Long-lost solitude.

We stood under the streetlamp. Mu Zining seemed a bit guilty, his lips trembling. "Yes, I'm sorry. He misled me, and I said those things."

"So, you and Tang Linlin were fake?"

I didn't look at him, just stared at the ground.

The dim yellow light cast our shadows as two parallel lines that would never intersect.

"We really didn't have anything..."

"Mu Zining!"

I finally looked at him, my throat dry, but I clenched my fist, straightened my back, and said, "We're both adults. Can't you be a bit more daring?"

"I never eat onions, yet you reflexively sprinkle so many green onions."

"The company's annual income is less than 500,000, but you spent over 60,000 on an end-of-year bonus gift?"

"We hardly chatted on WeChat before, but now you're glued to your phone all day long."

"Mu Zining, do you really think I'm blind?"

...

I took a deep breath, feeling a tightness in my chest.

He also stared at me intently, then furrowed his brow and said, "I'm sorry, we... we used to argue every day. I admit I had some feelings for her, but we never crossed the line, and besides, she's not as good as you."

"We've been together for five years. It's no longer just about love. I need you. You're already an indispensable part of my life."

"From now on, I won't interfere with your work, and I'll fire her. Let's not fight anymore."

"Is that okay?"

As he spoke, he lowered his gaze and looked at me, his eyes filled with moisture.

I knew he was sincere.

But he didn't know that I had already forgiven him countless times, from the moment I noticed something was wrong with him six months ago until now.

I gave him chances and hints.

Didn't he realize it at all?

He was just taking advantage of my love for him, feeling secure and fearless.

I really didn't want to say everything so explicitly.

It would be too dirty.

In that instant, I seemed to see him confessing his love to me for the first time.

Also standing under a streetlamp like this.

Back then, he held a bouquet of roses in his hand, pacing back and forth, reciting the pre-written confession over and over again.

Snowflakes covered his hair, and I didn't know how long he had been standing there.

I approached him quietly, tapped his shoulder, and startled him.

When he saw me, his cold eyes were filled with astonishment, as if frozen.

I smiled and asked him what he was doing.

He blinked, handed the flowers to me, blushing, and said, "Um, I, I like, no, I love you, no, like like... don't be afraid..."

By the end, he had completely forgotten his prepared lines and could only stare at me nervously.

His eyes were moist, as if pleading.

...

That figure slowly merged with the present him, and then dissipated.

Without realizing it, I reached out and cupped his face.

Although his appearance hadn't changed much, how did he become like this?

Looking at his shining eyes and fleeting relaxation, I felt truly disappointed.

He knew full well that I couldn't resist him in this state.

Yet he used it against me.

The man who used to love me unconditionally has truly disappeared.

At this moment, I don't hate or resent him. I just feel calm. "Mu Zining, I really don't love you anymore."

"I don't even feel a thing when I touch you."

He froze, a look of helplessness in his eyes.

It's been a long time since I've seen that expression on his face.

But I no longer care.

"Mu Zining, let's part ways for real this time. We've both changed, haven't we?"