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Psst! We're moving!
Su Ling let out a sigh of relief. Hesitantly, she glanced at him. “I need to go back to school.”
Qin Xiao smirked and sat back on the bed, crossing his long legs, making no response.
Su Ling opened the door, but he didn’t stop her.
Su Ling went downstairs and couldn’t find her shoes. Aunt Ding was in the kitchen preparing hangover soup. Hearing footsteps, she saw Su Ling. “Miss, are you leaving?”
Su Ling nodded. “Aunt Ding, where did you put the shoes I came in with?”
Aunt Ding was worried. “It’s already past ten o’clock. It’s so dark outside, and it’s a mountain road. There are no taxis around here, Miss. It’s not safe for you to go out.”
Su Ling smiled at her. “It’s fine. I can call a car.”
Since Su Ling was a guest, Aunt Ding couldn’t stop her. She brought out the shoes she had put away, and after Su Ling changed into them, she stepped out. “Goodbye, Aunt Ding.”
Aunt Ding watched Su Ling’s retreating figure with concern. She was so beautiful, and it was so late—it wasn’t safe. Why didn’t the young master see her off?
Just as she thought this, Qin Xiao came downstairs.
Qin Xiao: “She left?”
“Yes. Young Master, please see her off. It’s so dark outside; even taking a taxi isn’t safe.”
Qin Xiao sneered. “For her, this place is the most unsafe.”
This statement made Aunt Ding unable to respond.
However, despite saying that, Qin Xiao still went out.
There were no stars outside the villa, but the lights were bright.
In summer, there were many mosquitoes in the mountains. After standing at the entrance for a few minutes, Su Ling was bitten several times.
She took out her phone only to discover it was dead.
“...” She always felt Qin Xiao planned everything perfectly. Su Ling was anxious, wondering how Yun Bu and Ni Hao Yan were doing now.
Her worry for them took precedence, and she decided to go back to borrow Aunt Ding’s phone.
Sure enough, Qin Xiao was lazily standing there waiting for her.
Seeing her return, he curved his lips. “Miss Su has come to her senses and returned to my embrace to sleep together?”
So shameless. Su Ling’s cheeks burned. “Qin Xiao!”
“Hmm, I’m listening.”
Behind her was the vast night. Walking back was obviously impossible. Suppressing the embarrassing feeling of asking him, she said, “Can I borrow a phone?”
He said, “Come closer yourself. If you’re far, I won’t hear clearly.”
His ability to lie through his teeth was impeccable. Su Ling remembered when she first came back to life, all battered in the bathtub begging him for help, he coldly refused.
Asking for his help always came with a price.
Seeing her eagerly looking forward, probably hoping Aunt Ding would come out, Qin Xiao found her hesitant manner quite silly.
He slowly said, “Aunt Ding has gone to sleep.”
She bit her lip, and Qin Xiao found it amusing.
Finally, the girl trudged over, each step like walking on pins and needles.
He didn’t move, just watched. This was the first time she initiated coming over. His eyes narrowed slightly as he pulled out his phone from his pocket. “One condition.”
Her eyes widened, looking pitiful.
He laughed. “Hmm, one minute of calling equals one minute of hugging. Choose whether to call or not.”
Where was the choice?
She couldn’t go back to the villa. Even if she walked down blindly, who knows how long it might take. Yun Bu and Ni Hao Yan were likely still searching for her everywhere, undoubtedly worried.
She had no other option.
She took the phone, and the man chuckled lowly. “Mm, good girl.”
Su Ling was both embarrassed and angry. She turned her back to make the call. She had memorized both Yun Bu and Ni Hao Yan’s numbers. Pausing momentarily, she decided to call Yun Bu; Qin Xiao was standing right behind her, and she dared not provoke him.
As soon as the call connected, Su Ling immediately reported her location concisely, told Yun Bu her phone was dead, and asked her not to worry.
Su Ling asked Yun Bu to call her a car, then quickly hung up.
Yun Bu: “Eh? Ling Ling, don’t hang up.” She looked at the pale-faced youth beside her, Ni Hao Yan, whose eyes were heavy with emotion, shaking his head at her. Yun Bu sighed, alright, she wouldn’t say anything.
They were both at the hospital.
“...Is something wrong?” Su Ling was also anxious inside.
Yun Bu said, “Nothing. I’ll call you a car. Be careful.”
After Su Ling hung up, she saw the timer displayed 00:01:03. She was a little stunned.
Qin Xiao couldn’t hold back and laughed.
It was only three seconds over, but according to the billing calculation, it was exactly two minutes.
She looked so desperate. Damn, she was absolutely adorable.
Qin Xiao chuckled and extended his arms toward her. “Come here.”
