With difficulty, she turned her head, “Please, Yukifuki Tomoko, can you get up?” Yukifuki blinked, looking innocent. Geng Yaoyang rushed over and lifted Yukifuki off Yu Xiaoyan. Yu Xiaoyan sat up, enduring the soreness throughout her body.
Geng Yaoyang quickly pulled her up. Her hair was messy, her face dirty, and annoyance flickered in her black eyes. He wrapped her in his arms, “Are you hurt?!” he asked anxiously.
Struggling to break free from his embrace, Yu Xiaoying pointed to Yukifuki Tomoko, feeling neglected, “Your fiancée is the one more seriously hurt!”
Finally coming to her senses, Yukifuki Tomoko’s mouth quivered and she started crying. Geng Yaoyang approached, growling, “Are you crazy? Daring to run 800 meters!”
“But I saw Xiaoying and the others running… and, Yao, you’re so fierce.” She cried even more heartbrokenly.
“Xiaoying?” Song Chu was shocked by her appearance. Yu Xiaoying laughed awkwardly.
“How did you end up like this?” Song Chu asked, looking at her scraped hand with distress. Geng Yaoyang, burning with anger, watched them pulling and tugging.
“It’s nothing. Tomoko’s pants are completely torn; she should go to the school infirmary.” After class, students rushed to the cafeteria, casting surprised glances at Yu Xiaoying’s bizarre appearance.
Geng Yaoyang walked ahead with a stern face, Yukifuki Tomoko following closely behind, sobbing. Yu Xiaoying and Song Chu trailed far behind.
At the infirmary, the doctor, eager to leave, was pulled back to treat the two girls’ wounds. In the isolation room, Yu Xiaoying quietly washed her face.
“Your eyes are really beautiful…” Yukifuki Tomoko said sincerely. Yu Xiaoying smiled.
“But why is there a scar on your temple?”
“I heard you have an English lover. Is he as sunny and gentle as Song Chu?”
Yu Xiaoying’s eyes slowly hardened.
“Rest well, Yukifuki Tomoko,” she jumped off the bed and walked straight out of the medical room.
At the door, Geng Yaoyang looked at her with a strange expression. Yu Xiaoying smiled slightly, but as she turned to leave, a large hand gripped her tightly.
“What did Tomoko say to you?” he asked, puzzled by her sudden change.
“Nothing.” She didn’t expect him to be so sensitive.
“Nothing?”
“Go check on Tomoko,” she pulled her hand away and walked out.
Song Chu stood waiting under a tree nearby. Yu Xiaoying walked over, her eyes smiling.
In an instant, she fell into a warm embrace, and a cool kiss landed on her forehead.
“Xiaoying, you’re different today…” a voice said from above.
“…?”
“You actually carried Tomoko to the medical room. You’ve always been against Japanese things. It feels like I’m seeing the old you again… I’m so happy…”
Tilting her head back, Yu Xiaoying looked at him amusedly, “Don’t be so excited. Even though I never watch Japanese movies or buy Japanese electronics, it doesn’t mean I lack international spirit. Besides, Geng Yaoyang is my friend. When she fell, no one helped her; she looked so lonely…”
You don’t think I’m truly cold-hearted, do you?”
“Yes, you’re always cold to me…” Song Chu recalled seriously.
“Go away!”
“Hehe,” Song Chu laughed, his amber eyes sparkling. He suddenly winked at her.
“Let’s go on a date tomorrow.”
[Volume One: Chapter Twenty-Eight Standing Up]
Morning, 10:30. City Center Fountain Square, waiting for you. Chu
A beautiful Sunday with fluffy white clouds and a blue sky. Autumn had arrived; the gentle breeze lifted the curtains.
Yu Xiaoying stood by the window, watching a few half-yellow leaves spin past her focused eyes. A faint smile curved her lips as she looked at the message on her phone.
Everything seemed unchanged. People continued walking, slowly emerging from their sadness about those who left. Who hasn’t forgotten? Except those deeply in love.
