When she first entered school, her initial impression of him was quite poor. She thought he was frivolous, careless, and playful, always appearing around her for no reason and saying bizarre things.
Later he confessed to her, saying he liked her from the first time he saw her.
Yet he always maintained an ambiguous attitude with other girls, seeming flirtatious everywhere, spreading his affection widely. Shu Nian had no good feelings toward him and always thought he wasn’t a serious person.
She always spoke directly, and when rejecting him, she didn’t know how to be tactful at all, which greatly impacted Xu Zeyuan and made him quiet down for a period.
Seeing Xu Zeyuan again was quite sometime later.
That day, Shu Nian came out of the library, and it was raining heavily outside. She was about to leave with her umbrella when she heard him calling her, saying he didn’t bring an umbrella.
Shu Nian hesitated but decided to accompany him back.
Along the way, Xu Zeyuan hardly spoke. Shu Nian also had nothing to say and planned to lend him the umbrella since the girls’ dormitory wasn’t far, and she could just run back.
But the next moment, Xu Zeyuan immediately tilted the umbrella, covering her head completely.
His body was exposed to the rain again, being washed by the heavy downpour.
It reminded her of Xie Ruhe back then.
It also reminded her of her past self, who didn’t think things through clearly, who judged based on a few details and made assumptions, who was somewhat superficial, quickly labeling good people as bad.
Shu Nian felt she had made the same mistake as Xu Zeyuan.
She reflected on this glumly for a while.
Afterward, Shu Nian changed her attitude toward Xu Zeyuan, no longer resisting him as before, and gradually they became friends. Through their interactions, she discovered that her previous impressions of him were indeed misunderstandings.
He was just a playful, grown-up boy.
He knew how to maintain appropriate boundaries with other girls and took serious matters seriously.
At the end of the first semester of junior year, Xu Zeyuan confessed to her again.
Shu Nian didn’t know if she could be considered to like him, but she did find being with him not unpleasant, even quite comfortable. She thought for a long time and finally agreed.
A boy who had persisted in pursuing her for two and a half years.
There would always be times of softened resolve.
Shu Nian didn’t know if her decision was correct, but at that time, she was indeed very serious about this relationship. She always thought that after starting to date, their interactions wouldn’t change much from before.
But she forgot that there would be intimate behaviors between couples.
Shu Nian wasn’t very comfortable with this and found it awkward. Because of this, she once took the initiative to talk with Xu Zeyuan.
Xu Zeyuan indicated that he didn’t mind and was willing to progress gradually.
Less than half a year later, Xu Zeyuan broke up with her.
This sudden breakup, for Shu Nian at that time, was just another handful of salt sprinkled on an already torn wound. For her, it was an almost numb feeling.
This brief romance also told her a fact.
Xu Zeyuan didn’t like her as much as he had previously shown. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen to retreat completely when she fell to her lowest point.
So now that he came looking for her, Shu Nian really couldn’t understand the reason.
But the appearance of this person also helped her suppress the small spark that had just appeared for Xie Ruhe.
Shu Nian looked at Xie Ruhe’s reply, her expression dazed.
Xie Ruhe: [Alright, sleep early.]
She didn’t reply further.
Whether it was a misunderstanding or truth, it wasn’t something she should be thinking about now. Before her illness was completely cured, she shouldn’t harm anyone. Especially not Xie Ruhe.
He was her best friend.
On the return journey.
Xie Ruhe’s appearance wasn’t as gentle as when he was with Shu Nian; a faint gloom hung between his brows as he stared fixedly at the scenery rushing backward outside the window. He emanated an extremely unbearable emotion.
Fang Wencheng drove in silence, not daring to speak.
After a while, Xie Ruhe said softly: “Go investigate what happened to Shu Nian before.”
Before Fang Wencheng could respond, Xie Ruhe suddenly recalled his conversation with Shu Nian.
—”What happened to you today?”
—”Can I not talk about it?”
It was something she didn’t want others to know.
And she didn’t want him to know either.
Xie Ruhe’s jaw muscles tightened, and the lines of his features straightened. His figure was buried in darkness, cast in alternating light and shadow from outside the window, his expression obscure and somber, seeming extremely distressed.
Fang Wencheng nodded and responded: “Alright.”
Xie Ruhe closed his eyes briefly, his voice hoarse and defeated: “Forget it.”
Fang Wencheng nodded again, not asking further: “Okay.”
The car fell silent.
After a while, Fang Wencheng hesitated and brought up an issue: “Young Master, your grandfather called and said your father is seriously ill. He hopes you can go see him.”
“…” Xie Ruhe’s eyelids moved as if it had been a long time since he’d heard of this person, and he suddenly looked up. He curved the corners of his lips, his almond eyes slightly raised: “My father?”
Fang Wencheng pressed on reluctantly: “Yes.”
Xie Ruhe instantly withdrew his smile, his voice cold as an ice blade, sharp and merciless, easily able to slice through one’s flesh, extremely bitter.
“He’s not dead yet?”