Long Shen's body was shaking after he read Yunyu's note. He was in too much shock that he couldn't react properly. Long Shen's face turned pale instantly. He glanced at the box that Yunyu had prepared.

Although he already knew what was inside, it was still nerve wracking for him.

Long Shen opened the box, he saw the old clothes that he threw away to Yunyu, as he thought that Yunyu was a poor kid, so this was more like a charity for him. He didn't care much whether Yunyu would wear this, though… judging by how much he loathed Yunyu back then if he saw Yunyu ever wearing his clothes, Long Shen knew that all he would do was bullying and ridiculing Yunyu again.

He could smell the faint scene of flower fragrance from inside the box. Yunyu washed all his dirty old clothes, ironed them, and put them in the same box. He even went as far as giving it fragrance, so it turned like a stack of new clothes once more.

Yet, he never touched it, afraid that Long Shen would get disgusted by his skin.

Long Shen took one shirt out of the box and smelled it. It felt soft and warm, just like Yunyu's heart.

Maybe for many, this wasn't much. But for Long Shen, he finally realized that he had lost someone really dear to him. Someone who loved him no matter how terrible he was, and no matter how crazy he could be.

Long Shen buried his face in the old shirt as he inhaled deeply, letting the smell of the flower from the fragrance filled his lung. This was the proof of Yunyu's sincere love for him. The love that he wasted and stomped because of his arrogance.

Long Shen didn't want to cry. Although the burden in his heart was getting heavier and heavier, he didn't want to look weak just because he might have fallen in love and lost someone that loved him.

Long Shen still remembered the pink note that he kept inside his drawer. Because whenever he looked at it, it symbolized Yunyu's pure heart.

-This ugly Bai Yunyu loves you, Mr. Long Shen.-



"I love you too, Bai Yunyu…" Long Shen could only utter his reciprocating feeling alone in this empty room because the owner had left him, gone with the wind as he was too tired to love, especially loving a jerk like Long Shen.

Slowly, Long Shen could feel the shirt dampened because of his tears. His cries muffled as he buried his face deeper in the old shirt.

He couldn't help it because the regret came too late for him. He had finally realized that he might've fallen in love with Yunyu long before he realized it now.

Long Shen also realized that he had never been so close to anyone but Bai Yunyu. At least, he always taught Bai Yunyu about all his problems, whether it was about filming, interview, or personal life.

Although he did it while mocking Yunyu, of course.

"You're an idiot, Long Shen. A fucking idiot who doesn't know how to treasure someone so dear to you," Long Shen cursed himself. "You're the one who deserves to die, not Bai Yunyu. You are the ugly one here, you fucking piece of shit."

[Pupa: Ding! Long Shen's Fatemeter to Bai Yunyu increases to 80%.]

Yunyu was surprised when he got the notification from Pupa. They were currently in a beach, enjoying the morning sun. Yunyu was chilling in a hammock, with his phone reading a new online novel from the spicy chicken author that Pupa recommended, Rent A Boyfriend.

He wore a big shades to cover his eyes and a bucket hat, so his scar wouldn't look too obvious. Though he still got stares once or twice, at least it wasn't too bad compared to what he usually got.

[Hmm… with this, I suppose Long Shen had found out about my note and that box full of old clothes, right?]

[Pupa: It should be.]

[Heheh, he must be crying over the spilt milk now. I'm already gone with the wind, yet he will live full of regret and agony for the rest of his life! Nyeh-heh-heh!]

Pupa rolled its eyes. Of course, it knew that Yunyu was such a petty person. And Pupa usually would scold him for being one. But this time… it had the feeling that Long Shen truly deserved it. Knowing how much damage he did to Yunyu's mental and physical health.

[Pupa: Then, what you would you do next?]

[Hold on, based on my prediction, someone will call me soon.]

Just like Yunyu's prediction, his phone suddenly rang, and Yunyu checked at the caller. He saw that Mr. Long Shen was calling him. But Yunyu ignored the call until the sixth call.

Yunyu waited for a moment before he picked up the call and listened to what Long She would say next.

***

It took a while until Long Shen could muster up his courage after he let himself cried for a man. Yunyu was the first person he cried about, and it was both because of regret and love.

Long Shen called Yunyu's phone a few times. He knew the call went through, but Yunyu must've decided not to pick it up.

'Come on, pick it up, Yunyu, please…'

Click.

"Hello?" Yunyu said across the call.

Long Shen's heart jumped when he finally heard Bai Yunyu's voice once more.

"Y—Yunyu! It's me. It's Long Shen!" Long Shen said spontaneously.

"… Yes, sir, I can hear you…"

"G—Good. Where are you now, Yunyu? I will tell my people to pick you up and return to me. We will talk about this, okay?" Long Shen said.

"… why would I?" Yunyu replied coldly. "I have everything I need here, sir."

"But—" Long Shen paused. 'What about me?' he said in his heart, dared not uttering such egoistic question to Yunyu.

"Sir, I assume that you've read my note for you. If you've read it carefully, you know that I've cut the contact with you and everyone else. This will be the last time I can answer your call, and please don't call me anymore. This is for your own good, sir," Yunyu said coldly.

Yunyu's cold voice was like an ice shard that stabbed Long Shen's heart. He was tongue-tied once he heard how unfeeling Yunyu sounded just now.

There was no more shy Bai Yunyu, who would obey everything he said. There was no more meek Bai Yunyu, whose voice would tremble once Long Shen raised his voice.

Bai Yunyu was so cold now as if he had truly disposed all his previous life and starting anew in another place, with a new life, a new job, and probably… a new lover.

The thought of Yunyu having a new lover after Long Shen finally discovered his own feeling made Long Shen restless and angry for some reason. He wanted to raise his voice and threaten Yunyu not to date someone else other than him.

But what authority he had over Yunyu now?

"May I… May I know your location right now? I want to tell you something, Yunyu," Long Shen asked, trying to contain his impatience.

"… Mr. Long Shen, you will never find me, and I don't want to see you anymore. Goodbye."

Beeeep.

Yunyu hung up the call abruptly, leaving Long Shen still dazed with such rejection. He clenched his phone and softly said, "No, Bai Yunyu. I will find you. Even if you reject me again and again, I will never give up."

"Not after I realized my feeling for you."