The Things Tang San Said Were a Bit Too Much

"Visiting relatives? But Ye Qiu, aren't you an orphan?"

Tang San looked at Ye Qiu strangely, unable to make sense of it. He had known since childhood that Ye Qiu had survived in Holy Soul Village on handouts from the villagers.

Xiao Wu, who was staring at the things in Ye Qiu's hands and swallowing in anticipation, also looked up at him in confusion. She had spent quite some time in Holy Soul Village and knew Ye Qiu's entire life story. He really was an orphan.

"I said I'm visiting relatives. How can we be close if I don't visit them?" Ye Qiu pursed his lips and fixed his gaze on Xiao Wu. Then he confessed with a smile, "Let me tell you: your big brother already has a fiancée!"

"A fiancée?!"

Tang San was astonished. He looked at Ye Qiu, then at Xiao Wu. Unsure whether he should be happy or celebrate, he blurted out, "Then what about Xiao Wu?!"

"F-fiancée..." Xiao Wu had still been looking at Ye Qiu curiously, but at his words, she froze and stared at him blankly.

Having lived for over ten years, she of course knew what those three words meant.

Did that mean Ye Qiu had someone else?!

Did it mean he had fallen for another rabbit and didn't want to eat her anymore?!

At Tang San's question, Ye Qiu looked at Xiao Wu's dazed crimson eyes, filled with hurt, fear, and confusion.

He felt some satisfaction, but also a trace of guilt.

In front of Tang San, Ye Qiu smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed. He leaned toward Xiao Wu, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and turned to look at her. Gently squeezing her rounded shoulder, he asked softly:

"Xiao Wu, how do you want me to treat you?"

"I..."

Xiao Wu raised her eyes to look at Ye Qiu. All the joy she'd felt at their reunion had vanished. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, and she didn't know what to do.

She stubbornly pressed her red lips together, her wide crimson eyes blinking as she held back tears. Then she slowly turned her head away from Ye Qiu, lowered it dejectedly, and nervously twisted the hem of her clothes between her fingers.

She was heartbroken and upset, but still managed to answer.

"I... I don't know either."

Xiao Wu's voice was faint and confused, choked with tears. She had always been so obedient, willing to do anything for Ye Qiu. Why had he suddenly stopped wanting her?

"Xiao Wu."

Tang San had been feeling a little pleased, but when he saw this and heard the sorrow in Xiao Wu's voice, his heart tightened. He immediately reproached Ye Qiu. "Ye Qiu, how could you do this?! It's only been two months. You're not joking, are you? Xiao Wu has been—"

"I'm not joking." Ye Qiu shrugged and cut Tang San off. He didn't want to be evasive. Whether he was coming clean or simply had nothing to hide, everything he'd said was the plain truth.

Besides, he could judge for himself how Xiao Wu felt about him. He understood her feelings better than Tang San did.

Thinking of Xiao Wu's emotions, Ye Qiu didn't want to say anything more to Tang San. Xiao Wu seemed close to tears, and the most important thing now was to comfort her.

"All right, Xiao San. I'll handle this myself, so don't worry." Ye Qiu stood up and patted Tang San on the shoulder. Then he ignored him and turned to unpack all the food he'd bought.

Tang San furrowed his brow. Seeing Xiao Wu sneak a glance at Ye Qiu, he felt all his slight happiness evaporate. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, and he couldn't help trying to comfort her. "Xiao Wu, don't be sad—"

Before Tang San could finish, Xiao Wu lifted her tear-streaked crimson eyes and cut him off. "Xiao San, Ye Qiu is right. This is between the two of us. You should go take care of your own things."

"Xiao Wu, you..."

Tang San's expression stiffened. Looking at the two of them, he could only sigh helplessly to himself. Even as he left, he didn't forget to stick up for Xiao Wu. "All right, then. I should go report to my teacher, too. Ye Qiu, you'd better watch what you say. You can't hit people at a time like this!"

"I never hit her first."

Ye Qiu had his back to Tang San, his expression a little odd. Since when had Tang San become so meddlesome?

"Good."

Tang San nodded in satisfaction, then left Dorm Seven and headed to Yu Xiaogang's little room to discuss life.

After splitting the food he'd brought back into two portions, Ye Qiu slowly turned around.

Xiao Wu noticed him turning, but kept her head lowered. Her expression was sorrowful, and tears shimmered in her eyes.

Watching Tang San's back disappear from sight, Ye Qiu felt a great sense of relief.

Could he really tell Tang San what he'd been doing for the past two months?

Besides, Ye Qiu felt that Tang San was looking at him a little differently. And the things he'd said just now had been a bit much.

Putting those thoughts aside, Ye Qiu sat down beside Xiao Wu again and held out the food.

Xiao Wu kept her head down and didn't move. Every so often, her stomach rumbled.

Ye Qiu rolled his eyes helplessly, set the food in front of her, and asked softly, "Little rabbit, do you still want to eat?"

"I do. I'll eat." Xiao Wu's petite body trembled. She quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve, raised her head a little, and reached out to take the food. Her eyes were red, and she had clearly been crying.

Ye Qiu's gaze flickered, and he fell silent. Only then did he realize that Xiao Wu wasn't acting domineering at all. She wasn't making a scene; she was just keeping her head down and quietly crying.

"Here, take the chopsticks. Eat first."

Ye Qiu couldn't help softening his voice even more. As he handed her the chopsticks, he shifted a little farther away so he'd have room to use his own.

Xiao Wu had just taken the chopsticks when she noticed Ye Qiu's movement. Her face paled and her slender body trembled. Tears welling in her eyes, she stared at Ye Qiu as he dug into his food, completely bewildered.

She slowly picked at a few grains of rice and awkwardly brought them to her mouth. Even though she was trying to take tiny bites, Xiao Wu still felt as if something were lodged in her throat. The generous meal tasted bland and was difficult to swallow.

"Ye, Ye Qiu... why?"

Ye Qiu's mouth was full when he suddenly heard her clear voice. It trembled slightly, and sounded a little hoarse.

"Hey, don't cry."

Ye Qiu turned around. Seeing the tears running down Xiao Wu's face, he hurriedly set down his food and reached out to wipe them away.

Xiao Wu swallowed the few grains of rice in her mouth and lifted her head slightly. She let Ye Qiu cup her face, looking at him with tears about to spill from her eyes again.

"Ye Qiu, why don't you want me anymore?"

"When did I ever say I didn't want you?" Ye Qiu looked completely baffled. He had always been frugal, so how could he possibly throw Xiao Wu away?