The Dust in the Air

Even though Zhu Maolin had invited her along, he did not speak much with Xiao Lu.

It felt like being in a dull study room, where the students busied themselves with their own work and only occasionally exchanged a few words when something came to mind, before returning to their separate states.

Xiao Lu's heart suddenly grew complicated, probably because this man was different in many ways from most of the men she had interacted with in the past—or perhaps more accurately, from the men she had deliberately sought out.

But she was not surprised. She knew there would always be people in this world who were unaffected by external influences and whose Original Heart was exceptionally firm.

Yes, she knew that men like this existed. If she deliberately searched for them, she could even find quite a few. That was why she had deliberately looked in the opposite direction for sponsors who suited her tastes.

If the goal lay in that direction, then by continuing to walk in the opposite direction, she would never have to reach it... There was no need to go there.

Because that side was too beautiful and pure, too unlike reality. It was perfect like a dream, so perfect that it made people fear it was merely a mirage and that, in truth, it led only to a dead end.

And then, they would be doomed beyond redemption.

So it was better to keep walking in the opposite direction, with that dreamlike scenery behind her. At least she could clearly see and feel reality... even if it was cruel.

"You're not eating? What are you thinking about?"

Using the communal chopsticks, Zhu Maolin picked up a piece of tripe from the hot pot and placed it in Xiao Lu's bowl. Then he tapped the