On the way home by taxi, the first snowfall of the year in District Seven began to drift down from the sky.

Half of District Seven was covered by snow-capped mountains, and winter snowfall was nothing unusual. Yet, as Zhu Ming watched the delicate, glistening flakes swirl and float down, he felt an inexplicable sense of estrangement, as if it were a lifetime ago.

In that virtual bar within the District Four game, Zhu Ming had once told Xi Xianqing that he had only two bottom lines in life.

One, he only wanted to do what he liked. Two, he would never become a burden to others.

Zhu Ming had always seen himself clearly.

He was never someone who avoided facing his own heart. He knew that perhaps from the moment he agreed to that absurd medication agreement, he had already stepped beyond his role as a doctor. It wasn’t just about fulfilling a physician’s duty—more than that, it was about satisfying his own instincts.

Zhu Ming also saw Xi Xianqing clearly.

Every time he averted his gaze, lifted his chin slightly; every time he hesitated, spoke stubbornly, said one thing but meant another; every time their eyes met, lips touched, and the tips of his ears turned red—Zhu Ming understood the meaning behind all of Xi Xianqing’s fluctuating expressions.

Because sometimes, he understood Xi Xianqing even better than Xi Xianqing understood himself.

So just like now, he could clearly see the struggle in Xi Xianqing’s eyes.

Treatment could be an excuse for intimacy, and medication could be a shield for kissing. He could allow himself to indulge in it temporarily, but this doctor-patient relationship, entangled in a fake marriage, would have to be sorted out sooner or later.

Xi Xianqing found it difficult to make a choice because he had to balance this marriage with the goal he had pursued for years. Zhu Ming understood his dilemma—because once upon a time, he had stood just a step away from a similar crossroads.

So Zhu Ming wanted to help him make a choice.

When he arrived back at the villa, he saw Zhu Yingying directing the servants, arranging decorations for the evening garden party.

The first snowfall came suddenly. Zhu Yingying stood in the garden, holding an umbrella, directing the workers to set up a small canopy in the center. She also reminded them to place the custom-made flowers near the heaters to ensure the overall aesthetic harmony.

She had always enjoyed arranging lively gatherings, and the little rabbit happily wiggled its butt around at her feet.

Zhu Ming clearly saw the excitement in her eyes, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly in response.

But immediately afterward, that smile faded a little.

After giving her instructions, Zhu Yingying clapped her hands in satisfaction. When she turned her head, she happened to see Zhu Ming at the entrance. “Oh, you’re back? Come and see how my setup looks. Do you think this corner needs more small night lights? And here…”

Zhu Ming was silent for a moment, then raised a smile at her.

“Aunt,” he said, “there’s something I want to confess to you.”

–

Xi Xianqing opened his eyes.

After a few consecutive days chaotic schedules and muddled thoughts, combined with back-to-back social engagements, had left him with barely any proper sleep.

His temples throbbed painfully. He glanced at the button on his phone, closed his eyes briefly, then forced himself to sit up despite his exhaustion.

Unlocking his phone, he received a message.

At last night’s banquet, Xi Jianfeng had introduced him and Xi Sen to many founders of high-end fashion and jewelry families from District Six—undoubtedly the most elite connections and resources in the entire district.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, Xi Sen had nodded at Xi Xianqing, a tacit understanding passing between their gazes.

Xi Jianfeng was getting old. And precisely because he was aware of this, he had begun gradually handing over his power, resources, and network to them.

Now, the message Xi Xianqing received was from a woman named Lu Zhihe—one of the people he had met that night, and the heir of a century-old luxury leather goods family.

The rebellious young woman had been brought to the banquet by her father. She had casually chatted with Xi Xianqing at the time—but he didn’t have much of an impression of her. He only remembered having a drink on the balcony, learning about her independent fashion brand, and hearing about how her parents were pressuring her to marry, which strengthened her resolve to break free from her family’s constraints.

“Mr. Xi, I’m really sorry.”

Lu Zhihe’s message read: “The news was posted without my consent by someone on my team. They said it was to create buzz for my next season’s ready-to-wear launch. I’ve already told them to take it down.”

Xi Xianqing’s heart sank.

He clicked on the news she mentioned. The moment he saw the headline, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and felt the throbbing pain in his temples grow even more unbearable.

