The winter in Haishi was particularly cold this year, although it hadn't snowed, there was a chill in the air.

As December drew to a close, the new year was just around the corner.

Cheng Chu lay on the sofa, looking at her computer, while Gu Miao sat in a chair next to her, reading a document. The atmosphere was warm and peaceful.

The computer made a "ding ding" sound, and Gu Miao looked up.

"Sorry, did I disturb you?" Cheng Chu quickly turned the sound off.

"No," he shook his head, his hand holding the pen stiffened for a moment.

Cheng Chu smiled at him and opened the chat software.

It was a message from Lin Qifeng.

"I'm coming back for New Year's Eve, come pick me up?"

In this world, Lin Qifeng had gone abroad with his parents after graduating from high school and hadn't returned for several years. 

"Okay, send me the flight number and time," Cheng Chu replied decisively.

Soon, a string of information came through. The room fell silent for a moment, interrupted only by the sound of typing.

Gu Miao couldn't help but stop writing and looked up at her. The moonlight outside the window was particularly bright at night.

The girl was nestled on the sofa, tapping away at the keyboard with a soft smile on her lips. 

Gu Miao's heart skipped a beat, suddenly feeling uneasy.

Who was she chatting with that made her so happy? 

Gu Miao pursed his lips, realizing that days of intimacy had made him let his guard down. The once timid man finally emerged from his shell and was no longer as cautious as before.

He put down the document in his hand and leaned over. 

Suddenly, the sofa next to her sank, startling Cheng Chu and causing her to pause her typing.

She looked up and asked, "What's wrong?" 

"It's nothing," Gu Miao felt a bit uneasy in his heart, but he didn't want to admit it, so he said awkwardly, "I just finished work."

'So, can you accompany me?', he quietly said in his heart.

The girl seemed like a small detector that had drilled into his heart, and she immediately understood his meaning. She lowered her head and typed on her computer for a few seconds before putting it down.

"Then let's go watch a movie," her bright eyes curved into a crescent moon, "There was a new one released a few days ago, and I really want to see it."

"Okay," Gu Miao immediately agreed.

"Then I'll go do my makeup and change clothes, and you can buy the tickets," the girl happily jumped off the sofa, her back light and nimble like a night elf.

Gu Miao looked at her beautiful dress and felt that it was already perfect, so why did she need to change? But he never questioned anything the girl said. 

"What time do you want to see?" he asked towards the closed changing room.

The girl's voice came softly, "Whenever, any time after an hour."

A small smile appeared on Gu Miao's cold and stern face as he lowered his head to book tickets on his phone. Suddenly, a small box popped up in the upper right corner of her laptop.

"Remember to come pick me up."

When Gu Miao saw the three characters "Lin Qifeng," his hand holding the phone froze, and a chill slowly rose in his heart.

Memories buried deep in his heart surged like a tide.

That boy who smiled as brightly as the sun had made Gu Miao feel inferior countless times.

He was the person who belonged in the same world as her.

Or... the person she liked.

Gu Miao suddenly remembered the first time they met, when Cheng Chu firmly declared, "I already have someone I like." 

The air around him seemed to thin out in an instant, and his heart trembled with pain and despair. Would she no longer want him now that the person she liked was coming back?

Yes, their closeness these past few days was only because of the car accident. 

Since waking up, she had been gentle and caring towards him, and her tone of voice had become more intimate and dependent.

The cold wind outside crept into the room, making his fingertips stiff with cold. 

The chill spread throughout his body, but Gu Miao stood there in a daze, as if he had forgotten everything.

It wasn't until the girl's gentle voice came through, taking away some of the coldness in his heart.

"I'm okay now. Have you booked the tickets?"

The girl ran over lightly, dressed in a smoke-pink long dress that accentuated her snow-white skin, making her look like a little fairy who had fallen to earth under the warm yellow light. 

"Is my dress pretty?" She twirled around, smiling brightly.

Gu Miao felt a warmth in his fingertips, but a coldness spread through his heart without restraint.

His throat felt tight, and he could hardly speak.

Cheng Chu finally noticed that something was wrong. "What's the matter?"

He shook his head with difficulty. 

"Nothing, it's beautiful, especially beautiful."

The girl took the initiative to hold his hand. "Let's go then."

