Chapter 145: Confession Day

Lu Zhou left Li Jiayan’s place and passed by the house where Ye Fangfei was staying. He glanced at it subconsciously, but her curtains were drawn, reflecting the dim light from within.

He walked away in silence.

Back in front of his own cabin, his hand, poised to push open the door, stopped in mid-air. After a moment, he turned and walked toward the beach.

The night was pleasant. Finding a secluded spot, he lay down on the sand, hands pillowed behind his head, staring blankly at the bright moon in the night sky. He stayed there alone until the early hours of the morning.

In the row of cabins nearby, the lights had gone out one by one; everyone else must have fallen asleep.

Live stream comments:
[The only man awake tonight.]
[I feel like Lu Zhou is being pushed to the brink of depression.]
[If it were me, I’d be in so much pain too. How can he choose? Can’t he have both?]
[I don’t understand what there is to struggle with. If he had half a brain, he’d know to choose Ye Fangfei.]
[You think Zhang Chen and Jiayan are together and miserable?]

*If there is an afterlife, please let me enjoy the stage to my heart’s content.*

Car C.
It was meaningless.

Li Jiayan heard this and looked at her with a face full of question marks, "What?"

It wasn’t an illusion; she really had fallen for him again!

Having bonded through a program, where would their paths lead in the end?

"Can we be like we were back then and love each other properly one more time? Is that okay?"

She felt conflicted. The scene she had accidentally stumbled upon last night kept playing in her mind.

Lu Zhou: "..." Damn it, why is she acting like a hedgehog today?

Eventually, the five cars departed one by one, heading toward the same destination.

"What I like now is not just the Zhang Chen from when I was eighteen," she replied stubbornly, brow furrowed.

Qi Jiajia: "I’ve finished packing too."

Right on time, all the guests left their cabins and sat in the same cars as their respective exes.

Li Jiayan: "How did you know I was going to confess?"

The scenery shifting past the car windows made people inexplicably sentimental.

After listening, Xu Junze’s tears broke through, "You are still hurting me."

The live stream at this moment:
[Laughing to death, Li Jiayan’s face is green.]

His hands were numb from being used as a pillow, and his neck was stiff. Zhang Chen stood up, brushed the sand off his body, and returned to his place.

She was actually hesitating over such a simple matter! Chu Yao raised a hand to her forehead, feeling that Wen Yiming was beyond saving.

Xu Junze didn’t want to cry; she had cried hard last night and hadn’t slept well, so she knew her eyes must look hideous, but when emotions ran deep, she couldn't help it.

It wasn't Zhang Chen’s initiative, so the scene didn't really prove anything. When exes chat, it's inevitable they might act that way when moved, especially when the other side hasn't fully let go.

[Confessing before the actual time? Hahaha.]

The viewers in the live stream were ecstatic; they had waited too long for this day. People flooded into the stream, and the viewership spiked to an all-time high.

Car A.
The driver in the front seat felt like he was going crazy.

Finally, it was Lu Zhou who broke the silence, "Have you sorted out your heart yet?"

"I’m sorry, Jiayan, I am no longer the eighteen-year-old Zhang Chen from back then."

Live stream:
[Garbage man, just trying to leech off her fame, how cold-hearted.]
[Lu Zhou: You’re the devil.]

Not long after the car started, Xu Junze brought up the topic she wanted to discuss. She didn't know how long the drive would be, and she couldn't waste time.

[Let’s just get back together.]

Ye Fangfei: "I don't know, but I have a feeling you’ll confess. Just wishing you well in advance, since I don't know what else to talk about anyway."

Xu Junze felt as if her heart were being pierced; tears streamed down her face.

...

[So heartbreaking, she really loves him.]

Li Jiayan was the first one who couldn't sit still. He couldn't help but break the silence, "It’s the final day. Once we finish filming, it’s all over. Do you have anything to say to me?"

"I know, Jiayan. I don’t want to hurt you with overly blunt words, do you understand?"

*If there is an afterlife...*

[What the hell?]

Mainly, in this situation, it was harder to convince him if she didn't cry.

...

[Women’s careers are very important. Choosing Ye Fangfei could help her take flight! If he chooses Li Jiayan, besides crying, what can she do for him? Don’t be stupid, Lu Zhou.]

