"Hmm, A Lifetime Love." Xiao Chong responded from the side.

Unbidden, the scene of Lin Wanwan drifting off to sleep under his gaze years ago, unguarded and slowly succumbing to slumber, emerged in his mind.

If only he’d proposed on that ambiguous afternoon. Then, he could have had her in his previous life—timing truly is crucial.

Lin Wanwan glanced back, looked up at Xiao Chong standing beside and slightly behind her, saying, "You’re not the real Xiao Chong from history, so why act so serious?"

"Don’t you think the person in the painting looks a bit like you?" Xiao Chong regained his focus, lowered his eyes to look at Lin Wanwan, smiled faintly with a touch of mystery.

"Huh?" Lin Wanwan felt a stir within her heart, turned and carefully examined the painting.

With Xiao Chong’s comment, the more she looked at the figure in the painting, the more she saw herself in it. Only more mature, a bit less baby-faced—surprisingly uncanny.

Seeing her bewildered and amazed expression, looking so pure and innocent, Xiao Chong felt an itch in his fingers, a strong desire to pinch her cheek!

Though she lacked memories from a millennium ago, her every smile and frown were just as he remembered, of the person he loved.

In the unnoticed staff area on the third floor, a casually standing young man suddenly exclaimed with a Columbus-found-the-New-World tone to the handsome young man beside him, "Hey, Lu Shao, look at the girl in front of that painting over there—doesn’t she seem like she just stepped out of it? How can she look so alike!"

This man was Wang Bocheng, still on his university summer break; the man he called Lu Shao lifted his eyes from the document in his hands, following Wang’s gaze towards the crowd in the exhibition area, instantly spotting the striking figures of Xiao Chong and Lin Wanwan.

Xiao Chong, with a warrior’s vigilance, was most sensitive to the gaze inspecting him.

He raised his eyes towards the railing, locked eyes with the handsome young man above, and saw mutual admiration in each other’s eyes.

Lu Shouyue lightly nodded towards Xiao Chong, who returned the gesture politely before withdrawing his gaze.

When Lu Shouyue’s eyes fell on Lin Wanwan’s face, he suddenly froze, his heart inexplicably stirred.

How strange, why did that girl seem so familiar, giving him an uncanny sense of déjà vu, as if she had grown out of his heart?

"Hey, Lu Shao, say something, don’t just stare!" Wang Bocheng nudged him with an elbow.

Lu Shouyue snapped back, looked at Lin Wanwan, then at the painting in the window, agreeing, "She does look alike."

His gaze fell on Lin Wanwan’s school uniform, an indescribable sensation arose within him.

Observing his expression, Wang Bocheng exclaimed, "No way, Lu Shao, a miracle indeed! You’ve finally fallen for someone?"

Lu Shouyue came back to himself, retorted with an elbow to Wang Bocheng’s side, "Stop spouting nonsense—she’s just a junior high schooler. Let’s go, Wang Shao, quit lingering here, I’ll treat you to some tea inside."

"What’s wrong with junior high? My future wife might still be in kindergarten!" Wang Bocheng shouted shamelessly.

"You’re perverted!"

"At 22, you’re still single, rejecting all the women who throw themselves at you—you’re the real pervert!"

"I don’t lack principles like you."

The two quarrelsome friends, bickering, left the railing.

Sensing something, Lin Wanwan looked up at the third-floor railing, only catching sight of the tall figure of a man walking away.

Xiao Chong asked, "What are you looking at?"

"Oh, nothing." Lin Wanwan shook her head, continued to view Xiao Chong’s next piece, exclaiming, "Xiao Chong is truly dazzling; this writing is exquisite!"

Xiao Chong grinned slightly, "Thanks for the compliment."

Lin Wanwan glared at him, "You’re acting a bit juvenile!" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Juvenile?" Xiao Chong raised an attractive eyebrow, feigning confusion, "Aren’t you the one complimenting me?"

Don’t treat him as an ancient person; he’s quite adept at learning. Twelve years were ample for him to understand this world, including its quirky expressions.

Lin Wanwan was about to speak when Qi Bingqiong suddenly interjected, curious, "What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing, just mentioned how the historical Xiao Chong was really talented."

"Hmm." Qi Bingqiong glanced at Xiao Chong beside her, whispered, "People named Xiao Chong are always amazing."

Xiao Chong paid no heed to her praise, seemingly indifferent.

Feeling a bit deflated, Qi Bingqiong sensed that since the picnic earlier today, Xiao Chong had suddenly grown distant from her.

Although they weren’t particularly close before, now the gap had widened.

She couldn’t fathom why things turned out this way.

Was it simply because she extended a birthday party invitation, did that bother him?