“Stay away from her. You’re not her match,” Yu Xiaoye replied, gazing at the swaying tree shadows. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
She turned around. “Also,” her side profile outlined by moonlight, “Don’t like me…”
A month passed, and the summer vacation slid past Yu Xiaoye’s focused eyes, Song Chu and Lin Yichen’s smiles, and Jun Feng and Qin Na’s tightly clasped hands.
Yu Xiaoye nervously held the phone, her palm sweating. It was her first call after their separation.
“Hello?” a low male voice answered.
“Uncle, hello. I… am Xiaoye.”
“Xiaoye, hello.” The voice slightly wavered.
“Is Ji Ran doing okay?” she asked softly.
“Ji Ran, he… is resting.” Suddenly, a sharp female cry came from the other end, twisting Yu Xiaoye’s heart. Could it be…?
“Uncle, please tell me…” her voice trembled. “Ji Ran, he…”
“Xiaoye, in a few days, Ji Ran will come back,” the voice conveyed strong emotions.
“Really? That’s great!” Yu Xiaoye exclaimed, her earlier tears forgotten. “Is Ji Ran really okay?” As tears fell, she clutched the phone tightly. “I knew it! Ji Ran, you won’t leave me alone…”
“Ji Ran will return next week. We will contact you.”
“Beep beep…” The call disconnected.
Yu Xiaoye stared blankly at her phone, pinching herself to confirm it wasn’t a dream. “I knew it. Ji Ran, you are trustworthy. I promise I won’t be willful anymore. My strength and fragility belong to you. We will never be apart.”
……………
At the airport, Ji Ran held Yu Xiaoye close, whispering, “Promise me that your feelings will forever belong to me. I want to be with you always.”
……………
Tears of joy streamed down Yu Xiaoye’s face. Miracles do exist!
Ji Ran…
……………
“How strange!” Qin Na remarked, looking at Yu Xiaoye’s excitement. “Ji Ran just had surgery and should be very weak. How could he come back so quickly?”
“…Seems right!” Qin Na shouted happily.
“He must have recovered quickly and couldn’t wait to fly back!” She looked at Yu Xiaoye enviously, “You two are so touching!” Her eyes reddened, “Xiaoye, I’m happy for you.”
Yu Xiaoye couldn’t help but let her tears fall. “I really miss him. Every second without him was so hard…” She smiled again, tears shining like a lily with dew, “He’s back! How wonderful!”
“There’s still a week left. Look how thin you are! You need to nourish yourself!”
“Okay!”
“You haven’t bought clothes for a long time. I’ll accompany you shopping tomorrow!”
“Okay!”
“It’s time to change your makeup!”
“Okay!”
“Haha…”
A girl’s laughter added liveliness to the summer air. The wind blew, cicadas chirped. One week later…
Ji Ran’s father called, saying he would come to her school in the afternoon.
“But why didn’t Ji Ran call personally?” An ominous feeling surged in her heart.
“Maybe,” Qin Na said, “Ji Ran must want to give you a surprise!”
Is that so? Ji Ran, are you going to give me a surprise? As long as you appear healthy, I can give up anything…
The phone rang.
“Answer quickly!” Qin Na urged.
“Uncle…”
“Little Yao, we’ve arrived…” Still that low voice.
“I’ll be right there!”
…
School entrance…
Yu Xiaoyao stood nervously, her lake-green chiffon dress outlining her curves. Her flushed face and sparkling eyes reflected her excitement as she gazed at two distant figures.
Two well-preserved middle-aged couples approached in black attire, despite the summer heat.
“Where’s Ji Ran?” Yu Xiaoyao’s gaze swept past them, searching for someone who wasn’t there.
The middle-aged man looked at her, a weary smile on his face. “You’re Little Yao, right?”
Yu Xiaoyao regarded him suspiciously. An ominous feeling settled within her.
“Where’s Ji Ran?” Her voice trembled.
The man’s eyes moist with unshed tears, said, “He has already come!”
“Come?” Yu Xiaoyao looked again but saw no one. Her attention landed on a small black box held by the woman.
