Chapter 25 If you don't understand her, you'd better stay away from her...

Yu Kui had noticed Qin You's gaze long ago, but she ignored it and forced herself to focus on her studies.

Xie Xingzhi looked at her fingers, which were white from gripping so tightly, and said, "What did this ballpoint pen do to you? Relax."

Yu Kui let go of her hand, took out a dictionary to look up English words, and planned to translate the article in the newspaper.

Xie Xingzhi didn't disturb her. The languor in his eyes gradually faded, leaving behind a deep and mysterious look.

Yu Kui prepared to go home before closing time.

"Come on, I'll take you to eat hot pot." Xie Xingzhi lifted her schoolbag into his hand. "I've already made reservations."

Yu Kui looked at him helplessly, "I have things to do at home, maybe next time."

"When is the next time?" Xie Xingzhi followed behind her, "Give me a definite answer."

"winter vacation?"

Xie Xingzhi gritted his teeth inwardly, "Winter break is still a long way off."

Yu Kui chuckled softly, "Anyway, I'm not going today."

She felt a little sad and really wanted to go back to her room.

Xie Xingzhi sighed deeply, "Are you in a bad mood?"

"Why do you say that?" Yu Kui turned around.

“What else do I need to say?” he shrugged nonchalantly. “The way you wear your expression on your sleeve makes it obvious.”

Yu Kui: "..." Is it that obvious? She thought she had disguised herself perfectly.

"Why are you in a bad mood? Tell me about it."

"I don't want to talk about it." Yu Kui was unwilling to tell anyone her secrets; they were secrets hidden deep in her heart, and even if they rotted and festered, only she herself could know them.

"If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine," Xie Xingzhi said, shoving the thermos into her arms. "The milk is still warm."

Yu Kui shook her head and continued walking downstairs until she reached the bus stop.

"Go back now. If you have any questions, ask me again on Monday."

"Not coming to the library tomorrow?" Xie Xingzhi asked.

"It's my mom's birthday tomorrow," Yu Kui said a little shyly, "I'll be staying home with her."

"I see," Xie Xingzhi pondered for a moment, then asked, "Have you prepared your gift?"

"Huh?" Yu Kui's eyes widened.

Xie Xingzhi readily agreed, "If you're not prepared, there's a pedestrian street nearby. I'll take you there for a stroll."

"It's ready." Yu Kui thought he was quite enthusiastic, so she said, "I prepared it a week ago, thank you."

“I think I’ve figured it out,” Xie Xingzhi said quietly, “You won’t go anywhere else with me except to study.”

“Everyone has a different lifestyle,” Yu Kui explained. “You have things you like to do, and I have things I like to do. You don’t have to accommodate me. As for explaining problems to you, that’s just a side thing. You don’t have to feel embarrassed, and you don’t have to be bothered to thank me.”

She paused for a moment, then added, "Of course, if you can get into a good university, I will be very happy for you."

“So old-fashioned,” Xie Xingzhi paused for a moment, then looked down at her face. “Why do you talk like your homeroom teacher? You say we have different lifestyles, but I don’t believe you don’t eat hot pot regularly.”

Yu Kui: "..."

"Forget it," Xie Xingzhi said, "You look so refined, yet you have such a good way of speaking. I can't argue with you."

Yu Kui: "..."

"I won't make things difficult for you," Xie Xingzhi said. "The car is here. Be careful on your way back."

Yu Kui smiled and waved, "Goodbye."

Xie Xingzhi looked at her without speaking. His tall figure stood in the shadows, and Yu Kui couldn't see the expression on his face, but she could feel his gaze.

She waved again and walked to the back to sit down.

After the car drove away, Xie Xingzhi was about to leave when an angry voice came from behind him, "Stop!"

Xie Xingzhi turned around, and Qin You strode up to him, scrutinizing him sharply, "What's your name? Why are you bothering Yu Kui?"

Xie Xingzhi was taken aback for a moment, then realized what he meant and slowly curled up the corners of his mouth. "Who I am is none of your business. What, are you saying that a bad student isn't allowed to ask questions of a good student?"

"You know who you are," Qin You stared coldly at him, lowering her voice to warn, "Yu Kui is different from you. I advise you not to provoke her, or I won't let you off the hook."

Xie Xingzhi raised an eyebrow, not at all intimidated by him, but amused by his wary look. "What's your relationship with Yu Kui? Are you her brother?"

"I..." Qin You clenched his fists, his anger seemingly doused with ice water. He looked away. "I don't need to tell you about my relationship with her, but you'd better not look for her again. If you have any questions, you can ask your teacher."

"If he's not her brother, is he someone who secretly loves her?"

"Nonsense!" Qin You was struck dumb, denying it without hesitation. "How could I possibly like her!"

"Then what are you so nervous about?" Xie Xingzhi narrowed his eyes. "She's my friend, you're the one who's insignificant."

It's irrelevant.

