Qiao Li looked into his eyes, silent for a few seconds, before softly saying, “I ran into Zhou Zhe at the supermarket tonight.”

Her emotions were stirred, not because she still loved Zhou Zhe, but because he represented the past ten years of her life. He represented the fragile, inadequate, helpless, and struggling version of herself. The trapped, shadowy part of her that she kept hidden had sprung out, tearing at her insides. It was the ugliness of her youth, etched into her bones, impossible to shake off.

She didn't want to face it, didn't want to admit her inability to control her emotions. But she was also afraid Feng Yi would misunderstand, so speaking directly felt more honest. She was a little afraid Feng Yi would be angry. After all, she shouldn't be bringing up her ex-boyfriend in this atmosphere.

Unexpectedly, Feng Yi's expression didn't change at all. He simply touched his forehead to hers, a gesture like an adult soothing a child. “I know,” he murmured, his voice softer than she’d ever heard it.

Qiao Li’s eyes widened in surprise.

This was the first time he'd seen Qiao Li look so stunned, her clear, black and white eyes reflecting his image back at him. It was unusual, but he liked it. He awkwardly reached out and touched the back of Qiao Li’s head, perhaps wanting to stroke her hair, but the movement was clumsy, turning into a careful patting.

The shifting light from the screen softened the glow in his eyes, making them seem impossibly beautiful, unreal. His voice held a smile. “Qiao Li, did you really think I was that oblivious?”

Qiao Li didn't know how to respond. Struggle, confusion, surprise, and guilt tangled her thoughts. She could only stare blankly at Feng Yi.

This wasn't like her at all. Feng Yi knew that her inner self wasn't as serene and indifferent as she pretended, but he hadn't expected to see the bubbling turmoil she inadvertently revealed tonight. She was most alluring when her composure slipped.

“Qiao Li, my life is simple. I grew up sheltered, without any noteworthy ups and downs. My past is bland and uneventful. So, what you see is all of me—my past, my present, and my potential future.”

“But you’re different. I can sense you’re hiding your past, playing a role in your present. Every experience, every decision, every joy and sorrow of a person’s past merges to create who they are now.”

He carefully cupped her face, his slightly trembling hands betraying his nervousness. “I like you, all of you, your entirety, not the shell you force yourself to wear. Qiao Li, when I said you were so beautiful you glowed, I wasn’t lying. Everything about you attracts me. Not your appearance, but you, just ‘you’.”

He leaned closer, like a child whispering secrets under the covers, surrounded by protective barriers, with only softness within their ivory tower. “I hope that someday, when you’re ready, you’ll be willing to tell me everything, to fill in the gaps of my dull and uneventful past. Okay?”

A burst of cheering erupted from the television. The host counted down loudly amidst the excitement.

“3!” “2!” “1!”

His lips brushed gently against hers.

Feng Yi grinned, his eyes crinkling, revealing a flash of white teeth, like a tree thriving in the sunlight. “Happy New Year.”

As his words faded, Qiao Li suddenly threw herself into his arms, startling him. He tentatively lifted his arms, slowly encircling her, then gradually tightening his embrace.

The noise from the television continued, the room filled with laughter and cheer, but they held each other in quiet embrace.

What was true strength?

Qiao Li had always thought it was maintaining a calm and unruffled demeanor amidst the chaos and upheaval of life, impervious to the wind and snow. Never showing weakness, keeping fear and panic hidden, because otherwise countless people would judge her, countless scenarios would crush her.

Girlhood was long gone. A woman had to abandon vulnerability, embrace logic, minimize sentimentality. Softness was useless; rational judgment was paramount. Any oversight or mistake meant she wasn't good enough, that she had to be even tougher. Otherwise, she wasn't strong enough, inherently inferior to men.

Every step, every decision in life, she felt the need to consider every possible consequence and outcome, weighing and deliberating endlessly before daring to take a steady step forward.