Her cheeks were so red. Dishonesty was virtually non-existent for her. In those clear eyes, he could see his reflection, and he felt a perverse sense of satisfaction.
Su Ling walked over and lightly hugged his waist.
He happily laughed. “So proactive?”
She was mortified and didn’t want to acknowledge him.
The girl’s body was fragrant and soft. He could see the top of her head, still wet with water droplets from the shower.
All restless and negative emotions suddenly vanished completely.
Only that sweetness remained, sweetening his gaze.
She was still timing silently, looking pitiable.
He gently pushed her away. Her cheeks were impossibly red, her eyes glistening with shyness and a hint of anger. However, the time wasn’t up yet. She looked at him in confusion, not knowing what he was going to do next.
Qin Xiao brushed aside the hair by her cheek and softly said, “Alright, happy birthday.”
This was the day heaven sent her to earth. He should be kind once.
“I’ll drive you back to school.”
She sat in the passenger seat while Qin Xiao drove. He casually tossed his phone to her.
She timidly said, “I don’t want it.”
Qin Xiao’s heart was nearly melted by this girl. “No charge this time.”
She tried to suppress it but couldn’t help being overly happy, subtly curving her lips. The instant her eyes lit up with laughter, the fragmented light was more beautiful than glass.
He was truly wicked, rarely treating her so kindly.
Such a small, normal gesture could make her so happy.
Driving along the road, Su Ling talked quietly on the phone. Only now did she dare to answer Yun Bu’s questions carefully.
She kept an eye on Qin Xiao, replying in snippets while checking his reactions.
He drove very seriously and attentively, his wildness fully reined in.
The night was quiet, September not yet over, everything vibrant and lively. Along with faint insect chirps, the car was very peaceful.
His dark eyes looked ahead.
Somehow, Su Ling remembered Aunt Ding telling her about Qin Xiao’s teenage years.
“When the young master was in high school, he and Guo Shao and the others went street racing and hit a big gash on his forehead. If you look closely now, you can still see a faint scar.”
Back then, she listened quietly. She had never seen Qin Xiao drive fast; he always drove very attentively.
Aunt Ding smiled and said, “He’s so well-behaved now because you’re in the car.”
Because he loves you, because he’s afraid of losing you.
That’s why he learned to restrain himself, why he’s so careful.
Su Ling abruptly turned her head, no longer looking at him. Against the dark blue sky, all the scenery was receding.
However, many things in this world cannot be reversed like that—time, love, first encounters, and partings.
Su Ling had already died once.
When Su Ling returned to the dormitory, Zhao Wanwan quickly got up. “You’re back?”
It was already half past eleven, quite late.
Zhao Wanwan had kept the door open for her. Another roommate, Zhou Man, was asleep. Zhao Wanwan lowered her voice and whispered, “What about Yun Bu? Didn’t she come back with you?”
Her tone was somewhat worried. Not sleeping at this hour clearly meant she was waiting for Su Ling and Yun Bu.
Su Ling was taken aback, shook her head, and softly replied, “Thank you.”
Zhao Wanwan felt a bit embarrassed. Before, she and Zhou Man had been quite rejecting of Su Ling and Yun Bu. But she knew Su Ling, though mostly quiet, was a good girl.
Yun Bu, though carefree, was also a nice person.
However, once boundaries between people are drawn, they are hard to merge afterward. Zhao Wanwan knew Zhou Man had deep thoughts, so their interactions always carried a sense of caution. Inside, she envied Su Ling and Yun Bu.
Su Ling had already chatted with Yun Bu in the car. Yun Bu said she would be back soon.
True enough, Yun Bu returned not long after. They had a lot to talk about but, fearing waking the others and given the lateness, decided to sleep.
The next day, Yun Bu couldn’t hide her worries any longer and pulled Su Ling aside. “Ling Ling, who was that person who took you away yesterday?”
Su Ling didn’t plan to hide it from her. “It was Qin Xiao.”
Yun Bu: “...” She had deceived herself all night, thinking it was just someone who looked similar, but alas, it really was that Qin Zong.
Yun Bu had seen Qin Xiao once at a film set. The scene where Qin Xiao dealt with Zheng Xiaoya was now widely praised within small circles.
Young Master Qin was almost mythologized—young, rich, powerful—a man on a pedestal.
However, last night, that man on the pedestal had a dangerous, unsettling aura.
Yun Bu didn’t know whether to exclaim, wow, Ling Ling is amazing, knowing such a mythical-level big shot; or to say poor Ling Ling, that man looked difficult to deal with.
Zheng Xiaoya was in a dire state now, not having filmed anything for months.
Moreover, that man indirectly caused her cousin’s arm to break!