Yu Xiaoying glanced at the smiling Ji Ran in the crystal photo frame on the table. “Please live on in my place,” he had said, pale-faced but smiling.
She smiled…
Geng Yaoyang frowned as he listened to Yukifuki Tomoko chattering beside him.
“Yao, it’s so clean here! Everyone is so elegant and polite. I love this place so much…”
Yukifuki Tomoko’s small face flushed with excitement. Geng Yaoyang walked forward silently.
Fountain Square…
Cool water droplets danced happily with the music’s rhythm. Adults and children gathered around.
Yu Xiaoying checked the time on her phone, 10:30. Song Chu hadn’t arrived.
She smiled quietly, standing in the fountain square, where Geng Yaoyang noticed her. Dressed in a light blue T-shirt with delicate lace trim, blue cropped jeans, and her flaxen curly hair casually tied, she sat alone, seemingly waiting for someone.
Gazing intently at the fountain, she observed the happy crowd around her. Where was Song Chu? Wasn’t he supposed to be with her, holding her hand tightly and making her happy? Why was she sitting there so lonely?
“Yao…” Yukifuki Tomoko looked puzzled at Geng Yaoyang, whose face had suddenly turned gloomy.
“Tomoko, go back first.”
“But we just came out…”
“Qian Yu will take you to the park.”
“Really?” Hearing that she could play, Yukifuki Tomoko smiled, relieved Qian Yu was gentler than Yao.
“Mm,” Geng Yaoyang patted her head. “Qian Yu will come pick you up later.”
“Yay!”
11:00. Song Chu still hadn’t come. 12:00. No sign of anyone. More people gathered around the fountain, laughter filling the air.
After sending Yukifuki Tomoko away, Geng Yaoyang stood on the other side of the fountain.
“Silly woman! If he’s not coming, you can leave.”
14:00…
On the weekend, families relaxed here in a scene of jubilant excitement. Only one girl sat quietly, lost in thought, alongside the motionless young man on the other side of the fountain.
People passing by couldn’t help but glance at him. He was truly handsome with a sparkling eyebrow piercing.
16:00
Yu Xiaoying stood up, rubbing her numb legs. He didn’t come; there must be a reason. She dialed Song Chu’s number, but no one answered.
Yu Xiaoying walked slowly, uncertain where to go. Was there a place where she could forget Ji Ran and start over? The wind blew her hair as she stood at the crossroads, contemplating her direction.
She refused to think about Ji Ran and Song Chu. Geng Yaoyang followed her silently.
At the crossroads, she seemed to choose a direction as the light turned green. Cars came and went, and she stepped forward. Suddenly, a car sped through the red light.
Yu Xiaoying froze, unable to move her feet as the car approached. Just then, a large hand pulled her into a solid embrace, and the car brushed past them.
“Silly woman!” came a muffled voice from above. Yu Xiaoying looked up, slightly dazed, and said softly, “Thank you, Yao.”
A surge of joy rushed through Geng Yaoyang’s heart. He suppressed a smile, recalling the earlier dangerous moment, and glared at her.
“Just because you were stood up, you want to run under a car?” he asked.
“Don’t worry! I won’t die for love! That was just an accident; didn’t you see it ran the red light?” she replied, her voice small under his fierce gaze.
He held her cold hand, staring into her curved eyes.
Yu Xiaoying pulled her hand away. “Geng Yaoyang, you have a fiancée…”
“She’s not!” he quickly denied, noting the sly smile in her eyes.
“I hope you are…” Geng Yaoyang said seriously. Yu Xiaoying looked at him, sensing the seriousness in his expression.
At the crossroads, they considered which direction to take.
…
At the hospital, Lin Yichen looked at her foot wrapped like a zongzi and smiled bitterly. Only with a burned foot could she see him.
“Sorry, I couldn’t think of anyone else to call,” she said.
Song Chu smiled without warmth. “Did I disturb you?” Lin Yichen asked carefully. After a long time apart, seeing his familiar face shattered her carefully cultivated calm.
