After all, few people were as... sentimental as he was?
Was it sentimentality?
Xu Qizhen didn't know.
His mind was a complete muddle.
He couldn't make sense of anything.
"...Oh, right..."
"You don't remember..."
Xu Qizhen gave an awkward smile.
For a moment, he didn't know what else he could say.
He lowered his eyes.
He forced the corners of his mouth upward.
He didn't want to look too miserable.
He'd known this might happen. Why was he handling it so badly?
Was this another kind of Ye Gong's love of dragons?
Before, whether he was talking to himself, his sister, or Student Xiao, he'd made it all sound so easy.
It was perfectly normal for her not to remember him.
He'd prepared himself for that.
If possible, they could get to know each other all over again.
If not, at least he could finally put an end to an obsession he'd carried for years.
So what was he doing now?
He felt hurt and embarrassed, even disbelieving and unable to accept it.
Xu Qizhen took a deep breath.
He clenched both hands.
His fingernails dug into his palms, stinging.
His heart was racing.
The noisy thudding of his heartbeat filled his ears.
He couldn't hear the rain anymore.
A series of roars rang in his ears.
"Xu Qizhen."
Xiao Xiao looked at Xu Qizhen, who had taken a heavy blow.
He wasn't particularly surprised.
Talking about it beforehand was one thing.
Actually facing it was another.
"Are you okay?"
Xu Qizhen nearly jumped out of his skin.
Ah!
He'd almost forgotten.
He wasn't alone here.
Student Xiao was with him.
Had Student Xiao seen him in this wretched state?
Xu Qizhen felt his face burn.
But soon, a bitter smile spread across his face.
How