Upon hearing this, Qin You felt as if an invisible hand was squeezing his heart, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

“She’s probably not her friend either,” Xie Xingzhi added fuel to the fire. “You were watching us the whole time in the library, but Yu Kui ignored you. You two probably aren’t close.”

How could we not be familiar? Qin You wanted to deny it loudly. He and Yu Kui grew up together, and apart from her family, he was the person in the world who knew her best.

However, he couldn't bring himself to say it, so he could only emphasize again, "No matter how well I know her, you are not allowed to bother her anymore, otherwise I will tell the teacher and Yu Kui's parents about this. You'd better stay away from her."

After saying that, Qin You turned and left.

"Hey!" Xie Xingzhi called out to him, his expression indifferent, "Would it do any good to tell the teachers and parents? Yu Kui and I haven't skipped class or been dating. Do you think that can threaten me?"

Qin You didn't even turn his head. "If you're not afraid, then go ahead and try."

“I’m not afraid at all,” Xie Xingzhi said unhurriedly, “but I’m curious what Yu Kui will think if she knows you’re here to see me. She’ll probably think you’re a nuisance.”

"After all, she likes to help her classmates so much. If she knew you were doing bad things behind her back, she would probably hate you."

"Shut up!" Qin You turned around, staring intently at him, and said angrily, "Do you really think that a scoundrel like you can improve your grades by clinging to her? It's just a desperate attempt to survive before you fall into depravity. You're only fooling yourself."

Xie Xingzhi's nonchalant expression gradually disappeared, and he quietly looked at Qin You, "What did you say?"

"Don't bother," Qin You said bluntly. "I've seen plenty of people like you. Yu Kui is too naive and doesn't understand your true nature, but you can't fool me. Studying is just an excuse; you really want to drag her down with you."

"Let me tell you," Qin You's eyes were cold, "she's not someone you can mess with. If you dare to get close to her again under the guise of studying, I won't let you off!"

"Tsk tsk," Xie Xingzhi walked up to Qin You, looked at his angry face, and grabbed his collar. "So what if I'm a hoodlum? I just want to get close to her, what can you do about it?"

Qin You was startled and forcefully pulled his collar out, saying, "You'd better not regret this."

Xie Xingzhi remained unmoved. "Think what you want, but it's impossible for me to give up my studies."

“You can ask other people,” Qin You said, taking a step back, “but it absolutely cannot be Yu Kui.”

"Because you're jealous?"

Qin You stiffened. How could he be jealous? He was just afraid that Yu Kui would be deceived. Although the two had broken off their friendship, he didn't want to see Yu Kui fall into depravity.

"If it's not jealousy, then why?" Xie Xingzhi asked, "Is it because of a desire for control?"

Qin You remained silent. He didn't know why, but he felt extremely sad, as if something that belonged to him was being taken away.

“There’s no reason,” Qin You said. “Yu Kui is not on your side. Don’t affect her grades.” Perhaps this reason could convince himself that his impulsive actions were for Yu Kui’s future, not for those messy thoughts.

“You don’t understand Yu Kui,” Xie Xingzhi said slowly. “Or rather, you’ve never really understood her.”

"How could that be!" Qin You considered himself one of the people in the world who understood Yu Kui the most; he knew best what she liked and disliked.

“If you knew her, you wouldn’t have come to me.”

Xie Xingzhi said, "I will not stray from Yu Kui. No matter what you say or do, I will not stray from her."

Qin You opened his eyes wide. Xie Xingzhi picked up the schoolbag from the ground and strode past him.

"Stop right there!" He took two steps forward. "Do you believe I really will tell her parents, you..."

"casual."

Qin You: "..."

He stood there, watching Xie Xingzhi walk further and further away, just as he watched the little girl who had accompanied him through countless lonely years also walk away.

As darkness fell and lights came on around them, Qin You felt no warmth whatsoever.

He looked down at his lonely figure, his mind filled with memories, each frame related to Yu Kui.

In the past, Yu Kui would have called him long ago to ask where he was and why he hadn't come home yet... But now, she has even blocked his contact information.

Qin Youcai then realized that he would never receive Yu Kui's messages again, nor would he ever hear her caring voice again.

Just how precious were those things he once possessed but never cherished?

He took out his phone and opened Yu Kui's WeChat, but he couldn't even see her Moments.

He really wanted to ask her why she associated with someone like Xie Xingzhi, why she couldn't protect herself properly, and why she didn't even have the courage to make new friends.

Finally, he opened Tao Jiang's WeChat and looked at their previous chat history, as if only then could he find a moment of relief.

Tao Jiang treated him very well; he should be content instead of doubting the rightness or wrongness of his decision.

He should stride forward instead of constantly looking back.

He typed in the chat box: "Are you free tomorrow? Let's go see a movie together."

Tao Jiang quickly replied, "Okay, I want to eat hot pot and go to the boutique to buy hair accessories."

"good."

Qin You walked back to the bus stop, but the bus that was supposed to take her home never arrived.

He waited a long time, so long that fewer and fewer people passed by, before he finally saw the familiar license plate number.