In such an environment, even the slightest proximity could make things ambiguous.
Ye Chen’s heart was racing; she tentatively moved closer to Lu Xixiao, holding onto his arm.
He didn’t react.
So Ye Chen leaned against him more firmly, her elbow seeming to hit something. She looked down to see half a keychain with a blue plush ball protruding from his pocket.
It didn’t match Lu Xixiao’s style.
She curiously pulled it out – there were no keys on the keychain.
“Why aren’t there any keys on it?” she asked.
Lu Xixiao raised his eyebrows: “Did I say you could touch it?”
He was always like this, too direct with his words, showing no courtesy.
Ye Chen had never met a boy who wouldn’t show her courtesy like this, but she wasn’t angry. She raised the plush ball high with her index finger, leaning on his shoulder to look at it.
“You probably didn’t buy this yourself, right?” Ye Chen asked with a smile, “You don’t seem like someone who would like this kind of thing.”
“It was a gift,” Lu Xixiao said.
“It’s quite cute actually. Xiao-ge, can you give it to me?”
She knew Lu Xixiao’s family was wealthy, and had heard that he was generous with his girlfriends. Ye Chen didn’t want the keychain; she just wanted to create some connection with him through it.
Lu Xixiao took a drag of his cigarette, saying nothing.
Ye Chen shook his arm: “Please?”
He raised his chin: “Put it down.”
His voice was still lazy, but this time it carried an inexplicable warning.
Ye Chen heard it and placed the keychain on the coffee table.
Lu Xixiao leaned forward to pick it up, putting the keychain back in his pocket, and with this movement, Ye Chen saw the wound on his arm, which he’d gotten during the fight earlier, the blood already dried.
“Xiao-ge, your hand is hurt,” Ye Chen said. “Do you want to treat it?”
“Too lazy to go anywhere.”
The surrounding rock music was noisy, and Ye Chen brought her lips to his ear: “I know how. Want me to help?”
Lu Xixiao turned his head, and smiled, with an ambiguous meaning: “Oh? Where would we do it?”
Ye Chen looked at his profile and turned towards her in the mottled light, his high bridge nose, eyes carrying a smile, ambiguous tone, carefree and unrestrained appearance.
Ye Chen’s heart skipped another beat, her entire sensory perception easily led by him.
Just earlier she had been afraid of making him angry, but now she was captivated by him again.
It seemed that no matter how confident and outgoing a girl was, they tended to become timid in front of Lu Xixiao.
She gathered her courage to hold his hand: “Wherever you want to go.”
His nose was filled with the girl’s perfume.
Lu Xixiao was used to various perfumes from frequenting such environments but suddenly found it pungent.
He recalled the clean, fresh scent of fabric softener on Zhou Wan.
He tugged at the corner of his mouth, suddenly feeling completely disinterested, and stood up.
Jiang Fan called out to him: “Xiao, where are you going?”
He waved his hand behind him: “Leaving.”
*
Night had fallen deep, and Zhou Wan had unusually gone to bed before midnight today.
Half-asleep, her phone suddenly made a sound from beside her pillow.
She was a light sleeper, and drowsily opened her eyes, staring blankly at a spot on the white wall for a long while before her thoughts gradually returned, looking at the lit screen of her phone.
The light was harsh, and she squinted trying to see.
A message from [Lu Xixiao].
Zhou Wan froze, even thinking she must be dreaming.
She reached out to pinch her thigh – it hurt.
Not a dream.
Why would he message her?
It was already twelve-thirty.
Zhou Wan’s sleepiness had completely disappeared. She propped herself up on her elbow and opened WeChat.
He had sent a picture. Zhou Wan opened it and immediately recognized his hand.
He appeared to be sitting on some steps, his wrist resting on his knee, the back of his hand hanging naturally, and on his pale arm was a three-centimeter-long wound.
Then, her phone vibrated again.
He sent another message.
[Lu Xixiao: What should I do?]