Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
After Zhou Yizuo left, Ye Xue carried her textbooks and continued walking. They were less than ten minutes away from the apartment. So she arrived in a short while.
The sky gradually darkened, and the street lamps on both sides of the cement road lit up ahead of time.
âXiao Xue.â
Just as she was about to reach the entrance of the studentâs apartment, she heard a male voice. It was a little low, but it was also very familiar. The most familiar was the nickname, âXiao Xueâ.
She stopped in her tracks and suddenly tightened her grip on the textbooks. After that voice, she suddenly quieted down. She felt as if she had heard âXiao Xueâ in an illusion.
She smiled bitterly and shook her head. As expected, she had heard an illusion. She continued to walk.
âXiao Xue, Iâm back.â
Ye Xue stopped in her tracks. This time, she heard it. It was Jiang Yu.
She turned around abruptly. The moment she saw Jiang Yu, her entire body froze, and the books in her arms were scattered all over the ground.
Under the light, he stood there straight. The strands of hair on his forehead fell, and his brows and eyes were hidden in the shadows. His handsome face was a little tougher than it was three years ago.
His figure was tall, and he seemed to have grown taller as well.
After not seeing him for three years, the youth in her memories had matured.
It had been a sudden meeting, and she had not been prepared. She was not prepared for how she would react when she saw him, nor was she prepared for her opening remarks. She just stared at him, feeling as if the person in front of her was once again a figment of her imagination.
Jiang Yu quickly stepped forward and bent down to pick up the books on the ground.
Only then did Ye Xue come to her senses. She bent down to pick up the books as well, and both of their hands reached out to pick up the last book.
The moment their fingers touched, Ye Xue froze for a moment before quickly withdrawing her hand.
Jiang Yuâs action of holding the book paused. Did Ye Xueâs subconscious action just now show that she wanted to avoid his touch?
He didnât dare to think too much. He organized the books and handed them to her.
She said, âThank you.â
Jiang Yu froze. His hand that hadnât been withdrawn in time froze in mid-air. As if he had foreseen that he was going to lose something, his heart suddenly constricted. That suffocating feeling was very uncomfortable.
âBetween us, thereâs no need to say such polite and courteous words.â
Ye Xue pursed her lips and did not reply.
The two of them slowly got up and stood face to face.
Silence.
He followed her the entire way. Along the way, his gaze had been fixed on her back. He discovered that she had lost a lot of weight. Her thin figure felt like it could be blown away by a gust of wind.
She had also cut her hair. It was very short. Just beside her ear, her fair neck could be seen.
Ye Xueâs skin was very fair. It was not an exaggeration to say that her skin was as white as snow.
In the past, he even teased that it was because your skin was too white that your father got the name, Ye Xue, for you.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
She said, âI was born on a snowy day. My parentsâ educational level was not high, and they saw the sky full of snowflakes. So they named me Ye Xue.â
At that time, he even joked, why not call you Ye Bai, Ye Hua?
Ye Xue lowered her head and held the textbooks he had just organized in her arms. After she said thank you, the distance between them widened just like that, just like two familiar strangers. They were very familiar with each other, but they were speaking the most polite words.
He had a lot of things to say to her, but now he did not know where to start.
Should he start from the purpose of coming back this time, or from the thoughts he had when he left?
Or was he going to tell her the purpose of this visit and express his feelings.
Just as Jiang Yu opened his mouth to speak, Ye Xue slowly raised her head. Her fairness was not affected by the dim light at all. âAre you back for school?â
Jiang Yu hurriedly shook his head. âNo, Iâm here for you.â
Ye Xue was stunned. She stared at him with her pair of big eyes, showing her surprise.
âIn these three years, Iâve always missed you, and Iâve never stopped liking you. I want to see clearly whether my feelings for you are temporary or pure love through time. I also want to become stronger and more mature.â
Jiang Yu didnât know whether it was fear or nervousness, but he was a little incoherent. âXiao Xue, I like you. Iâve always liked you.â
Ye Xue was stunned. Her mind was in a mess.
Jiang Yuâs appearance was like throwing a huge rock into the surface of a calm lake, creating thousands of waves that couldnât be calmed down for a long time.
âXiao Xue.â Jiang Yu suddenly took two steps forward and pulled her into his arms. His lower jaw brushed against her soft hair. âYouâve lost a lot of weight.â
Only then did Ye Xue react. She slowly pushed away the person who was hugging her. However, because she was too weak, she was unable to push them apart. âJiang Yu, I already have a boyfriend. If he sees us, he will misunderstand.â
Jiang Yu froze. He knew that she had a boyfriend, and he also knew that the person was Zhou Yizuo. When he walked over just now, he just happened to see Zhou Yizuo holding her hand and leaving.
Now that he heard her say this, it was to tell him that she already had someone else she liked.
The feeling of suffocation spread from his body, and his throat felt as if it was forcefully blocked by something. He couldnât breathe, and the discomfort made his heart feel stuffy and painful.
In the end, he still let go of her.
âXiao Xue, I... Iâm sorry.â
Ye Xue held the textbooks in her arms tightly, lowered her eyes, and said in a low voice, âWeâre still classmates, and you didnât let me down. From the beginning, you made it very clear and I was also prepared.â
âI was too conceited. I thought that you would always like me and wait for me at the same place until I came back to find you.â
Jiang Yu took a deep breath with difficulty. The corner of his mouth twitched. His smile was uglier than crying. âWhat right do I have to make you wait for me at the same place? What right do I have to make you not like others?â
âI... I came back this time because...âJiang Yu felt that he could hardly breathe. His throat and chest seemed to be blocked. He said with difficulty, âXiao Xue, Iâm sorry.â
He didnât know what to say. He wanted to redeem the relationship, but he didnât have the right.
After saying this, he turned around and left without any backbone. He left hastily.
It was said that a man shouldnât cry easily, but he still failed to live up to his expectations and cried.
He had never cried like this in his entire life.
Jiang Yu didnât walk fast, but he didnât walk slowly either.
Under the street lamp, the figure gradually disappeared on the cement path.
Ye Xue, who had acted calm all this time, was already crying. Her heart felt like it was being pulled hard. It was so painful that she couldnât breathe, and it was so uncomfortable that she couldnât straighten her back.
She held her textbooks tightly and slowly squatted down. Her hoarse voice even broke when she spoke. âWhy did you only come back now? Why did you only come back when I decided to forget you?â
Ye Xue did not know how long she cried until a familiar voice came from above her head. âYe Xue.â
It was Zhou Yizuo.
She wiped the tears on her face carelessly and looked up at him. She saw the handbag in his hand. There were all kinds of ingredients in it.
âYouâre back.â The moment she opened her mouth, she realized that her voice was hoarse.
She hurriedly stood up from the ground.. She was afraid that he would see her crying eyes, so she turned around and walked into the apartment.