Wen Zhe hadn’t expected Ji Li to say that to his face, and he was suddenly both embarrassed and anxious. "But why? We’ve been friends for so many years..."

"It’s precisely because we’re friends and I’ve seen your playboy lifestyle that I won’t consider you," Ji Li stated matter-of-factly. "No one is going to dive into a relationship after finding out the other person is a player. I want a partner who can give me peace of mind."

"I’m not looking for a player, and even if he claims to have turned over a new leaf, I still wouldn’t consider it."

Ji Li wrinkled her nose as she spoke. "I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to relationships; I can’t stand that sort of thing. Just thinking about how... colorful his past was makes my skin crawl."

Wen Zhe’s shoulders slumped. "Is there really... no chance?"

"That’s right," Ji Li said directly. "A lot of people say it’s pointless to get hung up on someone’s past, but I have the right to choose. Just because someone shows interest in me doesn’t mean I have to accept them. It’s better not to force a start than to regret it later."

Wen Zhe hesitated. "But you’ve been single for the past two years..."

"I’m single because I have to work and learn a lot of new things, not because of anyone else."

Ji Li had no intention of sparing Wen Zhe’s feelings. ’That jerk,’ she thought. ’It’s not like I’m single because I’m pining for him. I’m single because I’m enjoying my relaxed lifestyle. I haven’t even thought about finding a partner, alright?’

’I’m grinding myself to the bone for Uncle Qiao, and on top of that, I have to find new material and practice my dancing. After all, neither Uncle Qiao nor Tan You are easy to please. My schedule is packed with learning new things, so I really don’t have the bandwidth for romance.’

Wen Zhe recalled the time he had stayed at Ji Li’s place. "That’s true. Are you still studying with Uncle Qiao?"

"Mhm, Uncle Qiao is strict," Ji Li said with a small smile, "but it’s gotten a little better than before."

"Even if I’m as dense as a block of wood, I was bound to make some progress eventually."

"What are you talking about? You’re brilliant, and you always have been," Wen Zhe countered. "I remember you were great at humanities back in high school, but even after you switched to the sciences, your grades were still excellent."

"You had plenty of options in college, yet you still chose engineering and excelled in all your coursework."

Ji Li smiled. "Once you choose a path, you have to see it through. Unlike others, I don’t have parents to rely on, so I have no choice but to work hard and push forward on my own."

It was true she’d had a crush on Wen Zhe back then, but she would never have sacrificed her education for him. Even after choosing the science and engineering track, which wasn’t her strong suit, Ji Li still studied tirelessly to keep her grades up.

She understood that even if her crush came to nothing, she still had to be able to support herself. You only earn the right to pursue love after you’ve secured your own food and shelter; to do otherwise is simply to devalue yourself.

Wen Zhe fell silent for a moment. "You... had it really rough back then."

"Maybe," Ji Li replied, also falling quiet. "What matters is that I’m doing very well now."

Wen Zhe asked, "Is there really... really no chance?"

Ji Li answered without hesitation, "I’m not the one for you, Wen Zhe. We’re friends, and I don’t want us to end things on bad terms. That whole stunt Xia Mo pulled back then already left a bad taste in my mouth."

Wen Zhe’s expression stiffened. "I’m sorry."

Ji Li waved her hand dismissively. "Forget it, it’s all in the past. Bringing it up again just makes me look petty. But bottom line, I don’t like people who cause me trouble."

"Let’s talk about something else. I remember your family doesn’t live in this city. You’re here for your roommate’s wedding? Did you have to take time off for it?"

Wen Zhe followed her lead and changed the subject. "Yeah, I took three days off. I arrived yesterday, so I’ll be at the wedding today and then head back tomorrow."

"Are you really not going to see Yifeng? You two probably haven’t seen each other in a long time."

Ji Li shook her head. "We were never that close, so I’ll pass. Besides, I’m not a fan of crowds. I found Wang Jue’s wedding exhausting, and I was just a guest."

Back when she was working part-time jobs, Ji Li could put up with the liveliest of places. But after living in the countryside for several years, she was no longer accustomed to noisy environments and had come to prefer tranquility.

Seeing he couldn’t change Ji Li’s mind, Wen Zhe didn’t insist. Just as they were about to part ways, he suddenly called out to her. "I’m sorry. I handled a lot of things poorly back then."

Ji Li paused for a moment, then said softly, "It’s alright. Goodbye."

’She knew what he was apologizing for; she understood it all now. He must have been fully aware of her crush on him back then. This apology was surely for that.’

A bitter taste filled Wen Zhe’s mouth. "Goodbye, Li Li. No matter what, I hope you have a wonderful life."

Ji Li’s features relaxed into a smile. "Of course. I will. I wish you a bright and peaceful future as well."

Wen Zhe watched her figure recede into the distance, lost in thought. Now that she was gone, they would probably never meet again. Life was just so unpredictable. Before he could even sort out his own heart, she had already walked away, never to look back.

"Wen Zhe, what are you staring at?" An arm slung around Wen Zhe’s shoulders. The boisterous newcomer instantly shattered his reverie.

"Nothing much. Just ran into a friend and grabbed some coffee," Wen Zhe said, choosing not to mention Ji Li. He didn’t want to broadcast the details of her life.

"What friend? Someone I know?" the man asked cheerfully. "You know, for Yifeng’s wedding, he invited pretty much every college classmate we know, and almost everyone who could be here, is."

"Oh, right! I remember, wasn’t Ji Li basically your shadow back then? Is she coming?"

Wen Zhe paused. "She’s not coming. We haven’t been in contact much since graduation."

"Ah, what a shame. She’s a huge vlogger, you know." The man shook his head. "When I’m exhausted from work, I love watching her videos. They’re so therapeutic—a perfect mix of dreamy escapism and cozy, everyday life."

"That mountain living really changes a person. She used to be like an unremarkable little sparrow, and now she’s as dazzling as a phoenix..."

Wen Zhe murmured a few words of agreement, but his mind had already wandered off. ’If only he’d been more settled in his youth,’ he thought, ’if he hadn’t been so into playing games and messing around... would his life be completely different now?’

After parting with Wen Zhe, Ji Li felt quite pleased. Tan You suddenly appeared at her side. "You must have understood what Wen Zhe meant."

"I certainly did," Ji Li said with a shrug. "And I’m not interested. You always used to say that all that sentimental stuff was a waste of time, and now I agree. This constant focus on romance is really quite pointless."

"My time is too precious to be wasted on men."

Tan You replied, "As long as you understand that yourself."

She smiled. "Take a look at this phoenix coronet. Do you like it?"

In her life as Yi Ru, Tan You had specifically studied ancient attire. So, since she was having a phoenix coronet custom-made for Ji Li, Tan You was determined to make it absolutely perfect.