Lu Huai'an returned to his apartment, threw himself flat onto the bed, and buried his face deep into the pillow.
The image of Su Nianchu laughing and chatting with that guy replayed in his mind over and over again like a stuck VCR, impossible to shake off.
Frustrated, he tugged at his hair and kicked out at the blanket, but his foot struck the wall with a dull thud.
The pain shooting through his foot made him curse aloud.
"Damn it!"
She said she was busy tonight, yet it turned out she was having dinner with another guy in the cafeteria, and even smiling so happily? Lu Huai'an felt a suffocating tightness in his chest.
He remembered the day the semester started, how Su Nianchu had rushed to clear things up with that senior, claiming he was just like a younger brother to her. And then he remembered how he asked her out today, only for her to say she was busy, yet she turned around and had dinner with that man instead?
The pain in his foot mixed with the grievance in his heart, sending a surge of bitterness up his throat.
Lu Huai'an felt like an idiot.
Could it be that everything up until now was just his own wishful thinking?
If not, then what on earth did those words she said to him last night mean?
"Thank you... for always staying by my side."
Su Nianchu's voice, carrying a trace of imperceptible tremor, seemed to still echo in his ears.
He couldn't understand it, really couldn't!
What on earth was going through her head?
Did she really just see him as a younger brother? Someone she could vent to whenever she wanted, and toss aside whenever she had no use for him?
But if that were the case, why say those things to him that were so easy to misunderstand?
Why do things that were so easy to misunderstand?
The more Lu Huai'an thought about it, the more annoyed he became. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to stop thinking.
Yet his brain played out every single detail of his time with Su Nianchu like a movie reel.
When they were little, he was bullied by a neighborhood kid, and she rushed forward like a grown-up to protect him; in high school, when he was terrified of getting scolded by his family over poor exam grades, she stayed up all night reviewing with him and explaining problems...
...
A buzzing sound rang through the room. Assuming it was Jiang Chuan or Hu Yishu, Lu Huai'an answered the phone without even looking at the screen, speaking in a muffled voice: "You guys go ahead and eat. I'm not hungry, I just want to be by myself for a bit."
The other end of the line fell silent for a few seconds before a cool female voice rang out with a hint of confusion: "Hello?"
Lu Huai'an snapped his head up and stared at the phone screen. The caller ID showed "Lin Jiayu".
He froze for a few seconds before it finally registered, his voice somewhat hoarse: "Why is it you?"
"I saw you didn't accept the money and didn't reply to my message, so I was afraid you'd forget and called to remind you," Lin Jiayu said softly, though her voice carried a trace of concern. "What's wrong with you?"
Lu Huai'an rubbed his throbbing temples, sat up, leaned against the headboard, and answered in a low voice: "Nothing..."
"Are you in a bad mood today, by any chance?" Lin Jiayu asked probingly.
Lu Huai'an was silent for a moment, then muttered, "Sort of."
"Let me guess... could it be because of... relationship troubles?" A hint of probing edged into Lin Jiayu's voice.
Lu Huai'an didn't speak.
"Don't tell me I actually guessed it right..." Seeing him stay silent, Lin Jiayu's tone grew a bit uncertain.
"Yeah, you guessed right," Lu Huai'an admitted in a low voice, helplessness tinging his tone.
"Looks like I'm pretty good at guessing, then," Lin Jiayu said with a touch of quiet triumph. "Do you want to come out for a walk? Cooping yourself up alone in your room is only going to make you feel worse."
What mood was Lu Huai'an in to go out right now? He just wanted some peace and quiet by himself.
"Don't feel like moving," he said listlessly.
Lin Jiayu thought for a moment, then suddenly said: "Lu Huai'an, I'm going to cash in the compensation you owe me."
"Go ahead, I'm listening," Lu Huai'an replied, assuming she wanted some object or wanted him to help her with something.
"Right now, immediately, at once—come down and take a walk with me. How about it?" Lin Jiayu's tone left no room for refusal.
Lu Huai'an fell silent. He hadn't expected Lin Jiayu to make such a request. A walk? Right now he just wanted to bury himself in the blankets, doing nothing and thinking of nothing.
"Hello? Lu Huai'an? Are you listening?" Not hearing a response, Lin Jiayu asked again.
"..."
"Hurry up and come out, I'm already at your apartment door." Lin Jiayu's voice suddenly turned brisk, even carrying a hint of coyness.
Lu Huai'an started. What? At the apartment door? So fast? This woman's execution speed was terrifyingly high.
He rubbed his messy hair, feeling somewhat helpless yet stirred by an indescribable sensation.
The door clicked open, and a faint fragrance of gardenia washed over him, mingled with the damp, distinctive breath of a summer night.
Lin Jiayu was standing right there in the doorway.
She wore a simple white dress with a hemline falling just past her knees, revealing slender, fair calves. Free of excessive ornamentation, the outfit featured only a matching ribbon tied around her waist, accentuating her willow-slim figure.
Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, the ends curling slightly and fluttering gently in the night breeze.
"Hey? What are you spacing out for? Aren't you going to invite me in to sit down?" Seeing Lu Huai'an standing blankly in the doorway, Lin Jiayu couldn't help teasing.
Lu Huai'an finally snapped back to his senses. He stepped aside to clear a path, his tone somewhat unnatural: "Come in."
Lin Jiayu stepped into the apartment and glanced around.
The room was kept very clean, with minimalist furnishings that matched the fresh, clean impression Lu Huai'an always gave off.
"Why... did you suddenly come over?" Lu Huai'an closed the door, walked over to the sofa, and sat down as he asked.
"Didn't you say I could make a request?" Lin Jiayu blinked, looking as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"What, do you regret it?"
"Not really," Lu Huai'an hastily denied. He just hadn't expected Lin Jiayu to show up on his doorstep so quickly, and with a request like this.
"I'm just a little surprised," he added.
"Surprised by what? Surprised that I'd make such a simple request?" Lin Jiayu walked over and sat down on the sofa opposite him, resting her chin in her hands and looking at him with a smile.
Lu Huai'an felt a bit awkward under her gaze. He averted his eyes, gave a light cough, and said, "A little."
"Then what kind of request did you think I'd make? Did you think I'd ask you to offer your body in marriage?" Lin Jiayu raised an eyebrow, curiosity coloring her tone.
Lu Huai'an's face flushed crimson instantly, and he waved his hands frantically: "That's not what I meant!"
"Haha, just kidding. Look at how scared you are." Lin Jiayu burst out laughing; she was finding it rather fun to tease Lu Huai'an.
Lu Huai'an scratched his head in embarrassment. His current state of mind was extremely complicated, a mix of vexation over Su Nianchu and utter bewilderment at Lin Jiayu's sudden arrival.
"So, are we going for that walk now?" Lin Jiayu stood up, walked over to him, leaned in slightly, and braced her hands on the arms of the sofa.
Lu Huai'an found himself trapped on the sofa, unable to move.
He could even smell the faint fragrance of gardenia radiating from Lin Jiayu, blending with her own unique, pleasant scent, making his heart race and his breathing grow somewhat shallow.