The Revelation

It had been six long months since Ming vanished without a trace. The rumors that had swirled about his sudden disappearance were nothing compared to the emptiness Hua felt in her heart. Every day without him was a struggle, but she tried her best to move on, to focus on her own life. Ming's family, too, had no answers. The once joyful and close-knit family had grown quiet with worry, unable to reach their son.

Zihan, Hua's best friend, had been her constant source of support. One afternoon, while they sat in Hua's living room, Zihan scrolled through her phone, trying to distract them from the lingering tension.

"Have you checked your Facebook lately?" Zihan asked suddenly, her voice tense.

Hua shook her head. She had distanced herself from social media in recent months. Everything on it reminded her of Ming. Zihan's face grew serious as she handed her phone over.

"Maybe you should check it," Zihan said quietly.

Hua took the phone with a sense of dread creeping up her spine. As she opened her Facebook page, her eyes

The decision to fight for Ming filled Hua with a renewed sense of determination. But knowing Xueyao's manipulative nature, she knew this battle wouldn't be easy. She needed to approach it carefully. After leaving her mother's house, Hua sat in her apartment, her mind racing with thoughts about how to win Ming back.

Zihan came over later that evening, sensing that Hua needed someone to talk to. As they sat on the couch, Hua shared everything her mother had said.

"Your mom's right," Zihan said, crossing her arms. "You've been holding onto the pain for too long. But now it's time to take action."

Hua sighed, looking down at her hands. "But what should I do? Xueyao's got him now. And after seeing those pictures on Facebook, it's like... I don't even know him anymore."

Zihan pursed her lips thoughtfully. "We need to find out more about Xueyao. She wasn't always in Ming's life, and now she suddenly pops up and everything's changed? Something about that doesn't sit right with me."

Hua nodded in agreement. "She went to Korea, and the next thing I know, she's back and... and it's like she's erased me from his life."

"Exactly," Zihan said, her eyes narrowing. "We need to get to the bottom of what happened when Xueyao returned. It's not a coincidence that she's back and suddenly all over him. We should start by finding out where they are."

Hua hesitated for a moment. "But if I find them... what then? What if he doesn't even want to talk to me?"

Zihan's face softened. "You'll never know unless you try. Hua, I've seen the way Ming looks at you. I've seen the way he loved you. This whole thing with Xueyao—it's not right. You deserve answers."

Hua nodded slowly, the determination building up in her again. "You're right. I need answers. I can't keep running away from this."

Zihan smiled and squeezed her hand. "Good. So, what's the plan?"

The two girls spent the evening coming up with ideas. First, they decided to track down where Ming and Xueyao were living. The Facebook post had been their first clue, but they needed more than that.

"We'll start by checking places where they might have been seen," Zihan said. "Ming's usual hangouts, maybe even talk to his friends."

Hua's heart raced at the thought of seeing Ming again. Part of her was scared—scared that he wouldn't remember her, that the love they had was gone. But another part of her couldn't let go. She needed to see him. She needed to know the truth.

As they planned, Zihan suddenly looked at Hua with a serious expression. "Hua, you know that this isn't just about fighting for Ming. You need to be prepared for whatever you might find. If he's really forgotten you, if Xueyao's twisted him somehow... you need to be strong."

Hua swallowed hard. "I know. But I still have to try. For both of us."

That night, after Zihan left, Hua sat by herself in the quiet of her room. She pulled out an old photo of her and Ming, taken back when everything was perfect between them. They were laughing in the picture, arms around each other, with a happiness that now seemed so distant.

Tears pricked her eyes, but she quickly brushed them away. She couldn't afford to cry anymore. Tomorrow would be the beginning of her fight to reclaim what was lost.

The next morning, Hua and Zihan started their search. They began by visiting a few of Ming's old friends, casually asking about him. Some didn't know much, but a few mentioned that they had seen Ming in town with Xueyao.

"He seemed different," one of his friends, Chen, said when they stopped by his cafe. "I don't know how to explain it. Ming was always so... grounded, you know? But lately, he's been distant. It's like he's not the same guy anymore."

Hua's heart sank, but she kept her composure. "Did he say anything about where they were living now?"

Chen thought for a moment, rubbing his chin. "I think he mentioned something about Xueyao having an apartment near the park. But I'm not sure exactly where."

"That helps, thank you," Hua said, trying to mask the anxiety bubbling inside her.

They continued their search, and after a long day, Hua and Zihan found themselves standing outside the park, looking around at the nearby apartments. It felt surreal being so close to where Ming might be. Hua's stomach twisted with nerves, but she kept moving forward.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Zihan asked gently.

Hua took a deep breath, her eyes hardening with determination. "I have to be."

They wandered the neighborhood for a while, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ming or Xueyao. Just as they were about to give up for the day, Zihan froze, grabbing Hua's arm.

"Hua... look."

Across the street, walking out of a building, was Ming. He looked just as Hua remembered, but something was off. His expression was blank, almost robotic. And standing next to him, clinging to his arm, was Xueyao.

Hua's heart pounded as she watched them together. Her fists clenched at her sides, and she felt a rush of emotions—anger, sadness, confusion. She wasn't sure what to do next, but one thing was clear: she had found him.

"Ming..." she whispered under her breath.

Zihan squeezed her hand. "We need to be smart about this, Hua. Let's not rush in."

But Hua wasn't listening. Seeing Ming, seeing him with Xueyao, had ignited something inside her. She needed answers. She needed to know why he had left her, why he had chosen Xueyao.

Without thinking, Hua started walking toward them.

"Hua, wait!" Zihan called, but Hua couldn't stop herself. She had come this far, and now that Ming was right in front of her, she wasn't going to back down.

As she approached, Xueyao's eyes widened in surprise. Ming, however, didn't react—didn't even seem to notice Hua.

"Hua," Xueyao said with a mocking smile. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Hua ignored her, her eyes fixed on Ming. "Ming... it's me, Hua. Don't you remember me?"

Ming blinked, his expression still blank, as if he didn't recognize her at all. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

Hua felt like she had been punched in the gut. This wasn't the Ming she knew. Something was terribly wrong.