Her dry and warm palm seemed to dispel the coldness of this winter day.

Gu Miao was pulled along for a few steps before he came back to his senses.

He lowered his gaze and looked at their intertwined hands, feeling a hint of humble hope in his heart. She was willing to be so close to him, maybe she didn't want to leave, right? 

Otherwise, how could she be so gentle and not only take the initiative to hold his hand, but also cook for him and weave a blanket.

Surely, she wouldn't leave. He comforted himself repeatedly in his heart, but the despair hidden deep inside could not be suppressed and quickly spread throughout his body, overwhelming the self-deception of consolation.

That night, he looked at the girl in his arms, his heart aching.

The room was quiet, the mist outside the window covered the moon, and the world was dark and gloomy.

~

These days, Cheng Chu always received gifts from Gu Miao.

From big things like cars and houses to small things like jewelry, although he had occasionally given some surprises in the past, it had never been so sickeningly frequent. 

Today, Gu Miao gave Cheng Chu a diamond necklace, and she couldn't help but ask, "What's going on with you?" 

Holding the necklace, she pursed her lips and finally asked.

Gu Miao was momentarily stunned, his hand stiff and his words hesitant, "It's nothing, just wanted to give you something."

"But you just gave me a ring yesterday, and several bags the day before that."

Gu Miao's eyelashes trembled slightly, his voice tinged with caution, "Don't you like them?"

Hearing his tone, Cheng Chu couldn't help but soften her heart. 

She sighed and added a comforting tone to her voice, "I really like them, but isn't it a bit too frequent?"

Something just didn't feel right.

Gu Miao pursed his lips, his dark eyes showing a hint of confusion, "Then how often is not too frequent?" 

These were all things he had discussed with Jiang Xing, saying that girls would be very happy with them so why was she different?

It was true, she had grown up in a wealthy environment and lacked nothing. To her, these things were as common as the yellow leaves falling in autumn, not worth mentioning even if they were stepped on. 

This made Gu Miao's already confused heart panic. She didn't even like the things he had given himself, so how could she possibly like him as a person? 

The winter wind seemed to blow straight into his heart, causing a chilling sensation. Gu Miao clenched his hands tightly, his eyes showing a hint of redness and confusion. 

Cheng Chu looked up and saw the redness in his eyes, feeling a bit panicked. 

"I didn't mean it that way, I really like it, it's just..." She suddenly stopped, seeming to think of a suitable phrase, but after a long pause, she couldn't come up with anything. 

Gu Miao cleared his throat and said with difficulty, "I understand, it's my fault."

Cheng Chu pursed her lips in distress.

Did she hurt him?

"I'm sorry." Gu Miao lowered his gaze to the girl, his dark eyes seeming to blend into the cold and lonely night of the city.

Cheng Chu suddenly felt heartbroken. It wasn't the first time she knew he was sensitive, and they hadn't completely opened up to each other yet, so how could she say such things to him?

She twisted her fingers and said, "I just feel that if you give gifts so frequently, there won't be any surprises left for my birthday."

This random excuse made the man's dark eyes light up.

The winter night wind was cold and long.

Gu Miao stood still, and his dim and lifeless heart seemed to be infused with sunshine. 

Birthdays, does that mean she's willing to spend time with him, even if it's just until her birthday? 

Her tense heart felt like it had been soaked in warm water, instantly softening. Even the sharp line of his jaw seemed to soften. 

"Then I'll wait until your birthday to give thing to you," he said softly, his eyes and brows relaxing. 

Cheng Chu suddenly smiled, her clear peach blossom eyes filled with joyous ripples. 

"Okay." 

After that, Gu Miao became more reserved and stopped giving big gifts like houses and cars, but he still occasionally gave jewelry. 

However, the frequency returned to normal. 

Deep winter had arrived, and a private hot spring resort in the outskirts of the city had opened, attracting many people. 

A few wealthy playboy heirs had booked the hot springs and invited many people from the circle to come and play. Gu Miao received two invitations from Jiang Xing and wanted to go with Cheng Chu.

The usually lively girl hesitated this time.

"What's wrong? Don't you want to go?" Gu Miao frowned. "I'll talk to them about it."