Everything started with this dating show.

Zhang Chen silently watched her for a long time and sighed, "Jiayan, I don't want to use overly blunt words to hurt you, understand?"

That was a question he had asked himself many times before facing death.

The atmosphere in the car was stifling.

[Hahaha, Chu Yao is making crazy hints.]

Zhang Chen turned around, his expression indifferent.

It was truly going to end.

When he mentioned that topic again, all he could see was the blue sky.

"I know I want to sleep, but my mind unconsciously thinks of you, of us, and then it’s hard to fall asleep," Xu Junze said, eyes downcast, a look of exhaustion on her face.

...

"If there is, let me return to the year I first woke up in this world."

Ye Fangfei thought for a moment and decided not to appear too heartless in front of the camera, so she added, "I wish you success."

[Not initiated by Zhang Chen], those words surfaced again in Wen Yiming’s mind.

[Can she really wish him well sincerely? I don’t believe it. If it were me, they could be happy, but not happier than me.]

Later, when things were clear and he was sober, he felt it was all so fresh—that people could actually live like this.

But for some reason, she didn't feel very comfortable.

Regardless, he loved this version of himself that had come back to life, loved the environment of this world, and to fulfill the regrets of his first life, he became obsessed with the stage of music and art.

"Do you sincerely hope my confession succeeds?" Li Jiayan asked suspiciously.

Lu Zhou: "..." That attitude? He wanted to curse.

It wouldn't be sincere... he shouldn't go and ruin other girls. But in front of the camera, she couldn't say she wasn't sincere, or the netizens would bash her for being small-minded. Ye Fangfei thought to herself.

Qi Jiajia met her gaze for two seconds, her nose felt a bit sore, and she pursed her lips into a smile, "You must be happy too."

"Of course, that’s impossible. But to express my meaning accurately and avoid misunderstandings, I have to be clear, right? Why are you in such a rush to clarify? It’s not like you haven’t confessed to me before."

[Woooo, I’m crying to death.]

The live stream audience was stunned—

Lu Zhou: "What?"

She crossed her arms, turned to look at him, and then added, "On the condition that the person you're confessing to isn't me."

[This pair is truly a pair of fated enemies.]

Zhang Chen: "I know, I’m sorry."

[Hahaha, I’m so amused.]

*Live a different life in the next one.*

Wen Yiming and Zhang Chen exchanged a glance before getting into their cars; the two had no communication.

[Hahaha, Chu Yao is making crazy hints.]

And yet, this was her attitude?

"Impulse is the devil," Chu Yao said, rolling down the window to speak to the outside.

...

They both knew the outcome; this time, it was truly over.

It was now, when she didn't need to be strong, that she let her tears flow freely.

*If there is an afterlife, how do I want to live?*

...

Zhang Chen sighed silently again.

Xu Junze felt something was wrong as soon as she heard it. Why would he say that?

"Confession," Ye Fangfei raised an eyebrow, "I wish you success in your confession later."

Lu Zhou: "..." Good grief, did she eat gunpowder today?

But Lu Zhou could guess most of it; she was definitely struggling with whether or not to choose Zhang Chen!

[Speechless, is emotion measured by material things?]

Then let him take the initiative once. She thought to herself.

Zhang Chen pulled his hand away from hers.

In fact, coming on this show was good. Tearing open a wound that had never fully healed, sprinkling salt on it, hurting intensely, and then thoroughly disinfecting and stitching it up—this time, it could finally scab over and heal properly.

The process of memory integration was painful, causing confusion and creating illusions. Which one was the real self? Which side was the real world?

Some people went to bed early last night, so today’s early-morning task wasn't a pressure for them.

Lu Zhou’s eyes misted over, and both of them laughed.

The guests needed to finish packing by one o'clock, take the designated vehicles arranged by the production team, and head to the confession site.

Qi Jiajia also smiled, "If there is, would you bless me?"

Ye Fangfei retorted, turned her head to look out the window, and didn't intend to argue with him any further.

...

[Ahhh! He refused!]

But his mind wasn't on the romance.

[So suffocating!]

Compared to the calm of the other three cars, the atmosphere inside Zhang Chen and Xu Junze’s car was a completely different style.

