Yu Xiaoying tried to keep her back straight, tears falling continuously. By forgetting me, you can have true happiness, right? Am I truly cold-blooded? Can’t I see how much you like me? But… I’m sorry, Song Chu, truly sorry. Please, definitely forget me.
Sunlight stretched Song Chu’s shadow long. He stood there stubbornly.
Yu Xiaoying finally returned to her apartment.
Along the way, classmates stared at her ashen face, but no one dared to ask anything.
Closing the room door to isolate those gazes, Yu Xiaoying no longer had the strength to pretend. She leaned against the door, sliding to the ground.
She remembered Song Chu’s appreciative smile when she wore a camisole, his angry and heartbroken eyes when she was hit, and the slight blush on his face when he discovered her hiding a photo. His trembling voice saying he would forget her echoed in her mind.
Bang!!
The door was pushed open. Qin Na stood at the doorway.
Pained, Yu Xiaoying turned her head.
“What have you done!!” Na Na cried out.
“Why hurt Song Chu like this? He just really, really likes you…”
Yu Xiaoying suddenly turned her head, her eyes filled with immense pain, shocking Na Na into silence.
“Why am I doing this?” her voice trembled. “Because I want him to find happiness.” She turned away. “Because I’m not cold-blooded. Somehow, I’ve fallen for him. Being with him is easy, always happy. But I have Ji Ran. Cold, proud, strong, fragile—he’s always Ji Ran. Now he needs me more than ever. What else can I do except give up Song Chu?” Tears wet the floor and Na Na’s face.
“Song Chu is healthy and sunny, so let this cold, dark Yu Xiaoying stay with Ji Ran… I wish him happiness.”
“Xiaoying, how could Song Chu possibly know this? You’re being foolish!” Na Na exclaimed.
“What does it matter?” Yu Xiaoying smiled, her gaze drifting out the window, tears reflecting a crystalline light, making her face hauntingly beautiful. “Song Chu is foolish too; he said he’d forget me but doesn’t mean it. Ji Ran is foolish as well. If he’d had surgery earlier, his condition might be better. And you, you’re foolish too, aren’t you?” Yu Xiaoying’s smile deepened as she looked at Qin Na. Na Na saw the reluctance, determination, and pain in her eyes and felt stunned. “I think, Na, you would do the same, right?”
“Xiaoying!” Qin Na hugged her trembling body. “Don’t torture yourself anymore. I’d rather Ji Ran never came back…”
“Don’t blame him,” Yu Xiaoying buried her head in Na Na’s neck. “I will be sad.”
Qin Na cried silently. She was afraid of waking Yu Xiaoying, who hadn’t slept for a long time. If time could flow backward, she would prefer Ji Ran not to return so Xiaoying could be happy. Since Ji Ran’s arrival, Xiaoying rarely truly smiled. But with Song Chu, she always seemed comfortable…
…
Yu Xiaoying opened her eyes to find Na Na’s face close. With beauty before her, Yu Xiaoying smiled brightly.
Let’s Go Out to the Mall!
“Let’s go to the mall! You’ll get moldy if you stay in the room longer!”
“But… Ji Ran he…”
“Wow! Falling for someone so quickly and forgetting your friend!” Nana pouted.
“…Okay… It’s been a long time since I shopped with her.”
The weather was beautiful, the sky a clear blue, with the scent of green leaves in the air. The summer in this city was pleasantly warm, and the streets were clean and fresh. Shoppers were leisurely and polite.
Two girls, one in white and the other in pink, laughed, attracting the attention of passersby. An elderly couple smiled, saying, “Youth is truly beautiful!” Yu Xiaoyan and Qin Na exchanged smiles.
“Xiaoyan, I haven’t seen you smile like this in a long time. It’s great!” Nana said.
“Thank you, Na.”
Nana smiled, and Yu Xiaoyan realized that everyone around her had become more mature after everything they had experienced.
Tired from shopping, they bought ice cream and rested at the fountain square. Water droplets sprayed Yu Xiaoyan, bringing a cool sensation. She closed her eyes, enjoying the afternoon.
