Chapter 284

The split personality disappeared without a trace. But his behavior was still incredibly infuriating. Did Xia Yan even know how worried she'd been about him all this time? He just casually acted like nothing had happened, spouting off those pointless jokes and self-proclaimed humorous remarks... it was truly infuriating and heartless. Hua Xin pouted, looking like she was sulking. "How have you been lately?" "Have you been taking good notes for me..." Stepping off the exercise equipment, Xia Yan asked with a smile, gradually moving away from the girl and lengthening his tone, but the quiet park allowed them to hear each other clearly. "You've already finished your exams, what do you need notes for?" Hua Xin scoffed, her words carrying a peculiar, sarcastic tone. "Uh..." "Haha, I forgot, but it's still very useful. I still need to give the notes back to the teacher later..." Xia Yan coughed slightly awkwardly, then stopped, bent down, and tore open the plastic wrapping of several cans of beer next to a large plastic bag on the chair. He took out a can and tossed it to Hua Xin. Besides that, the large plastic bag also contained some snacks that would go well with the beer, such as duck parts, fried chicken, and some side dishes. Today wasn't just a simple conversation with Hua Xin. He hadn't vented his emotions for a long time, and he needed an outlet to express them. On his way here, Xia Yan had specially bought these treats. Although Hua Xin had never taken off her mask in front of him, it was still good to have something different to eat. He just needed someone to listen to him. And that person was only Hua Xin. "Have a drink, Lao Hua," he said softly, but the smile on his face disappeared. "Ah..." The girl pulled the tab with some disgust, turned her back, and took a sip. "So bitter..." Hua Xin clicked her tongue, murmuring with a complicated look in her eyes. 220. I have no home. The sky gradually darkened. Normally, if two people were to have a heart-to-heart talk in this situation, they would usually drink and chat happily or smoke one cigarette after another. At the very least, they would say things like, "You know, I know, you know," "To put it bluntly, this is just how it is," "Let me tell you, this is really..." and so on. But Hua Xin and Xia Yan's situation was a little strange. The park benches weren't very long, just enough to fit two people. If there were any gaps between them, it would be a little cramped. Fortunately, it was a weekday, and there weren't many people taking a leisurely stroll in the evening, so they could hear each other clearly even without being very close. The place seemed eerily quiet. However, since Hua Xin didn't like taking off her mask in public, Xia Yan had habitually left a sufficient buffer zone between them, which led to the current situation. Subconsciously considering Hua Xin's feelings seemed to have become a habit for Xia Yan. Perhaps because they went out together so often, they had developed a great deal of understanding and tolerance for each other's habits. Of course, Hua Xin didn't object either. So... the two sat on separate benches, leaving a small distance between them. Their food was also divided in half and placed beside their seats, and they chatted, beer in hand. Hua Xin frowned, took a small sip of beer, and swallowed it. The bitter taste made her feel that she would rather drink some iced tea. The alcoholic beverages she usually drank were fruity, so they weren't so unpleasant to drink, but this bitter and astringent taste easily reminded her of a life full of hardships, prompting her to express her emotions. No wonder they say people speak the truth when they're drunk... had she said anything wrong the times she was drunk before? The girl reluctantly put down the can and put her mask back on. Her alcohol tolerance was actually very, very low... From the few times she'd drunk before, it was clear that even a tiny bit too much would make her pass out and fall into a deep sleep. She wouldn't exactly act crazy while drunk, but her alcohol tolerance was indeed very low. However, Xia Yan was back today... Even if she couldn't handle it, she had to at least show some respect to her good friend. Otherwise, Hua Xin felt bad letting him drink alone all the time. Fortunately, there was still some good food... She hadn't gone to work today, and because of the move, her food supplies were all gone. There was no refrigerator after the move, so she hadn't replenished her usual ready-made meals and frozen products. These days, when she wasn't working and relied on Brother Shan Qing's cooking, she mostly relied on these simple, convenient, and delicious foods. These foods were truly the greatest invention in human history... Thinking of this, the girl couldn't help but sigh and turned her head to taste a piece of duck. Delicious. After savoring the delicious taste, Hua Xin swallowed quickly. The tasty food didn't make her forget the purpose of her outing with Xia Yan today. It wasn't just about having a good meal... For this reason, she had refused Xia Yan's offer to meet her under the guise of "Gu Xin Hua," and instead wore this incredibly hot outfit again. Why wear a heavy black hoodie and mask in the sweltering summer heat? It was all so that Xia Yan, who had been holding back for so long, could finally speak his mind. "I said..." "Hmm?" Xia Yan, who had just been joking and laughing, suddenly fell silent, his expression unreadable, only continuing to drink. There were already two crushed soda cans on the ground. Frowning, Hua Xin continued, "Why...why did your sister want to go to school here?" Xia Yan had previously mentioned sending Xia Fen to school here, so not only Gu Xin Hua knew, but Hua Xin also knew what Xia Yan was busy with upon his return. Perhaps because he always held a "don't worry about me" attitude towards his "girlfriend," he mostly only talked about the difficulties he was facing recently with his best friends. "Her..." "She's really hard to manage now that she's grown up." Xia Yan sighed, but there was no resentment in his words, only a hint of nostalgia and helplessness. "She said she had a great time here during the holidays, so she came here for university." "But I feel like she's just too lonely without any family at home or abroad, and she didn't want to stay in Beijing for university any longer." "Oh..." Hua Xin nodded, not continuing, just silently eating. She felt quite resentful. She had finally found a topic to get Xia Yan to continue the conversation, but each time he only touched on the subject and didn't get to the point. Could it be that she misunderstood? Xia Yan didn't come here to say anything heartfelt, just to chat? But if that's the case, why not find a place to eat barbecue or hot pot... Wait, her hands paused, and Hua Xin suddenly remembered her current identity. Xia Yan was taking care of her, which was why he didn't find a small, crowded place to eat... Thinking of this, the girl took a sip of wheat juice, feeling somewhat uneasy. The bitter taste repeatedly filled her mouth, making her, who had been lost in thought, slightly...