These past days, Zhuang Zi’ang had imagined a thousand times over the moment he would see Little Butterfly again.

  But when his daydream became reality, he was utterly at a loss.

  Gravely ill, he felt he had no right to utter “I’ve missed you so much.”

  “Zhuang Zi’ang, come here!”

  Su Yudiel gazed at him with tears brimming in her eyes.

  But Zhuang Zi’ang stood frozen, refusing to move.

  He clenched his teeth, forced back his tears, restraining the storm in his chest.

  Over and over, he warned himself:

  Approaching her would only hurt her.

  Seeing him so unmoved, Little Butterfly swallowed and took a step toward him.

  Zi’ang stared bnkly, biting his lower lip until it bled.

  “How have you been these days? Why are you so thin?” Little Butterfly’s tears slipped down her cheeks.

  They fell to the ground with a soft, silent spsh.

  Zi’ang felt as if his own heart had shattered at his feet.

  His eyes grew red. Abruptly, he screamed hysterically, “I thought you’d gone—why are you back?”

  Little Butterfly flinched, stopping in her tracks.

  Tears streamed down her face like beads slipping from a broken string.

  In all the time they’d known each other, he had never spoken to her in such a tone.

  But his outburst had only just begun.

  “Do you know how long you were gone? Twelve whole days!”

  “You come and go as you please. What do I even mean to you?”

  “If you like disappearing so much, do it properly—because I never want to see you again.”

  Not only Little Butterfly, but even Li Huangxuan and Lin Mushi were stunned.

  In their minds, Zi’ang had always been gentle and polite—now he sounded like a madman.

  “Son, what nonsense are you spouting?” Li Huangxuan shoved Zi’ang’s shoulder.

  Then he hurried to comfort Little Butterfly: “Little Butterfly, he’s just so excited to see you that he lost his temper. He’s been missing you like crazy.”

  Lin Mushi’s eyes reddened, but she said nothing.

  Only she knew that every word Zi’ang flung at Little Butterfly was like a knife cutting into his own heart.

  Little Butterfly stepped forward, took Zi’ang’s hand, and shook it, her voice trembling, “You big dummy, I’m sorry. I’ve missed you every day—I’ve wanted to come see you…”

  “Enough!” Zi’ang flung her hand away without a second thought.

  “After disappearing for so long, you come back and pretend to apologize—what a joke.”“Being with you exhausts me—I don’t want my feelings toyed with anymore.”“I see through all your tricks, so stop bothering me.”

  What courage it took to speak such stone?cold words to the one he loved most!

  Little Butterfly never could have imagined that the big dummy she’d longed for all those days would become such a stranger upon their reunion.

  Li Huangxuan grabbed Zi’ang’s colr and spat, “Are you possessed? What on earth is wrong with you?”

  Lin Mushi’s tears finally broke free—she would’ve preferred to remain ignorant, for stepping into Zi’ang’s shoes even briefly made her heart ache.

  Little Butterfly, face streaked with tears, pulled a pstic box from her bag.

  “I know I was wrong—will you please forgive me?”

  “I really missed you—there were reasons I had to do it.”

  “I made you qingtuan (green glutinous rice dumplings). Just take one bite—just a tiny bite, please?”

  Her pleading, her trembling voice—how could anyone stay angry?

  Zi’ang’s heart surged with the impulse to sweep her into his arms and never let go. But he couldn’t let it all fall apart now.

  He struck the box from her hands. The jade?green dumplings rolled everywhere, gathering dust.

  Little Butterfly watched in horror as four hours of her effort y ruined on the ground. Her heart tightened so painfully she could hardly breathe—and the one who did it was the person she’d missed for twelve days straight.

  “In truth, we’re nothing special,” Zi’ang said ftly. “At most we ate together a few times—we’re just friends.”“Don’t get the wrong idea that I ever had any other feelings for you.”“As everyone knows, Mushi and I have been close—and now we’re together.”

  Saying that, he slipped his arm through Lin Mushi’s, resolving to use the coldest finality to drive Little Butterfly away—lest his heart give out and he couldn’t keep up the act.

  Lin Mushi let him hold her hand and pyed her part, though her own heart broke.

  Li Huangxuan gaped. “What—when did this happen?”

  Little Butterfly, sobbing, stared at Lin Mushi. “Really?”

  Lin Mushi dared not meet her eyes. She looked away and spoke harshly, “Yes. I don’t want my boyfriend to be involved with anyone else.”

  Why are you forcing me to py the vilin like this?

  “You big dummy, I will hate you forever—I never want to see you again!” Little Butterfly cried, turned, and stumbled toward the school gate.

  On her braided pigtail was still tied that red ribbon said to bring good luck.

  The red bow fluttered in Zi’ang’s blurred vision as she vanished.

  Then he colpsed heavily onto the ground, as if all his strength had been drained from him.

  Li Huangxuan and Lin Mushi rushed to help, but Zi’ang pushed them away and y face?down, his sorrow overwhelming him as he wept uncontrolbly.

  “Little Butterfly… Little Butterfly…”

  He crawled forward, carefully gathering each dusty dumpling back into the box and clutching it to his chest until he could no longer speak.

  “Lin Mushi, what is happening? What are you two up to?” Li Huangxuan demanded fiercely.

  “Don’t ask me—let him expin it himself!” Lin Mushi said, tears streaking her cheeks.

  Girls are gentle by nature, and to witness such a tragedy tore her apart—she dared not recall that st, desperate look in Little Butterfly’s eyes.

  Li Huangxuan yanked Zi’ang to his feet. “Why would you do this?”

  Zi’ang’s sorrow was boundless. Suddenly, a bitter taste filled his throat and he coughed up blood, spttering Li Huangxuan.

  “Zi’ang, are you okay? I’ll take you to the infirmary.”

  “Not the infirmary—hospital, now!” Lin Mushi urged.

  Li Huangxuan hoisted Zi’ang onto his back and dashed out the gate, fgging down a taxi. The driver floored the accelerator, and they sped toward the hospital.

  “Lin Mushi, at a time like this, you still keep secrets?” Li Huangxuan raged in the cab.

  She sobbed, “Don’t ask—I promised him I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

  “Son, don’t argue. I’m a bit tired… Let me sleep first, and when I wake, I’ll expin everything.”

  Zi’ang’s weak voice drifted from the back seat.

  And like a river flowing unchecked, his grief spread on.