Jiang Yichen shot her a sidelong glance. "Aren't you going to check if anything's missing? I just stumbled upon it in storage. I wasn't looking for it, so don't thank me." Shi Yu shook her head. "I'm sure nothing's missing... To be honest, I don't even know what's inside, but this box meant the world to my mother. In any case, thank you." As she spoke, she couldn't stop the tears from falling. They dripped onto the wooden box, blossoming into dark, irregular stains. Jiang Yichen’s brow furrowed. He rose, fetched a glass, and poured her a drink, holding it out. "Swallow your tears. It's annoying." Ordinarily, Shi Yu would never drink with Jiang Yichen—not that she'd ever had the chance. But tonight, after the emotional highs and lows, she wanted it. She didn't refuse. Wiping away her tears, she took the glass with a mumbled thanks. The liquor burned its way down her throat, and she choked, erupting into a fit of coughing. "Ahem... cough, cough... What kind of alcohol is this?" Jiang Yichen looked at her as if she were an idiot. He took a light sip from his own glass and said flatly, "You don't recognize the drink, but you can't read either?" It was only then that Shi Yu noticed the two large letters on the bottle: XO. She flushed slightly. "I don't usually drink... of course I wouldn't know. If that's all, I'll go back to bed now." Jiang Yichen sank back into his chair, swirling the amber liquid in his glass with a careless air. "You used to be the one throwing yourself at me. Isn't it a bit late to start playing hard to get? Trying to make me think you're special? Don't bother. In my eyes, you've always been special. Specially... hateful." Shi Yu let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Is that so? Then I suppose I should be honored. To have occupied the most special corner of your life, one way or another." Suddenly, Jiang Yichen turned his head to look at her, his eyes searching. "When did you get such a sharp tongue?" The alcohol was starting to warm her face. It wasn't often Jiang Yichen was in the mood to talk to her, so she boldly sat down in the chair opposite him. Chances like this... might not come again. "Jiang Yichen..." She murmured his name, her head bowed. A flicker of familiar irritation crossed his eyes. He didn't answer, but as he refilled his own glass, he poured another for her as well. His distaste for her was as deeply ingrained as her love for him, yet after so many years together, they could sit in the same room without it being unbearable. Habit was a terrifying thing. Shi Yu didn't seem to care if he answered, continuing on her own. "If one day, I just disappeared completely... a long, long time from now, would you ever think of me?" Jiang Yichen's brow tightened. "Don't you dare get sentimental with me," he said, his voice cold. "If you really wanted to leave, you would have been gone long ago instead of shamelessly clinging to me all this time." Shi Yu just smiled, saying nothing. She raised her glass and drained it in one go. This time, she didn't cough. The searing heat in her throat seemed to bypass her heart, dragging all the pain down into her stomach, leaving only a blistering warmth behind. Before the full force of the alcohol could hit her, Shi Yu made it back to her room. Her gaze fell upon the box her mother had left behind, and a heavy weight settled in her chest. It was the only thing she had left of her. The lock on the box was old and worn; it gave way with little effort. Inside were old photographs and envelopes. There were pictures of her as a child with her mother, and...