For a moment, Ji Yunhuai almost thought he had misheard.
The question, "Let's be together," had actually been spoken as a statement. It sounded so matter-of-fact that it almost felt like something he had imagined hearing.
He was dazed, frozen in place, his pupils contracting as they trembled.
Then, instinctively, he asked for confirmation. "What... did you say?"
His question was cautious and soft, his breath held, as though he feared disturbing something.
-Ji Yunhuai had never shown anyone an expression like this: shock mingled with blankness, blankness mingled with hope. Disbelief filled his eyes; he could even be called dumbstruck.
Lu Xiaoxiao seemed dissatisfied with his slow response, and the hands cupping his face suddenly pressed more firmly.
"I said! Let's be together!" She fought hard to keep her voice from breaking, speaking louder this time. "I just told you, I can't bear to see you cold!"
"Being together has to be better than being alone!"
"I know... you lost a very, very important member of your family today. You're hurting, and nothing anyone says can change that... terrible thing. I don't know how to comfort you anymore, either."
At this point, Lu Xiaoxiao could not help letting out a sob, her voice sounding both aggrieved and frustrated.
She said, "Even someone as good with words as me can't think of what to say. Then the pain you're feeling... must... must be so much more complicated that you don't know how to put it into words."
The latter half of that sentence sank almost to a mumble, but Lu Xiaoxiao quickly adjusted her volume again.
"You know I'm usually not afraid of anything, but just now... just seeing you sitting here alone, so lonely and so sad, made me realize there were so, so many things I was afraid