You said you hated men, why are your eyes now full of love?-Chapter 100 - The Tenderness Encountered in the Alley (Part 5)

Not far away, Ji Mu stood and watched the memories of his past life on Blue Star, feeling a surge of indescribable emotions.

So...

Did all these fateful connections begin when he was thirteen?

After the novel evolved into a world, it turned out just as he had imagined.

The girl had a name and lived out her own life.

She no longer followed the original script.

She broke free from the script's control.

Despite enduring many hardships, she never compromised with fate.

One could argue that, from the moment the novel world was formed, it became fundamentally detached from the original novel and established itself as a true individual.

She is Ruan Qingqing, not Ruan Ruan.

Ji Mu withdrew his gaze and continued to follow the path before him.

This time, he arrived at memories from when he was 15.

...

The weather was gloomy.

Having just finished his tutoring job, the young boy dragged his tired body home. freewёbnoνel.com

In order to save money and take the orphanage director, his grandpa, to see a doctor as soon as possible, his daily routine was almost indistinguishable from a 007 schedule.

His days were filled with studying, competing, and working part-time.

His nighttime sleep was compressed to less than four hours, and he felt like he could drop dead at any moment.

Seriously, why am I doing this to myself?

The young man shook his head, refusing to dwell on such unlucky thoughts.

He hadn't enjoyed the carefree life of financial freedom yet, and he certainly didn't want to die young.

As he passed an alley entrance and yawned, his gaze inadvertently fell on the brightly lit cake shop across the street, and his steps slowed involuntarily.

After much hesitation, he decided to make it his dinner.

Sometime later, he walked out with a freshly baked, six-inch cream cake.

Just as he was about to hurry home before dusk, he stumbled upon a little girl sitting alone in the corner by the shop entrance.

She wore simple, nearly shabby clothes with slightly curled hems and a few frayed white threads showing clear signs of multiple washes and repairs.

Her eyes sparkled with longing and desire as she stared at the various exquisite cakes displayed in the window.

But she just stared longingly, a small, quiet figure who went unnoticed.

The dampness and chill in the air were palpable, and the boy could almost feel the heavy atmosphere with each breath.

He wasn't the type to meddle in others' affairs. Logically, other people's grievances, joys, and sorrows had nothing to do with him.

Yet, for some reason, this scene stirred an indescribable emotion in his chest.

Maybe it reminded him of his younger self. Maybe it was because today was his birthday. Or maybe it was for some other reason.

He didn't turn a blind eye as he usually would have.

He slowly approached and squatted down to ask, "Hey there, why are you here alone? Where's your mom?"

The girl looked up when she heard his pleasant voice.

In front of her was a handsome young man with well-defined features, half-squatting. Despite his sleepy eyes, his striking looks were undeniable.

The black hoodie he wore made his pale skin appear fairer, and a faint, clean, refreshing scent of soap drifted from him.

Her gaze lingered on his face, and for a moment, she was entranced.

The boy waved his hand from side to side.

Why does she look so silly, like a silly goose?

"Hey, kid?"

Realizing how awkward she was being, the girl's ears turned red.

Hearing the boy call her a kid, she pouted and said unhappily, "My name is Ruan Qingqing, and I'm 13 years old."

I'm not a kid.

"…Sorry."

The boy realized that he was only two years older than her.

Her appearance was quite misleading.

Her face was the size of his palm, and she was so short that she barely reached his chest.

Mistaking her for a 7-year-old was understandable.

"It's getting late. Shouldn't you be heading home?" Feeling awkward, he decided to change the topic.

The girl hesitated for a moment before softly replying, "I snuck out."

Knowing she had done something wrong, she nervously pinched the hem of her clothes.

"What about you, big brother?"

Big brother? Me?

The boy's expression turned strange.

It wasn't a big deal, though. He found the nickname unique. "I just finished work and was about to head home."

"Wow!"

Upon hearing this response, the girl's eyes immediately lit up with admiration.

"That's amazing!"

Despite looking no older than her, her big brother had managed to find a job. The process must have been very challenging.

Her tone was a mix of envy and melancholy.

"I wish I could grow up quickly, too. Then, I could work part-time at the shop and help relieve my mom's burden."

Her heart-wrenching murmur made the boy sigh silently.

"Don't rush, silly goose."

He softened his voice to comfort her. "Once you celebrate a birthday, you grow a year older," he said.

"But..."

The girl's expression turned slightly confused.

"I don't celebrate birthdays anymore."

The boy looked at her in puzzlement.

She gave a silly smile and proudly explained, "Qingqing is an adult now. I can't cling to my mom for gifts and birthday celebrations like a child."

"But today..." She trailed off, lowering her head and speaking in a muffled voice.

"I couldn't resist sneaking out to check out the newly opened birthday cake shop."

Her voice grew softer until it was barely audible.

"Qingqing is a bad adult."

"So." His gaze fell on the dejected girl in front of him.

He carefully picked up on the key point: "Today is the silly goose's birthday, right?"

After hesitating for a moment, the girl nodded.

"Yes."

She looked up and smiled sweetly again.

"It's okay."

By this time, the girl, who was like a little sun, had learned to comfort herself.

"When I grow up and start earning money, I'll definitely buy a cream cake and celebrate my birthday again! Hehe."

"Why wait until you grow up?"

"Huh?"

The girl watched in a daze as the boy opened the box and revealed a six-inch cream cake.

"Let's do it now."

His clean, slightly husky voice carried a unique charm.

"There's no need to wait for another day, another time, or the future."

Her heart skipped a beat, and after a brief pause, it began to pound even harder.

The girl didn't know what was happening to her. She couldn't control her racing heart and took a step back. "I can't..."

The boy pushed the cake toward her again. "Let's eat it together," he said.

The edges of the cake were decorated with waves of cream, and a few bright red strawberries were nestled in.

Its exquisite appearance was enough to whet anyone's appetite. It was quite tempting.

Staring intently at the cake, she quickly withdrew her hand after reaching out to it.

Suppressing her inner desire, she swallowed and shook her head. "This is yours, big brother."

The boy nodded. "I know," he said.

"But I just want to share it with you. Is that okay?"

The girl's cheeks felt warm.

Before she could ask why, the boy continued.

"Because today is my birthday, too."

He chuckled softly and said, "One cake can grant two people's wishes. There's nothing better than that."

When he smiled, the tear mole at the corner of his eye shimmered, and his deep brown pupils reflected the serene beauty of a lake after rain.

The girl almost got lost in his smile.

Standing in front of her, he said, "Silly goose, being an adult is too tiring. Just be a kid today."

"…"

In the dark alley, where only a sliver of sunlight reached, the girl felt as if the first light of dawn had dispelled the gloom in her heart.

"Okay."

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