"No, no," Cheng Chu stopped him. "Actually, I really want to go, but can I come back early? A friend is coming back and I have to pick him up at the airport."

Gu Miao's heart suddenly stopped.

He understood that the person the girl was going to pick up was Lin Qifeng.

But he couldn't say anything to stop her, and even his throat hurt too much to speak.

The moonless night was shrouded in dark clouds.

Gu Miao lowered his gaze, his hands already clenched white, and the bitter taste that had risen in his heart slowly seeped into his nostrils. 

He felt that even between breaths, there was a deep bitterness. He gritted his teeth, his voice strained as if squeezed out of his throat. 

"Okay." 

~ 

On the day they went to the villa, the sun finally came out after several gloomy days. 

The car had a comfortable temperature and the warmth made them sigh with contentment. The road to the outskirts of the city was a bit bumpy, and Cheng Chu thought about the evening banquet, so she decided to take a nap to rest up. 

She leaned over and whispered, "I want to take a nap." 

Gu Miao covered her with a blanket, the pink and blue cloud patterned one that he always brought with him wherever he went. 

Cheng Chu blinked and whispered, "Can I lean on your shoulder to sleep?" 

Last time, because of his injury, she felt embarrassed to lean on him. 

But now that he had fully recovered, she couldn't miss this opportunity to take advantage of him. As Gu Miao trembled, his eyelashes fluttered and his pupils shook for a moment.

"Is it okay?" The girl leaned in again, her warm breath slowly brushing against his ear, sending a tingling sensation straight to his heart.

Gu Miao sat there dumbfounded, his ears already unconsciously turning red.

"Yes, yes, of course." How could he not be willing?

The girl seemed to have already anticipated his answer, and before he could finish speaking, she leaned in closer.

Little did she know, her actions had caused a great stir in Gu Miao's heart.

The car was quiet, and the bumpy ride made people feel a little drowsy.

But Gu Miao was wide awake, his fingers curled up as his mind wandered aimlessly. 

Longing and reluctance, pain and joy. He often softened his heart because of the girl's words or a sudden intimate gesture, forgetting the fact that she would leave one day.

Gu Miao closed his eyes, hands trembling, and finally struggled to hug her.

Even if it was just a short moment of joy, it was enough for him to savor for a lifetime.

After a winding path, they finally arrived at the villa after more than an hour.

As soon as the car stopped, several receptionists greeted them and led them to check in at the villa, enthusiastically introducing the facilities inside the estate.

Cheng Chu listened absentmindedly until they left, then relaxed.

It was already afternoon, and there was still a banquet in the evening. After tidying up for a while, the two of them had to start preparing. 

Cheng Chu wasn't really interested in these banquets, but socializing was always necessary in her circle. By the time she finished her makeup and changed into her evening gown, the sky had already darkened.

She took Gu Miao's hand and walked gracefully into the banquet hall. The bustling hall was already filled with people, their faces adorned with fake smiles as they interacted in this hypocritical world of fame and fortune. Cheng Chu even saw many familiar faces she had seen on television.

Beside her, Gu Miao brought her some snacks. "You should eat something first," he said.

"Mm." Cheng Chu took a few small bites before setting it down.

Some business acquaintances quickly came over. 

"Oh, isn't this Mr. and Mrs. Gu? How have you been lately? I wanted to visit you in the hospital a while back, but my grandfather insisted it would be a bother." 

With a faint smile, Gu Miao responded with a few words.

In recent years, his company had been doing well in Haishi and had taken the lead position. Many people were trying to flatter him. After the crowd dispersed, quite some time had passed.

The heating in the banquet hall was turned up high, and Cheng Chu was feeling a bit out of breath. 

She tugged on Gu Miao's sleeve and said, "I want to go to the bathroom."

He hesitated for a moment, "I'll go with you."

The two walked out of the banquet hall hand in hand.

The cold winter wind was quiet and long. The warmth on Cheng Chu's cheeks finally subsided.

"You wait for me here, I'll be right back."

Gu Miao wanted to follow her, but he felt that it wasn't appropriate to stick to her like that, so he reluctantly nodded and agreed.

The slender figure of the girl melted into the moonlight and gradually disappeared into the distance. With a slight pursing of his lips, Gu Miao turned and headed towards the nearby terrace.

