"Chu Qinghe, what did you mean by this?" Gu Xingzhi asked, his face full of astonishment and confusion.
Chu Qinghe looked up at Gu Xingzhi, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Xingzhi, when you left without saying goodbye that day, my heart hurt so much..."
"After that, I left home to look for you, but there was no trace of you at all."
"I refused to give up. I left Warm City and searched the entire kingdom, only to find portraits of you posted all over every city."
"I tore down those portraits and wandered from place to place, asking everyone I met."
"Whenever I learned of your whereabouts, I was overjoyed, but by the time I found my way there, you were already gone."
"And so, I searched for ten years."
"I thought I would never have the chance to see you again. Then, when I was utterly lost and dejected, I met a crazy old man."
"The old man brought me here and showed me the way, then suddenly vanished."
"Wuwuwu... I finally found you. Please don't drive me away, okay?"
Tears rolled down her face as she looked at Gu Xingzhi with utter sincerity.
"Mad Old Man?"
Gu Xingzhi frowned and fell into thought.
Could it be that Chu Qinghe was inevitably connected to my trial? Was this deliberately arranged by my true self?
He pondered inwardly.
Coming back to his senses, he looked at the tearful Chu Qinghe and let out a breath.
"Since you found your way here, then stay."
"Really? Really?" Chu Qinghe instantly broke into a smile.
She wiped away her tears, brimming with excitement as she threw herself into Gu Xingzhi's arms again.
"Thank you, Xingzhi!"
Gu Xingzhi sighed again, then wrapped his awkwardly hovering hands around the once spoiled and headstrong young