I’m dizzy! Adding these fourteen classes, I’ve already owed him twenty times. I’m clearly working hard every day; the wall is filled with “correct” marks, so why can’t I repay my debt? I smiled broadly: “Senior brother, you know so much; I worship you!” He sneered. “No use, what you owe me, not a single time can be missed.”
Since quitting my convenience store job, I haven’t seen Yu Yin. Occasionally, I’d call to ask about her situation; her voice always sounded happy. But for some reason, she never took the initiative to call me. I thought I would never meet her again, but unexpectedly, I saw her one month later. That day, Ye Zhengchen said he would wait for me for dinner, and I was riding my bicycle at full speed, passing through an intersection as the green light turned red.
I calculated that there was a delay in the traffic light change at the crossroads and wanted to accelerate through during this time gap. Just as I rode halfway, the crossing signal changed from red to green. A white sedan parked at the intersection probably didn’t see me and suddenly started, driving towards me. Just as it was about to hit me, the driver braked urgently, turning the car’s front elsewhere.
Everything happened so fast; I didn’t have time to react, and the car hit my bicycle’s tail. Although the impact wasn’t strong, I fell more than two meters. In my blurry vision, I saw a figure running towards me, and I thought it was a fairy coming to take me away, scared and trembling.
“Bao Bing? Wake up?!” A beautiful woman desperately shook me, leaning down to listen to my heartbeat, pinching my philtrum. Pain made my consciousness clearer; I blinked and saw Yu Yin calling an ambulance. I struggled to sit up, shaking my head and moving my limbs.
“I’m fine!” There was no severe internal pain, just my knee scraped on the stone steps of the sidewalk, with a large patch of skin torn and mud and sand rolled in.
“No, I’ll take you to the hospital for a comprehensive check-up.” I saw Yu Yin’s face full of sincere guilt and concern, and I was deeply touched.
Actually, this accident wasn’t her fault. In Japan, drivers and pedestrians must follow traffic rules, including traffic lights. I was the one who ran the red light, and she took all the responsibility.
“Really unnecessary, I’m studying medicine, this minor injury is nothing.” No matter what I said, Yu Yin insisted on waiting for the ambulance for a full check-up.
In the ambulance, she held my hand, continuously apologizing for not being focused enough while driving. Only in the ambulance’s light did I notice her pale face and swollen eyes.
“What happened? What’s wrong?” I asked as I held her cold hand. She offered a bitter smile, sadness evident in her eyes. “Bao Bing, sometimes I really envy you… living simply, optimistically…” Even this perfect woman could be unhappy.
Who inflicted such deep hurt on her? Was it that man?
“Make her answer the phone, now.” His voice was cold and decisive, leaving no room for argument. I felt uneasy hearing him speak this way.
I almost reflexively took the phone from Yu Yin’s hand. “Senior brother… I have something to do right now, I’ll be back soon.”
“Where are you?” His tone warmed immediately. “You said you’d be back soon, so why are you with her?”
Although his tone was much better, the memory of his previous tone lingered, making me feel fearful, so I confessed, “I crossed the red light when crossing the street and had a small accident.”
Afraid he would worry, I quickly added, “I’m not seriously hurt, just a minor scratch…”
Before I could finish, he asked, “Which hospital?”
“Feng Zhong Hospital,” I replied.
“Wait for me,” he said, then hung up.
Feng Zhong Hospital was close to our international student apartment. I estimated he would take ten minutes to arrive, but he showed up in seven.
He checked my wounds thoroughly and consulted the doctor about my condition.
After speaking with the doctor, he finally asked, “How did you get hurt?”
As he asked, he glanced at Yu Yin, seemingly certain this incident was related to her.
“It has nothing to do with Yu Yin. I ran a red light, and she braked in time and didn’t hit me.” To ease his worry, I laughed, “Otherwise, the tutoring fees I owe you would have to wait until the next life.”
He wanted to say something but couldn’t, so he hugged me instead.
He hugged me tightly, pressing on my wound, but I didn’t feel pain at all, only immense happiness.
Yu Yin stood watching us, expressionless, like a fairy at the horizon, gazing desolately at the joys and sorrows of love in the mortal world.
Tears were forming in her eyes, suggesting she was remembering someone.
Under the unanimous decision of Ye Zhengchen and Yu Yin, I was forced to stay in the hospital for a week of observation and recovery. Yu Yin covered the hospitalization expenses not paid by medical insurance. I told Ye Zhengchen that this accident was not Yu Yin’s fault and asked him to help me return the money to her. He coldly replied, “Mm.”
During my hospitalization, I noticed that Ye Zhengchen and Yu Yin didn’t get along well. Yu Yin seemed wary of Ye Zhengchen. She came every day to care for me, and we chatted and laughed happily. However, as soon as Ye Zhengchen arrived, she would find an excuse to leave, which puzzled me.
I once asked Ye Zhengchen, “Do you really dislike Yu Yin?” He blew on his hot milk, the mist clouding his eyes. “No.”
“Then why are you so cold to her?”
He laughed and pinched my cheek. “I’m afraid you’ll suspect us of having an affair.”
“Hmph!” I disdainfully curled my lips. “I’m not that kind of jealous woman.”
“Mm,” Ye Zhengchen agreed. “Who was the one asking if Yu Yin is pretty…?”
I looked at the sky, the ground, the milk cup.
“Senior brother, is the milk getting cold?”
He brought the milk to my mouth and slowly fed me. I had just taken two sips when Yu Yin arrived. Seeing Ye Zhengchen, she greeted him and set down a fruit basket.
She took two fresh peaches from the basket. “I’ll go wash the peaches.”
The peaches were pink and tempting, making me look twice. I noticed Yu Yin was holding two large peaches with one hand, leaving the other hand free.
As she passed by Ye Zhengchen, she deliberately leaned toward him, lightly tapping his back shoulder. I had seen Ye Zhengchen do similar gestures before, so it stuck in my mind.
Ye Zhengchen showed no reaction and wiped the milk from the corner of my mouth. I didn’t remind him and continued drinking.
A few minutes later, Ye Zhengchen’s phone rang. He stood up, saying, “I’ll take a call.”
After he left, I felt a vague sense of unease. Although I’m not very sensitive, a woman’s intuition hinted something was off. I got out of bed, put on my shoes, and limped to the door.
Whether unexpected or expected, Ye Zhengchen was indeed talking to Yu Yin, who had her back to me, looking up at him.
I couldn’t see her expression, but Ye Zhengchen, facing me, showed no expression at all.
As I was about to move closer to hear their conversation, Ye Zhengchen saw me. He calmly took out his wallet, pulled out a bank card, and gave it to Yu Yin while saying something.
I hesitated, then walked over. “What are you talking about?”
When Yu Yin heard my voice, she turned away, wiping her cheeks. A droplet fell, light yet heavy.
“Nothing, I’m returning your hospitalization expenses to her,” Ye Zhengchen said.
She took the bank card, smiled at me with red eyes, and said, “Sorry, I have something to do. I’ll go first.”
Yu Yin ran into the elevator unsteadily.
“Why was she crying?” I asked, wanting to avoid misunderstandings that could drive us apart.
Trying to make a man explain a misunderstanding only forces him to use one lie to cover another. He furrowed his brow, seemingly unwilling to speak.
