Suddenly, she smiled brightly, warming the world. Her face rested against a chest warm as a spring breeze. “I—am happy,” Yu Xiaoying sighed softly, tightening his arms. The autumn wind swept their long coats, blurring whose was whose.
“Xiaoying.”
“Hmm?”
“Let’s make a promise,” he said.
“…”
“No matter how angry, frustrated, guilty, in love, or how much you miss each other, don’t,” he held her tighter, “say the word ‘breakup’. Promise me!”
Yu Xiaoying raised her head to look at Song Chu, who seemed unusual today. “You’re acting strange.”
He stared at her seriously. “However,” her slender fingers poked his chest, “I promise you.”
MIX bar.
Qin Na, like a sweet little woman, nestled in Yu Junfeng’s arms. Junfeng smiled indulgently, watching her playfulness. Yu Xiaoying, just down from the dance floor, grabbed a beer and gulped it down.
Song Chu softly tried to dissuade her.
“Who could it be? Oh, it’s Junfeng! Long time no see!” A piercing voice from behind broke the atmosphere.
Turning around—Biao Ge?!
Yu Xiaoying frowned. Even Junfeng, usually known as the smiling tiger, darkened his face.
“Looks like I’ve really underestimated your thickness of skin,” Yu Xiaoying sneered coldly.
“Hehe!” Biao Ge’s expression didn’t change. He rubbed his hands and gave a forced laugh. “Miss Yu’s temper is quite something!”
I see Miss Yu has a top-tier temper and an unmatched breadth of mind!” He gave Yu Xiaoying a disgusting wink.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t you know? Haha! No wonder! Biao Ge leaned in, “Now everyone knows that Lin Yichen is with Song Chu, the son of Song Shiyan. She’s younger than you. I really underestimated Miss Yu! Hahaha!”
His voice wasn’t loud, intermittently drowned by the deafening music.
But Yu Xiaoying, Junfeng, and Qin Na heard it. She turned and saw Song Chu’s face turning pale.
“Oh!” Biao Ge exclaimed dramatically. “So you didn’t know? Young Master Song, weren’t you joking about those things before? If Lin Yichen, that little bitch, didn’t have your protection, things wouldn’t be so good!”
Silence engulfed the area, creating an awkward atmosphere.
“Hey! You’re so annoying—”
“Nana.” Xiaoying stopped her.
“Is this the matter?” Yu Xiaoying smiled. “I know,” her voice was soft yet resolute, “Even if Chu doesn’t say it, I won’t let anyone bully Yichen. Right? Chu?”
“Right?” Yu Xiaoying looked at him, her eyes emotionless. Song Chu slightly furrowed his brow.
“Yes.”
“So?” She laughed coldly, “What else don’t I know? Biao Ge?”
“Hehe. Nothing, just came to say hello to an old friend. And—” Biao Ge leaned close to Yu Xiaoying’s ear, whispering so only she could hear.
“Lin Yichen has already met her future father-in-law, aren’t you going to hurry?”
“Don’t worry about it.” She smiled slightly.
“Good!” he straightened. “Then goodbye everyone!”
As Biao Ge left triumphantly, the table fell silent.
After a long time—
“Song Chu! How could you? You’re too much!”
“I knew about this, Nana. I’m sorry for not telling you.” Yu Xiaoying held Qin Na’s shoulder. “I didn’t want to make you angry! Look, you’re angry, right?”
“I’m so mad at you!” Qin Na pouted. “The good atmosphere is ruined. Junfeng, let’s go.” She glared at Song Chu.
Junfeng looked worried at Song Chu.
The latter smiled slightly.
Watching the still dissatisfied Qin Na disappear into the crowd, Yu Xiaoying finished her beer and jumped down from the stool. “Let’s go too.”
…
The wind grew stronger, quickly taking away the warmth.
“Xiaoying.”
“No need to explain.” Her voice was flat.
“I was afraid you’d overthink and… get angry.”
“Hearing it from someone else makes me even angrier.”
“Xiaoying! What’s wrong with you? I thought you’d sympathize with Yichen.” Song Chu frowned.
