I insisted on checking the surveillance footage, but they said it was broken and wouldn't be fixed for a couple of days.

My firm attitude made some people start to wonder if I'd been wronged.

But most of them scoffed, thinking I was just acting out of desperation.

I didn't care about their stares. If no one believed me, at the very least, I had to stand firmly by myself.

Rarely, Xu Hanzhou waited for me after school.

I ignored him—after all, he was the one who'd abandoned me first.

He followed behind me, and neither of us said a word.

We walked home together, our shadows stretched long by the sunset.

I couldn't remember what we'd talked about the last time we'd walked home like this.

"Xiao Shi," he called out from behind.

I didn't want to answer, so I quickened my pace.

He caught up and grabbed my arm, pulling something out of his schoolbag and handing it to me.

"I originally wanted to give this to you for your birthday in a few days, but you've been avoiding me..."

So he still remembered—my birthday was the day after tomorrow.

Looking at the beaded bracelet in my hand, a familiar ache welled up in my chest.

"Don't be mad anymore, Xiao Shi," he said, his voice sounding a little dejected.

I finally looked up at him.

At the very least, he seemed sincere about apologizing—didn't he?