Chapter 3 Crush. Happy Wedding.

Sony XM5 Platinum Silver

The moment Yin Xiao found the same headphones on Taobao, her heart sank to the ground.

After zooming in and adjusting the brightness dozens of times, she confirmed that the shadowy figure in her profile picture was also wearing the same headphones.

...It's obvious.

The subway crush, the senior who picked her up, her profile picture—all of them are the same person: Yi Zhiyan, a senior from the same school.

She tossed and turned all night, but she still couldn't figure out why Yi Zhiyan gave her his bank card. Was it because she asked for 50 yuan and he thought she was short of money, and he was helping her out of consideration for the fact that their families knew each other?

You really don't need to.

The next day, just before six o'clock, she glanced at the [your profile picture] on the screen that had driven her crazy, and typed out a reply, word by word.

[Senior, I'm really sorry, my profile picture was a game punishment, I accidentally used your photo. I'll change it immediately if you mind.]

[v50 was a typo, I don't want the money, thank you senior.]

After explaining, she went back to sleep, lying in bed until almost nine o'clock, when Dai Lan violently woke her up.

"Xiao, Zhao Xiaoxun invited us to dinner at Golden Eagle tonight!"

Dai Lan held her phone and looked up at her, her eyebrows furrowed. "Her boyfriend is treating us. He said he wants to formally introduce us."

"Boyfriend? Jiang Fei?" Yin Xiao sat up abruptly.

Dai Lan's lips curled down, looking like she had something to say. "Yeah, it's that strong pretty boy who cheated on your sister."

Yin Xiao looked listless, as if she was still lost in thought.

"Are you going?" Dai Lan clung to the edge of the bed and asked in a low voice.

"Go." Yin Xiao grabbed the thick sweater at the foot of the bed and put it on. "I have to go."

"Don't you feel disgusted when you see that face? Don't you want to slap him a couple of times?" Dai Lan stood on tiptoe and reached out to help her pull up her sleeve.

"It's disgusting! I want to slap him more than just." Yin Xiao struggled to emerge from her collar, muttering angrily, "My sister was transferred to Africa for three years and hasn't come back, and that bastard has it all to do with it! I really want to kick him all the way to Antarctica..."

"Then why are you still going? You're not still thinking about getting back the gold locket your sister gave him, are you..." Dai Lan shook her head. "Sigh, I don't know what's wrong with Xiao Xun's brain. We've already told her that Jiang Fei is shameless, the kind of guy who lives off his girlfriend and doesn't pay back his money, and she still thinks we're prejudiced against him?"

Dai Lan exaggeratedly shook her shoulders, as if she wanted to throw something away, "If I ever fall in love with someone this blinded by greed, you must remember to pour a bucket of cold water on me to bring me back to my senses."

"Why would I pour cold water on you? I'd definitely pour it on that scumbag's head instead!"

Yin Xiao sat cross-legged on the bed, rubbing her messy hair. "But right now, I should get my sister's gold locket back first."

—

Yin Xiao underestimated Jiang Fei's shamelessness.

"What gold locket? Little sister, you've been fooled by your sister." The man in front of her, sporting an impeccably permed hairstyle, laughed unrestrainedly, pulling up his shirt sleeve to deliberately reveal a black Apple Watch. "Do you think I need that gold locket?"

It was almost midnight, and the waiting area outside the Western restaurant was packed with people. Yin Xiao gritted her teeth and suppressed her anger, forced back her curses for the sake of the occasion, and instead reached out and grabbed his suit jacket hanging on the back of the chair, preparing to rummage through it herself.

"Xiaoxiao, don't move." Dai Lan raised her hand to stop her, and winked at her, "Xiaoxun is back."

Yin Xiao turned around and saw Zhao Xiaoxun had just returned from getting her number. She took off her coat and draped it over her arm, sat down next to Jiang Fei, and affectionately wrapped her arms around his fingers, pinching and scratching them, completely in the throes of new love.

Yin Xiao felt a lump in her throat. She turned away silently and secretly sent a message to Dai Lan.

[I can't stand it anymore! I'm going back to school first. Let me know when you're done eating, and I'll come back to confront that guy surnamed Jiang!]

After exchanging glances with Dai Lan, she turned her head and gently patted Zhao Xiaoxun's shoulder. Just as she was about to say goodbye, a head of blue hair suddenly flashed before her eyes.

"Jiang Fei? Long time no see! What are you still doing in Anlin? Didn't you say you were going to study in Melbourne?"

Yin Xiao twitched the corners of her mouth, almost bursting out laughing. She glanced at the man whose expression had clearly frozen.

Jiang Fei really dares to make up stories about studying in Melbourne.

"Heh." A soft laugh unexpectedly drifted from behind her, its sharp sound piercing the frozen air and instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Yin Xiao turned to look at Dai Lan, her lips turned down, wanting to laugh but holding it back, and secretly gave her a thumbs up.

Dai Lan flashed her standard eight-tooth smile, seemingly surprised that she had laughed out loud, and awkwardly tried to cover it up: "...Hahaha, this corgi belly dancing is hilarious, look, look."

