The man stood in front of the sink, washing his face with cold water.

  As if that wasn’t enough, he took out his toothbrush and started to brush his teeth.

  Seeing this, Bo Cixue’s blood seemed to stop flowing.

  He brushed it over and over again.

  That repeated action was like a knife, slicing Bo Cixue’s dignity and heart.

  Earlier in the forest, she could tell that he did not like her touching his lips.

  However, she never thought that he would be so disgusted after kissing her!

  Her eyes filled with tears.

  Clenching her hands into fists, her fingernails digging into her palms with so much strength that she felt like she was going to break her skin.

  Every time he did, it was like dismembering her body.

  She thought that her heart would not ache for him anymore!

  However, seeing his almost abusive actions, her heart started to hurt again!

  She did not know how many times he had done it, but she saw that the water he spat out had blood in it.

  She opened her tear-filled eyes and could no longer feel the pain of being dismembered.

  He was acting too abnormally!

  She could vaguely feel that he did not want to be like this, but she could not control it!

  Ignoring how bad she felt, she pushed the door of the washroom open.

  Hearing the sound, the man with a pale face turned to look at her.

  His red eyes constricted slightly.

  “Cixue?”


  He did not seem to have expected her to return.

  Bo Cixue’s expression was not any better than his. She strode toward him as if her legs were filled with lead.

  She snatched his toothbrush and cup away.

  “Stop brushing. Let’s treat what happened today as if it never happened. From now on, let’s keep our distance.”


  She would not ask him why he was like this. Everyone would have secrets in their hearts and she did not want to uncover his scars.

  He closed his eyes and held the sink with one hand. He was not as cold as usual and looked decadent and crestfallen.

  His thin lips moved. “It’s my problem. I’m sorry.”


  She was the one who was hurt but she could not hate him after seeing him like this.

  His appearance made her heart ache.

  But she was not in the mood to comfort him.

  “It’s alright. If we don’t try, we won’t know that we’re not suitable for each other.”


  Bo Cixue smiled. “Everyone should forget unhappy memories. There’s no need to mention anything that hurts your feelings.”


  He looked at her for a long time.

  Bo Cixue did not know what else she could say to him. She turned around and walked out.

  She raised her hand and waved it at him.

  She only started crying when she reached the dormitory.

  How could a noble and cold person like him easily apologize to others? But he did.

  He had already apologized, so what else could she care about?

  Besides, he seemed to be the one in more pain after that kiss!

  Bo Cixue did not know how she returned to the dormitory.

  Today was really a day of ups and downs!

  Back in the dormitory, Chu Li had already finished twenty laps. She was so tired that she collapsed on the bed, feeling a little angry. Why was she being punished and made to run twenty laps? Bo Cixue was the one who had done it first. She thought that Bo Cixue would be punished to run laps too, but she had finished running and still did not see Bo Cixue.

  When Bo Cixue came into the dormitory, Chu Li was not asleep yet.

  Seeing Bo Cixue’s distraught and red eyes, Chu Li immediately perked up.

  Bo Cixue was usually rather arrogant. Her eyes never turned red when they were fighting, but now, it was obvious that she had cried.

  It seemed like she had suffered a worse punishment than her!

  At this thought, Chu Li immediately felt better!

  …


  For the remainder of the military training, Bo Cixue did not see Ye Jie again.

  She focused on the military training. She was exhausted every day and did not have time to think about him.

  She would occasionally think about what happened that day, but she would always distract herself.

  On the last day of military training, Ye Jie, as the Chief Instructor, came to see the results of the training of the newbies in the workplace.

  Although Bo Cixue and Chu Li did not have a good relationship, they were now a team. After a period of training, they also realized the importance of teamwork.

  After that fight, nothing happened between them.

  Ye Jie and several instructors of the training camp stood on the stage.

  Bo Cixue saw him from afar.

  He was still noble, cold, deep, dazzling, and unreachable.

  Bo Cixue sorted out her emotions and perked up.

  Ah You whistled. They followed his instructions with high morale and strode toward the review board.

  Their magnificent and loud chants and uniform actions highlighted the results of their military training for the past two weeks.

  After the acceptance test, they stood under the bright sun and listened to the words of the valedictorian.

  Bo Cixue’s forehead was covered in sweat. Her period had come and her stomach had been feeling uncomfortable since morning.

  She felt a little dizzy standing under the scorching sun.

  She clenched her fists and gritted her teeth.

  It was almost over and her mother should be coming to the training camp to pick her up.

  The person on stage said something but Bo Cixue did not hear a word because her stomach was getting more uncomfortable.

  Fortunately, Ye Jie announced that the new staff’s training was over.

  Just as everyone was disbanding, Bo Cixue’s slender body swayed unsteadily and she suddenly blacked out.

