HuMing walked Xia XiaoXi downstairs. She clasped her hands behind her back, looking at him before speaking."HuMing, thank you for spending time with me today and for putting up with me."
"It wasnât much trouble. But seriously, you really shouldnât binge eat anymore. There are always other ways to cope with stressâit doesnât have to involve harming your body."
HuMing had seen many people under severe mental strain resort to self-destructive ways to deal with their problems, and such paths often led to tragic outcomes.
To be honest, he didnât want Xia XiaoXi to go down that road. Thankfully, she hadnât faced anything that extreme yet, which brought him some relief.
"So... if I feel overwhelmed, can I come to you to talk about it?"
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, catching HuMing off guard. He quickly recovered, a smile curling on his lips.
"If you want to, of course."
"Donât worry, I wonât treat you like a dumping ground!" Xia XiaoXi grinned. She had no intention of unloading her emotions recklessly on him.
For her, it was more about spreading hope to the people around her.
Watching her step into the elevator and disappear, HuMing let out a long breath. But before leaving, his gaze shifted to a parked car in the distance. Inside, the driver sat staring intently at him.
HuMing gave the man a brief glance before turning and walking away.
The driver slowly exited the car, his eyes fixed on HuMingâs retreating figure, a glint of calculation flickering in them.
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Back home, HuMing dropped his bag and flopped onto the couch with a sigh of relief.
Spending the day with Xia XiaoXi was as exhausting as going shopping with Ye QiuXue.
In this regard, Kang Xin was betterâdirect and efficient when buying things, no unnecessary fuss.
Thinking of Ye QiuXue, he couldnât help but wonder how she was doing in JingDu. He was genuinely curious.
As he blinked idly, his phone buzzed with a message from Xia XiaoXi.
Opening it, he saw a photo.
Xia XiaoXi was sitting on her bed, leaning against the windowsill, gazing at the starry sky outside. She wore a striking white beret, radiating youthful energy.
HuMing instantly recognized the outfitâit was the same as the anime character that Xia XiaoXi had as her phone background.
Beneath the photo was a line of text:
âHuMing, take a photo like this too!â
HuMing was speechless. What was she up to now? Still, he followed her request.
When Xia XiaoXi received the photo, her face lit up with joy. She quietly saved it and even marked it as a favorite.
Looking at their photos together, she thought they looked surprisingly fitting.
Xia XiaoXi gazed at the starry sky outside. At that moment, she and HuMing are like characters straight out of a manga, mimicking each other's actions without realizing it.
In anime, this would definitely be framed in the same split panel, capturing the shared motion in perfect symmetry!
"Great," she murmured, taking off her beret and rolling on the bed with excitement.
â¦
Meanwhile, Ye QiuXue put down her pen and stretched, her graceful figure accentuated by the movement.
She sighed softly, gazing at the stars outside her window. For some reason, tonightâs view seemed particularly beautiful, easing her accumulated fatigue.
Since transferring to JingDu, she was no longer the student council president, yet her burdens hadnât lightened.
The city required her to submit monthly feedback reports, while academic pressures and numerous club invitations from the school also loomed.
But this time, Ye QiuXue decided to be selfish and declined all those invitations.
Despite being new, she had not been overshadowed by the local students. Instead, she had become the brightest star on campus.
Even the principal couldnât help but marvelâwithout JingDuâs resources, she had still managed to outshine everyone and claim the top spot. Ye QiuXue was undoubtedly a genius among geniuses.
Some universities had even started reaching out to her privately.
Her grandmother was overjoyed when she shared the news, laughing endlessly.
She also sent a message to a certain someone, but as expected, there was no reply. Her earlier elation dampened.
"That guy... so inconsiderate. Doesnât even treat me like a friend."
Resting her chin in her hand, she looked out at the starry night.
"HuMing... Did you change your name to sever ties with the Han family? I heard you risked your life to save Han ShuYi. Looks like everything worked out the way you wanted. But youâre such a selfish person."
Ye QiuXue leaned on the desk, a wave of fatigue washing over her.
She closed her eyes, her mind conjuring his image.
She wanted to confront him and ask why he left so easily. But he just smiled at her and pointed ahead.
She paused, glaring at him.
"If you donât follow me, Iâll come back and beat you up!"
With that, she turned and walked on, not looking back. She wasnât worriedâshe knew he was right behind her.
Ye QiuXue didnât know how far she had walked when a sudden phone ring pulled her back to reality.
Blinking, she picked up the phone and frowned at the caller ID. Her gaze sharpened.
After some hesitation, she answered.
"Ms. Zhao, why do you keep calling me? Do you know how much trouble your calls cause me?"
Her tone was blunt, devoid of courtesy.
The voice on the other end softened.
"QiuXue, Iâm your mother. Canât I be concerned about my daughter? Youâve moved to JingDu; of course Iâm worried."
The concern in her motherâs voice felt as insincere as her fatherâs to Ye QiuXue.
Since transferring to JingDu, her mother had somehow obtained her number and kept calling.
Did she still think she, Ye QiuXue, was the hopeful child who once looked forward to family?
Did she ever consider who destroyed that hope?
Taking a deep breath, Ye QiuXue suppressed her anger.
"Ms. Zhao, I donât need your concern. Iâm doing just fine without you."
"How can you talk to your mother like that!"
"Iâm just stating the facts. Donât flatter yourself, Ms. Zhao," she snapped before hanging up.
Yet the turmoil in her chest didnât subside. Every time she heard their voices, she felt like a tiny boat in a storm, endlessly tossed about.