When the distance between them stretched long, they began to grow far apart. Although they couldn't see each other every day, their relationship didn't seem to change much.

They would chat occasionally, call when they had nothing to do, and if they bought something the other needed, they would buy an extra one and mail it over.

The distance also gradually clarified the blurry lines, no longer confusing them with excessive intimacy. After they separated, they remained a pair of close friends with a tacit understanding.

During the first year's winter break, on the very evening He Lezhi returned, Han Fangchi and Xiao Yao came to He Lezhi's house together. He Qi cooked a huge table of food, and the four of them ate together.

In the evening, He Qi didn't let the two of them leave, and the four of them played cards until very late.

He Lezhi bumped them left and right and said, "Why don't you two just sleep here."

Xiao Yao had never stayed at his place before and said uncertainly, "Wouldn't that be an inconvenience?"

He Lezhi then looked at Han Fangchi, and Han Fangchi said, "Sure."

When Zhou Muyao appeared, because of him, He Lezhi's contact with Han Fangchi not only didn't break off but even became more frequent than before. Zhou Muyao was an enthusiastic person; he could call or message people at any time. When he was with He Lezhi, he would often send a video call straight to Han Fangchi.

Han Fangchi was He Lezhi's best friend and also Zhou Muyao's older brother. And now, He Lezhi and Zhou Muyao were at the same school, even closer.

In this three-person relationship where any two could form a pair, each person was an interloper from a certain perspective, and each pairing was also irreplaceable.

Xiao Yao had a lively personality and completely let loose after starting university. He quickly made many new friends. While He Lezhi and Han Fangchi were still in close contact, Xiao Yao was already nowhere to be found.

But every year when He Lezhi returned, Xiao Yao would definitely see him, and when they met, he was as enthusiastic and boisterous as ever. Xiao Yao's personality was very similar to Zhou Muyao's, and he didn't contact He Lezhi as much as Zhou Muyao did. The two of them often played games together, while He Lezhi didn't play games and only liked sports.

Zhou Muyao quickly joined the original trio's friendship, making their bond even stronger. When he began to show his affection and pursuit of He Lezhi, Xiao Yao's and Han Fangchi's reactions were completely different.

Xiao Yao had a male university classmate who liked men and was also his friend. Therefore, when he heard Zhou Muyao say he liked He Lezhi, Xiao Yao was surprised but not particularly shocked. In fact, he had faintly sensed a different kind of enthusiasm from Zhou Muyao towards He Lezhi before and had his suspicions.

Han Fangchi, on the other hand, showed a kind of disbelief as if his worldview had been shattered. He asked blankly, "What do you mean?"

Before He Lezhi got together with Zhou Muyao, He Lezhi returned home by himself during a holiday break. Zhou Muyao did not.

Ever since Zhou Muyao joined them, He Lezhi and Han Fangchi rarely met alone anymore.

He Qi had already moved to a new house. The small bed that Han Fangchi was very familiar with was no longer there. It seemed the laundry detergent had changed too; even though the scent was still gentle, it wasn't the one Han Fangchi was attached to before.

He Qi placed a tray on He Lezhi's bed for them, on which were two cups of coffee and a plate of small cookies.

Only the taste of the small cookies was still familiar to Han Fangchi.

He Lezhi had Zhou Muyao, and Han Fangchi also had a girl he was on good terms with.

The two of them sat on the thick carpet by the bed, just like before.

"Fangchi," He Lezhi called him.

"Hm?" Han Fangchi looked over.

He Lezhi, with a small flower-shaped cookie in his mouth, said muffledly, "If Xiao Hei and I got together, what would you think?"

Han Fangchi thought about it seriously, then said, "I'd find it a bit strange."

"Because we're gay?" He Lezhi asked.

"No." Han Fangchi paused for a moment, then said uncertainly, "I can't quite explain it."

Han Fangchi was healthier and more handsome than in high school, his shoulders had broadened, and his words and actions gave off an impression of upright reliability. At this moment, he sat cross-legged on the floor just like in high school, trying to sort out his thoughts and explain himself: "I would feel like I've lost you... both of you. I don't know why I feel this way."

He Lezhi had also become gentler than before. His childishness had faded, replaced by maturity. He wore glasses and looked like a clean-cut university student.

"You won't," He Lezhi said. "You won't lose anyone."

Han Fangchi hummed in acknowledgment and said no more.

He Qi came over to say hello to them, then left for class with beautiful makeup on. The house became empty again. Compared to the old house, the current one seemed too big. As soon as no one was talking, it felt empty.

