Chapter 171

A few strands of hair were blown by the wind and clung to her face. That was probably how she felt when she saw Xia Yan. ———————————————— The distance to the Bund wasn't short, it could even be said to be far. Plus, there seemed to be an unusually large number of people going to the Bund tonight; the closer to the central avenue, the more cars there were, and the atmosphere gradually became lively. Xia Yan, who had initially been speeding, slowed down to a leisurely pace, almost like someone riding an old man's car. "Are there always this many people here?" Hua Xin twitched her lips. As Xia Yan gradually slowed down, she also lowered her legs from the footrest and gently placed them on the ground. With her superior height, long legs were a given. "To be precise..." "There are many people every year, but this year there are especially many. This is mainly because today is special, so there are especially many..." "Speak plainly." The girl snorted coldly, crossing her arms and glaring at Xia Yan. What's wrong with this kid? Has he been taking too many advanced math classes, so now he's become someone who likes to speak in riddles? "There's a fireworks display here this year." Xia Yan stretched his arms somewhat helplessly; the drive of several tens of minutes occasionally made him feel a little tired. "Isn't Shanghai a no-fireworks zone?" "Where's this fireworks display? Don't think I'm easy to fool! It's clearly written online!" Hua Xin didn't believe everything she heard, but instead asked with her own opinion. The ban on fireworks in big cities was a well-known fact, to avoid unnecessary fires and pollution. Now, only small sparklers were probably in circulation. But in the countryside and some county towns, there was no need to worry. "This year is an exception." "I don't know what happened, but a notice suddenly appeared a while ago, and after more than ten years, there's a fireworks and light show here again." "Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many people." Xia Yan shrugged, then said with some emotion. "So this was all planned by you?" the girl said quietly, her tone carrying an indescribable emotion. So, after all this time, Xia Yan had planned to trap her, right? What about coming to see a movie? He just wanted to confess his feelings to her on New Year's Eve, didn't he? Hua Xin had figured out Xia Yan's tactics perfectly. If it were her, she probably would have chosen this day to confess to the girl as well. With the fireworks and the festive atmosphere, she might have impulsively agreed. But unfortunately, possessing a masculine soul, she naturally sensed Xia Yan's intentions. It was obviously very easy for her to see through him. "Yes." "I planned it all along." "Today." Xia Yan didn't deny it, but nodded slightly, his tone devoid of the previous cheerfulness. The car slowly started moving again, following the flow of traffic. Hua Xin opened her mouth, but said nothing. A silence seemed to encapsulate everything; both knew what the other was thinking, but neither wanted to break the silence. Their breath had condensed into a faint chill. The honking of surrounding cars and the chatter of the crowd were loud. But Xia Yan's sudden words reached Hua Xin's ears with exceptional clarity. His voice was gentle. It was a firm voice she had never heard before. Why can I only hear his voice? It's so noisy around. So annoying. "I like you." "Gu Xin Hua." 134. Okay. Sound can be transmitted through vibration. Actually, a voice that isn't very loud can be clearly heard when it's close to the other person's body. The occasional noisy honking of the surrounding vehicles is enough to cover up what the other person is saying. But coincidentally, Hua Xin also took off her helmet at this moment, and after keenly observing something, she leaned against Xia Yan's back and asked him in return. So. These simple words, however, penetrated the chaotic sounds and clearly entered the girl's ears. Like... me? Hua Xin was slightly stunned, but then didn't react strongly. The girl who would immediately Red Temperature and jump up when she was talked about love and her current status as a girl was gone. In its place was the incredibly mature Hua Xin. She turned her head and continued to look at the surrounding scenery, without saying a word, her eyes revealing an unknown emotion as she quietly looked at the crowd. Well... Xia Yan will understand when he reaches his age; after all, the innocent awakening of a young boy's first love is understandable. Silence was her answer. Because... Xia Yan liked Gu Xin Hua, not Hua Xin. She didn't know any shadow clone techniques, nor could she keep pretending to be two people. But... why did she feel such an overwhelming surge of emotion? The girl looked up, a biting wind whipping against her face the instant she left Xia Yan's back, cascading her flowing hair backward. Her silent demeanor left no one knowing what Hua Xin was thinking. But the girl knew that all she could do was silently refuse. If she softened... if she softened again... Xia Yan gripped the handlebars of his motorcycle, helmet on, calmly gazing at the brightly lit road ahead, as if he hadn't said those words. He rarely did things outside his plans. Those two sentences should have been saved for later, for when the time was right. So the current heavy atmosphere was his own fault. Perhaps his impulsive "confession" could be seen as an unintentional test of Gu Xin Hua's attitude? Even if she was slow to understand, she could grasp his own thoughts. His previously tense and anxious heart relaxed after the girl's current silence. The old-fashioned, persistent pursuit would do neither him nor the girl any good, and would only further distance them from their already delicate connection. Ah... sometimes we are unaware of the impression we give others, or the negative emotions we project. Words and actions can be perceived very differently by different people. Some people don't mind expressive body language, while others find it repulsive, seeing it as an exaggeration. The impression he gave the girl during the first two months online, when they were complete strangers, only knowing each other's gender and being game friends, might not have been good. After all, they had mostly been making silly comments and arguing while playing games... and then when they met in person, he seemed too passive and lacked assertiveness... it all seemed quite possible. Xia Yan smiled self-deprecatingly. Always adept at observing others' strengths and weaknesses, he too naturally had his share of criticisms. Although he didn't know where he went wrong, receiving the answer brought a sense of relief. Perhaps they really weren't right for each other. Those things he had long been prepared for...