In the distance, the lonely lights pierced through the long night and fell into Gu Miao's dark eyes.

He leaned against the railing, taking in the scattered lights of the night scene.

Suddenly, the terrace door behind him creaked. His lips couldn't help but curl up as he quickly turned around.

The night was silent, but his footsteps abruptly halted and even his smile turned cold.

A woman in a fiery red dress appeared, her skin as smooth as snow and her demeanor alluring.

"Mr. Gu, long time no see," Zhou Qinqin said as she walked over with a wine glass in hand, her voice carrying a mysterious charm in the darkness.

"Have a drink," she added, her tone rising with a hint of seduction.

"No, thank you," Gu Miao replied coldly, pushing the glass away. "I'm waiting for my wife." 

Zhou Qinqin was a rising star in the entertainment industry, known for her understanding of men's hearts. She flashed a bright smile, her peach blossom eyes shining with innocence.

"Mr. Gu, don't be so heartless. I just came to thank you," she said.

Gu Miao furrowed his brow, his cold face brushed by the winter wind, becoming even more frigid.

"What do you have to thank me for?" he asked.

A few years ago, Zhou Qinqin was slandered by a rival company, and negative rumors flooded the internet. Many of her endorsement deals and magazine contracts were terminated, but she was able to cling to her endorsement deal with "Chuangyu", which helped her make a comeback.

Without a bit of cunning, Zhou Qinqin would never have made it to where she was today. 

She knew that although Gu Miao was only the CTO, he owned a majority of the company's shares and had almost absolute decision-making power at Chuangyu. As long as she could catch this man, her future would become smoother. 

As for Miss Cheng, it was probably a business alliance. They would put on a show of affection in front of others, but in private, they would each do their own thing and not interfere with each other.

The cool night breeze blew Zhou Qinqin's hair into disarray. She reached up to smooth it down, her eyes full of charm.

"Thank you, Mr. Gu, for supporting me in my previous endorsement. You didn't give up on me even in difficult times," she said, her voice soft and trembling, putting on a fragile and grateful appearance.

Gu Miaoping's face remained calm and unchanged, like a river frozen in winter, impervious to wind and rain.

"I don't handle endorsements. If you want to thank someone, it shouldn't be me. I'll be leaving now," he said.

The scent of the woman's perfume was so strong that it made Gu Miaoping wrinkle his nose. He hurriedly tried to leave, but was suddenly grabbed by Zhou Qinqin. 

With a loud "bang," the terrace door swung open, causing Gu Miao to look up. His pitch-black pupils contracted slightly.

Standing at the door was Cheng Chu, her serene peach blossom eyes fixed on them without blinking.

After a long while, she strolled over leisurely.

"Tap, tap." Her high heels clicked on the ground, the sound particularly clear in the silent night.

"Miss Zhou, has no one told you that you shouldn't touch a married man?" Cheng Chu squinted her eyes, smiling at her.

Zhou Qinqin choked for a moment. She had never met this Miss Cheng before, and had imagined that a young lady like her would be unremarkable and haughty.

But as she looked up, the moonlight softly illuminated Miss Cheng's delicate face, and her bright peach blossom eyes were filled with obvious disdain and contempt.

It seemed that she didn't even consider Zhou Qinqin worth her attention. Zhou Qinqin felt she had been punching a cotton ball, unable to even utter a word.

Cheng Chu didn't look at her again, just smiled and said, "I'm afraid if you say anything else, you won't get the endorsement deal this year."

She turned her head and slowly took Gu Miao's hand, whispering, "Let's go."

Gu Miao's tense heart suddenly relaxed, he lowered his eyes, and his cold expression warmed up.

The two walked out of the terrace hand in hand, and no one paid attention to the person left behind.

The distant twinkling lights seemed to carry the chill of winter.

As soon as they stepped out into the open air, Cheng Chu let go of his hand and said softly, "I'm tired, I'm going back first."

The emptiness between their arms made Gu Miao stunned for a moment. He looked up, feeling a bit lost, but only saw the girl's back. 

The night wind was icy cold as he hurriedly caught up to her, explaining, "I don't know her. She was just a spokesperson for our company's game, but I've never met her before. She was just standing there waiting for you, and then she came up to me on her own..." 

