Little Sweetheart

“I was just talking about how I felt before. I didn't come here to ask for reconciliation.”

“But I don't want to give up just like that,” Su Han said in a low voice.

Zheng Peipei laughed. In the past, hearing such words would have made her overjoyed, but now, it only brought bitterness.

“I'm just a diversion from your busy work, while you occupy my entire life. From being your fan club president, your secret girlfriend, every time I cried or laughed for you, I gave it my all…” Zheng Peipei sighed, exhaustion evident in her eyes. “Even if you don't want to give up, I'm truly tired.”

“Is there… no happiness to be found?” Su Han asked.

Zheng Peipei put her hands in her pockets and walked slowly, her mind flooded with memories of the past.

…Happiness?

“Of course, there were happy times.”

Those immersed in love are always so easily satisfied.

At crowded live performances, just a glance in her direction, a single smile, was enough to make her secretly rejoice for a long time. The songs he recorded for her were her lullabies every night…

But as time went on, those moments of satisfaction and happiness were quickly swallowed by immense loneliness.

Zheng Peipei said, “I used to think that as long as you kept moving forward, I would definitely be there supporting you from behind. Later, I realized that I'm not that strong. I can't hold on anymore.”

After a few seconds of silence, Su Han said sadly, “I’m sorry.”

Tears welled up in his eyes as he turned to look at a nearby building.

“No. You didn’t do anything wrong,” Su Han said hoarsely. “It’s me who should be sorry. I didn’t do what a boyfriend should do.”

“I always thought it would get better, it would get better… But this road seems to have no end.” Su Han gave a bitter laugh. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve been dragged into a dark abyss, afraid to fall further, so I can only desperately climb upwards. I can’t get tired, I can’t give up.”

Bearing the weight of so many people's finances and the fervent adoration of so many fans, how could there be any freedom or ease?

“I understand your difficulties.” Zheng Peipei forced a smile. “Having been with you for several years, I know you're becoming more and more popular and powerful, and I also know how many people want to see you fall from grace.”

“But you’re not just a diversion from my busy work,” Su Han explained, grabbing her hand tightly and looking into her eyes. “I’ve never treated you as a pastime. I was very serious about being with you. I’ve always been planning our future. I know you’ve had a hard time these past few years. Can you give me a little more time? Four years have passed, are we really giving up now? I truly…” He choked up, then after a moment, uttered three words, “I’m not willing.”

“Let’s just be friends,” Zheng Peipei said, exhaling softly. “Just like in high school, how relaxed and happy we were. I admired you back then too. I can’t be a superstar’s girlfriend, so let me be a superstar’s friend.”

She winked playfully at Su Han. “Let’s not turn against each other. Let’s be friends, okay?”

“…” Su Han nodded slowly, with difficulty.

He knew this time was different. She possessed an unusual calmness, an unusual rationality.

This wasn’t a tantrum or a lovers' quarrel; she had truly let go.

The last glimmer of hope in his heart was extinguished…

There would be no one waiting for him when he looked back.

They walked around the street for a while, returned to the hotel, said goodnight, and went back to their respective rooms.

Zheng Peipei messaged Gu Siyi: “Humph, you deliberately booked us in the same hotel, didn’t you?”

Gu Siyi: “Mainly because this hotel has the best environment [smiley face]”

Gu Siyi: “Secondly, it’s to test if you were truly ready [pitiful face]”

Zheng Peipei: “I was so cool tonight! I finally said what I wanted to say. I feel relieved and liberated!”

Gu Siyi: “Completely over?”

Zheng Peipei: “Yeah. We’re friends from now on.”

Gu Siyi: “Sad?”

Zheng Peipei: “You think I was grieving for nothing these past few months? I’ve finally bounced back! I feel so relieved, especially relieved. I’ve finally escaped that quagmire. I can be myself from now on.”

Gu Siyi: “Congratulations, congratulations~”

Zheng Peipei: “Next time I’m in a relationship, I’m going to show him off to the whole world, tell everyone: This is my boyfriend!”

Gu Siyi: “[smiley face] [smiley face]”

Gu Siyi was truly happy. Whether it was perseverance or breaking up, what she wanted for Zheng Peipei was this kind of carefree decisiveness, this upward momentum.

The next day, everyone gathered for a lively meal.

During the meal, everyone toasted Xia Zhijun and Gu Siyi, the newlyweds, offering their blessings.

Zheng Peipei said, “Looking at you two, I believe in love again! To my good luck!”

Lu Jiaye teased, “They’re getting married, what luck are you trying to mooch off of? Are you that eager to get married?”

Zhou Xiao looked at Su Han and laughed, “Your friend is eager to get married, and you're just sitting there playing dead. Do you want to go back and kneel on a washboard?”

None of them knew that they had broken up.

Su Han smiled, a slightly awkward, slightly desolate smile, and said nothing.

Zheng Peipei casually announced, “Alright, taking advantage of Little Dimple’s unofficial wedding banquet, I’ll also announce that Su Han and I have broken up.”

“…” Everyone looked at them in shock.

Zheng Peipei raised her glass. “To Little Dimple’s happy marriage, and to my happy breakup. Not every relationship can last, not everyone can walk the same path together. Breaking up and getting together is a normal part of life. Whether you're getting married or breaking up, as long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

“Yes, as long as you’re happy,” Gu Siyi said, raising her glass to clink with Zheng Peipei’s.

“As long as you’re happy…” “As long as you’re happy…” Everyone raised their glasses in response.

Lu Jiaye, who usually loved to joke around, didn’t say a word after learning about their breakup.

The topic was quickly dropped, and the conversation shifted to Xia Zhijun’s new business venture.

