But worrying about these things is just a waste of time, so I took a deep breath and said directly, "You go home alone today, I have something to do."

Su Yuqian listened with no expression on her face, which made me a bit anxious.

"It's something important, absolutely not something meaningless."

"Then go ahead." Su Yuqian unexpectedly replied calmly. I was so anxious just now that I almost revealed my true feelings.

"Aren't you going to ask me what I'm going to do?" I asked, calming my nervous emotions.

"Do I need to worry about what you're going to do?" Su Yuqian coldly asked me in return.

"Seems like there's really no need for you to worry." I laughed dryly. Although it was convenient for me to get away, I still felt a bit down after hearing her response.

"Then...I'll go this way. Be careful on your way home, especially avoid dark alleys and walk where there are more people. I'm afraid there might be perverts or sexual predators." I said while walking, giving her instructions.

"You're just unnecessarily worried." Su Yuqian seemed slightly indifferent to my concern.

"I'm just worried about you. After all, we've always gone home together since we started dating."

"If you're really worried about me, then let's go home together."

"..." Su Yuqian's words left me speechless.

"It seems like your business is more important." Su Yuqian seemed a little unhappy.

"But there's nothing I can do. Today is the only day we can't go home together." I said helplessly.

"Then just go. I can handle a few perverted thugs." Su Yuqian said casually.

"Really? I still think it's better to take a crowded road. The alleyway you take to go home is long and dark." I couldn't help but worry.

"Enough of your babbling!" Su Yuqian suddenly shouted.

"Huh?!" I was startled. Didn't she appreciate my concern?

"In short, don't worry about me. Don't forget that I've beaten up countless guys who confessed to me."

"Seems like that's true." Recalling the guys who confessed to her, besides those who were scared off by her suddenly clenching her fist and ran away, Su Yuqian had beaten up some who were persistent. I still remember how badly I got beaten up back then. I still have lingering fears.

"So you should worry about yourself. Your brain is slow to react and you're always thinking about stupid things," Su Yuqian's voice was so low that I couldn't hear her words clearly.

"What did you say?"

"I didn't say anything! You're supposed to be dealing with something important, so go quickly! It's getting dark and you won't finish if you keep dilly-dallying." Su Yuqian suddenly got angry again. I really couldn't understand her.

"Okay then, remember to take the crowded road." I said this out of concern. It's always better to be cautious. However, Su Yuqian didn't seem to like hearing that. Anyway, I turned around and walked back in the direction of home. After a few steps, I looked back, only to see Su Yuqian still standing in the same spot.

"What's wrong?" Su Yuqian asked.

"No...nothing," I thought Su Yuqian had already left. Could it be that she's watching me leave? Like a loving couple, when the man has to go far away and the woman bids farewell reluctantly.

It's really heartwarming. I couldn't help but immerse myself in happiness.

"Ah!! Ouch!" I accidentally bumped into a pillar and fell to the ground. Fortunately, Su Yuqian was already far away, otherwise she would see my embarrassed appearance and I would probably get scolded again. It's really unlucky. I rubbed my forehead and walked forward with a blurry vision for the time being.

During the journey, I also got lost for a while, but it didn't take much time. Indeed, it's easier to get confused in the maze-like alleys. When I arrived at the address written on the paper, I saw an old-style apartment building. I pushed open the iron gate and saw a woman in the courtyard, tying her hair in a ponytail and wearing casual work clothes. She was watering the flowers in the courtyard. She smiled at me and asked, "Are you here to rent a room?"

"You are..."

"I'm the landlord here, surnamed Zheng."

"Hello, Auntie Zheng," out of politeness, I greeted.

"You're such a polite young person," Auntie Zheng smiled sweetly. "Are you here to rent a house?"

"No... I'm here to find someone."

"Looking for someone, who?"

"Do you have a tenant named Alice?"

Auntie Zheng thought for a moment. "There's someone with that name. Oh, a few days ago, a teacher came looking for her, but he left looking quite disappointed. Are you a fellow student of hers? I can tell from your school uniform."

"Yes, I am her classmate. Everyone in our class hopes that she goes back to school, so the teacher asked me to come find her. We're all waiting for her to return."

I had to tell a lie, considering that revealing the true purpose would make things more serious.

"Since everyone is concerned about her, and she has no reason not to go to school, should I take you to see her?" Auntie Zheng offered helpfully. It would be best for someone familiar with the apartment to show the way.