Yun Bu recalled the polite way the young man addressed her as Sister Yun Bu and felt sorry for him. After struggling through a whole lecture, she decided to tell Su Ling about Ni Hao Yan.
Su Ling’s expression immediately changed. Last night, she was unclear-headed and only knew Ni Hao Yan had come but didn’t realize he had gotten injured. Though dislocation could be fixed quickly, the pain endured for a few days was real.
Yun Bu said, “He didn’t want me to tell you. He also returned to school last night. Ling Ling, don’t worry. The doctor said he’d be fine in a couple of days.”
Su Ling couldn’t possibly not worry; he was like a younger brother to her.
She directly requested leave for the remaining two classes. Chen Fan’s class was usually difficult to get leave from, but Su Ling was visibly anxious, which anyone could see.
Chen Fan frowned tightly. “Then go ahead.”
Though strict and improper in conduct generally, he wouldn’t trouble students over such matters.
It was a short distance through two alleys. Su Ling quickly arrived at Q University. It was still morning, coinciding with class time, so there weren’t many people on campus.
However, Su Ling had a face that turned heads. As she walked, people discreetly glanced at her.
The more they looked, the more familiar she seemed.
Su Ling knew Ni Hao Yan had enrolled in computer science but didn’t know which class he was assigned to. By then, she had already cut ties with her uncle’s family, so she had to ask around.
Ni Hao Yan was quite famous among the freshmen.
Class president of Computer Science B class, excellent grades, handsome, and played ball games well.
After asking a few people, someone gave her directions.
Su Ling felt guilty; she hadn’t managed to take good care of him after all.
Ni Hao Yan was attending a programming theory class. He studied diligently, though his injured hand prevented him from taking notes. After the teacher finished explaining the theory, they were instructed to review and read for a bit.
In university, roommates usually sit together. Ni Hao Yan’s roommate, Zhang Jun, and others were playing games.
Five of them formed a gaming team. Zhang Jun played ADC, busy farming in the jungle, while his friends nudged him. “Jun, look up.”
Zhang Jun: “Don’t push me; I’m farming my red buff.”
“No, look up. Isn’t that your goddess outside?”
Zhang Jun thought they were fooling him. “Are you crazy? How would my goddess come to our school?”
He secured his red buff, satisfied, and got smacked on the head. “She really looks like her. Hurry and check; she’s stunning.”
Zhang Jun got irritated. When he looked up and saw the girl outside the classroom, his annoyed expression instantly changed. Whether he blushed or not couldn’t be seen since his skin was dark.
Hou Yi on his screen got killed by Li Bai in the jungle.
Zhang Jun didn’t bother checking his game, stuttering instead. “Tru... true enough.”
Several people noticed Su Ling. She was beautiful, and the Media School was known for its beauties. Among the engineering students, few could resist such charm.
Those following the entertainment circle recognized her, finding her familiar. Those who didn’t simply thought she was very pretty.
More and more people stared at her. Su Ling realized the awkwardness but also knew Ni Hao Yan was stubborn. When he fought with others as a child, he wouldn’t mention a cut on his leg unless Grandmother discovered it later.
Su Ling feared he had other injuries he hadn’t mentioned.
Anxiously, she also knew Ni Hao Yan couldn’t conveniently come out during class.
University teaching buildings had many self-study classrooms. She decided to wait for Ni Hao Yan’s class to end there.
The group of rough guys were noisy. Ni Hao Yan raised his head, following their whispers.
Su Ling had already turned and entered the neighboring classroom.
Ni Hao Yan was startled.
People around were still discussing. “From the neighboring Z University, so pretty. Too bad she’s distant.”
The girls were excited too. “She played Nine Li in ‘Twelve Years of Dust’! It’s premiering in a few days. Wow, I’ve never been this close to a celebrity.”
“Who does she come to see?”
Zhang Jun couldn’t continue gaming. Knowing he was a pervert, his roommates egged him on. “Jun, skip class and go flirt with the goddess. For love, nothing is unworthy.”
This elicited some laughter.
The lecturer didn’t see Su Ling. She only stayed briefly. When he returned after writing on the board, he noticed the classroom buzzing. The lecturer, who had a good temper, said, “Quiet down. We’re still in class. Are you done reading? I’ll quiz you later.”
Zhang Jun made up his mind, gritted his teeth, and was about to run when Ni Hao Yan, sitting in the front row, raised his hand. “Teacher Tang, I’m not feeling well. Can I go out?”
Ni Hao Yan was the class president. Though the lecturer didn’t recognize most students, he knew him.
“Go ahead.”
Ni Hao Yan exited the room, showing no expression. Turning the corner, he headed to the neighboring classroom.
Zhang Jun: “???!!!”
