Chapter 274

Xin suddenly realized what was happening, turning around instantly. A look of surprise, long absent from her eyes, appeared in her eyes. The difficulties that had been troubling her mind for so long vanished in that instant. How could someone be so shameless? She thudded. She didn't know why she did this. But she knew that in her heart... that was what she thought. And her body was simply driven by her inner choice. "You've finally decided to come back?" Hua Xin buried her head greedily in his neck, her nose filled with the familiar lavender scent of laundry detergent emanating from him, her arms tightly wrapped around the man before her. However, there was also a faint smell of disinfectant. Her voice carried an barely suppressed emotion. "I have." "You have an exam this morning..." The tone shifted abruptly, and hearing that still somewhat smug, cheeky voice, Hua Xin felt a surge of anger. What a jerk! She had thrown herself at him like that, couldn't he at least consider the romantic atmosphere first? Fortunately, Gu Xin Hua is unaware of those things. If she were Hua Xin, she would definitely give him a good beating with military-style boxing... "..." "My dear Miss Gu Xin Hua." "I missed you too." Xia Yan said softly, then gently embraced the girl's waist. Hearing his somewhat tired and hoarse voice, Hua Xin's anger vanished instantly. Why didn't he tell her he was coming back today? Even just telling "Hua Xin" would have been fine. Did he even know how she had spent the long time he was gone? She rushed to the exam in the morning, and then there was noon, and the afternoon. Why did he only come to see her in the evening? Was there someone else? Was she no longer important to him? Was he hiding something from her? Doubts and anxieties were inevitable, and Hua Xin was no exception. However, all of this was based on one premise: she was only afraid that Xia Yan was no longer there. But when she recalled the moment Xia Yan stood in front of her just now, all of Hua Xin's doubts and anxieties disappeared without a trace. When he appeared before her, she would still hug him like this. She only trusted him. Forever. "Stay a little longer," Hua Xin said softly, without letting go of him. "Mm," Xia Yan didn't say much, only tightened his arms a little. There were many things to say, but many things didn't need to be said. They had their own difficulties to overcome, even though their relationship was not yet that of family, it was better than family. Hua Xin only felt that the palpitations that had been troubling her for the past few days... seemed to have disappeared in an instant. 211. Shattered Dignity "No..." "He just left like that?"... The girl couldn't help but feel a sense of speechlessness, her eyes staring blankly at the receding figure, until the figure she had longed for for almost two months once again merged into the crowd and disappeared. Xia Yan didn't say anything to her when he came back this time, nor did he say anything to "Hua Xin," but really just because it would be difficult to explain the final exams, so it was a last resort for him to come back. Otherwise, if this incident caused any negative consequences for the school, it would be a loss. For example, having to repeat their freshman year with the incoming freshmen in September. As for his family situation, Xia Yan didn't tell Gu Xin Hua anything, only casually mentioning that his grandfather had recently fallen ill and would return soon. During the meal, he mostly displayed what he thought was his humor, but Hua Xin actually wanted to punch him to see if he could cry. In Xia Yan's mind, whether he was in Shanghai or not probably didn't matter. After all, their meetings were no different than before; they still chatted and joked online, and their face-to-face meetings were about the same frequency as when they were in school. Their schedules were "staggered," weren't they? Hua Xin couldn't help but feel a little helpless. But all of this... as "Hua Xin," she definitely knew everything. Xia Yan had no secrets from her good friend, having confided in her about her grandfather's situation at the hospital recently, and knowing perfectly well the reasons for his absence. What Gu Xin Hua couldn't know, Hua Xin knew. And what Hua Xin couldn't do, Gu Xin Hua could. The girl slowly raised her face, her hands behind her back, a gentle breeze ruffling her bangs, a faint red glow appearing in the sky. Summer weather was both irritating and nostalgic. Every winter, Hua Xin would hug her blanket, reminiscing about the summer days of lying naked in bed watching anime, obediently being a useless shut-in. Winter weather was just too bleak and cold, unbearable without warmth. Hua Xin still remembered the wish she secretly made in winter a few years ago...—just a simple electric blanket. At least with an electric blanket, there's no need to wear so many unnecessary clothes to keep warm this winter, and it's easier to fall asleep in bed. But now she has Small Sun that can emit light and heat, and even more clothes. The down jacket she borrowed from Xia Yan, the dress and sandals Xia Yan bought for her... Hua Xin turned her back and slowly walked home. Although it was another separation, the corners of the girl's mouth slightly curved up and she smiled gently. However, it was unclear whether it was a happy smile or a sad smile. It's Xia Yan again... On the high-speed train back to Beijing, Xia Yan quietly propped his chin on his hand and silently looked at the scenery outside the window. He rarely thought carefully about the word "life." From the shadows of his childhood, his life seemed to consist only of words like "proving himself," "independence," "becoming better," and "becoming more excellent." The goals he studied and worked hard for were naturally for these things. The process of his efforts could be glossed over, but it was only almost ten years. But what was the result? What exactly had he strived for? What had he become independent of? What heights had the self-assured "Xia Yan" actually reached through his efforts? Was he so outstanding that he surpassed everyone? So powerful that he feared nothing? So independent that he could solve all difficulties?... Xia Yan slowly closed his eyes, shutting out the scenery before him. He couldn't do anything. The cost of his grandfather's hospitalization was a huge sum, and even the cost of his previous heart surgery was an amount he couldn't earn now. For a twenty-year-old, unless he was born into wealth or power, with a strong family background and connections, it was almost impossible to achieve in a young age what others had accumulated over decades. He was just an ordinary person, not a god. Moreover, the times had changed. Everything seemed to have been settled; a frog in a well could only climb out by making small, incremental efforts.