"That would be very kind of you."

Auntie Zheng put down the watering can and led the way ahead. I followed her up the stairs, knowing to turn left on the third floor. We finally stopped at the second room. Auntie Zheng knocked on the door, "Alice, are you in there?"

"...Is it the landlord?" A very weak voice came from inside the room.

"Yes."

"I'll pay the rent I owe you as soon as possible. Please give me a little more time." Did Alice no longer have any money for her living expenses? She couldn't afford the rent anymore?

"The rent can be paid next month... I'm not here to ask you for the rent. It's your classmate who came to find you."

"I don't have any classmates..." a cold response made both Auntie Zheng and me hesitate.

"How is that possible? There was someone who came looking for you earlier." Auntie Zheng looked at me, and I understood what she meant. I spoke towards the door, "The teacher and your classmates are worried about you. You haven't been to school in a few days, and everyone is concerned. The teacher asked me to find you and hope that you can go back to school, Alice, please go back to school tomorrow."

"I won't go to school... You don't need to worry about me."

"But... everyone is waiting for you to go to school..."

"Stop talking. Please leave!" Alice's attitude seemed firm, but her voice was noticeably raspy.

"Forget about going to school for now. Can you open the door? I want to talk to you, Alice." It seemed that Alice didn't know who I was, and I couldn't know her situation without going in. But considering the presence of the landlord, if Alice agreed, Auntie Zheng would have to step aside.

"I don't want to say anything. There's nothing to talk about."

"Consider it as having a heart-to-heart chat. Tell me what troubles you, so I can help you." I wasn't going to give up easily.

"I don't need it..."

"Alice, I hope you..."

"I said I don't need it!!!" The door suddenly banged against something, causing both Auntie Zheng and me to jump.

"It seems that Alice still isn't willing to leave the room and go to school," Auntie Zheng looked worried.

"It seems like there's something she hasn't dealt with, but she doesn't cooperate at all, so it's impossible to make progress," I said helplessly. A door was separating us, obstructing communication.

"By the way, Auntie Zheng, don't you have the key to this door?" I suddenly remembered something and asked.

"For every rental room, I have a key, but Alice has locked it from the inside, so even if I had a key, it would be of no use. The teacher and I tried a few days ago. Of course, as the landlord, I can't easily open a tenant's door unless it's absolutely necessary."

"But after trying, you found out that she locked it from the inside, right?"

Auntie Zheng nodded. "That's right."

"So Alice hasn't been out of the room for several days?"

"I'm not quite sure about that. After all, I have my own things to take care of," Auntie Zheng replied apologetically. Although I couldn't confirm whether Alice secretly sneaked out when the landlord wasn't around, relying on that alone wouldn't be enough. I came here wanting to see her in person, and now that she's pushing people away, I won't be able to achieve my purpose. So, I tried to continue negotiating.

"Alice, please open the door. I came all the way here and I haven't accomplished anything yet. I brought the hopes of the entire class and the teachers with me. I hope you can go to school. If I go back like this, I will definitely disappoint everyone," I said as I knocked on the door repeatedly, but there was no response from Alice. My words didn't persuade her to open the door. It seemed like a complete failure. I felt a bit down.

"Maybe in a few days, Alice will go back to school. You don't need to worry too much. Girls can be stubborn sometimes, but things will get better soon," Aunt Zheng comforted me.

"I hope so," I sighed and thanked the landlord before dragging my exhausted body back home. It was already dark when I left the apartment. The vigorous negotiation took a lot of energy, and most importantly, I didn't succeed. I felt a bit defeated and extremely tired. All I wanted to do now was to take a shower at home.

When I reached my front door, I pushed it open and was about to change my shoes. I was too tired, so I simply sat on the steps to change them. At that moment, I heard footsteps behind me.

"Brother Youjie," I turned my head and saw Feiya.

"Feiya..."

"Brother Youjie, you came back really late today. Did you go on a date with your girlfriend?" Feiya said with a mischievous smile.

"It's not..."

"What is it then?"

"Don't ask so many questions if you're just a kid," I stood up and lightly tapped Feiya's head with my hand.

Feiya touched her head and retorted unhappily, "Feiya is not a kid. Feiya is a grown-up."

"You're clearly just a seven-year-old kid," I disregarded Feiya's argument.

"Brother Youjie, you're a big meanie. Feiya doesn't like you at all!" Feiya pouted, her cheeks puffing up like a pufferfish.