“My morning date with Xiao Yao…” he said, reaching for his phone, only to realize he had left it in the apartment in his hurry.
Looking at Song Chu’s inquiring gaze, Lin Yichen shrugged to indicate he didn’t have a phone either.
Song Chu turned to leave.
“Don’t!” Lin Yichen shouted, pale-faced. “Don’t go…”
Song Chu slowly turned around.
Lin Yichen jumped out of the hospital bed, “Ah—”
Song Chu quickly rushed over to support her as she began to slide to the floor.
“Please…” she buried her face into his chest, her tears soaking his shirt.
“You belong to her; don’t be stingy with this day,” Lin Yichen lifted her tear-stained face. “Stay with me for just one day, don’t be so cruel…”
Song Chu looked at her and loosened his arms.
“Just one day!” Lin Yichen hugged him tightly. “Don’t be so cruel… please don’t hurt me anymore.”
It was heartbreaking…
Song Chu saw Lin Yichen cry, feeling the familiar helplessness of loving someone who doesn’t offer warmth in return.
He struggled and nodded slightly.
“Really!” Lin Yichen cried and laughed.
“Thank you, Song Chu…”
[Volume One: Chapter Twenty-Nine – Not Alice]
Yu Xiaoao laughed, looking seriously at Geng Yuyang: “You’re joking.” She would rather he was joking.
Geng Yuyang pressed his lips tightly. “I’m not joking!”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone, Lin Yichen is an example,” she stared deeply at him, her beautiful eyes sparkling.
“Zhizi is a pure and lovely girl, don’t hurt her.”
Geng Yuyang shut his mouth and stubbornly pulled her along.
They had walked for so long that her feet ached. Yu Xiaoao, unable to keep up, called out, “Hey! Geng Yuyang!” If they continued like this, her feet would break!
Ignoring her, he didn’t even turn his head. She took a deep breath. “Yao…?”
Frustrated, she declared, “I don’t want to walk anymore!” and sat down, puffing out her cheeks.
Geng Yuyang, however, dragged her forcefully along. “Geng Yuyang, you’re so annoying! I hate you!” she shouted.
“Shut up!” he turned angrily and blocked her lips.
This was the third time she’d been ambushed, and she stomped hard on his foot!
Ignoring the pain, Geng Yuyang kissed her, lingering on her lips while tightly embracing her. He seemed to want to crush her to his chest.
Yu Xiaoao was taken aback by his intensity…
After a long moment, Geng Yuyang left her cherry-red lips, his gaze deep and dark.
“Geng Yuyang, you’re so annoying! You’re completely unreasonable!” she said, her face flushed. Growing up, she had been forcibly kissed by him repeatedly.
“You can’t hate me,” he said, his voice sexy, “because I love you!”
…
Another time at Geng Yuyang’s home, the house was empty—no Xue Buchi, no Geng Qinyu. He pulled the still-shocked Yu Xiaoao into the music room.
A black piano…
Soft lighting…
Gleaming black and white keys…
Geng Yuyang pushed her into the chair and sat down, suddenly gentle.
A piece of Alice…
Yu Xiaoao sat there blankly, unable to think about Geng Yuyang before her. It was a familiar song, but the taste was forever gone.
He crouched in front of her. “Is Alice your favorite piece? Did your piano prince play it for you?” He recalled a time she had cried uncontrollably in front of him.
“No, not Alice…” Yu Xiaoao stood up, wanting to escape and clear her mind.
“Don’t go!” Geng Yuyang grabbed her, his gaze intense.
Yu Xiaoao, losing her ability to think, was pulled into his room.
A familiar big bed and warm bedside lamp surrounded her as she slowly slid to the floor.
Geng Yuyang sat opposite her, holding a beautiful deep blue guitar. He gently plucked the strings, and melodious notes flowed.
“A long time ago, I also liked the piano…” he said softly, looking at his guitar. “But the piano lacks liveliness, has more melancholy, more seriousness, and less playfulness.” He gazed deeply at her, his eyes moving across her face.