A photo on the box showed a prince-like smile, smiling eyes, a proud nose, and thin lips slightly raised…
The world suddenly went blank.
Yu Xiaoyao laughed, her face pale and swaying weakly. “Uncle, where’s Ji Ran?”
The man turned away, unable to confront her.
“What are you still pretending for? You clearly see him! He’s in the box, in the box!!!” A sharp female voice pierced through the air.
Summer, on the tree-lined path, the wind lifted her skirt while cicadas sang…
The world shattered…
“No, no,” Yu Xiaoyao stepped back. “Ji Ran wouldn’t lie to me…”
“Little Yao, I’m sorry, Ji Ran has indeed… left…” A man supported his wife while looking at an unbelieving Yu Xiaoyao.
Qin Na and Jun Feng were stunned.
Yu Xiaoyao closed her eyes tightly, then opened them. “Am I dreaming?”
She looked at the couple and her friends.
Not a dream!
Tears streamed down her face.
She picked up the box and gazed at the photo, her pale fingertips caressing his features.
“Little Yao…!” Qin Na, tearful, stared at Yu Xiaoyao, who smiled through her tears.
Yu Xiaoyao gently held the box. They were eye-level. Smiling, they exchanged glances.
Yu Xiaoyao softly kissed the photo of Ji Ran…
Letting the tears flow…
Seeing this, Ji Ran’s mother broke into loud sobs.
Ji Ran! How could you betray me? You said you’d come back… Yu Xiaoyao thought, you left me alone… lonely… what should I do?
Lonely me, what should I do?
You can break your promise, but how can I forget you?
Under the bright sunlight, Yu Xiaoyao wore a heartbreakingly beautiful smile, saying, “There are no miracles in this world.”
You deceived me! You promised me hope, then told me there are no miracles!” she shouted. “Ji Ran! I hate you! I hate you!”
She collapsed softly.
Jun Feng rushed over as blood flowed like a stream from her temple hitting the ground.
[First Part: Chapter Fifteen – Who Am I]
White and misty everywhere, nothing was clear.
Yu Xiaoyao panicked, looking around. “Where is this?” Suddenly, a cold hand gripped hers. She turned back – Ji Ran?!
He smiled, his face pale. Yu Xiaoyao rushed over, hugging him tightly. “Ji Ran, it’s really you! I’m not dreaming. You’re still okay…”
Ji Ran remained silent, just smiling.
“I promise I won’t be willful or stubborn anymore. Don’t scare me like that again,” she pleaded, looking up at him with teary eyes. His smile turned sorrowful as he touched her damp face.
“I’m sorry.”
Ji Ran slowly let go of her hand and turned towards a small black box…
“No, don’t! Ji Ran, please don’t leave me!” Yu Xiaoying shouted, rushing to grab him, but she couldn’t move. Her chest felt suffocated, her voice stuck in her throat, tears streaming down her face. “Please, Ji Ran, I beg you…”
Yu Xiaoying opened her eyes, her forehead throbbing painfully.
“You’re awake,” Qin Na said, looking at her.
After a long pause, a tear rolled down from the corner of Yu Xiaoying’s eye. “Who am I?” she asked softly, both of them and herself. “I was your shadow, a willing shadow. Now that you’re gone, who can I love? You’ve left me alone…”
“Xiaoying, don’t scare me!” Qin Na cried, her voice hoarse.
Qin Na’s cries seemed to wake Yu Xiaoying. She trembled violently, tears flowing.
“What’s wrong?! Jun Feng!” Qin Na screamed.
The doctor rushed in and started an IV. Yu Xiaoying lay on the bed, letting the doctor insert the needle, feeling like a shell.
Her father, mother, Jun Feng, and Qin Na were all worried and filled with tears. She refused to look at them, closing her eyes.
When she opened her eyes again, she realized she was at home, lying in her cozy little bed.
The room was silent…
How could there be so many tears that they were about to drown her?
She burst into tears!
Someone pushed the door open, looking at her with pure love. His lake-colored eyes became deep, like black jade soaked in moonlight.