  When Bo Cixue woke up, she was already lying on the bed in the medical room.

  There was a needle on the back of her hand.

  Bo Cixue opened her eyes and saw An Ni standing by the bed. Seeing that she had woken up, An Ni said happily, “Cixue, you’re awake?”


  Bo Cixue did not have the chance to say anything when she heard An Ni say, “The doctor said that you’re on your period and that you haven’t been eating much recently, so you fainted because you’re malnourished.”


  “Did you know? We were all shocked when you fainted and no one could react. The Crown Prince rushed down from the stage and carried you to the clinic.”


  Bo Cixue pursed her lips and said nothing.

  “The Crown Prince rushed over and carried you to the clinic. He was really handsome then!”


  Bo Cixue’s lips moved. “Okay, stop talking about him.”


  Just then, the door of the clinic was pushed open and Ye Jie came in with a thermos flask.

  An Ni felt that the atmosphere between them was strange and said, “I’ll go out first.”


  After An Ni went out, only Bo Cixue and Ye Jie were left in the clinic.

  Ye Jie opened the thermos flask and inside was the millet porridge he had asked someone to make in the canteen. “You haven’t eaten properly for the past few days?”


  He pulled a chair over and sat by the bed, holding a thermos flask in his hand. It seemed like he was going to feed her porridge personally.

  Bo Cixue looked at him quietly.

  He was also looking at her, his eyes dark.

  “Eat something first.”


  Bo Cixue’s throat moved and she felt a lump in her throat.

  She could not do it.

  They could not be friends even though they could not be lovers.

  His skills were too strong. He could still care about her like nothing had happened after what had happened.

  She said nothing and looked at him like this, her eyes slowly turning red.

  “Cixue.”


  His voice made her explode.

  “I don’t need your concern. Do you know that every time you care about me, my heart feels like it’s being stabbed by a knife? I admit that I still failed and escaped for three years. I’m still a loser in the end!”


  “If you’re doing this for my good, please stop caring about me. I don’t want to be friends with you anymore. From now on, we’ll be strangers. You don’t have to feel sorry. Feelings can’t be forced. If we can’t be together, don’t force it. I don’t blame you or hate you. I just want you to give me some space to breathe.”


  “Or, give yourself some space to breathe. You can’t be my lover, can you?”


  With that said, she closed her eyes and lay on the bed.

  He looked at her and was silent for a long time.

  After some time, Yan Hua’s voice came from outside.

  “Why did you faint? Is it serious?”


  Ye Jie stood up and looked at Bo Cixue’s back, his voice hoarse. “Take good care of yourself.”


  When he went out, Yan Hua came in.

  Seeing Ye Jie, Yan Hua was slightly stunned.

  “Xiaojie, how’s Little Apple?”s

  Before Ye Jie could say anything, he heard Bo Cixue’s voice. “Mom, I’m fine.”


  Ye Jie turned back to look at Bo Cixue. There was a smile on Bo Cixue’s face and her bright doe eyes were fixed on Yan Hua, not even glancing at him.

  Ye Jie nodded at Yan Hua and went out of the clinic.

  …


  Yan Hua brought Bo Cixue home.

  She even cooked dinner and made soup for her.

  After a day’s rest, Bo Cixue’s body and spirits were much better.

  After the military training, the director of the research institute gave the three of them a day off.

  Bo Cixue rested at home for a day.

  The next day, she went to work full of energy.

  Bo Cixue was very serious and devoted to her work. She was a researcher in the field of electronic technology and had a project to catch up on.

  After working overtime for several nights, Bo Cixue was a little sleepy and went to the lounge to make coffee.

  An Ni called her.

  “Cixue, don’t you have any rest days recently?”


  Bo Cixue put her phone between her face and shoulders and replied softly, “I’m free this weekend.”


  “Let’s go shopping this weekend.”


  “Sure.”


  “Oh right, Cixue, have you heard?”


  “What?”


  “Chu Li was an interpreter for a Duke a few days ago and went to the palace. She heard that the Crown Prince will be going to the west to help the poor. I heard that it will take at least three to five years there.”


  “Actually, the King sent someone else at first. I don’t understand why the Crown Prince would go, but if the Crown Prince went, the effect would be better!”


  Bo Cixue was taking the coffee and she did not know when the coffee spilled out. She only regained her senses when her finger was scalded.

  “Cixue, what’s wrong? Are you listening to me?”


  Bo Cixue’s heart tightened. She took a deep breath and said to An Ni, “Yes, but we can’t interfere with his decision. It’s the royal family and public’s good fortune to have someone like him!”


  “Yes, many people in the royal family are unwilling to go, but he’s willing as the Crown Prince. I really admire him!”


  Bo Cixue chatted with An Ni for a while before she hung up. She looked out of the window, her expression dazed.