Liu Xiaoyu returned to her seat. Seeing her busying herself, Yue Xinyi showed an unhappy expression:

“Today is Qixi. What do they need you for?”

Liu Xiaoyu, while packing her bag, replied, “They wanted to go shopping, but Youxi has run out of cosmetics, so I’m going to help her with her makeup… You eat first. I’ll treat today.”

“Liu Xiaoyu, are you out of your mind?”

Yue Xinyi couldn’t hold back anymore and slammed the table, shouting loudly at Liu Xiaoyu. Other customers in the restaurant turned to look at them:

“They’re going to die together, and you’re here messing around? Are you just trying to move yourself? Even if Youxi dies, Mei Fang will die with her. What’s it to you?”

Liu Xiaoyu lowered her head, accepting Yue Xinyi’s scolding. “I never planned to interfere with their relationship… I just… it’s just—”

“I really admire their relationship.”

“And I believe, there must be some reason for me to reunite with him. There must be something I can do to help them.”

Then, Liu Xiaoyu raised her head and smiled.

“If you really have to say, just consider it as gathering material for my writing?”

“I really can’t stand you. You have a good life as a young lady, but you’re here gathering material. You’re something else—”

Yue Xinyi bit her lip, sighed deeply, then continued to look at the menu to prepare to order. “Just keep being his puppy dog. It’s better to destroy this earth with one punch. Everyone’s gone mad.”

Liu Xiaoyu stuck out her tongue playfully and teased Yue Xinyi, “Writers, how many aren’t crazy?”

On the taxi ride, Liu Xiaoyu quickly calmed her emotions.

She first went home to organize herself, then headed to Mei Fang and Youxi’s home.

When she opened the door, she saw Mei Fang with a dazed expression.

It had been a while since the last time she saw them, after Youxi’s incident, and he seemed a completely different person. His vitality and spirit had changed drastically, unlike before the game launch.

The change was so great that Liu Xiaoyu couldn’t help but redden her eyes immediately.

“Sorry for troubling you to come… really, thank you so much for coming.”

“No problem. I should have come to check on you two much earlier.”

Liu Xiaoyu’s voice was a bit choked, but she tried hard to suppress it, not letting Mei Fang notice.

“Is You Xi awake now?”

“In the bedroom, I’ll take you there…”

Mei Fang softly said to Liu Xiaoyu, “Please don’t be afraid of her; she won’t hurt you.”

“I’m not afraid of her, I’m not scared at all.”

Liu Xiaoyu smiled gently and shook her head.

Currently, Lin Youxi’s consciousness had returned to a somewhat unclear state. She ignored Liu Xiaoyu when she spoke to her, but she was very cooperative when Liu Xiaoyu was doing her makeup. Mei Fang was waiting in the living room at this time.

Lin Youxi, with a calm expression, looked at Liu Xiaoyu applying foundation in the mirror. Silent, she suddenly saw Liu Xiaoyu sniffing uncontrollably and asked:

“Are you crying?”

“No, no… Look at you now, don’t you think you look much better?”

Under Liu Xiaoyu’s meticulous makeup, Lin Youxi’s face returned to about seventy to eighty percent of her usual delicate appearance. With a blank expression, she looked like a cold and aloof beauty, yet there was still a hint of desolation in her lifeless gaze.

“You look beautiful, thank you… I really want to thank you.”

Lin Youxi took Liu Xiaoyu’s hand, “But I also owe you an apology, I’m sorry.”

“Sorry… for what?”

“Ah Fang can’t be given to you now.”

Lin Youxi spoke softly, “I’ve made plans with him.”

“I won’t steal him from you.” Liu Xiaoyu smiled.

Liu Xiaoyu, after finishing Lin Youxi’s attire and makeup, led her out of the bedroom.

Seeing Lin Youxi’s appearance, Mei Fang was immediately very happy.

“I told you, you’re still beautiful, right? With just a little bit of makeup, look at you now.”

“This isn’t simple at all.” Lin Youxi smiled and shook her head, then turned to Liu Xiaoyu and said, “Can you help Ah Fang with his styling too?”

“Me? I don’t need it… really, no need.” Mei Fang immediately waved his hand.

“I’ve already caused a lot of trouble for Xiaoyu, don’t make it worse.”

“It’s fine… it’s not troublesome. I’ll finish his styling quickly.”

Liu Xiaoyu said softly, “You’re going out on a date, and you’ll be taking photos… looking like this is not good.”

“I think Xiaoyu is right.”

Lin Youxi nodded and smiled, then pushed Mei Fang into the bedroom, locking him and Liu Xiaoyu in the same room.

“…”

Liu Xiaoyu didn’t expect Lin Youxi to suddenly close the door, but Mei Fang didn’t get up to open it. Instead, he took the opportunity to transfer 3,000 yuan to Liu Xiaoyu via his phone.

“I didn’t know what to buy to thank you… this is a small token of appreciation, please accept it.”

“What would I need your money for? I… I… what you’re doing is really heart-wrenching.”

Liu Xiaoyu seemed very upset by Mei Fang’s words, but she spoke very softly, as though she was afraid Lin Youxi would hear. Her sudden anger left Mei Fang at a loss.

“S-sorry… I really want to repay you.”

“We are friends, after so many years, friends should help each other, right?”