His tone was filled with an urgency she had never heard before. He was usually a man of few words, and even when he did speak, it was always calm and collected. But now, he was clearly anxious. 

Cheng Chu remained silent, though she wasn't actually angry. She knew Gu Miao too well. This man always kept everything hidden deep inside, and was often slow and insecure. 

She had to push him a little to get him to open up. 

So she continued to stare at him with her indifferent peach blossom eyes, not saying a word. 

Outside the banquet hall, the plants rustled in the wind. As Gu Miao looked at the cold and distant girl, he felt a surge of anxiety in his heart. He was so nervous that his fingers trembled, and even in the chilly winter night, a thin layer of sweat formed on his forehead.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Cheng Chu pretended to leave, but before she could take a few steps, Gu Miao grabbed her firmly.

In the winter, a man's palms are hot, as if burning with all his passion.

"I like you," he closed his eyes, his voice dry and bitter.

The moonlight tonight was very gentle, and the cold night wind seemed to hear the man's confession and gradually quieted down.

Under the starry sky, he slowly turned the girl's body around and, for the first time in his life, looked into those unforgettable eyes without any fear.

"I love you." 

Even if you never had your heart set on me, even if you love someone else, even if all the sweet words and affection are just out of gratitude, I have still given my whole heart to you.

So please, can you not look at me with such cold and distant eyes, can you not leave me?

Can you... have some pity on me?

The bitterness in his heart surged up to his nose, and his eyes were already red with sourness.

Suddenly, he felt a warmth in his embrace, and the girl wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest.

Then, she whispered softly, "I love you too."

For a moment, his heart seemed to stop beating, and his blood froze in his veins. 

Then, in the next second, it rushed madly to his brain.

Silence fell.

Amidst the pounding of his heart, he struggled to find his voice. "What did you say?" He couldn't believe it, feeling like he was in a dream.

The girl looked up, her peach blossom eyes seeming to be filled with countless stars, yet only holding him.

"I love you."

In the stillness of the night, Gu Miao felt his heart burst with light.

His heart raced, and he closed his eyes, struggling to speak.

"But, you said before..."

He paused, bitterness filling his throat. "You liked someone else."

The girl smiled sheepishly, her voice sweet. "I lied to you. I didn't want to go on a blind date, so I made up an excuse."

He held his breath, his heart pounding wildly.

So, everything was real?

It wasn't a dream?

"What about Lin Qifeng?" He asked softly, his voice tinged with guilt. "I didn't mean to look at your chat history." 

The girl didn't mind, her beautiful peach blossom eyes curved into a crescent moon, her voice light and cheerful, "So you've been jealous these past few days, huh? There's nothing between me and him, we're just friends. He's coming back home in a few days, so I'm going to pick him up at the airport."

The night was dark, the stars in the sky bright and twinkling.

Fireworks exploded in Gu Miao's heart.

It was all true. He lowered his gaze, looking at the girl in his arms. His empty and cold heart was filled with warmth.

"Well, I'll go with you to pick him up." He could hardly contain the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth, his voice light and cheerful.

"Okay."

"Do we need to prepare a gift for him?"

This was the first time he would meet her friend.

"No need."

"Should we prepare a place for him to stay?"

"Oh, don't worry about him." Under the cover of night, the two figures gradually became intertwined, stretching out long, long.

~

After returning from the hot springs, the two became even more inseparable. Everything seemed to have no regrets. Cheng Chu began to work hard on company affairs and learned how to manage a company with great care.

She often thought that perhaps the piano was just a dream she could only achieve in another world. 

The piano cover in the corner of the living room was covered in dust and had not been opened again.

In the blink of an eye, summer had quietly arrived. Cheng Chu's birthday was approaching, and Gu Miao became increasingly sneaky.

One day, Cheng Chu left work early and returned home without notifying Gu Miao. The summer days were long, and the cicadas in the garden never stopped chirping.

As Cheng Chu approached her front door, she heard the sound of a piano. 

She stood there in amazement, listening intently for a long time before discerning from the broken piano notes that it was a rendition of "Happy Birthday". 

On a summer evening, a gust of wind blew, bringing a faint warmth to Cheng Chu's heart. 

Her fingers moved slightly as she gently opened the door. 