Yin Xiao was pulled down by Dai Lan's sleeve and stared at the black screen, cooperating with her to lie, "It really is, so much fun!"

Out of the corner of her eye, a blue-haired man suddenly squeezed in front of her from a distance, "Junior, you're here too! I just noticed you..."

The blue-haired man had a very strong presence, and a person suddenly popped into her mind. She looked up in a daze, and sure enough, the animated face in front of her perfectly overlapped with the blurry image in her memory.

Fang Yiwen, sporting his signature blue hair, waved to her familiarly, "Did you come with Jiang Fei? You two actually know each other!"

“Hmm…” Yin Xiao paused for a second, then pointed at Zhao Xiaoxun, downplaying the issue, “He’s my roommate’s boyfriend.”

“That’s perfect, we all know each other. Don’t wait here, come in and eat with us. We’ve booked a private room for three people.” Fang Yiwen greeted them warmly, looking left and right. Then, as if remembering something, he said “Oh” and took out his student ID from his pocket to introduce himself, “I’m also from Anhui University. My name is Fang Yiwen. I met Jiang Fei when we played basketball together. I just met Yin Xiao yesterday.”

Yin Xiao stumbled from Dai Lan's sudden bump, and when she turned her head, Dai Lan was winking at her, "Yesterday? Crush?"

"No, no." Yin Xiao quietly waved her hand, firmly grasping the pom-pom on her hat. "Actually, we're not very familiar with it. Let's wait for our seats..."

“Okay, let’s eat together.” Zhao Xiaoxun suddenly agreed readily.

Yin Xiao turned around in shock, but before she could stop them, she and Jiang Fei were already walking hand in hand towards the restaurant.

"Let's go." Dai Lan pulled her along. "Weren't you complaining about being hungry on the way? Don't go back yet. Just bear with it if there are too many people... Anyway, we're from the same school, so let's eat. Or are you feeling guilty? Don't want to see your crush every day?"

Yin Xiao got goosebumps from the deliberately drawn-out tone of her voice and raised her hand again to declare that she was honest and straightforward and had not lied.

This carefree, nonchalant attitude crumbled the moment she stepped into the private room.

She hadn't even realized it yet... three people in one private room.

The three people were Fang Yiwen, Qi Chen, and Yi Zhiyan.

Yi Zhiyan sat by the window, pouring tea from a glass teapot. The room was warm, and he was only wearing a blue and white sweater with the cuffs rolled up to his elbows, revealing the smooth lines of his arms.

Yin Xiao's lips tightened, her gaze silently rising to look at the veins on his forearm and the mole on the side of his neck...

We're doomed.

She suddenly met Yi Zhiyan's ambiguous gaze. The embarrassment of being caught red-handed flashed by, but she quickly turned her head naturally to greet Qi Chen on the other side.

"Where do you want to sit?" Dai Lan asked her in a low voice.

Yin Xiao pointed to the window without changing her expression, "Anything, except that one."

After a brief social gathering, everyone took their seats.

In the crowd and chaos, Yin Xiao was pushed to the window by someone, with nowhere to escape. After standing there for a few seconds, mimicking a sculpture below the teaching building, she had no choice but to sit down next to Yi Zhiyan.

She sighed helplessly, unable to bear the awkwardness, and took the initiative to greet him, "Hello, senior."

Yi Zhiyan didn't respond, but turned to look at her with a puzzled expression, "Yin Xiao, why won't you take the money?"

His words were completely unpolite, delivered in a natural tone, making it sound as if not accepting money was the truly inconceivable thing.

"Huh?" Yin Xiao was taken aback by the question. After thinking for two seconds, she asked in return, "I said it was a misunderstanding, why should I take money?"

She craned her neck to look at him, nervously swallowing, afraid that he had ulterior motives for giving her money.

Although he seems cold and unapproachable, what if...?

"Junior, why aren't you eating anything..." Fang Yiwen suddenly stood up and called out to her loudly across two people, holding up a bowl of soup and giving a thumbs up, "This French onion soup from this place is the best in my life, I have to drink this in winter..."

Yin Xiao immediately shifted her gaze to the onion soup, her face showing difficulty, "I..."

“She doesn’t eat onions.” Yi Zhiyan raised his hand to block, pressing Fang Yiwen back down without any room for negotiation.

There was an eerie silence for two seconds.

Yin Xiao's mind went blank, her arm grabbed by Dai Lan on the other side. "How did he know?"

Yin Xiao mechanically shrugged, "I don't know either."

This was so strange that she wondered if she was missing a part of her memory.

The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed, and she immediately turned her head. "How did you know I don't eat onions?"

"That's what Aunt Qian said," Yi Zhiyan replied calmly.

Yin Xiao's eyes widened, and she almost lost control of her expression. She grabbed her phone and rushed out of the private room.

The area outside the restaurant was much more spacious. Yin Xiao rushed into the corridor, squeezed her slightly damp palms, and held onto the railing with one hand to call her mother, Qian Yue.

The call didn't go through. She let her arms relax weakly, exhaled heavily, and stared blankly at the light blue shop sign downstairs.

She had a feeling that her mother was hiding something from her.

"Hello, excuse me."

