Uncle Xie sped away on the motorcycle.

Huo Wen’an stood under the eaves, his figure elongated by the corridor lamp.

Xu Xingguang heard the sound of slippers scraping the ground, approaching the courtyard gate.

With a creak, Huo Wen’an opened the door and asked Xu Xingguang, "Who were you talking to just now?"

"Uncle Xie."

Huo Wen’an curiously asked, "What were you two talking about for so long?"

"About your past." Xu Xingguang walked up to Huo Wen’an, glanced up at him, her expression hesitant, making Huo Wen’an feel puzzled.

"What do you want to say?"

Xu Xingguang replied, "I wanted to understand your past, so I asked Uncle Xie about it."

"Why didn’t you come to me?" Huo Wen’an turned and walked into the courtyard, saying as he went, "Come to my house for a while."

Xu Xingguang looked up at the moon overhead, and thought to herself: Once I go in, will I be able to come out tonight?

Huo Wen’an stood on the steps under the eaves, turned back to Xu Xingguang, and gave an ambiguous smile, "Afraid to come in?"

Only then did Xu Xingguang take a step to follow.

Huo Wen’an’s studio was somewhat messy, with many photos and documents scattered on the table, making Xu Xingguang feel like helping him tidy up. This time, Huo Wen’an didn’t enter the rest room but took her upstairs.

Mo Yinshu had decorated Xu Xingguang’s house in a French retro style, while Huo Wen’an’s mother had decorated his house in a poverty-stricken style.

Truly, it was barren.

On the entire second floor, there wasn’t a single painting or decorative item, even the doors were the old-fashioned wooden kind.

The second floor seemed to have been uninhabited for a long time, a musty smell permeated the air, making it uncomfortable.

Huo Wen’an said, "If I survive, after we get married, we’ll raze this house, merge it with your courtyard. Then we’ll build a big new house and make a beautiful yard, so that the kids will have a place to play in the future."

"You’re thinking far ahead." Xu Xingguang hadn’t thought about getting married yet.

Huo Wen’an didn’t turn around, he said, "I’m probably someone without a future. If I can have a future, then you will be the center of my future planning."

His future would be centered around her.

Not a word mentioned love, but every sentence conveyed his love for her.

Xu Xingguang stared at the beautiful, slender back of Huo Wen’an’s neck, feeling a little hot inside.

"What you’re saying, are you trying to seduce me into bed?" Xu Xingguang calmly rejected, "I admit I’m tempted by your body, but I think with your current physique, you probably won’t satisfy me."

For a moment, Huo Wen’an didn’t know how to respond.

He shook his head and turned to Xu Xingguang, saying, "I said this just to let you know, I regard you as the most important person in my future. If you want to know about my past, you can ask me directly, no need to ask others."

"After all, the person who knows me best is myself."

After he finished speaking, Huo Wen’an pushed open the broken wooden door at the end of the corridor.

A strong musty smell rushed into Xu Xingguang’s nose, and she stood behind Huo Wen’an, taking a glance into the room, seeing only darkness.

But she was somewhat reluctant to go inside.

Not knowing why.

Huo Wen’an said, "This room holds my past. Inside here is a forbidden area that no one has ever entered."

Huo Wen’an made way for Xu Xingguang, saying, "You can go in."

Xu Xingguang was inwardly resistant, but her curiosity about the forbidden area in Huo Wen’an’s heart was too overwhelming.

She gave Huo Wen’an a glance, then stepped into the dark room.

Behind her, the door was closed by Huo Wen’an from the outside.

Huo Wen’an didn’t enter, he spoke to Xu Xingguang through the door, "The light switch is on your right-hand side, you can reach it by raising your hand. I’ll be waiting for you outside."

"Okay."

Click!

Xu Xingguang turned on the light, what met her eyes was a thick, heavy, rust-covered chain.

The long chain extended from the corner of the room, dragging a length across the floor.

At the end of the chain, there was a circular iron ring as thick as a child’s neck.

That was Huo Wen’an’s dog chain.

There was no bed in the room, on the wall, someone had densely written three words with black chalk —

[I am guilty]

The handwriting at the bottom was the most immature, looking crooked, like a child’s early attempts at writing.

Further up, the handwriting grew steadier, sharper, it was the grown-up Huo Wen’an’s handwriting.

This wall spanned Huo Wen’an’s childhood and teenage years.

Xu Xingguang stood in the middle of the room, feeling suffocated.