Chapter 133

Xia Xi gulped a mouthful of soy milk, placed the paper cup on the table in front of Zhou Du, both hands gripping her phone, typing rapidly.

Xia Xi: "Speak clearly—is he someone she dated, or a girl he loved but couldn't have?"

Besides herself, no one knew; as she typed those words, her heart clenched repeatedly.

Liang Yuan: "Who are you chatting with? Your expression is so grave."

Although no one knew Xia Xi's inner turmoil, her expression gave it away—anyone with eyes could see she wasn't doing well.

Xia Xi didn't reply to Liang Yuan, her eyes locked on the screen; she also didn't know which answer she leaned toward.

Online, there are always people doing similar surveys—if you had the choice, would you rather have loved and lost, or never have loved at all?

The two sides ended in a stalemate, each holding their own view, neither able to convince the other.

It's clear this is indeed a tough problem.

After a while, Fu Li replied: "Sorry, just joking with you. I've known Xu Er since we were kids wearing open-crotch pants; he's never dated anyone, and I've never seen him show interest in any girl—unless he's hiding it deep."

Xia Xi's taut nerves suddenly loosened, and the thought that followed was to beat Fu Li to death.

Probably because she hadn't replied for half a day, Fu Li felt a bit guilty and sent another message, apologizing again: "You won't be mad, will you? It's my fault. I didn't think much, don't be angry."

Xia Xi still didn't reply to him.

Is this something to joke about? Not exaggerating, just now her heart felt like it had died once.

Fu Li grew increasingly anxious, constantly apologizing and making amends.

Xia Xi thought, if it weren't for the fact that he's Xu Yanfeng's childhood friend and she might still need him later, she would have blocked him the moment he said "just joking with you."

She picked a GIF emoji and sent it over, giving him a way out.

The GIF shows a white goose laughing loudly with its head back, then getting punched in the forehead and collapsing. It means: if Fu Li dares to joke like that again, she'll punch him to death.

Fortunately Fu Li isn't dense; he understood her meaning and promised that whenever she needed anything, he would go through fire and water for her.

Going through fire and water wasn't necessary; Xia Xi raised her eyebrows, put away her phone, took out a pack of shredded squid from the plastic bag, and as she chewed she thought this winter break was too long—she hadn't seen Xu Yanfeng in ages.

If anyone knew what she was thinking, they might stuff her in a sack and beat her up.

Xia Xi decided not to think anymore, turned her head to look at Zhou Du—he was sleeping with an eye mask, arms crossed—then glanced at Liang Yuan, who was snacking while scrolling Weibo. Xia Xi tilted her head, leaned on Liang Yuan's shoulder, and asked what interesting thing she was looking at.

Liang Yuan shared openly: "My idol released a new song; I'm watching his live performance—he's so handsome I'm dying!"

In the video, a handsome Korean guy sings and dances on stage, wearing a light-blue suit, white shirt, a few buttons undone at the collar, his tie loosely draped around his neck, with impeccable styling.

Watching, Xia Xi's heart was calm as still water, no ripple; she even thought this idol she couldn't name was only half as handsome as Xu Yanfeng. Of course, she didn't say that, fearing a beating.

Beside her, Liang Yuan's excited praises rang: "Vampire vibes, ahhhh, how can he be so handsome? Side-profile killer, wink so charming, I'm about to faint, save me, save me, who'll come rescue me, this waist twist is making my nosebleed gush..."

One person chattered on for a while with no response; Liang Yuan turned her head and saw Xia Xi asleep, her head resting on her shoulder.

Liang Yuan: "..."

Around eleven o'clock, the high-speed train arrived at Qianlin East Station.

Xia Xi had slept an hour on the train, got off feeling refreshed. Zhou Du helped her push her luggage; she held her phone and messaged Xia Yue, learning she was waiting in the underground parking lot, and she smiled happily.

As expected, her sister dotes on her the most.

"My sister's picking us up by car, no need to queue for a taxi—let's go to the parking lot." Xia Xi shoved her phone into her bag, took the luggage from Zhou Du's hands, and pushed it herself toward the elevator.

Liang Yuan bumped her arm, smiling: "Our sister is just thoughtful."

Taking the elevator down one level brought them to the parking lot; following the signs, Xia Xi walked past rows of cars and found where Xia Yue had parked.

