TPIL - 28

Gao Jie viewed love as a subject to be studied—there was always room for effort, even if reciprocation wasn’t guaranteed. Moreover, the moment she fell in love, her freedom of choice had already disappeared. Love was like a spiritual virus, and the glands that secreted controlling hormones hadn’t fully developed yet. She stumbled, she fell, she became a captive of this feeling called “liking.” In such a state, could the things she did still be considered actions born out of her own will?

Canada’s vast expanse made it so that by the time Luo Andi arrived, Gao Jie had already cried for half a day in her hotel room on one of the upper floors.

Of course, Qi Xiaochuan, who had been handling logistics such as booking tickets, arranging transportation for luggage, and other support work, also arrived at the same time—but no one paid him any attention.

By the time Luo Andi arrived, Gao Jie had stopped crying. However, she immediately rushed forward with earnestness, passionately recounting her plight and plans: “I know he doesn’t like me, and he’s not interested in me, but I’ve been trying my best to get closer to him. It’s alright; as long as I persist, as long as I try harder... he’ll definitely like me eventually, right?”

She looked at Luo Andi, her eyes filled with fireflies, eagerly waiting for the answer she wanted to hear. Luo Andi hugged her, finally managing to coax the young girl into sitting down in the living room, softly comforting her: “Don’t worry too much.” Unexpectedly, someone chimed in from behind, bored and uninterested: “Impossible. Feelings are like the stock market—it’s not something you can force.” Poor Gao Jie, heartbroken as she was, still managed to muster the energy to glare at Qi Xiaochuan.

Luo Andi didn’t turn around once. She pressed gently on Gao Jie’s wrist and asked with concern: “It’s been a while; have you eaten anything? Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

“I want a Slurpee,” Gao Jie replied, glaring fiercely at Qi Xiaochuan. “I want that person to go buy it for me.”

Previously unwilling to even call him “uncle,” now he was demoted to “that person.” Qi Xiaochuan’s expression hit a new low, his attitude blatantly terrible: “Why don’t you ask the hotel concierge to get it for you?”

Gao Jie had never met anyone so annoying and oblivious to the atmosphere. When they needed him to speak, he clammed up and slipped away quickly; when they wanted him gone, he stubbornly stayed put. Struggling to maintain her composure, she gritted her teeth and smiled faintly: “Since your presence here is ruining the mood, can’t you step aside for a bit?”

If I leave just because you tell me to, wouldn’t that make me look pathetic? Seemingly holding onto such thoughts, Qi Xiaochuan bluntly rejected: “No, why should I—”

But then Luo Andi turned her head.

She looked at him.

His words twisted mid-sentence, and Qi Xiaochuan said: “You two stay put.”

He went out, asking a housekeeping staff member he encountered on the way down about the nearest convenience store. When he entered the elevator, there were already people inside. The younger one held the latest Nintendo console under his arm, while the older man wore a suit, exuding confidence and elegance. He even smiled warmly at Qi Xiaochuan when he stepped in. Both individuals, in terms of appearance and demeanor, were extremely presentable, likely the sons of wealthy families raised on luxury and refined education since childhood.

Qi Xiaochuan was worlds apart from those born in Rome, but he harbored no particular prejudice. He nodded slightly and stood to one side.

However, the other party glanced at him a few more times before suddenly speaking up, initiating conversation in Chinese: “Excuse me, are you Mr. Qi Xiaochuan?”

Qi Xiaochuan turned his head and immediately recalled the person’s identity—the highly rumored successor of the company where Gao Feng worked. In response, he greeted politely. The young man was steady and dignified, not overly familiar, but skilled in social interactions, striking just the right balance in small talk. He introduced the younger boy beside him: “This is my younger brother.”

Originally, a casual acknowledgment would suffice, but doubts arose in Qi Xiaochuan’s mind, prompting him to casually inquire: “I remember your younger brother being older, right?”

“That’s my second younger brother,” the young man explained gracefully. “This is the youngest.”

The elevator door opened, stopping at the middle floor, and Qi Xiaochuan watched them leave. The younger boy glanced at him before stepping out. A middle school boy was still entirely a child. Considering his connection to Gao Jie’s family, Qi Xiaochuan already had a rough idea but couldn’t be bothered to verify it.

He bought the Slurpee and went upstairs, opening the hotel room door, passing through the outer living room, and standing in the corridor, far enough to see Gao Jie leaning on Luo Andi. Luo Andi had her arm around the young girl, gently stroking her hair.

Qi Xiaochuan paused, watching them silently. He saw her smile—sometimes, Luo Andi’s smiles were meant solely to comfort others, but at times, they carried an undertone of self-fulfillment because they warmed the hearts of those around her. She truly felt sorrow for her friends, and her helpful nature shone brightest in moments like these, like moonlight that only reveals its beauty at night.

They quickly booked the next available flight back home.

On the plane, Luo Andi connected to the cabin’s Wi-Fi. Initially, she only intended to check the weather upon landing, but she received a notification. Gao Jie asked her: “Little Sister An, would you really not consider working at my house? You’re very capable, and you treat people kindly. If needed, my father would be happy to arrange a position for you.”