Lu Jiaye said, “My dad gave me a few hundred million yuan in funding to test the waters. You’re the smartest person I know, so count me in when you start. I want to invest and be a shareholder.”

Su Han followed up, “I also have some savings, and I don’t know what to invest in. Zhijun, don’t forget about me if you’re looking for investors.”

Zhou Xiao: “I… well, I don’t have any money. I’ll just watch you guys get rich.”

Xiang Li and Zhang Xinyi said, “We don’t have any money either…”

Among them, only the super-rich second-generation heir, Lu Jiaye, and the famous star, Su Han, were holding large sums of money looking for investment projects.

After dinner, as usual, they went to another venue to continue having fun. Su Han sat in a corner of the private room, drinking with Zhou Xiao.

Zhou Xiao wasn’t good with words. He could see that Su Han was feeling down but didn’t know how to comfort him, so he just kept him company, drinking in silence.

Zheng Peipei pulled Gu Siyi along, and Xia Zhijun brought Lu Jiaye to play billiards.

Lu Jiaye asked Zheng Peipei, “Weren’t you head over heels for him before? How can you break up so easily?”

Zheng Peipei: “Bullshit! I persisted for four years! How is that breaking up easily?! You’ve been abroad for four years, who knows how many girls you’ve been with!”

Lu Jiaye chuckled and said, “I was just looking for the feeling of being in a relationship. It’s not the same as you guys carrying the ‘true love’ banner.”

“What ‘feeling’? Is it edible?” Zheng Peipei rolled her eyes.

Lu Jiaye laughed, “Look at those two over there, the true spokespeople for love. Aren't you jealous?”

Gu Siyi: “Lu Jiaye, don’t you dare stir up trouble for me.”

Zheng Peipei chuckled: “Don't worry, I know who to blame. I'll remember that idiot who stood me up.”

The group played and joked around until late at night, then returned to their respective hotel rooms to rest.

Lu Jiaye and Zheng Peipei were on the same floor. He opened his door, leaned against the doorframe, and looked thoughtfully at the door across the hall.

He seemed to be hesitating, struggling…

Should he go over there, keep her company, chat for a bit? Play the role of the understanding older brother, offering late-night heart-to-heart comfort?

Would he be misunderstood as taking advantage of her vulnerability? He didn't intend to do such a tasteless thing.

Zheng Peipei had just finished showering and was about to go to bed when she heard a knock on the door.

She walked to the door and opened it. Su Han stood before her, his eyes dark and intense, his body reeking of alcohol.

“What’s wrong?” Zheng Peipei asked suspiciously.

Su Han strode in, grabbed her hand, stared into her eyes, and said hoarsely, “If I quit the entertainment industry… will I have a chance to be forgiven?”

Zheng Peipei was stunned. After a long while, she stammered, “Do you know what you’re saying?”

“I know… so I’ll become an ordinary person… and we’ll start over… okay…?”

Su Han embraced Zheng Peipei, resting his head on her shoulder.

Zheng Peipei looked up and saw Lu Jiaye standing by the door. Their eyes met.

Lu Jiaye said, “Just passing by. I saw him coming over. Looks like he’s drunk, right?”

Zheng Peipei nodded. “He’s drunk.” The weight of the man leaning on her grew heavier and heavier, his eyes closing.

“Come and give me a hand,” Zheng Peipei called out.

Lu Jiaye readily stepped forward and pulled Su Han upright.

Zheng Peipei found Su Han’s room key and put it in Lu Jiaye’s pocket. “You can take him back to his room.”

“Alright, leave it to me. You get some rest,” Lu Jiaye said, swiftly hoisting Su Han up and carrying him away.

Zheng Peipei closed the door, lay back on the bed, and Su Han’s last words echoed in her mind…

…

Late at night, after their intimacy, Gu Siyi and Xia Zhijun lay quietly in each other’s arms.

Gu Siyi said, “Let’s not think about our wedding for now, okay?”

Xia Zhijun: “Why?”

“You’re just starting your business, and you’ll need the money. A proper wedding is so expensive.”

“It’s not like we can’t afford it.”

“There’s also the time and effort involved. I really don’t think we need to rush into a wedding. Let’s wait until we have a child.”

“A child?” Xia Zhijun paused. “We’ve just started our life together. Let’s not think about children for now, okay?”

He hadn’t even properly enjoyed their time together as a couple, and now a child would be added to the mix. And then there’s the pregnancy… Xia Zhijun felt that he wasn’t quite ready to be a father.

Gu Siyi understood what he meant and said, “Then there’s even less reason to rush the wedding. Let’s wait until the time is right, when we want to have children.”

“But…”

“If you want a wedding, I want to start trying for a baby.”

“…???” Xia Zhijun conceded defeat.

One didn't want to rush into having children and disrupt their life, while the other didn't want to rush into a wedding and disrupt his career. So they compromised, agreeing to put both matters aside for the time being.

The next day, Zheng Peipei ran into Su Han in the hotel corridor.

Their eyes met. Su Han was about to say something when his phone rang. He stepped aside to answer the call.

Based on the faint sounds from the other end, Zheng Peipei could hear it was his manager…

Su Han hung up the phone, looked at Zheng Peipei apologetically, and said in a low voice, “I can’t hang out with you guys today. My schedule is too tight, I have several engagements waiting.”

“…” The corners of Zheng Peipei’s mouth stiffened, then slowly curved into a smile. “You’re a big star, of course you’re busy. Go ahead. I’ll tell Little Dimple for you.”

Watching Su Han’s retreating figure, Zheng Peipei smiled again, her smile filled with mockery.

She had tossed and turned all night… and it was all for his drunken nonsense?

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