Mian Mian felt a little shy when he called her cute. Hearing him tell her to look up, she did. The moment she saw the view above, her pupils contracted violently. It was an incredibly beautiful starry sky!
On the black canvas, it was as if fine diamonds were scattered, filling her eyes with a brilliant expanse of stars that pierced her soul.
"So, so beautiful!" Mian Mian said, running out of words. She was actually good at Chinese, but in the face of such true beauty, she didn't know how to describe it. It was a beauty so profound it touched the very core of her being, nature's most magnificent gift!
"Yun Bu Ji, is this your secret base?" Mian Mian could hardly believe it. This person, whom many called a school bully, a rogue, even a murderer, held such beauty within him.
"Mm, my secret base, all mine," Yun Bu Ji replied.
"Is it a place that only you know? No one else knows?" Mian Mian asked, full of curiosity.
"Mm, for now," Yun Bu Ji didn't guarantee that no one would come in the future, but at least, no one had been here yet.
"Follow me." Yun Bu Ji reached out and grabbed Mian Mian's wrist. Feeling the warmth of his palm, Mian Mian felt as if her wrist had been scalded, making her very uncomfortable.
"Where are we going? Isn't it beautiful here?" Mian Mian asked, blushing. Fortunately, it was dark, so he couldn't see her face.
"There's a better place to watch the stars." Yun Bu Ji pulled her towards the mountain. There was no path here, and it was quite steep. Mian Mian, a little frightened, clutched his hand.
Yun Bu Ji held her hand tightly. Seeing her fear, he simply half-carried her upwards until they reached a flat, colossal stone.
"We're here," Yun Bu Ji said, releasing her.
Mian Mian retreated awkwardly, "Here?"
"Mm, I like to lie here and watch the stars." Yun Bu Ji said, then pulled her to sit down, and then lay down himself.
Mian Mian imitated him, lying on the stone, and asked, "Do you like watching stars a lot?"
"Mm," Yun Bu Ji responded.
"Why?" Mian Mian inquired curiously.
"Because... my family is all up there. See that brightest one? That's my father. Beside him are my grandparents, and my older sister." Yun Bu Ji pointed to the brightest stars in the distance.
Mian Mian's heart tightened. She looked at him in surprise, speechless for a moment.
"You..."
"They... are all dead. They've become stars in the sky, watching over me." Yun Bu Ji said with a smile, seemingly not sad.
But Mian Mian knew he must be hurting.
"Then what about your mother?"
"Also dead!" Yun Bu Ji's voice was a little cold.
"She... abandoned you?" Mian Mian heard the hatred in his tone, and her heart tightened slightly.
"I don't need her. I can live just fine without her! I'll just consider her dead," Yun Bu Ji said indifferently.
Mian Mian didn't ask any more questions. Looking at the stars, she suddenly felt a deep sadness. These stars might mean nothing to some people, but they were the dearest people to many!
"Then how did your father, sister, and grandparents leave you?" Mian Mian tilted her head slightly to look at him.
"My sister was sick. My mother couldn't bear the hardship and ran off with someone. My father was in a car accident when he went after her and died on the spot. My sister, after hearing the news, succumbed to her illness shortly after. My grandparents couldn't take the shock and both fell ill. My grandmother left first. Later, my grandfather held on for a few years for me, and then passed away from exhaustion." Yun Bu Ji said calmly.