His roommates were also confused. “That’s not the restroom, nor the stairs. Wasn’t that where the beauty from earlier entered?”
“Did the class president request leave to chase a girl?”
Zhang Jun: “Damn, I knew something was off when he tore my poster last time. Don’t stop me; I’m going to kill him.”
“Go for it, Jun!”
“...” He sulked, not daring to raise his hand. “I’ll sneak out from the back door later.”
“Good job!”
Ni Hao Yan stood at the door of the neighboring classroom. Su Ling was scrolling through Weibo. ‘Twelve Years of Dust’ was in its promotional phase, and she had to keep up with necessary retweets.
There weren’t many people in the self-study classroom, just four or five. The air conditioner was on, and the students were secretly sizing her up.
Ni Hao Yan thought to himself, she had this kind of charm. Though quiet and reserved, she could attract everyone’s attention.
He watched for a while. Sensing something, Su Ling looked up and saw the youthful figure standing by the door.
Su Ling quietly got up and exited the classroom.
Ni Hao Yan silently led her downstairs to Chongzhi Lake, where willows were planted. Half of the willows were deep green, and half were golden yellow.
Under the sunlight, the lake rippled vibrantly.
The gingko trees lining the path would soon turn entirely golden.
This was the first time the siblings met after Su Ling left home.
Su Ling felt guilty. She wasn’t good with words, and no matter how anxious she was inside, she couldn’t express it. She still remembered Ni Hao Yan didn’t like her much and found her annoying. Now, she didn’t know how to start.
Ni Hao Yan pursed his lips. “What are you here for?”
His current demeanor was calm and composed, completely different from the person who wanted to fight Qin Xiao last night.
Fortunately, Su Ling didn’t see that side of him.
She softly asked, “How’s your hand? Are there other injuries?”
“It’s none of your business.”
This sentence was cold. Su Ling blinked, feeling a dull ache in her heart. Even if some wounds had scabbed over, they still hurt when touched.
She missed Grandma so much. She didn’t want to be without a home.
But as an older sister, she couldn’t show these emotions in front of Ni Hao Yan. All she could do was apologize. “I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” he said dryly, realizing his words were hurtful. He knew Su Ling was sad. However, their interaction pattern was too ingrained to change quickly.
Ni Hao Yan said, “That person last night… didn’t look like a good guy. When did you meet him?”
He realized his question was too private and quickly added, “You’d better stay away from him. I heard things in your entertainment circle are complicated.”
Su Ling nodded. Her biggest fear was Ni Hao Yan getting involved in Qin Xiao’s affairs.
Ni Hao Yan was like a stubborn little beast, while Qin Xiao was the cold hunter holding a gun.
If Ni Hao Yan provoked him, Qin Xiao wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
“I understand. Does your hand still hurt?” She carefully examined him. He had no external injuries, and she remembered Qin Xiao didn’t have time to do anything to him. It seemed it was just a wrist dislocation.
Ni Hao Yan moved his fingers. “Not anymore.”
Both were silent for a moment. Su Ling wanted to ask about his family but ultimately didn’t bring it up. She said, “Take care of yourself. At Grandma’s place… we’re not there. If her health...”
Ni Hao Yan understood her meaning. “I told my dad. He’ll notify me if anything happens to Grandma.” He looked at her. Although she was the elder sister, she appeared much smaller now, delicate and petite.
“I’ll inform you too,” he said.
There was no tension, no trace of the mischievous mindset he had when bullying her as a child.
He seemed to have grown up considerably, shedding his immature, flamboyant teenage personality to become more composed.
The boy who once bullied her with Ni Jianan and later scratched his head anxiously had suddenly grown up.
Su Ling wasn’t used to it and didn’t know what events led to his current changes. Feeling at a loss, she could only thank him.
“No need. Go back to class.”
She wasn’t good at conversations anyway. When he told her to leave, she hesitated for a moment, then nodded and left.
“Ni Hao Yan.” She thought for a moment, turned back, and called him softly. “Rest well. If you feel unwell, go to the hospital or call me.”
Ni Hao Yan didn’t respond, watching her retreating figure across the bridge.
The slender girl became the most beautiful scenery.
She was twenty this year, and he was eighteen. Both were adults.
He rested his hand on the railing, his wrist still throbbing faintly. He actually had many questions for her. Why didn’t you come to see me off to university? Why didn’t you even make a call in the end? How could you leave so decisively? Aren’t you the most timid and reluctant one?
He thought about many things until the bell signaling the end of class rang, realizing he had stood by the lake for too long.
What was the point of those questions?
In this world, those most fragile and sensitive emotionally are often the most ruthless.
And those who appear the softest often have the strongest hearts.
When Su Ling decided to let go, she wouldn’t pick it up again.
No one would be the exception.
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