“But you, familiar with the piano, why don’t you try listening to the guitar’s sound? It’s softer and more human.”
Yu Xiaoao met his gaze, contemplating the piano and guitar.
Looking at Yu Xiaoao’s thoughtful face, Geng Yuyang strummed the strings, creating soft music that surrounded them. The leaves outside rustled, accompanying him, while a half moon peeked through, casting serene light on the two young people in the room.
After a long time, Yu Xiaoying finally seemed to wake up. She looked at Geng Yaoyang, who was seriously playing the guitar, his gaze intense though his fingers were not as smooth as before.
Suddenly realizing something, Yu Xiaoying rushed over and pressed his hand, stopping the music. She gasped, noting that Geng Yaoyang’s fingers had peeled skin, with blood slowly seeping out.
“Fool!” she frowned. “Your hands are torn. Why do you keep playing?”
“Because,” he smiled, “I thought you liked listening.” A faint heartache washed over him. Is this love?
“…” Is this the usually heartless Geng Yaoyang? Yu Xiaoying felt confused.
Seeing her bewildered expression, Geng Yaoyang tapped her head with the guitar playfully. “Dummy! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking!”
“Hehe…”
Meanwhile, Qin Na glared angrily at Song Chu waiting in front of Yu Xiaoying’s apartment.
“You’re so unfair! How can you not show up for a date? You didn’t go at all!”
“Because Yi Chen…”
Lin Yi Chen again! Qin Na rolled her eyes.
“This is your first official date with her. Even a calm person would be angry!”
“Is Xiaoying home?” Song Chu asked awkwardly, trying to make amends.
“No!” she answered decisively.
“Not home? Where could she be?”
“Yes! She left at 9 in the morning, said she was going to the fountain square, and then disappeared…”
Song Chu frowned.
“Ah!!” Qin Na suddenly shouted, startling Song Chu. “What if Xiaoying…”
“What if she what? Can you please finish your sentence!”
“…got kidnapped again…” Qin Na was on the verge of tears.
“This… probably not…”
Noon after class…
Yu Xiaoying sat there, Geng Yaoyang looking at her beautiful profile. Xuefeng Zhizi looked at them helplessly.
They seemed quite compatible, Xuefeng Zhizi thought. Yao was cool but became gentle in front of Yu Xiaoying, and he had been sitting alone playing guitar lately…
What was she doing? Xuefeng Zhizi quickly slapped her face. Yao was her fiancé. What would she do if he got together with Yu Xiaoying?
When she looked up again, Geng Yaoyang and Yu Xiaoying were both looking strangely at her face, which kept changing expressions.
“Hehe,” she laughed awkwardly.
A slim, tall figure leaned against the doorway. Song Chu smiled, but Geng Yaoyang frowned.
Yu Xiaoying approached Geng, noticing the dark circles under his eyes. “Didn’t rest well?” she asked softly.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been waiting at the fountain square since Saturday night,” Geng Yaoyang whistled mischievously, wrapping his arm around her waist.
Yu Xiaoying struggled against him, but his grip tightened. Song Chu observed the interaction and turned away sadly.
“Oh,” Yu Xiaoying said, looking down.
An uncomfortable silence fell over the classroom. “It’s okay,” she added, lifting her head. “You look tired, Chu.”
Chu? Geng Yaoyang felt a pang of jealousy. “You… don’t want an explanation?” Song Chu asked weakly.
“Explanation?” Yu Xiaoying smiled.
Qin Na suddenly burst in, pulling Yu Xiaoying away from Geng Yaoyang. “Come with me!”
“Do what?”
Qin Na dragged her downstairs. “I’m taking you to let Jun Wind see you’re safe…”
Yu Xiaoying rolled her eyes, “You—don’t tell me you think I’ve been kidnapped again?” She glared at Qin Na, whose face turned red.
Licking her lips, she struggled to look up—
Suddenly, Qin Na’s eyes widened, her mouth forming an “O”.
“Ah—” she screamed.
