Chapter 258

"No." "If you're a bad woman, you're after my money..." "Then why did you return all the tens of thousands of yuan I sent you?" Xia Yan's voice seemed to carry a slight sob. This was the first time the girl had seen Xia Yan so emotionally unstable. The slight tremor seemed to be an unconscious attempt to control his voice. Hua Xin would probably never forget this moment. "I'd rather be deceived by you for the rest of my life." He exhaled softly and said so softly. There were many, many moments they shared together: shopping, cat cafes, movies, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day... Time can reveal a person's true nature. From beginning to end, Xia Yan silently observed and thought about the girl beside him. It was precisely because he understood her more that he felt more heartache and wanted to continue to love her and protect her for the rest of his life. But he was not a perfect person, nor was he always calm and confident. Xia Yan was also afraid that one day the girl would leave him. He also worried that someone more outstanding might appear. He also connected those coincidences to something that sounded absurd. "I really hate what you said before." "..." Hua Xin didn't continue the topic. "What?" The girl's sudden question made Xia Yan look up slightly. His eyes were stinging from the sea breeze. "The day before yesterday afternoon, you said what if you died?" Xia Yan's eyes widened slightly, and he suddenly remembered the girl who had been silent on the street for a long time earlier. "I don't like death." Hua Xin said softly, looking at the half-red, half-black sky, her vision slightly blurred. "After starting university, I often bought a meat-free Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) on my way home, it only cost three yuan." "Because it was cheap and filling, the bun was very fragrant, the outer crust was crispy, but the inside was soft, and it had a very fragrant wheat aroma. One could keep you full for a long time." Listening to the girl's slow, deliberate narration, Xia Yan opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. The girl's description was clearly the kind of detail only someone who had experienced hunger would know. He knew her life might be difficult, so whether it was eating out or shopping, he would always politely refuse her suggestions to split the bill, only allowing her to treat him on smaller, less expensive snacks to protect her pride. There are many people in this world, or rather, there's no shortage of people. With people, there are naturally poor and rich. The rich look down on the poor. The poor look down on the rich. Xia Yan couldn't help but envy her. He remembered the time Hua Xin casually mentioned the pit she'd dug—the night she transferred tens of thousands of yuan to Gu Xin Hua. Tens of thousands of yuan might be an ordinary number for the rich. But for a girl who only ate meat-filled Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), who didn't wear makeup, didn't spend money recklessly, and dressed simply, would she still be as indifferent as the rich? What kind of life did she live before she met him? Xia Yan dared not imagine. Every corner of his heart was filled with heartache. "But that grandfather who spoke with a strong dialect would always stuff my food full of meat, but only charge me for the roujiamo." Hua Xin paused, her words no longer carrying the emotions of reminiscence. Instead, they were choked with confusion and fear. "After working for Sister Li Xue, I almost never had the chance to go there again." "Some time ago..." "I suddenly remembered this. After all, I can earn my own money now. I want to use my own money to buy a real Roujiamo, and also make up for the money I received as a favor before." "I could almost picture him saying 'No, no,' in his dialect, and then stuffing his hands full of meat." "But that grandpa is gone." The string of resilience finally snapped at that moment. Hua Xin had made a resolution that no matter what happened, she would never cry again, at least she would be able to control her emotions like a real adult and live a strong life. But she couldn't be strong anymore. The number of people in this world who cared for her could be counted on one hand; why did she have to let them go? Aunt Li, who treated her like her own child, made her Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, celebrated her birthday, and even dressed her in new clothes, was gone. The Auntie Li, a complete stranger, whose name she didn't even know, who always made sure she ate well and was full, was also gone. The people at the shop next door said he died of a sudden heart attack in his sleep. When he was alive, he often treated them to steamed buns; he was a very kind person. So, the day before yesterday, when she heard Xia Yan's unintentional words on the street... The joke, "What would you do if I died?" was delivered with unusual seriousness, almost like a confession. She didn't want Xia Yan be sad. She knew it would make him happy. And Hua Xin wasn't lying. That dress was only for Xia Yan. Enough people had left, so the girl used the identity of Gu Xin Hua to fulfill Xia Yan's expectations. How could she not understand? For a man, the happiest moments are those of success in his career and the affirmation of the one he loves. Tears streamed down her face, but Hua Xin didn't wipe them away. The blood-red sunset had vanished, and darkness was about to devour the last bit of pink, leaving only the lonely Bluevis watching over the sea. "Splash." It wasn't the sound of waves. Hua Xin felt warmth in her hand. It was the sound of a bracelet clinking. "I love you." "A thousand words of comfort are ultimately just a temporary band-aid. Xia Yan didn't say anything to tell the girl not to worry, to be strong and that she'd get through it, or anything like that. He felt the girl's sadness and sorrow directly on his own. 'I'll always be here.' 'I'll always be with you.' 'Until the end of our lives.' 'I love you.' 'I love you...' At this moment, besides these three words, Xia Yan couldn't find any other words to say to the girl. He just softly repeated these three words, listening to the girl's suppressed sobs. 'It's getting dark...' Hua Xin said, her voice slightly choked with tears, trying to sound calm. Then Xia Yan felt a faint touch on his face. 'This way you won't see how ugly I look crying.'" "But they were so close, how could Xia Yan not see clearly?" The girl then buried her head in the crook of his neck, her hands tightly gripping his clothes, as if she didn't want him to leave her. She was an insatiable person. Similarly, she was a greedy person. Hua Xin kept telling herself that she was playing Gu Xin Hua, and that one day the lie would be exposed, so she could only hide her face and interact with him as a man. One day, Xia Yan would find a girl he liked. It sounded unbelievable. But only she knew that she couldn't fool herself; her true feelings weren't like that. Now, Hua Xin wanted to say: Why couldn't this girl be her? Hua Xin slowly raised her head, her eyes meeting Xia Yan's. At that moment, the last vestige of pink sunset on the distant horizon finally vanished, swallowed by the dark night. The beach was deserted, only a lone boat and seagulls that hadn't yet returned to their nests remained on the sea. The streetlights in the distance...