“Should I wear the white or pink tank top?”
“Pink!” Nana said.
“I don’t like ONLY T-shirts.”
“Me neither.”
“I watch the World Cup to see Beckham.”
“I like Qi Danian.”
…
After a while, there was no sound from Nana.
Yu Xiaoyan opened her eyes to see Nana sitting there in a daze, her ice cream melting down her hand, unnoticed.
Following her gaze—Brother Jun Feng?!
He was sitting in a nearby tea shop with a mature woman, chatting happily.
Seeing Nana’s lost expression, Yu Xiaoyan’s eyebrows furrowed.
They both glared at the two in the tea shop. Such a childish trick.
The woman sensed something was wrong and noticed the two girls staring at her, like children whose favorite candy had been stolen.
“Jun, do you know those two young girls?”
Jun Feng turned his head, saw their sour expressions, and laughed. “They’re my sisters.”
Noticing Jun Feng, Yu Xiaoyan walked over and sat down between him and the woman, continuing to stare at them.
The atmosphere became awkward.
“Ahem…” The woman broke the silence. “You must be Yu Xiaoyan. You’re so beautiful! I’m Anna.”
“You’re nice too,” Yu Xiaoyan teased. “Am I pretty? I think she’s prettier!” She pointed at Nana, who was still staring at Jun Feng.
“Yes, you’re both beautiful. You’re Jun Feng’s sister too?”
Three pairs of eyes fixed on Qin Na.
She lowered her eyes, bit her lip, then softly laughed, “Sister? How could I be his sister?”
I am his girlfriend. Though,” she gave him a grievous look, “we argued this morning.”
Ah? Yu Xiaoyan’s eyes widened.
The woman’s face turned ashen.
Jun Feng was surprised but felt a small joy inside. He looked at the woman playfully.
“Jun Feng, you need to explain this to me,” the woman said, her twitching face forcing a smile.
“I’m sorry, just as you saw,” he said, possessively putting his arm around Nana.
Yu Xiaoyan’s eyes widened again, and Nana was also stunned.
“You’re too much! I’ve heard about your reputation, but I didn’t expect you to be so terrible.” The mature woman looked Nana up and down, almost laughing. “You’re pretty, but too young. Is it trendy for old cows to eat tender grass now?”
Just as Jun Feng was about to speak, Nana stood up. “Auntie, while you might be older, I still think my looks and figure match Jun Feng better!” Her sweet voice and smiling eyes contrasted with her biting words.
“Wow! Impressive!” Yu Xiaoyan marveled, surprised at Nana’s articulation.
Jun Feng also looked surprised.
“You…” The mature woman was furious. Disregarding her dignity, she grabbed her bag, pushed back her chair, and left in anger.
The three fell into silence as they watched the woman leave.
…
“I’m meeting Ji Ran, so I’ll go now,” Yu Xiaoyan decided she wouldn’t be a third wheel anymore. “Brother, keep Nana company. Come back late, or don’t come back at all.”
Jun Feng smiled and ruffled her hair. “You run away every time you see me. Let’s go together. I’ll treat you to dinner after shopping.”
“No need, I told you I’m meeting Ji Ran. You two have fun!” She winked at Nana, who blushed.
Watching Yu Xiaoyan run away, Jun Feng shook his head and smiled. “This little girl is becoming harder to figure out.”
“We’re not little girls anymore,” Qin Na said.
Jun Feng looked at her, curious. “Every time I see you, you bring me some surprise… like just now.”
“Maybe every woman performs beyond her usual abilities when facing someone she likes,” Nana replied.
He saw her feelings.
“Being by my side would be exhausting, like today, and there will be many more like this,” Jun Feng said.
“That’s a war between us women!” she answered.
Jun Feng laughed, and Nana joined in.
“So we can go on a date now, right?” she asked, tilting her head shyly.
Jun Feng took her hand. Nana blushed, leaning her head on his shoulder like a young girl.
