After touring the amusement park, Tang Wen continued his thoughtful role as a good older brother, taking Ziye back to her home in the Xilian Galaxy before finally departing.

Not long after he returned, Tang Wan sent a hyper-comm, weeping as if the end of the world was nigh, “Ziye, sob, big brother Tang Wen refuses to see me.”

Ziye’s heart skipped a beat. “Where are you?”

Tang Wan choked out between sobs, “Upstairs from you.”

Ziye sprinted to the landing platform on the rooftop and scooped up Tang Wan, who was crying inconsolably, embracing her tightly while whispering apology after apology: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”

If it hadn’t been for her, Tang Wen wouldn’t have rushed over, and Tang Wan wouldn’t have been left disappointed.

She understood the feeling of liking someone.

She could empathize with the agony of loving someone you couldn’t have.

But she couldn't say anything, only continuing to apologize profusely.

Tang Wan cried until her voice was raw. Ziye helped her back into the apartment, poured her a glass of honey water, and coaxed her to lie down and rest.

Tang Wan clutched Ziye’s hand, sobbing, “Ziye, I won’t be able to be your sister-in-law anymore.”

Ziye’s heart gave a sharp jolt. “Let’s just be the best of sisters.”

Tang Wan buried her face in Ziye’s shoulder. “Ziye, Ziye, I think next time I see big brother Tang Wen, I’m definitely going to give him a good beating.”

Ziye asked, “Why?”

Tang Wan lifted her head, her expression fierce, which, contrasted by the two tears tracing paths down her cheeks, looked entirely comical, yet Ziye couldn’t laugh. Tang Wan clenched her fist. “He owes me this. I’ve liked him for so long; I won’t feel satisfied unless I beat him.”

Ziye: “…”

After venting her frustration, Tang Wan contentedly nestled against a cushion on the sofa.

Ziye draped a blanket over her, sat beside her, and let out a silent sigh.

Love, it was truly heartbreaking.

Just then, the hyper-comm chimed. It was Yun Lan.

Ziye stepped outside to answer, forcing a smile. “You didn’t confess today? Are you calling to report your progress? That’s not like you!”

Yun Lan’s hair seemed to stand on end. “Boss, stop laughing at me. I have an urgent matter to discuss.”

Ziye dropped her smile. “Go on.”

Yun Lan said urgently, “Do you know where Xiao Wan’er went? I can’t reach her.”

Ziye froze instantly.

After a pause, Ziye asked, “What are you looking for her for?”

Yun Lan shouted, “I’m going to confess to her! The flowers and candlelight dinner are all set up, but I’m missing the leading lady! I’m going to commit suicide!”

(⊙o⊙)…Yun Lan actually liked Tang Wan. Sigh.

All this unrequited love—it was utterly heartbreaking.

How could this make her believe in romance?

Ziye sighed softly. “I’ll reply to you in half an hour.”

Yun Lan heard the underlying meaning in her voice. “You know where she is?”

Ziye evaded the question.

Yun Lan pleaded, “Boss. I’m begging you. Are you just going to stand by and watch my confession day turn into a farce?”

Ziye repeated her statement, “I’ll call you back in half an hour.” Then, she decisively cut the connection.

Yun Lan held his hyper-comm, deciding he couldn't just wait passively.

He reopened his optical screen and scrolled through his contact list.

Someone he knew well enough to speak up for him in front of Ziye. Hailey? Forget it; that guy would probably become a target for the redhead’s sharp tongue. Li Chunyu? Hmm, not bad, not bad.

Yun Lan dialed Li Chunyu’s hyper-comm and immediately blurted out, “Chun Niu, I need a favor!”

Li Chunyu calmly stood up.

Sitting next to Li Chunyu, Si Yue was on the verge of tears.

Wasn’t this unfair?

She was this close to kissing Li Chunyu; which scoundrel had to call him at this precise moment? May that scoundrel get dumped on his confession day.

Li Chunyu asked, “What’s so urgent?”

Yun Lan wailed, “Ziye is hiding the girl I like! Can you help me find out where she put her?”

Li Chunyu wondered aloud, “Ziye shouldn’t even know Meng Miao.”

Yun Lan almost fainted from distress.

Meng Miao was the girl he liked three months ago, alright? The one he liked now was Xiao Wan’er.

Yun Lan made a tragic face. “It’s Xiao Wan’er! You know her too—Ziye’s chief planner.”

When Li Chunyu graduated, Si Yue hadn’t even arrived at Lingsi yet, so she didn't recall Tang Wan well. However, Si Yue leaped up. “Is he talking about Tang Wan?”

Yun Lan noticed the change in voice. “Who is this?”

Li Chunyu glanced at Si Yue and held the optical screen out to her.

Si Yue looked at Yun Lan on the screen, mentally wishing to dismember him, but maintaining her usual image of a demure, gentle woman. “Have you done something to Xiao Wan’er?”

Yun Lan cried out in shock, “I didn’t even get a chance to do anything!”

Si Yue pursed her lips into a small smile, handed the screen back to Li Chunyu, opened her own hyper-comm, and sent a message to Ziye: Whatever you do, don't let Yun Lan meet Wan’er. He's like a weasel paying respects to the chickens.

Li Chunyu said gently, “This… you’ve known Ziye a long time; you know her character. She wouldn't hide someone without reason, unless Tang Wan didn’t want to see you or shouldn't see you. You better figure out your own path.”