Seeing them, Xia Yue opened the car door, got out, and helped open the trunk.

Xia Xi sat in the front passenger seat, seatbelt not yet fastened, when suddenly a hand reached from behind, lightly tapped her shoulder, and then a head poked out: "Didn't that scare you?"

"It's Wednesday today; high school hasn't let out yet, right?" Xia Xi pinched her sister's cheek. "How did you come?"

Xia Xuan stuck out her tongue, guiltily saying: "I asked the homeroom teacher for leave."

"Did your homeroom teacher grant it?"

"I'm not in good health, I take leave every few days; the old homeroom teacher is used to it—just a word and he approves."

Xia Xi tapped her forehead, advising: "You still need to study well; don't fall behind on your schoolwork."

"Come on, you lied and took leave just to come pick me up—how can you not appreciate it?" Xia Xuan pouted, acting cute: "Our family only needs one academic star like you; I'm not cut out for that—I'm going to be a painter."

"Fine, fine, I was wrong, big artist." Xia Xi rubbed her head, smoothed her hair, then shoved the unfinished bag of snacks from the high-speed train into her arms: "Eat a little less."

"Hehe, you're the best." Xia Xuan happily hugged the snacks and sat back.

Xia Yue started the car, first dropping off Zhou Du and Liang Yuan at home; once only the three sisters remained, she asked about Xia Xi's love life: "That guy you mentioned during the video call—have you caught him yet?"

Xia Xi rubbed her forefinger against her forehead. Once, while video-chatting with her sister, she happened to be eating in the cafeteria when Xu Yanfeng sat nearby; she tilted her phone to the side so her sister could glimpse him.

From then on, her sister remembered him and occasionally brought him up during phone calls.

"What guy?" Xia Xuan, clueless, crunched on crispy rice crackers, her head popping from behind to between the front seats: "I've never heard of him before."

"Sit still." Xia Xi pressed a hand on her forehead, pushing her back: "You spend most of your time at school, and weekends you go learn painting—I haven't had a chance to tell you."

"What does he look like? Let me see!" Xia Xuan exclaimed excitedly, "Do you have a photo?"

Xia Xi pulled out her phone from her bag and tossed it to her: "The lock screen wallpaper is him."

Xia Xuan pressed the side lock button; the screen lit up, a boy in a blue jersey sprang into view—handsome face, excellent build—her eyes widened: "Are you sure this isn't just an internet picture?"

"What internet pic? I took it myself." Xia Xi emphasized each word: "Your brother-in-law, Xu Yanfeng—remember that."

Xia Xuan: "..."

Xia Yue, hearing their exchange, wanted to laugh; her mouth hadn't closed all along. Now hearing Xia Xi introduce that guy, she raised an eyebrow: "So, you've got him?"

Xia Xi frowned, her expression a bit defeated, turned her face to the window, and admitted honestly: "Not yet."

"Huh?" Xia Yue stopped the car at a red light, glanced at her, and said half-laughing, half-exasperated: "You haven't even caught him yet, and you've got Xiao Xuan calling you brother-in-law—isn't that a bit premature?"

Xia Xi stubbornly replied: "It's just a matter of time."

"You're pretty confident. How long have you been pursuing him?"

This topic really hit home; back when they first boarded the high-speed train, Xia Xi had discussed it with Liang Yuan and Zhou Du. She covered her eyes, voice low: "At most, about a semester."

Xia Yue was surprised: "You chased him for a whole semester and he didn't waver?"

Xia Xuan returned the phone to Xia Xi, muttering: "Although he's indeed handsome, letting my sister chase him for so long is still excessive." In her eyes, Xia Xi is the best, no matter what aspect.

Xia Xi pinched the phone and spun it in her hand, letting out a light hum: "You really should have your words recorded and sent to that person to hear." How excessive! Even if it were a stone, warming it for a few months would heat it up, yet he remains unmoved.

Iron-hearted Xu Yanfeng.

Xia Xi raised the corner of her eye, deciding to change his WeChat note to this.

Saying she'd change it, she did, entering the four words "Iron-hearted" before his name, before even clicking "Complete", that iron-hearted person unexpectedly sent a greeting message proactively.

Xu Yanfeng: "Have you arrived home?"