“Let’s pretend we never met.”

"Sir... sir, are you listening to me?"

The once youthful and delicate face of the boy had matured over ten years, becoming that of a calm and refined man.

Perhaps everything had changed, but for Xu Duwan, one thing remained the same—his gaze was always fixed on Shen Mingjin.

From the past to the present, and from the present to the future, Xu Duwan's eyes would always find Shen Mingjin…

As if under a spell.

Shen Mingjin waved his hand in front of Xu Duwan, curious.

"What are you thinking about?"

"...Nothing." Xu Duwan snapped out of his daze, his long lashes trembling slightly as he lowered his gaze. For some reason, he suddenly felt suffocated, though he didn't understand why. After a brief silence, he spoke, grasping for something to say.

"You should take your medicine."

"Oh, okay." Shen Mingjin nodded obediently. Ever since he lost his memory, he had become an entirely different person—so well-behaved it was almost unnatural.

And somehow, he instinctively felt that Xu Duwan would never hurt him. That Xu Duwan was someone he could trust completely.

"Open your mouth."

Xu Duwan rolled up his sleeves, revealing his forearm as he unwrapped the pill. He casually poured a glass of water and handed it to Shen Mingjin.

His intention was for Shen Mingjin to take it himself. But instead, Shen Mingjin misunderstood—he thought Xu Duwan was going to feed him. Without hesitation, he opened his mouth, the action oddly familiar, as if it was something he had done many times before.

Xu Duwan froze.

For a moment, he was caught off guard by Shen Mingjin's innocent expression. Shaking his head, he pushed aside the absurd thoughts in his mind, stepped forward, and placed the pill in Shen Mingjin's mouth. He supported the back of his head, tilting the glass so he could drink.

Shen Mingjin had been lying down all night and was quite thirsty. He drank in a hurry, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed, like a cat desperately lapping at water, afraid of not getting enough.

Seeing this, Xu Duwan suddenly had the urge to tease him. With a smirk, he pulled the glass away just slightly.

Shen Mingjin instinctively stretched his neck forward, trying to chase after the water, but in doing so, he accidentally took too big of a gulp—

And immediately choked.

"Cough, cough, cough…"

Water dripped from the corner of Shen Mingjin's lips, trickling down onto Xu Duwan's fingertips. His pale fingers, now dotted with clear droplets, looked strangely beautiful—like a cat's toy, something tempting to reach for.

Shen Mingjin's eyes were drawn to them.

Before his mind could catch up, his body moved on its own. Without thinking, he leaned forward and—

Licked the droplets off Xu Duwan's fingers.

The warmth of his tongue glided over the skin, sending a shiver through Xu Duwan's spine. It wasn't just a lick—it felt more like a fleeting kiss.

Xu Duwan stiffened. His back tensed as shock paralyzed him. He stared at Shen Mingjin, mouth slightly open, completely speechless for the first time in his life.

"…What's wrong?" Shen Mingjin looked at him blankly, unaware of the problem. After all, the cup had been close to Xu Duwan's fingers. It wasn't strange that they touched.

Now that he had finished drinking, he sat up straight like a well-behaved child and earnestly said,

"I'm done."

Then, as if completing a task, he took the cup from Xu Duwan's hand and placed it neatly on the table.

"You…" Xu Duwan quickly hid the finger Shen Mingjin had just licked, pressing it behind his back as if trying to erase the sensation.

His expression shifted.

He told himself not to think too much of it. That it was just an unconscious act. But deep down, he couldn't stop the complicated emotions from surfacing.

A long silence stretched between them.

Xu Duwan wanted to ask—

How have you been all these years?

How did you end up working construction and bartending in a nightclub?

He wanted to ask, but he didn't know if he should. He didn't know if asking would be crossing a line, invading Shen Mingjin's privacy.

So, he hesitated.

And in that hesitation, the air between them grew heavy.

Shen Mingjin had always been the kind of person others gravitated towards, the one people chased after. He had never been the one to ease an awkward atmosphere.

Now, he looked at Xu Duwan's silence, feeling a little uneasy under his scrutinizing gaze.

And then, unexpectedly, for the first time—he spoke first.

"Thank you."

"…You're welcome." Xu Duwan paused for a moment, swallowing back the bitter taste on his tongue. "We're… classmates, after all."

The word classmates felt heavy in his mouth.

He didn't say ex-boyfriends. He couldn't.

Shen Mingjin blinked. "We're classmates?"

He frowned slightly, searching his memory, but his mind remained blank.

"I don't remember you."

He wasn't saying it to be cruel. It was simply the truth. But that single sentence made Xu Duwan's face drain of color.

Xu Duwan's expression wavered, his usually composed face twisting in shock. His breathing grew uneven. His dark eyes, once deep and unreadable, now held an unsettling emptiness.

"You don't… remember me?"

Shen Mingjin, under the weight of his intense gaze, earnestly thought about it again. He truly couldn't recall anything. So, he nodded and answered honestly—

"I really don't."

He had no idea that, at this moment, he was stepping all over Xu Duwan's emotional landmines.

Xu Duwan's face darkened, his breathing heavy.

And then, all at once—he let out a cold laugh.

"…Alright."

"Then from now on, let's pretend we never met."

His voice was sharp, but there was something deeper hidden within. Was he saying it to Shen Mingjin? Or to himself?

Shen Mingjin froze.

He didn't understand why Xu Duwan was suddenly so distant.

Before he could react, Xu Duwan stood up abruptly. His sharp eyes swept over Shen Mingjin's confused face, chest rising and falling as he took a shaky breath.

Then, without another word, he turned to leave.

What was he expecting?