After a moment, He Lezhi lay down, resting his head on the edge of the bed, and said quietly, "But I know what that feeling is like."

As for He Lezhi's promise to Han Fangchi at the time, "you won't lose anyone," it was hard to determine in the end whether he had broken his word.

Han Fangchi indeed hadn't lost anyone. In the years that followed, He Lezhi and Zhou Muyao were still not far from him. They were still good friends and could see each other often.

But had he not lost anything?

...

He Lezhi now lived closer to Han Fangchi. The two of them saw each other almost every day, and these sealed memories were being refreshed one by one.

But neither of them brought up the past much. If it weren't for getting drunk with Xiao Yao that night, Han Fangchi probably wouldn't have mentioned it. After sobering up, Han Fangchi didn't say anything more. It seemed that not mentioning the past was also a kind of tacit understanding between them.

Han Fangchi didn't question He Lezhi about whether his earlier promise of "won't lose" counted as breaking his word. After all, so many years had passed, and it seemed difficult to bring up things from their teens and early twenties.

Only Xiao Yao, who had been clueless since he was a child, would often bring up the past in front of them. Each time, He Lezhi and Han Fangchi would glance at each other and then say nothing.

Occasionally, Han Fangchi could see the twenty-year-old He Lezhi in the eyes of the now thirty-year-old He Lezhi, as if, across the intervening years, he had met the He Lezhi from back then once more.

His eyes were bright, always watching gently. It was a gaze Han Fangchi was extremely familiar with, one he had relied on over a decade ago, and one he still subconsciously wanted to see whenever he was emotional, even long after becoming an adult.

It seemed that as the distance vanished and the romance ended, all the factors that had broken their relationship back then had receded, pulling them back to where they started.

At noon, He Lezhi started thinking about what to cook for dinner and picked up his phone to message Han Fangchi.

He Lezhi: Landlord, should I make dinner for you tonight?

Han Fangchi saw He Lezhi's message during his lunch break and replied: Just eat by yourself. I'm going back to my parents' place tonight. It's the Little Demon King's birthday.

He Lezhi: !

He Lezhi: You're going back empty-handed?

Han Fangchi: Yeah.

He Lezhi: You're going to get kicked out.

Han Fangchi: I'll just bring money.

While eating lunch, He Lezhi ordered a small ice cream cake. He figured the family had probably already ordered a cake, so this ice cream cake would be for the two little girls to eat.

He Lezhi sent the shop address to Han Fangchi and told him: Go pick it up after work. I used the last digits of your phone number. The recipient is Mr. Han.

Han Fangchi: Okay.

Han Fangchi: Do I need to thank you?

He Lezhi smiled when he saw this and replied: No need, no need.

Han Fangchi rarely gave his two younger sisters gifts. Giving money was fine, but painstakingly picking out gifts that little girls would like was unrealistic for him. Especially the things Han Zhiyao liked, which seemed like items from another world to him; he had never seen such strange things when he was a child.

Therefore, when Han Fangchi returned with an extremely beautiful five-inch ice cream cake that also contained a handwritten card, on which was written—

To the Great King Yaoyao: Congratulations on being one step closer to growing up. Whether we grow up or not, we only need to be our own king.

When Han Zhiyao saw the cake and the card, she first looked at Han Fangchi in shock, then yelled, "Han Fangchi, you're in a relationship!"

Her dad in the dining room and her mom in the living room both looked over at him, as did Han Zhimo, who peeked her head out of her bedroom.

"You definitely have a girlfriend!!" Han Zhiyao said with certainty.

"I don't." Han Fangchi wanted to cover her mouth.

"Impossible!" Han Zhiyao held up the card. "You're such a straight guy, how would you know about this stuff? Stop lying."

Han Fangchi said, "If you're not eating it, give it back."

"This is from my sister-in-law! She's beautiful and kind-hearted!" Han Zhiyao was in a great mood. She took the cake to the fridge and spent a while rearranging things to make space to freeze it.

The other three didn't say a word, only secretly sizing him up.

"What sister-in-law." Han Fangchi said calmly. "Brother Lezhi bought it for you."

"Ah! That explains it!" Han Zhiyao didn't show any disappointment at the lack of a sister-in-law; she couldn't care less.

Han Zhimo smiled and returned to her bedroom, and their parents both looked away, no longer interested in him.

Han Zhiyao took the card back to her room and clipped it to the front of her pen holder, then called out to Han Fangchi, "Thank Brother Lezhi for me."

"He said no thanks were necessary," Han Fangchi said.