“That’s why…”

Mei Fang bit his lip, “I no longer have the ability to help you, or… if there’s anything you want me to do for you, I can—can—”

He stood in front of her, gaunt and dejected, a stark contrast to the confident and energetic game developer he had been when they first reunited. His servile posture was almost ugly to anyone who saw it.

But Liu Xiaoyu didn’t mind.

She supported Mei Fang’s arm, helping him sit in the chair in front of the dressing table, and the two of them stared at each other in the mirror.

“I only have one request of you both, and that’s to live together, alright?”

Liu Xiaoyu spoke softly, “I still want to attend your wedding banquet.”

“We will try our best.”

“Don’t be so down, cheer up!”

Liu Xiaoyu patted Mei Fang’s shoulder, “Just remember that time when you were unstoppable in high school, that way you can solve all the difficulties.”

“Are you sure you’re not mistaken? I wasn’t unstoppable in high school.” Mei Fang couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

“Really? When we were desk mates, it felt like you knew everything… you dared to try anything, fearless of everything. You would do what you said, even if the results were not great, you could still be at peace with yourself…”

“Was it really like that?”

Mei Fang smiled and shook his head, “I just remember that I was very humble back then. After I saw you shining on the ‘Top Ten Singers’ stage, I didn’t even dare to greet you anymore.”

“Was… Was it because I participated in the Top Ten Singers?”

Liu Xiaoyu was surprised, “No wonder I felt like you suddenly became cold toward me. Later, we sat apart and you stopped talking to me. I thought I had done something to make you dislike me…”

“How could that be…”

Mei Fang smiled and shook his head, “At that time—”

“At that time, I liked you.”

When Liu Xiaoyu heard Mei Fang’s words, her hand, which had been suspended in the air, suddenly froze for a moment, not moving.

“Eh?”

“Joking… just joking…”

“I’m not joking, now that it’s been said, it should be fine, right?”

Mei Fang smiled and shook his head, “Back then, I was insecure, fragile, and sensitive. After seeing you on stage, shining brightly, although I had many thoughts, most of them ended in failure. When I saw you come off the stage and get surrounded by everyone, I suddenly realized that we weren’t from the same world. I had this feeling… that I didn’t deserve to stand next to you, you know…”

“How could you not deserve it? We were desk mates, we used to talk all the time, right? I thought—”

“You talk to everyone like that, don’t you? You have something to say to anyone.”

“Yeah… that’s true. I don’t like fighting with people.” Liu Xiaoyu bit her lip.

“I see.”

Mei Fang lightly nodded, “But that’s all in the past now.”

“Yeah, it’s all in the past.”

Liu Xiaoyu continued to do Mei Fang’s styling and then led him out of the bedroom, taking him to the living room where Lin Youxi was nearly falling asleep on the couch.

Lin Youxi rubbed her eyes, and when she saw Mei Fang, now revitalized and smiling, her expression also brightened.

“Ah Fang, you look so handsome!”

Lin Youxi smiled and hooked her arm around Mei Fang’s, then tried to bow deeply to Liu Xiaoyu behind them, “Thank you, thank you, Xiaoyu.”

“You’re welcome, you’re welcome…” Liu Xiaoyu smiled softly, “Today is Qixi, enjoy yourselves.”

“We’ll take you home.”

“No need, no need. I’ll stay here for a bit. I’ll head back myself later, and I’ll make sure to lock the door for you.”

“Then… then—”

Mei Fang and Lin Youxi thanked Liu Xiaoyu for her kindness and then went out to enjoy their Qixi Festival.

“Do you remember, Youxi?”

“Remember what?”

“The first time we met was on Valentine’s Day that night.”

“Yeah… I had drunk a lot, and you were talking to your mom on the phone, asking about whether you had a boyfriend or not—”

“Now I finally have one.”

“Doesn’t it feel worse than being single? Isn’t being single more comfortable?”

“No, it’s great.” Mei Fang paused, “I feel very happy.”

Mei Fang and Lin Youxi happily chatted and completed their date.

Meanwhile, Liu Xiaoyu stayed in their home. She quietly sat on the couch, her tears finally falling after she had endured so much, starting from when she did Mei Fang’s styling.

Happy Qixi, Ah Fang, Youxi.

This was the first Valentine’s Day after Mei Fang and Lin Youxi agreed to walk toward destruction.

If they wanted to celebrate another Valentine’s Day, they would have to survive this winter…

【I still remember】

【The feeling you gave me】

【My heart has thunder and lightning】

【But you can change the weather with a wave of your hand】

【You fell in love with me】

【But it was the perfect version of me】

【Now I worry I’ll fall】

【Cliffs and precipices intertwine】

【Friends tell me】

【To stop clinging to the past】

【Maybe you shouldn’t forget】

【We were once so sweet】

【Your actions were terrifying】

【I don’t want to see that version of you again】

【But the next morning】

【Your apology】

【Was never mentioned again】

【I don’t need a bouquet from you】

【Nor do I need a knife from you】

【I tried to change】

【It’s already countless changes】

【All those rainy nights】

【I always wished you were by my side】

【I want to know why】

【Time can no longer be turned back——】

——《perfect version of me》

Alright, it’s finished. Happy Qixi to everyone! Thanks to my pure-hearted female high school reader, Little Lemon, for accompanying me today and chatting with me, especially during this time, constantly checking in (sao) and (rao)ing me, sending me sweet pictures of herself, bringing a lot of healing comfort to my boring writing life!