Opening his eyes again, he instinctively scrolled to Zhu Ming’s chat window—only to find that there was no new message notification—Zhu Ming hadn’t messaged him at all.

Perhaps he hadn’t seen the news. With that thought, Xi Xianqing let out a small breath of relief.

A knock sounded at the door, and Xi Xianqing opened it.

Seeing that he wasn’t fully dressed yet, Xi Mufei, wearing a delicate party dress, signed her dissatisfaction: “Hurry up and get ready. We should be leaving now, or my cake won’t be fresh anymore.”

Xi Xianqing said, “Got it.”

For the past few days, Xi Xianqing had been stretched thin between social obligations and assessments. But in the end, he had managed to carve out this evening despite his packed schedule.

After freshening up and getting dressed, he pulled open the nightstand drawer, took out a small rectangular velvet box, examined it for a moment, then finally slipped it into the inner pocket of his suit jacket.

By the time he arrived at Zhu Yingying’s house, it was already evening in District Seven.

The light snowfall hadn’t stopped; in fact, it seemed to be thickening into a heavier snowstorm. A thin layer of white had settled over the ground.

Zhu Yingying stood at the garden entrance, her nose and eyes slightly red—perhaps from the cold.

The moment she saw Xi Xianqing and Xi Mufei at the entrance, there was a fleeting trace of melancholy and distraction in her expression. But in the end, she simply lifted the corners of her lips and greeted them with a bright smile.

She took their hands and led them into the small canopy at the center of the garden. “Come in quickly. I personally cooked most of the dishes today, so you have to support me.”

Although the garden was covered in snow, the heaters provided a steady warmth. The aroma of food filled the air inside the canopy, mingling with the scent of fresh flowers. The tableware was exquisite, the candlelight flickered gently—everything was arranged to feel warm and cozy.

Zhu Ming sat at the dining table, chatting with a tall, broad-shouldered man with sharp eyebrows. Behind the man stood a solemn-looking Arctic wolf.

“This is Uncle Chen.”

Zhu Ming introduced them. “My aunt’s boyfriend. He just arrived from District One.”

The District One officer, Chen Cheng, stood up with a hearty smile, shook their hands, and exchanged a few pleasantries.

A small party with not many people, but because they were all acquaintances, the atmosphere was very relaxed.

Chen Cheng’s Arctic wolf stood gently beside Zhu Yingying’s lop-eared rabbit as he recounted how he and Zhu Yingying had first met years ago, how he had pursued her for so long without success, and how only recently he had finally won her over.

Zhu Ming rested his cheeks and listened with a smile in his eyes.

Though Xi Mufei couldn’t hear the story, she was still curious and eager for gossip. So Xi Xianqing sat beside her, translating everything into sign language.

However, the key figure in the story, Zhu Yingying, seemed distracted the entire time.

It wasn’t until everyone’s eyes turned toward her that she hurriedly smiled. “Why don’t we… have some of Mufei’s cake now?”

Having practiced with Zhu Ming the first time, Xi Mufei’s cake today was not only visually appealing but also fragrant and inviting. Even before anyone tasted it, it had already received unanimous praise.

The candles were inserted and lit. Zhu Ming smiled, closed his eyes, and made a wish.

He must have had many wishes he wanted to come true, as it took him a while before he finally opened his eyes again, lowered his lashes, and lightly blew out the candles.

After the cake was shared, Zhu Yingying glanced at Zhu Ming and suddenly said she wanted the recipe.

Xi Mufei immediately beamed and offered to write it down for her by hand.

The two of them stood up together and went inside the villa to find paper and a pen. Watching the heavy snowfall outside the canopy, Chen Cheng sighed, picked up the umbrella beside him, and got up to follow them.

Zhu Ming and Xi Xianqing were left in the garden.

It had been almost a week since they had sat down like this and talked alone.

The snow continued to fall, and for a few seconds, the air was completely silent. Xi Xianqing hesitated, then slowly reached for the inner pocket of his suit jacket—

“Xi Xianqing.”

In the next instant, Zhu Ming suddenly spoke, “There’s something I want to say to you.”

The snow was still falling. Warm, amber-colored fairy lights decorated the canopy, and the fragrant scent of fresh flowers lingered in the air.

During dinner, Zhu Ming had drunk some fruit wine, and his cheeks carried a faint blush. His eyes shimmered with a gentle, misty light, soft and beautiful.

