Chapter 6: Three People
A little past noon, Qing Tian’s legs had gone numb from sitting on the ground. As she stood up, she stumbled and almost bumped into the bookshelf beside her.
Ji Xiangyu’s eyes were quick, and he reached out, directly shielding her in his arms. His nose brushed against the top of her head, and a faint scent entered his nostrils, very pleasant. He realized her scent was so wonderful.
The moment she fell into Ji Xiangyu’s embrace, Qing Tian’s heart completely lost its rhythm, beating erratically.
Smelling his scent again, a faint jasmine scent, it actually made her feel briefly intoxicated. When intoxicated, one wouldn’t care about worldly matters, and the sharp edges on her person would be dulled.
She said softly, “Thank you!”
Perhaps because her tone had softened, he pushed his luck and said, “To show your sincerity, please treat me to a meal!”
When Qing Tian heard his words, she faintly pulled at the corner of her mouth. “Mm!”
Ji Xiangyu finally caught that subtle smile. He discovered that when she smiled, she was very gentle and moving. That kind of smile from the heart was like ripples suddenly forming on a calm lake, expanding from small circles into large waves, until her entire heart was filled.
Qing Tian walked ahead with her schoolbag on her back and canvas shoes on her feet, her steps slow, looking forward.
Ji Xiangyu followed behind her with slightly smaller steps, maintaining a rhythmic distance between them, afraid that if he stepped forward, he would overtake her and lose her. He followed her cautiously, looking down at her back. In the sunshine, she seemed to be coated in a veil, separating him from her.
He wanted to reach out and touch that veil, but he stopped his hand halfway and pulled it back. Some things, after all, could not be crossed.
They arrived at the bookstore’s lounge area, where many people were gathered to buy books. The age groups were not clearly divided; there were uncles and little boys. They chose a long chair in a corner and sat down.
Qing Tian took out the bread she had bought at Mai Xiang Village that morning from her schoolbag and offered it to Ji Xiangyu, saying in a slightly weak tone, “Eat.”
Ji Xiangyu looked at the piece of bread and asked, “What are you eating?”
Qing Tian glanced at him faintly and pretended to be relaxed, saying, “I’m not hungry!”
Ji Xiangyu’s heart felt as if it were filled with a bottle of aged vinegar, so sour it was hard to breathe. He had heard about Qing Tian’s background before but hadn’t delved deeply into it. A piece of bread from Mai Xiang Village was probably a luxury for her.
He darted away, leaving Qing Tian standing there blankly.
Qing Tian looked at the piece of bread in her hand, and her heart couldn’t help but feel a sense of loneliness.
In an instant, the bread in her hand was snatched away by a hand. Then, the person unreasonably tore it apart and began to eat it in large bites.
Qing Tian looked up, her gaze somewhat angry at the person in front of her. With a roguish smile on his lips, he said, “I’ve finished your bread. To express my apology, I’ll treat you to a meal!”
Qing Tian looked at Xia Yang, wanting to laugh. The hint of sadness in his eyes seemed like a true reflection of her own. She didn’t know why, but after their last encounter, she felt an inexplicable urge to get closer to him. She couldn’t explain this feeling, nor could she figure it out!
Xia Yang met Qing Tian’s gaze and then extended his hand, continuing, “I wonder if I have this honor!”
Qing Tian looked at the hand in front of her and hesitantly reached out. As soon as she lifted it, Xia Yang grasped it.
The moment their hands clasped, Qing Tian looked up and saw Ji Xiangyu standing less than five meters away, holding two cups of Starbucks milk tea.
When Qing Tian’s eyes met his, her heart felt as if it were being pierced by a sharp knife, an indescribable feeling she couldn’t articulate.
Ji Xiangyu looked at their clasped hands and felt as if the temperature in this September day had become extremely cold, making him shiver.
Xia Yang, as if he hadn’t seen Ji Xiangyu, pulled Qing Tian past him and walked towards the street.
As Qing Tian and Xia Yang passed Ji Xiangyu, he reached out to grab Qing Tian’s hand, but by the time he extended his hand, he had nothing to grasp. He could only watch in vain as the two figures disappeared before his eyes.
This was the first time Ji Xiangyu had watched something of his being snatched away. He had always been the darling of his family and the prince among his classmates. Yet, Xia Yang ignored his existence, and Qing Tian didn’t care about his presence at all. It was as if a prince living in a castle had suddenly fallen into misfortune, no longer showered with adoration!
That sense of powerlessness, frustration, and contrast filled his entire body.
Perhaps his usual sense of superiority was too strong, which was why he felt so powerless at this moment. He was, after all, still too young.