Luo Andi initially composed a lengthy refusal but hesitated for a moment before deleting everything and rewriting a brief message: “Thank you for your kindness.”

Seeing that she wasn’t resting, Gao Jie sent another message: “Little Sister An, have you ever been in love?” Before receiving a reply, she continued: “Never mind. I already know how popular you are. That guy who came to Paradise Handmade on his motorcycle once mentioned how admired you were in university. Naturally, kind-hearted and beautiful—you’d be liked by anyone.”

Luo Andi said: “Don’t overthink things. Try to rest a little.”

Unfortunately, Gao Jie had no intention of following her advice: “Have you ever liked someone?”

She patiently waited for an answer, but after a long silence without any new notifications, she put down her phone and turned to look out the window at the overly vibrant clouds. After a while, Luo Andi finally replied: “Of course, I have.”

Gao Jie responded with several exclamation marks, followed by a heartfelt sigh: “That person must have saved the Earth in their past life!”

“Hahaha, when you like someone, you only feel that the version of yourself who likes them must have saved the world in a past life.”

“Exactly, that’s exactly how I feel,” the middle school girl’s mood finally relaxed a little. “He’s so amazing—I wonder what I did to deserve meeting him… But calling it luck feels insufficient. Why doesn’t he like me? Little Sister An, what happened between you and that person in the end?”

Luo Andi calmly gazed out of the cabin window.

The sky was vast and silent.

During the flight, Qi Xiaochuan had ample time to catch up on sleep, leaving him refreshed and eager to dive straight back into work. The driver, yawning incessantly, came to pick him up. Seeing how exhausted he was, Qi Xiaochuan decided to send the driver home first and drove Luo Andi himself.

The trip had been pleasant, putting Qi Xiaochuan in a good mood, so much so that he even had the leisure to fiddle with the car radio, switching to a music station. Luo Andi yawned, making him furrow his brows in concern. Unable to resist, he asked: “Didn’t you sleep on the plane? What were you doing?”

She shook her head, truthfully replying: “I chatted with Gao Jie for a while, then I wasn’t sleepy anymore, so I started watching The Big Bang Theory . I didn’t expect to binge-watch for so long.”

He didn’t notice himself smiling. Being with Luo Andi seemed to make Qi Xiaochuan’s mental state more optimistic than usual. Though he remained unaware of it, it only made his colleagues’ attempts to gauge his mood even more unpredictable.

Traffic lights operated throughout the night, and the car stopped at a crosswalk. They were almost at her place—Luo Andi would soon get out. Qi Xiaochuan didn’t want to admit it, but he secretly hoped that moment would arrive a little later.

Suddenly, she remembered something, laboriously opening her carry-on bag and pulling out a razor, handing it to him. Luo Andi’s smile glimmered under the headlights illuminating the windshield: “You left this in the bathroom the other day.”

He had actually intended to throw it away but forgot after looking up foreign waste sorting methods. However, he didn’t mention any of this, simply accepting it and placing it in the car’s storage compartment: “Thank you.”

As he drove again, he asked her: “Do you remember what I said to you by the waterfall? Don’t worry about anything—leave everything to me.”

Her sudden quietness made him uneasy. Glancing back briefly, all he saw was her calm expression. Luo Andi didn’t look at him: “Actually, I don’t need your help with anything.”

Qi Xiaochuan replied: “I know.” He felt a flicker of guilt for a fleeting moment.

Her hand rested lightly in front of her, her smiling gaze soaking everything in warmth: “You’ve already been very kind to me.”

“No, I haven’t.” This time, his response was firm. He knew he wasn’t a gentle person, nor was he skilled at being kind to others. He was aware of that much.

The metal shell of the vehicle felt like it was filled with warm water that was gradually cooling. When they stopped by the roadside, Qi Xiaochuan got out of the car. Luo Andi, carrying her few belongings, smiled at him under the night sky: “Xiao Xiao, you’re incredibly important to me.”

She used the word “incredibly” twice, her deliberate enunciation making him unconsciously slow his breathing, fearing he might miss any detail of their time together. He sincerely wished for her happiness—a wish that surpassed even his own desires. If this was what the term “lonely star” meant, then he had already wholeheartedly embraced it.

Qi Xiaochuan returned to the driver’s seat, memories of his younger self and the things he had said and done to her flashing through his mind. They weren’t particularly memorable grievances, but he had indeed tried hard to push her away. He never said, “Luo Andi, I hate you,” but he did say, “Luo Andi, you really bother me.” He never made her cry, but he watched her smiles gradually fade. He felt that he owed her at least one question—just one.

He got out of the car again, walking forward against the knife-like night breeze, only to see her rushing toward him.

Qi Xiaochuan said: “Luo Andi, do you still like me now?”

Luo Andi said: “Xiao Xiao, can I ask you for a favor?”

Her thick, slightly wavy hair framed her face as she tucked the strands disheveled by the wind behind her ear, revealing an anxious and worried expression. She said: “Su Yining just called me. He seems drunk and is alone outside.”