35
Xing Xing's grandmother's condition had stabilized considerably, and she and her mother would be helping to take care of her that afternoon. After hanging up the phone and packing her things, Ji Shengsheng went out with her parents.
"Girlfriend?" Qi Jue saw that Xu Yu was on the phone, so he followed her to the rest area.
"Hmm." Xu Yu took off her swimming cap and placed it aside. "You know her."
Fresh, really fresh.
Qi Jue tentatively asked, "It's not going to be... again..."
"yes."
Qi Jue said from the bottom of his heart: "...She is truly a capable and good girl."
Qi Jue and Xu Yu were classmates in high school, but not in the same class. They met on the school's swimming team.
The two even made it to the finals of the provincial youth competition. Whether in daily practice, group matches, or the finals, Xu Yu always managed to easily defeat him.
When it comes to swimming, Xu Yu seems to have a buff that counters him.
The reason why Qi Jue unilaterally regarded Xu Yu as an enemy and then unilaterally turned him into a friend was quite dramatic.
Before the provincial team's preliminary rounds, the intense training and mental pressure caused him to faint during practice. It was Xu Yu who noticed his condition first; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
From then on, Qi Jue unilaterally regarded Xu Yu as his lifelong best friend. Every year, he would make time to invite Xu Yu to the swimming pool for a competition.
Xu Yu usually kept his appointments, except for that one time.
On the phone, Xu Yu told him that he was going shopping with the girl he liked.
"Favorite", "girl", "shopping"... these are all very unusual words that should not appear in Xu Yu's vocabulary.
Then he asked the girl's name. That was the first time Qi Jue had ever heard the name "Ji Shengsheng".
The second time he heard it, Xu Yu calmly told him, "Ji Shengsheng went abroad to study."
For more than three years after that, Xu Yu became increasingly silent, and he never heard that name again.
Although he had never asked, Qi Jue could roughly guess from this simple description that this was a story of Xu Yu's deep affection but tragic abandonment.
He had considered that Xu Yu might not be able to move on, but he never thought he could go back to her.
It seemed like they knew what he was thinking.
Xu Yu: "Don't misunderstand. She had her reasons for what happened before."
Qi Jue had a headache: "...I haven't even said anything yet."
"Speaking of which, since we're both in Peach Blossom Spring, could I possibly have the honor of meeting her?" Qi Jue tilted his head, a terrible idea popping into his mind.
He wanted to see what kind of woman could defeat Xu Yu.
"No," Xu Yu replied curtly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Yu caught a glimpse of Shao Yun out of the corner of his eye.
Shao Yun looked surprised to run into him here.
This is a members-only club, and there are hardly any people here even once a day. Apart from people who live in Taoyuan for most of their lives, no one would know about this place.
Their eyes met, but they didn't greet each other.
Xu Yu quickly forgot about Shao Yun's existence.
The next person I thought of was Shao Yun who drowned.
Drowning is usually silent; a drowning person may feel themselves trying to call for help, but the water surface is often calm.
The person underwater suffocated and fell, but those on the surface couldn't see anything.
It was Qi Jue who discovered it first.
Shao Yun was beautiful, and he noticed her almost immediately. But that was all; he didn't think much of it.
Just as he was about to bring up the topic of Ji Shengsheng again, he suddenly realized that Shao Yun had not come up after falling into the water.
He had been drowning before, and he would consciously observe the time when passersby entered and exited the water while swimming.
"Someone is drowning." Qi Jue looked at Xu Yu, and then the two quickly entered the water to rescue him.
Shao Yun choked on some water, and Qi Jue helped her to the surface. After confirming that the other person was Shao Yun, Xu Yu went ashore alone and did not offer any further help.
Qi Jue: "...Give me a hand, I don't have the strength to drag her up."
Xu Yu said expressionlessly, "You can even let her go."
Shao Yun appears to be a swimmer. She is now able to breathe and get ashore on her own. Qi Jue was simply too eager to save her.
"...Back then, you were able to drag me up there to save me."
"I have a girlfriend." "I don't want to cause trouble."
After confirming that others are out of danger, he will avoid any contact with other women.
Originally, Shao Yun had let go of the past after learning that Xu Yu and Ji Shengsheng had started getting entangled again, but she was very angry to hear that Xu Yu had distanced himself from her so cleanly.
Qi followed Xu Yu and Qi Jue to the door of the private room.
“Madam, you can’t come any further,” Qi Jue said, standing at the door. “Otherwise, we’ll have to call security to take you to clear your head.”
"I need to find him. Please move aside."
Qi Jue looked at Shao Yun pointing at Xu Yu behind him, with a look of amusement: "What kind of romantic entanglement have you gotten into this time?"
I thought it was just Ji Shengsheng.
Xu Yu was too lazy to bother with it.
Shao Yun was furious and decided to give in. Over the years, she had harbored a lot of resentment towards Xu Yu.
"I have no problem with Ji Shengsheng as a person. I just feel sorry for you, Xu Yu."
"Oh, she said you're pitiful." Qi Jue couldn't help but clap his hands, his words full of mockery. "Quick, say something even harsher. It's rare to hear someone insult him."
"Do you think Ji Shengsheng is special to you? Actually, it's only because you like her and you chose her that you think she's special."
Provoked by Qi Jue's attitude, Shao Yun became even more agitated: "But she's no different from any of the other people who like you, or even any of the girls who just want to sleep with you."
"Excellent, excellent." Qi Jue clapped. "But it's wrong to slander other girls. Let's focus on criticizing Xu Yu."
Shao Yun had witnessed Ji Shengsheng returning from Xu Yu's house.
His coat was wrinkled, his hair was messy, he walked strangely, and his eyes were very evasive when I met him at the school gate.