“Sympathy?” Yu Xiaoying surveyed Song Chu with a cold gaze. “Do you really think I have such a small mind? Do you think I could do something to that poor girl? Or do you think I have some hidden agenda?”
“Xiaoying.”
Song Chu reached to grab her, but she dodged.
“I’m telling you, this sympathy that excludes me is truly annoying.” Standing in the cold wind, she spoke with a frosty tone.
Seeing Song Chu’s expression harden, Yu Xiaoying smiled.
“Goodbye!” he said.
“Okay, goodbye.”
Turning away without hesitation, the two figures gradually distanced themselves.
If the body can turn away, what about the heart? Could it truly be as far apart as opposite directions?
Yu Xiaoying smiled, feeling a slight tremble from the cold surrounding her.
Why? It always ends like this.
Cigarette butts scattered everywhere marked the scene.
Song Chu paced restlessly in the room, troubled by Yu Xiaoying’s departure for someone outside of themselves. Why couldn’t she understand his predicament?
“Chu?”
Lin Yichen, sitting quietly on the sofa, looked at her. “Is something bothering you?” She thoughtfully offered a warm cup of tea.
“Thank you. It’s nothing, go rest.” The warmth of the cup calmed her agitated heart.
“Chu.”
“?”
“If I become a burden to you, please tell me,” Lin Yichen said softly, her silhouette visible on the wall.
“No such thing,” Song Chu replied, staring at the swirling tea.
“Well, good night.”
…………
It’s been three days since he last came to find her.
Yu Xiaoyao lazily sat in bed, her hands and feet icy cold as winter approached. She looked up at the lonely tree trunk outside the window, thinking of Ji Ran. Heaven must be spring-like, she mused, smiling at the thought, for spring was his favorite season.
A sudden bang interrupted her thoughts as the door was forcefully pushed open. Yu Xiaoyao stared wide-eyed at an enormous bunny—Qin Na—who rushed to her bedside, nervously grabbing her hand.
“Why didn’t you go to class? Are you sick?”
Looking amused, Yu Xiaoyao yawned inelegantly, “Just skipping class occasionally.”
Qin Na burrowed into the barely warmed bed, stretching her legs. “Has Song Chu not come looking for you?”
“No.” Yu Xiaoyao looked out the window.
“I hate Lin Yichen!” Qin Na bit her lip angrily.
“Why?” Yu Xiaoyao asked, surprised, as Qin Na wasn’t someone who would casually hate someone.
“By my super beautiful girl’s intuition!”
“Is that so?” Yu Xiaoyao teased with a mischievous smile.
“How dare you look down on me!” Qin Na’s eyes widened in defense.
“I don’t dare!” Yu Xiaoyao laughed.
“You clearly do! Watch my universe-defeating pinch!”
“Invisible kick!”
…
Qin Na then stated seriously, “There’s only one possibility.”
“What?!” Yu Xiaoyao replied as she grabbed Qin Na’s unbeatable pinch.
“He likes Lin Yichen.”
Yu Xiaoyao stared at Qin Na for a long time, her fingers stroking the white fur of Qin Na’s bunny costume.
“Is that so?” she said, turning to look out the window. “If that’s the case, there’s nothing to be done.”
“Xiaoyao, don’t you feel like you’re missing something?” Qin Na tilted her head, thinking seriously.
“My limbs are healthy! No cancer, no leukemia!” Yu Xiaoyao felt touched by Qin Na’s concern, even amid her feelings for someone else.
“You lack warmth!” Qin Na declared.
Yu Xiaoyao lay discouraged at the bedside, staring at the ceiling. “You might as well say I’m already dead.”
“You lack passion! Ever since Ji Ran left, you’ve been like this.” Qin Na looked at Yu Xiaoyao, now lying on her back, seeing she had no reaction. “You seem normal, laughing and playing with everyone, but your smile is fake! Always looking like lukewarm water when with Song Chu. Hey! Who said it, love should be like boiling water at 105 degrees—passionate, life-and-death…”
“Should be fatal.” Yu Xiaoyao coldly finished the sentence.
The bunny sat up in horror, looking at Yu Xiaoyao’s murderous face.
