"That’s right, your and Miaomiao’s birthdays are coming up. Come over to the house then; I’ll throw a birthday party for you and Miaomiao, and we can celebrate together," Qin Du flipped out his phone, opened the calendar, and saw that it was the fourth day of the seventh lunar month. In three days, on the seventh day of the seventh month, it would be Yun Ya’s birthday. Yun Ya had no particular sentiment toward birthdays. In the past, when she was abroad, it was always Qin Du who remembered, and he had made sure she and Miaomiao had a great time, each occasion leaving memorable memories. Yun Ya nodded gently, "Okay." The two avoided mentioning Yun Shen, tacitly agreeing not to touch this forbidden subject. Qin Du saw a news update on his phone, glanced at Yun Ya, and handed her the phone, "Take a look for yourself." Yun Ya glanced at it and the corners of her lips deepened into a smile, "The media is always looking for a gap to slip through, never missing a chance." Qin Du frowned and said, "I’ll have someone suppress it." Yun Ya waved her hand, "No need, these media outlets are only good at making waves where there’s no wind. If we act now, they might say we have a guilty conscience." Qin Du raised his eyebrows, "Aren’t you afraid he’ll get angry?" "Ha," Yun Ya laughed softly, looking down. Her thick lashes concealed the emotions in her eyes, and her pale, delicate face was calm and gentle, "What’s bound to come will eventually come." Qin Du exhaled, "You and he, what exactly is going on? Are there issues in your relationship?" He asked from the perspective of a brother, aligning his stance to find the perfect balance between the two. Yun Ya casually adjusted a lock of hair by her temple and spoke lightly, "Brother Ah Du is overthinking it; we are very good." "How can I be at ease ? I had thought he would bring you happiness, but seeing you , how can I not feel heartache?" Yun Ya glanced at her watch, 6:15 PM. Forty minutes had already passed since Yan Song’s call. As she calculated the time, she picked up her fork and stabbed it into a piece of fruit from the dessert plate, quickly emptying the stacked fruit platter. At the end of her meal, she was soured by an orange, her face crinkling up, and Qin Du poured her a glass of lukewarm water, "Have some water." "It’s really sour, I just don’t like eating such sour things." Yun Ya chugged a mouthful of water, frowning with complaint. Qin Du couldn’t help but smile; she had disliked sour things since she was young, her biggest weakness being ticklish... He reined in his thoughts in time and looked at her gently, "I’ll take you home." Yun Ya looked outside the window, where the bamboo blinds sliced the setting sun into rays of light that spilled onto her, the golden hues, lush and intoxicating like fully bloomed golden chrysanthemums, yet as desolate as blood. The restaurant was located at the entrance of a pedestrian street. The off-work crowd came and went, moving through the busy city. Yet, on every face, there was a cold indifference born of solitude. Yun Ya rested her chin on her hand as she stared at the sunset; the golden light fell into her beautiful eyes, turning them into a gradient of deep pools that glimmered with a stunning gold-red brilliance. "Yaya?" Qin Du hesitantly spoke up. "Let me take you home." "Brother Ah Du, you go back first, I’m waiting for someone." Yun Ya raised her hand to cover her eyes, the strong light causing some discomfort. Qin Du had intended to ask whom she was waiting for, but the question died on his lips. Who else could it be? "I’ll wait with you." "No need, Brother Ah Du, you go ahead." "Afraid he’ll misunderstand?" After all, there was a precedent, and wasn’t it always he who ended up the most devastated? Qin Du ridiculed himself inwardly. Yun Ya curled her lips, as if thinking of something, she said lightly, "Then wait with me." The two ordered two more cups of coffee in the meantime. Yun Ya sipped hers, "Mmm, real Blue Mountain." Yan Song was urging the driver to drive faster the whole way; the driver drove as if his life depended on it, reducing a thirty-minute drive to just fifteen, leaving behind several banknotes. Yan Song stepped out of the car. He lowered his cap and stepped into the restaurant. "Welcome, sir, how many...?" The waiter respectfully began to speak, only to see the young man breeze past him. The ambiance of the restaurant was elegant, not too crowded at this time, with the gentle strains of a cello adding a touch of romance. Yan Song immediately spotted Yun Ya sitting in the corner and the man sitting opposite her. The seats were the type with sofa backs, Yun Ya’s back was facing him, revealing just her dark head. She was talking to the man opposite her, who had a warm and indulgent smile in his eyes and at the corners of his mouth. Yan Song clenched his fist with a ’crack,’ squinting, he strode over. Qin Du saw him and smiled at him.