Cen Muxiao had originally wanted to take the opportunity to have an honest talk with Song Anning, but the moment he asked that question, the atmosphere between them fell into a brief silence.
Three years ago, he had expressed his affection for Song Anning more than once and had even formally confessed, yet it had ultimately ended with Song Anning leaving the country, fading away without resolution.
Looking back now, he could only come to one conclusion: it had all been one-sided wishful thinking.
If a relationship received no response, it could only mean the other person had no such feelings.
Back then, Song Anning had probably only regarded him as a close confidant and friend. Whatever affection there had been might have been nothing more than friendship. He himself had simply been muddleheaded and failed to distinguish it clearly, only realizing it belatedly now.
Now that Song Anning had returned, Cen Muxiao had indeed felt, at the moment they met again, as though the old passion had been rekindled. But after spending this time together, it felt completely different.
Though they had reunited after a long separation, they no longer had their former openness or heartfelt intimacy. It was as if an inexplicable barrier had appeared between them. The distance was back, while the warmth that should have been there was gone.
They were polite yet distant. He wanted to show him extra care, but always felt the timing was wrong and the boundaries uncertain. He constantly felt restrained, and that was not something material things could fill or make him overlook.
On top of that, given his current marital status, certain thoughts had gradually faded without his noticing. He had not even given much thought to what their future might ultimately look like.
Moreover, Song Anning's attitude toward