But the very next second—

A warm hand caught his wrist.

Fingers slid between his own, the heat seeping into his skin. The friction was soft yet scorching, burning its way straight into Xu Duwan's heart.

Shen Mingjin's movements were small, but they forced Xu Duwan to stop in his tracks.

"What are you doing?!" Xu Duwan clicked his tongue, staring at Shen Mingjin with an unclear expression.

"I'm Shen Mingjin."

The gentle male voice brushed past Xu Duwan's ear, like a soft spring breeze, causing a slight ripple in his heart.

"What's your name?"

"I already told you, from now on, let's act like we never met." Xu Duwan, irritated, tried to shake off Shen Mingjin's hand, but the other tightened his grip instead. Seeing this, Xu Duwan's expression darkened further.

"I don't want to act like we never met."

Shen Mingjin's thinking was simple. This person had sent him to the hospital just in time, saving his life. If this were ancient times, he would have to marry his savior as repayment.

But since he was a man, he couldn't exactly offer himself in marriage. Still, he could at least become sworn brothers with this person.

Shen Mingjin firmly held onto Xu Duwan's hand. His long, narrow eyes drooped slightly in an obedient manner, and when he smiled, a small dimple appeared on one side of his face, making him look harmless. Once again, he asked:

"What's your name?"

"..."

Xu Duwan had long known that back in high school, Shen Mingjin had never paid attention to him. Even when they had been together for a while, he had never been able to warm up this piece of cold ice.

But realizing now that his old classmate—and ex-boyfriend—had completely forgotten him, he still felt a sharp sting in his heart.

Their eyes met, and Xu Duwan remained trapped in Shen Mingjin's grip. The morning breeze from the window lifted the curtain, making Shen Mingjin sneeze, while also stirring Xu Duwan's messy bangs, revealing his dark, brooding eyes.

They looked like an abandoned black hole—empty, desolate.

Yet because Shen Mingjin was there, there seemed to be a flicker of life within them.

Finally, Xu Duwan looked at Shen Mingjin, let out a cold laugh, then wordlessly pulled his hand away from Shen Mingjin's "claws" and freed himself. Without hesitation, he turned and walked away.

Shen Mingjin watched Xu Duwan's retreating figure, his head lowering slightly in disappointment. His soft hair drooped against his ears, making him look like an abandoned kitten.

"Whoosh—"

The curtains by the bed were pulled shut, blocking out the chilly morning air.

Shen Mingjin twitched his ears and looked up in confusion.

Xu Duwan hadn't left.

Instead, he had closed the window, making sure the wind wouldn't bother Shen Mingjin, who was still receiving an IV.

Then, turning back, Xu Duwan looked at Shen Mingjin. After a moment, he closed his eyes briefly before opening them again, his voice flat and emotionless:

"Xu Duwan."

"Huh?" Shen Mingjin rubbed his itchy nose, confused.

"My name is Xu Duwan."

"Is it du as in 'to cross' and wan as in 'night'?" Shen Mingjin blurted out without thinking.

"Mm."

"Okay."

Shen Mingjin smiled. He lowered his gaze and carefully traced Xu Duwan's name on his palm with his fingertip, his movements both amusing and stubbornly serious. Once he was sure he had memorized it completely, he looked up again and smiled. The curve of his lips was as light as a breeze stirring ripples on water—soft and fleeting.

"I'll remember it."

"....."

Xu Duwan rubbed his stomach. He had spent the whole night taking care of Shen Mingjin, drinking only alcohol and eating nothing. Hearing Shen Mingjin's words, he glanced at him again. Seeing that Shen Mingjin was doing fine, he turned around, ready to leave.

If he hadn't eaten, Shen Mingjin probably hadn't either.

Xu Duwan's figure was lean, like a willow in early spring—his waist slim and narrow, seemingly easy to wrap an arm around. Yet his movements were sharp and decisive. His slightly turned side profile carried a trace of defiance, and his habitual smirk made him appear unapproachable, like a thorn-covered creature warning others to stay away.

Normally, when someone chooses to leave, you either say goodbye or let them go.

But Shen Mingjin just had to ask—completely disregarding self-preservation—as he looked at Xu Duwan's back with concern:

"Where are you going? Are you going to drink with someone again?"

"....."

Xu Duwan had stomach issues. After staying up all night to take care of Shen Mingjin, his face was already pale. Hearing that, he turned around and retorted:

"Aren't you hungry?"

Shen Mingjin didn't understand why he was asking this but answered honestly:

"Not really."

After saying that, he thought for a moment before asking Xu Duwan in return:

"Are you hungry?"

"I'm not hungry either."

Xu Duwan didn't want to admit he had spent the whole night taking care of Shen Mingjin. He found himself ridiculous for doing so. After a pause, he casually said:

"I already ate. I'm going to buy breakfast for you now."

"You're lying."

Shen Mingjin glanced at the clock on the wall, then at Xu Duwan's hands. His voice was calm, but firm:

"When you gave me water earlier, I saw a cut on your wrist. There are also bruises on your arm."

Xu Duwan's eyes darkened, and he instinctively pulled down his rolled-up sleeve.

Seeing Xu Duwan's sudden shift in expression, Shen Mingjin hesitated for a moment before asking:

"Did you… just get into a fight with someone?"

The moment the words left his mouth, the color drained from Xu Duwan's face. He turned deathly pale, swaying slightly before steadying himself against the wall. His brows furrowed tightly, and he pressed his lips together without answering.

"...."

Just earlier, he had indeed fought Gu Zhe—because of Shen Mingjin.

But Xu Duwan also knew that in Shen Mingjin's entire life… the thing he hated the most was people who got into fights.