All afternoon, Qiao Mo lay on the bed like a corpse, drifting in and out of sleep, feeling extremely uncomfortable for quite a long time.
Not until dusk did she finally get up.
She turned on the desk lamp and took out a thick diary.
September 15th, overcast.
Under the dim light, the slender pen cast a long shadow on the diary. After habitually writing down the date, Qiao Mo found herself distracted, pen in hand...
'Plop.'
Only when the pen inadvertently slipped from her hand did she finally come back from her memories, picking it up again.
The pen tip fell lightly on the slightly yellowed paper, moving slowly and with difficulty: My first time was like a nightmare. And that man, I do not love.
In just a few words, two short lines marked on the yellowed paper, the turmoil and the bone-deep pain of that chilling night were briefly touched upon.
Qiao Mo stared at these two lines for a long time, finally closing the diary gently.
But at that moment, she didn't know that from that very night, the name Fu Nancheng would be forever, deeply etched into her heart.
After hesitating for a while, Qiao Mo decided to turn on her phone.
Ever since she left Caesar, she hadn't powered it on. She didn't know how to face Jing Hao after what happened last night...
Within two minutes of turning on the phone, a call came in.
The name 'Jing Hao' was flashing on the screen. Qiao Mo stared at the name for a long time until her eyes grew moist, then she looked away and gently pressed the answer button.
"Xiao Mo, why have you had your phone off the whole time?"
Hearing the familiar voice, a trace of bitterness showed in Qiao Mo's eyes: "I had a bit to drink yesterday, and I had a headache."
She and Jiang Jinghao had been together for two years. She once thought that if nothing unexpected happened in this life, she would marry him, have children, and build a family, leading a happy and peaceful life together.
But she hadn't expected that, all of a sudden, everything would change.
The Qiao family had fallen, which she didn't mind, but she hadn't expected that her own aunt would send her straight to Fu Nancheng's bed.
How, then, was she to face this man?
"Don't worry about your uncle's matters for now. I heard..."
"Jing Hao." Listening to the gentle voice on the other side, Qiao Mo softly interrupted.
"Hm?" Jiang Jinghao seemed to sense something off in her tone and fell silent, waiting patiently.
After a few seconds, Qiao Mo spoke again: "Let's meet tomorrow." After a slight pause, she softly added, "I miss you."
The man paused at first, then a warm smile spread across his lips: "Alright, I'll pick you up at nine in the morning."
...
The next morning, as soon as Qiao Mo stepped out, she saw a white sedan parked in front of the Qiao family gate.
The car wasn't expensive, a common brand and model, but the man in front of it exuded a gentle warmth that caught the attention of many passersby.
The man wore a khaki coat and a dark red scarf, his hands in his pockets, leaning against the car. When he saw her come out, a warm smile appeared on his face, seemingly capable of melting the winter snow: "Xiao Mo."
Qiao Mo stood in place, her eyes growing a bit moist, and she gently lifted the corners of her mouth, giving him a smile.
The man returned her smile, walked up to her, removed his scarf and wrapped it around her neck, with a mix of affectionate scolding: "I knew you wouldn't wear enough. Luckily, I brought an extra coat. How old are you now, and you still don't know how to take care of yourself properly."