Afterward, Tang Yuanyuan lay on Yuchi Yishu’s back and slept for a long time. Not only did she fall asleep, but she also had a dream. In the dream, she was an adult. Moreover, she finally had everything she ever wanted and she thought to herself, How great it is to be an adult. I have the freedom to do anything. However, she was woken up by Yuchi Yishu before she could have a taste of what being an adult was like.
Tang Yuanyuan opened her eyes dazedly. “Yishu?”
“Are you awake?” Yuchi Yishu gazed at her slightly exasperatedly. “Are you not sleeping well? How did you sleep so deeply?”
He had been trying to wake her up for a long time before he finally succeeded.
She was still in a semi-conscious state, so she was completely defenseless as she leaned against him and murmured dazedly, “I dreamed of you just now, Yishu.”
The young lady’s emotions were clearly expressed—it was passionate without any impurities. Just like that, she exposed her feelings for him to see.
This feeling… His eyes darkened considerably. “What did you dream about me?”
“Hmph,” she snorted lightly. “I’m not telling you.”
After saying that, she realized that she was being held in his arms right now. They were sitting on a stone bench not too far from the school gate, and his arms were wrapped around her shoulders. This posture made it seem like they were unbelievably intimate with each other. Thus, her face reddened slightly as she struggled to get up.
Hence, he supported her and helped her stand up. “Don’t rush. Why don’t you take it easy since you just woke up?”
“Yishu, what time is it right now?” she questioned.
“It’s almost curfew. You can sit for another five minutes before going in.”
“What? It’s almost curfew?” Then, she got up in a fluster. “I should go back inside then. Yishu, hurry and return to your university.”
Following her lead, he got up and walked her to the school gate.
Initially, the little girl was prepared to rush into the school. However, she suddenly thought about something and she paused in her tracks. Turning her head around, she looked at him. “Yishu?”
“Hmm? What is it?”
Tang Yuanyuan pursed her cherry-pink lips, emphasizing in a soft voice, “Yishu, don’t you dare forget what you promised me today.”
When he heard those words, Yuchi Yishu was stunned. A moment later, the corners of his mouth curved up. He walked forward, then rubbed her head and pinched her cheeks. “What are you thinking about? I will never forget what I promised you.”
Then, the little girl’s eyes shone brightly for a moment. “Good night then, Yishu!”
After that, she entered the school gate in satisfaction.
He stood by the school gate and waited for her to go inside. After a long while, he finally withdrew his gaze and left the school. At this hour, the buses were still running. Thus, he wanted to take a bus back. However, as soon as he walked over to the waiting platform, he saw a familiar figure—it was Zhong Chufeng.
Zhong Chufeng sat there; his entire figure seemed depressed and forlorn. When he heard footsteps coming his way, he knew that Yuchi Yishu was approaching him. The smile on his face was mocking as he said, “You do know what you have done, don’t you?”
Yuchi Yishu pursed his thin lips but said nothing in reply.
“If you are sober right now, then you know what you did a few days back, don’t you?
He continued to remain silent, saying nothing.
Having yet to receive a response, Zhong Chufeng stood up suddenly; he felt a little annoyed. Then, he glared furiously at Yuchi Yishu. “Do you know that your actions are not letting her give up on you? Instead, your actions are making her even more confused!” In his anger, he took a step forward and grabbed Yuchi Yishu by the collar. “Do you know that?!”
Yuchi Yishu indifferently replied with a cold expression on his face, “Why should I let her give up on me?”
Zhong Chufeng was taken aback by his words. Then, he looked at him incredulously as if he had just heard the world’s funniest joke. “W-What did you say?”
Yuchi Yishu pushed his hand away and stood to the side, saying nothing in response.
“So, you’ve always had feelings for her?” Zhong Chufeng continued amusedly, “Weren’t you denying it when I mentioned it to you before?”
“I didn’t deny it,” Yuchi Yishu corrected him unhappily, frowning as he did so. “I just didn’t want you to ruin her reputation. She is still so young.”
“Seeing as you are aware of just how young she is, what are you doing right now?”
“Why do I have to make her give up on me? Just like what you said; if she is simply relying on me, then when she reaches a certain age, she will realize it herself without me doing anything. So, why should I do something that will hurt her and make her sad at this point?”
After hearing those words, Zhong Chufeng felt shocked. However, out of selfish desires, he refused to outwardly comply with Yuchi Yishu even though he agreed with his words. “How do you know she will figure it out? What if she doesn’t figure anything out for the rest of her life?”
Yuchi Yishu turned his head back and focused his gaze on Zhong Chufeng. The street lamp next to the waiting platform shone on him, illuminating half his face and making his originally handsome features stand out even more. “If she doesn’t figure it out, then what’s wrong with me pampering her for the rest of her life?”
Zhong Chufeng was rendered speechless. That much had already been said, so how could he not understand? Yuchi Yishu had made his intentions clear. If he continued to question it further, it would seem as if he didn’t know what was good or bad for himself.
He found it rather amusing. After all, he had noticed it a long time ago. Even so, he refused to believe it, thinking that he stood a chance. Thus, he did not say a word as he fell back onto the stone bench dispiritedly.
After a moment, he smiled bitterly as he said, “I understand what you mean. You better not let her down. If you dare make her cry, I will snatch her away from you mercilessly. When that time comes, we won’t remain brothers anymore.”
Yuchi Yishu pursed his lips and did not reply. He had been best friends with Zhong Chufeng for many years, thus, he was well aware of his friend’s feelings. If the little girl fell in love with Zhong Chufeng, their relationship together would be a blessed union too.
Soon, the bus came. As he got on the bus and swiped his card, he noticed that Zhong Chufeng did not follow behind him. Hence, he turned around and asked, “Are you not getting on?”
Zhong Chufeng sat there; his entire figure seemingly shrouded in shadows.
“Zhong Chufeng?”
After a moment, Zhong Chufeng finally lifted his head and forced a smile at Yuchi Yishu. “Go on without me. I’m planning to do some things that would make me happy tonight.”
His so-called ‘things that would make him happy’ was nothing more than drinking.
Yuchi Yishu fell silent for a moment, then he nodded.
They were adults—they were responsible for their own words and actions. Thus, there was no need for him to care about what Zhong Chufeng wanted to do. Zhong Chufeng was free to do whatever he wanted to do.
When the bus driver saw that Zhong Chufeng had no intention of getting on the bus, he closed the doors and drove off.
Under the dim street lamp, Zhong Chufeng sat alone on the bench. His heart felt like it was filled with sand—it hurt so much he could barely breathe. All this while, he had consoled himself, thinking that it didn’t matter who Yuanyuan ended up with as long as she was happy. Besides, wouldn’t it be great if she got together with Yuchi Yishu? At the very least, Yuchi Yishu was a great guy. I would feel more at ease if she were with him, compared to if she were with me. Still, why does my heart hurt so much? Then, he reached out and covered his face, breaking down in despair.