He was smiling at Xi Xianqing, his expression warmer and brighter than the flickering candlelight on the table. And so, Xi Xianqing’s heart softened along with it.

He withdrew his hand, thinking it wouldn’t hurt to wait a little longer before taking out the gift. Appearing composed, he asked, “What is it?”

Zhu Ming was quiet for a moment before saying, “Can you stand up and take a few steps back?”

Confused, Xi Xianqing stood up and stepped back.

—The next second, Zhu Ming lowered his head, resting one hand on the edge of the table for support. Struggling slightly, his body trembled as he pushed himself up from the wheelchair to stand.

Xi Xianqing’s pupils trembled sharply, and he instinctively raised a hand to support him.

But Zhu Ming, panting slightly, waved him off, signaling that Xi Xianqing didn’t need to come over.

Though he had managed to stand, his leg muscles were still weak, and his knees trembled uncontrollably. It took him a long moment before he barely steadied himself.

—Then, he took a step forward, his movements shaky and labored.

Another step. Then a third…

Just like that, he walked, step by step, until he stood right in front of Xi Xianqing.

Xi Xianqing’s breath caught in his throat. He stared at Zhu Ming’s legs in disbelief.

“When did you—”

His voice was filled with unconcealed joy, but he quickly caught himself. “Was it during your last rehab session…? Why didn’t you tell me back then?”

Even those few steps had left Zhu Ming a little breathless. He leaned against the edge of the table for support, catching his breath before lowering his gaze and smiling. “Because I wanted you to see it with your own eyes.”

He struggled to stand up straight and met Xi Xianqing’s gaze. “So? My first time standing without any machine assistance—impressive, right?”

Xi Xianqing forced his expression to remain neutral. ”…It’s alright. I already saw you stand once in the game before.”

Zhu Ming let out a soft chuckle. “Still as stubborn as ever.”

Outside the canopy, the snowfall grew heavier.

“Xi Xianqing.”

He lowered his head slightly, looking at his own legs as he called out Xi Xianqing’s name. “All this time, I’ve been wanting to say thank you.”

His tone was solemn and serious.

Xi Xianqing felt an uncontrollable tug in his chest. After a long pause, he finally said, “Your rehabilitation is your own achievement. The person you should be thanking most is yourself, for your persistence.”

However Zhu Ming shook his head.

“This thank you isn’t just for the rehabilitation.”

He lifted his gaze, looking into Xi Xianqing’s face. “During the time I spent in this marriage agreement with you, being your private doctor, I did many things I was once unable to do—or never even thought of trying.”

“These experiences, these memories—each and every one of them is worth a thank you.” He said.

His eyes drifted toward the villa in the distance, where Zhu Yingying stood, with Chen Cheng behind her. Zhu Ming smiled slightly. “Most importantly, my aunt now has her own life. She’s no longer tied down because of me. That’s something I… never even dared to imagine before.”

He was reminiscing, but it also felt like he was expressing gratitude. His voice was gentle yet polite.

Yet an inexplicable sense of alienation spread through Xi Xianqing’s chest.

Because Zhu Ming’s words sounded strangely… like a farewell.

It felt as if an invisible hand had clenched around his heart. Xi Xianqing stared at Zhu Ming intently and spoke in a hoarse voice, “You…”

“It’s just that during this period of time, I can’t help but wonder again if I’m being too selfish.”

Zhu Ming’s gaze shifted into the distance as he shook his head. “Because this agreement was inherently immature. A marriage built on a lie is bound to end one day, isn’t it?”

“Even if our intentions were good, even if we both had our reasons, but when the agreement ends, or when all the lies and secrets hidden within it are exposed—won’t that only bring disappointment and pain to the people I love and those who love me?” He asked.

Xi Xianqing’s mind went completely blank.

His voice was so dry it didn’t even feel like it came from his own throat. He stared at Zhu Ming in confusion. “You… What do you mean?”

The night was quiet, the snowfall silent. Zhu Ming remained still for a long time before his eyelashes trembled slightly.

“What I mean is that I don’t want to hide it anymore.”

After a brief pause, he turned his face, calmly meeting Xi Xianqing’s eyes. “I told my aunt about our marriage arrangement.”

“Xi Xianqing,” he said, ”Let’s divorce.”

Author’s Notes:

Divorce isn’t a separation—it’s about understanding one’s true feelings and embracing a genuine new beginning oh >_<