Lu Zhou was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly, "Of course I will wish you well. Although we can’t continue as lovers, I still hope you can be happy. Sincerely."

"I basically didn't sleep at all last night."

...

"Zhang Chen," she called him softly, took a deep breath, and looked into his eyes, "I really can't forget you."

She really didn't give him a good look; he was just bored.

Lu Zhou knew the tears would come; he had prepared tissues in advance before getting into the car. He took them from his pocket and handed them to her.

He suspected this dating show was truly toxic.

Xu Junze gripped his hand so tightly that her body moved with the effort; she froze.

As for what happened to them later, she didn't know.

Damn it, she hadn't seen anyone have a good ending.

The production team had arranged breakfast and task cards in every guest's house early in the morning.

"No," Ye Fangfei replied, staring at the road ahead, expressionless.

The second day was the final confession day for the program *Shall We Swap? Exes*.

Lu Zhou turned his head slowly to look at her upon hearing this, "I’ve sorted myself out. How about you?"

Could this be the legendary "jealousy"?

Wen Yiming heard this and looked back at him.

Thinking back, there was indeed such a suspicion.

"That doesn't mean you haven't let me go. It’s actually a kind of emotional illusion."

[This woman is so strange, can’t she speak properly on the last day?]

[Congratulations in advance to the 'Feizhou' couple.]

"But Zhang Chen, so many years have passed. We’ve both grown up and have our own skills. We can surely withstand the waves better. Our affairs, we will decide for ourselves."

Is this what liking someone is?

This feeling, she had truly never experienced with any other boy before.

But Wen Yiming was a bit confused now. Could it be because this stupid show had cut off contact with the outside world? It forced her to only interact with these few people every day, which was why she felt this way about Zhang Chen?

She reached out and held his hand tightly, confessing through teary eyes.

[Ahhh! I’m so excited!]

She didn't want to listen anymore and shook her head frantically.

Beside her, Chu Yao had looked at Lu Zhou several times; she had been silent all along and hadn't changed her posture, wondering what she was thinking.

Perhaps some deity from a high-dimensional world heard his plea, reached out a hand, and he woke up in the body of a washed-up artist in another world.

[Maybe it’s because you want to choose Ye Fangfei, and now that Li Jiayan is like this, it’s making you miserable?]

Qi Jiajia and Lu Zhou each turned to look at the scenery outside their respective windows. Since getting in the car, neither of them had spoken a single word.

And Ye Fangfei actually didn't want Li Jiayan to bother her; she was busy sorting out her words and had no time to chat with him. Besides, she hadn't seen him be very passionate toward her for so many days, and now that it was the last day, what was he putting on an act for?

[Help, she really knows how to cry.]

*If there is an afterlife...*

Lu Zhou smiled gently, "That’s good. Is there someone you want to confess to?"

"Do you think it's possible for me to confess to you?" Li Jiayan felt like his hair was about to stand on end from her attitude.

...

[He just wants to lick Lu Zhou, that’s all.]

[This pair really makes me feel regretful.]

"Because of the show, we see each other every day, which is why it frequently triggers those long-buried memories and emotions."

Is that it?

[Zhang Chen, please keep a clear head.]

Wen Yiming opened the window on her side, the wind blowing into the car. She rested her elbow on the window frame, lost in thought as she looked at the scenery outside.

She was unwilling to listen any further and shook her head frantically.

[It’s strange, this woman, can’t she speak nicely on the last day?]

[So stifling!]

"Why must there be a life without you? I want a life with you more. Can I?"

*If there is an afterlife, how do I want to live?*

Lu Zhou sighed again.

Xu Junze knew that saying anything more was useless. She turned her head and covered her face with a tissue.

Lu Zhou, though he slept late, had good sleep quality. Being woken up without enough rest was truly painful. He complained that the production team was cruel for the sake of ratings, but as soon as he thought about resting properly after filming, he felt better.

Lu Zhou was indeed heavy-hearted tonight.

"After the show ends and you return to your normal life, you will find that the days will be just like the past three years—without Zhang Chen, you will still live happily and wonderfully."

[He really knows how to cry.]

Thanks to the reader "Walking Wheels" for the 5000 Qidian coin tip!
(End of chapter)