“Xiaoyao!” Jun Feng ran over, anxiously pulling her. “Are you hurt?”
“Big brother!” Yu Xiaoyao smiled playfully. “I’m fine!”
Jun Feng examined her and suddenly hugged her. “You little girl! You worried me to death!”
“You were busy dating Qin Na, so it’s right that you worry about me,” Yu Xiaoyao teased.
Geng Yaoyang felt sour watching them; although he knew Jun Feng was Yu Xiaoyao’s brother, he still wasn’t happy!
Jun Feng then noticed Geng Yaoyang. “Young Master Geng, what are you doing here?”
“You know each other!” Yu Xiaoyao said, surprised. “Young Master Geng” – what kind of address was that?
“You’re so nosy!” Geng Yaoyang retorted.
“Hey! Geng Yaoyang!”
“Call me Yao!”
“No way!”
Jun Feng’s eyebrows flashed a hint of depth.
“Let’s go home!” Yu Xiaoyao turned angrily and pulled Jun Feng.
Jun Feng looked over, and Geng Yaoyang nodded proudly.
Jun Feng smiled slightly, pulling Yu Xiaoyao towards the parking spot.
Watching their distant figures, Geng Yaoyang’s mouth revealed a beautiful smile, and his eyebrow piercing shone brightly.
For the next few days, it kept raining heavily. Yu Xiaoyao had taken a lazy leave. Song Chu called her every day to check on her, but he didn’t show up. Yu Xiaoyao didn’t want to think about the reason.
…
A sunny day after the rain! Yu Xiaoyao returned to school in a good mood, breathing the fresh air and enjoying the sunlight.
A tall figure approached from afar—denim pants, black T-shirt, a beautiful face, a thin eyebrow piercing.
“Hi! Geng Yaoyang!” she shouted.
Geng Yaoyang walked over and patted Yu Xiaoyao’s head, drawing her angry glare. The corner of his mouth curved into a smile.
“Lin Yichen, how is she…” Yu Xiaoyao finally asked after a moment.
“She’s fine! The police won’t bother her if you don’t report her.”
“Where is she now? I want to go see her.”
“I… don’t know.”
Yu Xiaoyao looked at him amusedly. “Is it that you don’t know or don’t want to tell?”
Geng Yaoyang stood coolly, staring at her. “Don’t go.”
“Why?” Her heart guessed the reason; was it related to Song Chu…
“Don’t go, just don’t go.” He said stubbornly, a fire in his eyes.
“Oh,” Yu Xiaoyao smiled faintly.
This was probably why he had been invisible these past few days.
Yu Xiaoyao stood in a daze, sunlight gilding them in a soft golden hue.
After a long time, she raised her head, looking at him inquiringly, her eyes hinting sadness. “Geng Yuayang, are you protecting me?”
Geng Yuayang, seeing the loneliness in her eyes and remembering Geng Qianyu’s words, felt a sourness in his heart, momentarily speechless.
Yu Xiaoyao laughed, her sadness mixed with a smile. “Afraid for me to know? It’s okay,” she said quietly. “Everyone has their own choices—Song Chu, Lin Yichen… and… Ji Ran.”
“Let’s go!” she suddenly shouted, startling Geng Yuayang as she grabbed his hand.
“What…” he murmured, still dazed.
“You’ll know when we go!”
…
In the hospital, Song Chu stood by the window. Lin Yichen looked at his back, noticing his silence over the past three days. Seeing his relaxed smile when calling Yu Xiaoyao made her cry silently; but as long as he was by her side, even just his back, that was enough.
The door opened. Yu Xiaoyao entered with a reluctant Geng Yuayang behind her, carrying a pile of things—princess dresses, piggy dolls, Barbie dolls, glass balls, lollipops—and annoyingly, she stuffed a string of candied hawthorns in his hand.
Finding such things in the summer was not easy, and carrying them damaged Geng Yuayang’s handsome image. However, thoughts of holding that cold, soft little hand and Yu Xiaoyao’s cheerful journey made him smile.