Although Han Fangchi's family didn't pressure him to get married, Han Zhiyao's shout still had an effect. During dinner, Ms. Pang and Old Han questioned him one after another.

Ms. Pang asked, "Have you thought about dating recently?"

Han Fangchi said, "I haven't really thought about it."

Ms. Pang nodded and didn't try to persuade him.

Old Han then asked tentatively, "Fangchi, are you still in touch with Xiao Fang?"

Han Fangchi answered crisply, "No."

Old Han said, "Ah," then after a moment asked, "If you still can't let go, why not try contacting her again?"

"—Oh my god! Why on earth would he contact her!" Han Zhiyao cried out, on the verge of a breakdown. "Sister Quanquan is petting bears in the Arctic, who has time for dating!"

Han Zhimo said with a smile, "My brother isn't in a hurry. You guys should stop pushing him, or he'll be afraid to come home."

"Exactly, can I even stay in this house anymore! Is it a crime to be unmarried over thirty!" Han Zhiyao said, speechless.

Han Fangchi thought to himself that this was when you could see the benefits of having younger sisters.

"Just asking casually. Not pushing, not pushing," Old Han said with a chuckle.

"Who's pushing," Ms. Pang also said. "Just asking."

Han Fangchi hadn't been in a relationship since his last one ended. When the family talked about him, Old Han and Ms. Pang analyzed that he was still hung up on his old flame.

But they had never really mentioned it in front of him. Mainly because it was impossible to bring up; before Han Fangchi could even speak, his two younger sisters would shut them down, flatly refusing to let them ask.

The three of them usually lived their own lives, but at times like these, they would unite as one. Having many children in the family was just hard to manage.

This was also precisely why Han Zhiyao had gotten so angry and wanted to cut ties with her older brother and sister when they didn't come back to help her during her last war with Ms. Pang.

After dinner, Han Fangchi washed the dishes, sat for a little while longer, and then was about to leave.

Ms. Pang asked, "You're not staying the night?"

"No, it's too far from work," Han Fangchi said.

For the past few years, he basically never stayed overnight except for the New Year, and sometimes even during the New Year, he would leave right after the reunion dinner. He wasn't used to staying at home anymore, and now that Zhimo and Zhiyao were grown up, it was also inconvenient.

Before he left, Han Zhiyao waved him over and whispered, "Come here."

Han Fangchi entered her room and asked, "What's up?"

Han Zhiyao closed the door and said in a low voice, "You're going to the parent-teacher conference this time."

Han Fangchi immediately said, "I'm not going."

Han Zhiyao's eyes narrowed. "Don't use me and then toss me aside, Han Fangchi."

"What trouble did you get into this time?" Han Fangchi asked.

Han Zhiyao: "I didn't get into trouble, but I have a premonition the teacher won't have anything good to say about me. If Mom goes, we'll end up fighting when she gets back. If you want peace and quiet at home, you'll go."

Han Fangchi's expression didn't change. "I'm not going."

"Oh, fine, fine, fine." Han Zhiyao nodded. "Then I'll just tell Sister Quanquan later that you miss her and want to get back together."

Han Fangchi leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, raising an eyebrow slightly. "You want to try?"

"Let's try then," Han Zhiyao said, pulling out her phone. "I'll send it right now."

Han Fangchi: "When."

Han Zhiyao tossed her phone aside. "Next Friday afternoon!"

Han Fangchi opened the door to leave and said, "Send it if you want."

"I won't send it, I'm always on your side!" Han Zhiyao shouted after him, trying to curry favor.

...

"You dare to defy the great demon king," He Lezhi couldn't stop laughing. "You've got a death wish."

"I'll probably have nightmares after attending her parent-teacher conference," Han Fangchi said, completely devoid of hope. "One time, the conference lasted two hours, and I took up half an hour myself. I've never been so sarcastically lectured by a teacher in my entire life."

He Lezhi asked, "Would she really send it? I don't think she would."

Han Fangchi said, "She wouldn't. I just don't want the family to start fighting again. I can't be bothered to mediate."

After saying that, he thought of Han Zhiyao and added, "Then again, it's not certain. She might actually send it."

He Lezhi started laughing again and asked, "What would happen if she did?"

"Nothing would happen," Han Fangchi said. "I'd just get a message asking me what I was being blackmailed with this time."

The Sister Quanquan that Han Zhiyao mentioned was Han Fangchi's ex-girlfriend, a somewhat introverted girl, but who could be a bit quirky once you got to know her. During the more than two years that Han Fangchi was with her, He Lezhi had met her quite a few times, was on good terms with her, and liked her a lot.