Someone suddenly patted her on the back.

Yin Xiao turned her head, and her vision gradually cleared. Two young women smiled at her, and the short-haired girl who had patted her was holding a silver microphone.

"Miss, do you have a moment now? Would you be willing to spare two or three minutes for a short interview with us?"

Yin Xiao blinked and recognized the school name on the microphone. "Are you students from Anhui University's broadcasting station? I'm also from Anhui University, a senior in the School of Humanities."

"Well, as an alumna, please agree to our interview, senior. Your answers will be absolutely confidential, and you'll share them anonymously on the show..."

The girl held the microphone to her lips, which she accepted gracefully, a smile playing on her lips. "Let's begin."

"Well, this interview is about campus romance... First question." The girl glanced down at her phone, "In campus romance, what's the scene you most look forward to right now? Like taking a walk on the playground?"

“I haven’t talked about it…” Yin Xiao thought for two seconds, “But if there’s a chance, we can go to the library to study together.”

"Hmm, what a unique answer..." The girl smiled and looked down at the screen. "Below are some multiple-choice questions. Answer quickly."

"good."

Love at first sight or love that grows over time?

"love at first sight."

"Senior or junior?"

"Senior."

"Actively pursue or wait for a confession?"

"Actively pursue".

Is love a desire to share or a desire to explore?

"The desire to explore."

Do you argue or give each other the silent treatment when you have conflicts?

"quarrel."

"More dependent or more independent in relationships."

"...I can't imagine it if I haven't talked about it."

The girl put the microphone away, glanced at her hesitantly, and said, "Senior, may I ask one last question? When you were answering the question just now, did a specific person come to mind?"

"Huh?" Yin Xiao frowned. "No."

"Do you have a general outline? Something like my ideal type... Would it be convenient to share?"

“Outline?” Yin Xiao rubbed the corner of her eye, and a person uncontrollably flashed through her mind. “Probably…tall, bright-eyed, and fair-skinned.”

She pursed her lips nervously and spoke faster, "He is meticulous, intelligent and logical, and he will firmly defend me when I face overwhelming and unreasonable accusations and doubts."

"Hmm...like a sliver of warm golden sunlight peeking through damp mist."

"Wow, you'll definitely meet someone like that! I wish you a sweet and wonderful next relationship!" The short-haired girl looked up and smiled at her, her eyes sincere. "Thank you for the interview, senior. This is a small gift. I wish you a happy graduation and a bright future!"

"Thank you." Yin Xiao took the strawberry fridge magnet and held it in her palm.

The two girls said goodbye to her, turned around, and began discussing the interview they had just had, shoulder to shoulder, around their phones. She deliberately moved away, raised her hand to rub her sore neck, and turned to look into the distance, but her gaze suddenly stopped.

As Yi Zhiyan stepped out of the restaurant, he was wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses and looked around absentmindedly, as if searching for something.

The next second, their eyes met, and he quickened his pace to walk towards her.

Looking for her?

Yin Xiao hesitated for a second, but did not dodge and walked forward as well.

Since Ms. Qian's phone was unreachable, this was a good opportunity to ask Yi Zhiyan what was going on privately.

As Yi Zhiyan took a step forward, the short-haired girl who had just interviewed her suddenly ran past her, raised her microphone, and blocked her path.

"Handsome guy, do you have time for an interview?"

Yi Zhiyan took a step back, adjusted his glasses, and remained silent for several seconds before saying, "Okay."

"Okay, let me start asking questions... This interview is about campus romance. The first question is, in the context of campus romance, what is the most anticipated romantic scenario for you right now? For example, taking a walk on the playground or going to the library?"

Yi Zhiyan didn't speak, but inexplicably looked up at him. His brown eyes were bright and calm, with a sense of composure that seemed to know everything.

Yin Xiao shifted her gaze uncomfortably, unconsciously tugging at the loose thread on her cuff.

The yarn grew longer and longer as she pulled it. She idly wrapped the yarn around her index finger, round and round. When she reached the sixth loop, Yi Zhiyan's deep voice reached her ears.

"I'm sorry, I don't have any expectations for campus romance anymore, I'm getting married soon."

hiss.

Yin Xiao gasped, looking down at her reddened fingers, and quickly untied the yarn. She rubbed her fingertips, her gaze wandering aimlessly across the floor tiles, her mind briefly blank.

"Yin Xiao".

The sound from above was like a small pebble hitting the ice, producing a dull, weak thud.

Yin Xiao looked up at Yi Zhiyan who was walking over, and after regaining her composure, she smiled and congratulated him: "I think I just heard that you're getting married soon... Happy wedding."

He slightly raised an eyebrow, a vague look of surprise appearing in his eyes. The slanting sunlight fell on the side of his face, dappled and floating, seemingly reflecting his unspoken words.

Yin Xiao didn't understand, so she turned and walked back. She didn't want to ask anything, so she unlocked her phone, tapped on his profile picture, and swiped to the "blacklist" section.

Before he pressed the button, Yi Zhiyan suddenly caught up with him. He lowered his head and smiled, a rare occurrence for him.

"The same to you."

A note from the author:

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