As we walk toward the iconic restaurant, the whole street is lit up. Fairy lights everywhere. Couples laughing, hands linked, phones out, everyone soaking in the last hours of the year.
Jiang leans closer, his breath warm near my ear.
"Yunhua… Starlight Confession Night is going to do a countdown, right?"
"…Yeah."
My voice comes out softer than I expect.
I hesitate, then add, half-guilty, "I know it's kind of selfish, but I just wanted to—"
"It's fine," he says before I can finish.
I look up at him.
"I already enjoyed my time," he continues, smiling a little. "And I know it must have been really expensive. Those passes."
"…They were," I admit quietly.
He nods, like that explains everything. Then he looks ahead again, hands tucked in his pockets, walking in step with me.
"Then leaving early must be important to you," he says. Not accusing. Just stating it.
I nod, eyes dropping to the ground. "…Yeah."
And somehow, that's the part that hurts the softest.