A warm yellow sunset streamed in, casting a soft light on the dark piano. The noisy piano music drowned out the sound of the door opening. The man was focused, his head lowered as his fingers clumsily and laboriously explored the keys. 

Cheng Chu stood silently behind him, listening attentively to the piano piece he played just for her. 

As the music paused, the man sighed in frustration, suddenly realizing that it was time for Cheng Chu to finish work. He quickly stood up. 

Turning around, he was suddenly stunned, and a rush of heat flooded his ears. 

"When did you arrive?" The man lowered his gaze, his cold face turning red with embarrassment.

"I've been here for a while. You play really well," Cheng Chu smiled.

He instantly deflated, shaking his head. "I'm not that good yet."

He had planned to practice until he was good enough to play for her, but now his plans were all ruined.

"I can teach you," Cheng Chu walked over and took Gu Miao's hand, sitting her down at the piano. "Once you're good enough, we can play a duet together."

The man's fingers curled slightly, a smile spreading across his face. "You're willing to play with me?"

"I don't mind," Cheng Chu said. "Let me show you how it's done first."

As she spoke, her fingertips danced nimbly across the piano keys.

Gu Miao watched her in a daze, suddenly remembering the scene of their first meeting when they were both seventeen. In a crowded hall, he stood below the stage, gazing up at the moon in a daze, lost in countless fantasies. But now, the moon was right beside him.

As the music slowed down, Cheng Chu took his hand and whispered, "Let me teach you. Put your hand here, and then begin."

His fingertips were burning, and he couldn't focus on a single word she said. His heart was pounding, and he couldn't find the right rhythm.

"Chuchu." He stumbled over a few notes before stopping and calling her name softly.

Cheng Chu's heart fluttered at the sound of his voice, and she understood his meaning instantly when she met his burning gaze.

Blushing, she twisted her hands together, her butterfly-like eyelashes fluttering with shy anticipation. 

The room was quiet as the man slowly leaned down and kissed her lips. The air seemed to have become sultry and humid, and the hot kiss had changed its taste from the piano to the bed in the bedroom.

Moonlight shone on the branches.

Cheng Chu felt as if she had been swept up in a strange wave, where pain accompanied pleasure, making her want to break free, yet she couldn't help but indulge.

She didn't know how long had passed before she fell asleep in a daze.

When she woke up, the room was dimly lit, and she felt thirsty. As she moved her body, she realized that she was sore all over.

Suddenly, a glass was handed to her, and Cheng Chu took it and drank a sip, only to find that even her voice had become hoarse.

"You're still awake." As soon as she spoke, she fell into a scorching embrace. "No, I'm too sore." Cheng Chu quickly pushed away.

Gu Miao's hot breath sprayed on her ear, softly brushing against the warm night. 

"I'll just hold you," he said in a hoarse voice, with a hint of fear. "I just dreamed that you were gone."

Cheng Chu comfortingly patted his blanket and said softly, "How could I be gone?"

The night was quiet, and the air conditioner made a few buzzing sounds as it circulated.

Gu Miao's voice trembled, still with some lingering fear. "I dreamed that I died, and you went to another world."

Cheng Chu's fingers suddenly stopped, and her voice became stiff. "And then?"

He seemed to choke up a bit. He said softly, "And then you were with the other me in another world, and didn't want me anymore. You never came back."

On this summer night, the cicadas outside the window sang a distant and endless melody.

Cheng Chu trembled her fingers, feeling the man's fear. She turned her head and kissed his cheek.

A strand of cool moonlight shone in. As if soothed by the kiss, he calmed down a bit.

"I won't leave," Cheng Chu said slowly.

"Really?" He seemed to have already believed in this seemingly absurd dream, his pitch-black eyes staring at her with utmost seriousness.

Cheng Chu smiled and gently stroked his cheek. "If you dream of this, it means that no matter which world we're in, I will love you."

There is only one Gu Miao in this world, and only one Cheng Chu.

No matter which world they are in, they will eventually be like the moon and stars in the sky, relying on each other until the end of time.

(The end)

Author's note: 

Gu Miao: No matter which world, I love you.

*

The story has come to an end~ I feel like we don't need to worry too much about which world this is, just separate the side stories and the main story, they are always about the same person.