Song Chu turned, saw the two, and stiffened for a moment before showing a warm smile. Yu Xiaoyao ignored him and walked straight to the bedside, while Lin Yichen looked at her with a complex expression.
Yu Xiaoyao took items from Geng Yuayang and placed them in Lin Yichen’s hands: a beautiful princess dress, a cute piggy doll, a delicate Barbie, a glass ball, an oversized lollipop, and some candied hawthorns.
Tears welled up in Lin Yichen’s eyes, and Yu Xiaoyao offered her a faint smile.
Geng Yuayang and Song Chu turned to leave.
“Do you like it?” Yu Xiaoyao asked.
Lin Yichen nodded vigorously.
“Why are you apologizing?” Lin Yichen asked, panic-stricken. “Originally, it was supposed to be me.”
“Everything is over, isn’t it?” Yu Xiaoyao said, unable to bear her tearful expression.
Walking to the window, she saw two tense young men on the hospital lawn.
“Yichen, can I ask you something?”
“…”
“Please don’t tell anyone about Ji Ran. I don’t want the person who’s gone to be discussed anymore.”
Facing away from Lin Yichen, Yu Xiaoyao’s eyes were warm.
Ji Ran, for all that happened, I still have no regrets. When you’re in heaven, during those cold, rainy times, will you think of me? Do you allow me to remember you this way?
Lin Yichen looked at Yu Xiaoyao’s lonely back, pondering if Ji Ran was really…
All the way to school, Geng Yuayang remained silent. Under the tree shade, students came and went, the wind gently caressing their young faces.
Yu Xiaoyao looked at his childishly furrowed eyebrows. “Young Master Geng, what did you and Ji Ran talk about?”
“Don’t call me Young Master Geng,” Geng Yuayang said sulkily. “And I’m not telling you.”
“Hey! Mr. Geng Yuayang, you’re so petty!”
He did not laugh. Yu Xiaoyao looked at him worriedly, and he stared seriously back at her.
She touched her own face, seemingly nothing special, yet she was beautiful in the sunlight. Her flaxen curly hair framed her fair face, and her elegantly cut dress outlined her beautiful curves. Now, her eyes were free of sorrow.
Geng Yuayang found he couldn’t take his eyes off her, remembering his conversation with Song Chu: “What kind of person is Ji Ran?”
Song Chu smiled bitterly, “A very perfect person.”
“Perfect? What a joke, there are no perfect people in the world.”
His heart felt sour, a bitterness about to burst from his chest. Is this what liking someone feels like?
He suddenly hugged her tightly, pressing his lips hard against hers.
“Mmm…” This damn Geng Yaoyang! Yu Xiaoying, furious, tried to push him away, but he was stubborn.
Breaking free from his kiss, Yu Xiaoying’s face was bright red as she distanced herself, raising her arm.
“Will you be my girlfriend?”
“…?”
“Be. My. Girlfriend.” He pronounced each word, his black pupils blazing with intensity.
Yu Xiaoying was stunned.
The wind carried the scent of lavender as Geng Yaoyang looked frustrated at her prolonged silence.
Slowly, a smile emerged on her face.
“No!” she said, determination in her voice.
No?!
“Yes, no!” Yu Xiaoying replied, looking at Geng Yaoyang’s frustrated expression before turning around.
He pulled her back angrily; she stumbled into his arms.
“Why?!”
The sky was overcast with dark clouds.
“Why…” Yu Xiaoying’s eyes swept across Geng Yaoyang’s face, landing on his dark pupils. “No reason.”
No reason? Geng Yaoyang asked, struggling to speak. “If it’s for Ji Ran, I can manage.”
“I mind!”
Looking at Geng Yaoyang, a painful feeling swept over her. “If in my heart and eyes, Ji Ran is forever present, suffering every moment with the torment of missing him yet never seeing him again, how could I bear to let you suffer the same pain…” Yu Xiaoying looked at him softly, sadness moistening her heart. “So…” she trembled lightly.
“Please don’t like me.”
Geng Yaoyang stared at her, feeling a chill. “Is he perfect?”
“Yes, in my heart, he is.” She smiled weakly.
He understood why Song Chu had a bitter smile.
