After Siping took a taxi home, Xiao Zhanyuan and Xiang Yu took the bus back to school together, as Xiao Zhanyuan's school was only two stops away from Xiang Yu's. Once Siping left, the atmosphere became a bit awkward, and neither of them spoke much. The bus ride in the night was somewhat bumpy and slow. Xiang Yu leaned her head against the bus window, looking at the neon lights outside. Whether it was the alcohol or the early start to the day making her sleepy, she soon felt drowsy. "You can sleep for a while, I'll wake you when we get to our stop," Xiao Zhanyuan's voice sounded softly in her ear. Xiang Yu groggily turned to look at him, smiled, and said, "Okay," then closed her eyes, resting her head against the window.
Xiao Zhanyuan watched Xiang Yu as she dozed off, feeling a mix of emotions he couldn't quite describe. A person would lower their guard and become drowsy next to someone who made them feel safe. She must have let go of the past now. He turned to look at Xiang Yu. Her eyes were closed, her brows relaxed, and there was a faint smile on her lips. He thought about her in the past. Sometimes he couldn't tell which memories were from their past life and which were from this life, but in none of those memories did she seem this at ease. She must be doing very well now, he thought. Xiang Yu seemed completely relaxed, suggesting she was comfortable and happy. He gently took off her tilted hat, held it in his hand, and then let her rest her head on his shoulder. He closed his own eyes, trying to clear his mind. If things could stay like this, it would be good enough.
The bus drove for a long time in the night. It was very quiet, as if they were the only two people in the world, relying on each other. But no matter how long the journey, the bus would eventually reach its stop. When Xiao Zhanyuan woke Xiang Yu, she opened her eyes and looked around, seemingly unsure of where she was. Xiang Yu had indeed fallen asleep and even had a sweet dream, surrounded by the people she loved. She couldn't remember the exact details, only that she felt very happy. So as they walked back to the dormitory, she excitedly asked Xiao Zhanyuan, "Where should we go to celebrate New Year's this year?" "Anywhere is fine, as long as we're together for New Year's, it doesn't matter where," Xiao Zhanyuan replied calmly, not even glancing at Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu knew he couldn't be as calm inside as he appeared, but she was never good at dealing with emotional issues and didn't know how to comfort him. She could only nod in agreement, saying, "That's true. As long as we can see each other often, it will always be joyful no matter where we are. If only Han Xing could come back, that would be great. I wonder when I can go to Japan to see her. By then, will she already be a big star?" Without waiting for Xiao Zhanyuan to answer, she continued, "Han Xing is so beautiful and full of dreams, she will definitely become a big star." But thinking of Siping made her fall silent. The conflict between hoping Han Xing achieves her dreams and not wanting Siping's sincere heart to be hurt left Xiang Yu at a loss for words. "Maybe everyone has their own destiny and must walk their own path. No matter how much others sigh, it won't change anything," Xiao Zhanyuan's voice was still calm. Xiang Yu deeply agreed but felt the silence was still filled with sighs and helplessness. Most things in this world are probably like this; no one is at fault. It's just fate, and in the end, all that's left is a sigh.