Yun Lan hung up in frustration, grumbling. Fine, if no one would help, he’d just go straight to Ziye’s house and see what she had to say about it!

Tang Wan hadn't really been sleepy and had quickly calmed down before waking up.

She awoke to find Ziye sitting in the living room reading, the vast villa empty save for her small, solitary figure.

A pang of guilt struck her. With puffy eyes, she approached Ziye, trying to placate her. “Ziye, Ziye, let’s go out tonight.”

Ziye closed her book. “Where’s fun?”

Tang Wan suggested, “Confession Plaza?”

Ziye nodded. “Alright, you go freshen up first.”

Tang Wan immediately buzzed off like a busy bee to clean up, reappearing neatly groomed in under ten minutes, pulling Ziye’s hand. “Let’s go, let’s go.”

Ziye recalled Yun Lan, and the words formed on her lips, but after a moment’s thought, she spoke them anyway. “Yun Lan messaged me just now, wanting to ask you out. Do you want to go with him?”

She had seen the message Si Yue sent.

However, she believed that no matter how unreliable Yun Lan was, his nature was good. He and Tang Wan were good friends, and Tang Wan was an adult now. Ziye ultimately left the choice to her.

Tang Wan’s eyes immediately lit up brilliantly. “He wants to ask me out?”

Without waiting for Ziye’s reply, she jumped up. “Someone actually asked me out! I’m so happy; it means I’m not that bad!”

Ziye smiled softly. “You were never bad to begin with.”

Tang Wan excitedly gripped Ziye’s hand. “Then let’s call Yun Lan over and go to Confession Plaza together.”

Ziye: “…”

It seemed she had accidentally become a multi-million-watt light bulb.

Tang Wan didn't care; holding Yun Lan’s hand with one while dragging Ziye along with the other, she headed out.

Unexpectedly, they ran into An Junlie right at the doorway.

The trio turned into a party of four.

An Junlie completely ignored Yun Lan’s look of curiosity mixed with probing scrutiny and playful drama, offering a gentle smile to the two ladies present. “You don’t mind if I tag along?”

Tang Wan immediately pulled Ziye aside for a private whisper.

“Did you two have plans tonight, and I’m crashing the date?”

Ziye shook her head. “No. He didn't ask me out today; he must have just shown up unexpectedly.”

Tang Wan eyed her sideways. “That’s clearly not unexpected. He’s obviously trying to surprise you, right?”

Ziye: “…”

Fine, she must have been blind not to see the surprise coming.

Tang Wan gave her a look that suggested mutual understanding. “Since we’re all out together, let’s go to Confession Plaza. Once we get there, we’ll split up. We two won’t be your third wheel.”

Upon reaching Confession Plaza, the two of them slapped their backsides and skipped away hand-in-hand.

Ziye watched, her eyeballs nearly popping out. Tang Wan recovered frighteningly fast; she was crying like that just moments ago, and now it seemed like nothing had happened.

What an incredible person.

But this was a good thing.

Ziye clenched her fist and smiled at An Junlie. “Let’s go.”

An Junlie placed his hand on her head and gently ruffled her hair, murmuring, “Little Sister.”

Ziye looked up. An Junlie seemed about to say something, then stopped himself, smiling instead. “There are so many people here, so lively. Don’t get lost.”

Ziye nodded. “Okay.”

Confession Plaza was a four-star space station.

Under the enveloping night sky, the entire station was suffused with hearts and pink bubbles. Huge basins of roses were displayed everywhere, as if they cost nothing.

Young men and women held hands; some were confessing, some were kissing, and others were embracing as they walked toward the shadows… On the main central stage, a confession event was underway, a platform set up specifically for those too timid to voice their love to boldly speak their hearts.

As the host spoke, the lights dimmed, leaving only soft, floating pink heart-shaped lamps that glowed just enough to illuminate the path ahead.

A yellow spotlight swept through the crowd, finally fixing on a specific spot.

The host boomed, “We invite the chosen lady to take the stage!”

The crowd was dense, and Ziye couldn’t see clearly. She pulled An Junlie toward the steps leading to the rear of the stage.

Those steps numbered five hundred, designed for couples to conquer challenges.

Ziye and An Junlie reached the twentieth step, which offered a clear view of the stage.

At that moment, a woman’s self-introduction echoed: “Hello everyone, my name is Shayne.”

Ziye couldn’t help but laugh.

It was Shayne—so unexpected, yet so delightful.

The host asked, “Hello, Ms. Shayne. Who are you hoping to confess to today?”

Shayne played coy. “He is also here today. If he is willing to come up, I will announce it. If he refuses, then never mind.”

The host laughed. “The handsome gentleman called out absolutely must come up! It would be a tragedy for such a lovely lady to fail her confession!”

Shayne looked out at the audience and winked. “Spence.”

The spotlight swept through the crowd once more.

Every guest received a complimentary balloon upon entry, which contained a tracking function, so Spence couldn't escape. Immediately, he was bathed in the spotlight.

Spence struck a pose and walked confidently onto the stage.

“Is this Mr. Spence? Indeed, a handsome gentleman.” The host moved next to Spence, about to speak, when Shayne suddenly interrupted, “You are not Spence. Send Spence up here.”

( ⊙ o ⊙ ) Huh?