Ji Shengsheng was, after all, an art student, and always lively and carefree; she had never seen Ji Shengsheng like this before.
That afternoon, she specifically asked Xu Yu's classmates on the same floor of the dormitory and learned that Xu Yu had gone to see Ji Shengsheng the day before, that he hadn't returned home that night, and that when he came back, he was in almost the same state—his clothes were disheveled and his expression was serious.
Then Ji Shengsheng broke off her relationship with Xu Yu.
She wasn't stupid; she could guess what had happened.
Many girls at school wanted to have a relationship with Xu Yu, and Ji Shengsheng was no different.
If you have no emotional foundation and just have sex casually, isn't that just for the sake of momentary pleasure?
This kind of relationship is weak and vulgar. When she thinks about how these two people could be entangled for so long and even get back together after three years, she feels that so-called infatuation is really shallow.
"Poor thing." Seeing that Xu Yu didn't react, Shao Yun couldn't help but say, "Ji Shengsheng doesn't want to know about your affairs, doesn't want to understand. Does she know what your parents do? Does she know what you like? Does she know what awards you've won or what competitions you've participated in? She doesn't even know you like swimming..."
"...You didn't even know I liked swimming? That's kind of pathetic." Qi Jue asked curiously, "So what does Sheng Sheng like about you? Is it just some skill of yours?"
Xu Yu neither hits nor scolds women.
He only showed indifference and mockery towards people who went mad.
He hadn't intended to say anything. But then he suddenly remembered Ji Shengsheng, who had carried Du Meiyan to the doctor.
Ji Shengsheng is kind to everyone. Even when faced with offenses from people who have different ideas and beliefs, she still feels pity and compassion.
Such an angel and such a dark demon coexist.
For a moment, Xu Yu also felt pity.
“I’m no different from other men.”
"You think I'm different simply because you like me."
"As for my family, my affairs, and my preferences, they are all your guesses. You just like your guesses, and they are often wrong."
Shao Yun felt even more devastated.
She even hated Xu Yu.
Seeing that pity was ineffective, Xu Yu said nothing more, but looked at Qi Jue and asked, "Weren't you going to call security?"
Seeing that Xu Yu remained unmoved, Shao Yun said, "I'll go by myself."
She understood Xu Yu and knew many things about him. But if Xu Yu didn't want such deep feelings, then so be it.
After Shao Yun left, Qi Jue, as if eating melon seeds, leaned close to Xu Yu and said, "You didn't even know he liked swimming? That's a bit much."
"It sounds like a very simple... physical relationship?"
Xu Yu looked at her phone. Ten minutes ago, Ji Shengsheng sent her a photo of herself trying on a dress.
"So what?"
He would give whatever Ji Shengsheng liked, even if it was just routi (a euphemism for sex).
Why should he waste his time thinking about such trivial things?
"Tsk tsk tsk, Xu Yu, your attitude is so humble, it makes me even more curious." Qi Jue glanced at his watch. "Could I invite you to dinner tonight?"
"cannot."
Qi Jue: "...I'm not just asking you, I also want to ask Sister Sheng Sheng."
"dream."
"You're heartless; no wonder people come after you and curse you."
Grandma Xingxing was in much better condition, and Ji Shengsheng spent the whole afternoon trying to cheer her up.
Grandma Xing treated her very well. During her junior high school years, her parents were both very busy, so she and Xing Xing often went to Grandma's house for meals.
Later, when she went to university, her grandmother began to treat her as her granddaughter-in-law and placed many more demands on her. Coupled with her busy academic schedule, their relationship became much more distant.
When Grandma was hospitalized this time, their relationship seemed to have returned to the way it was when they were children.
When are you and Xingzi planning to get married?
After the surgery, Grandma Xingxing's mind became less clear than before. Throughout the afternoon, she would be asked questions every now and then.
At first, Xing Xing would try to explain that they weren't a couple and wouldn't get married. But when she realized that it wasn't her grandmother's advice, but a stereotypical repetition, Xing Xing couldn't help but hide aside and cry.
"We'll talk about the future later. Grandma, focus on getting better first," Ji Shengsheng reassured her.
After the old man fell asleep, Xing Xing prepared to go eat and walked out of the ward with Ji Shengsheng.
"Have dinner together?" Xing Xing's eyes were red.
"No, thank you." Ji Shengsheng glanced at the time on her phone. "I'm going to see Xu Yu tonight."
"You disappear completely after you start dating," Xing Xing sighed. "Are we still friends?"
"Don't get so sentimental," Ji Shengsheng refused. "When you were dating, you didn't even reply to WeChat messages."
Xing Xing: "Times have changed."
"To be honest, I really need you right now," Xing Xing said dejectedly. "Could you keep me company?"
Ji Shengsheng: "..."
That afternoon, besides trying to cheer up her grandmother, she also comforted Xing Xing. She was very tired and needed to go to Xu Yu to absorb some energy.
"Let's do it another day. I'll come back on the second day of the Lunar New Year." Ji Shengsheng replied to Xu Yu and prepared to take a taxi to the hotel.
"Don't be so cold-blooded, okay? Why don't you have dinner with me first, and then go find him?" Xing Xing said with a mournful face. "I really need you right now."
As soon as Xing Xing finished speaking, Xu Yu's car stopped in front of them.
Qi Jue, sitting in the back seat, had a gossipy expression on his face.
It was obvious that Ji Shengsheng and the boy next to her were very close and familiar friends.
No guy would show such affection for a girl he's not very close to.
"You came to pick me up?" Ji Shengsheng looked at Xu Yu happily.
Almost at that moment, Qi Jue realized that Ji Shengsheng really liked and relied on Xu Yu, and that her feelings for him were different from those for the man beside her.
The moment Ji Shengsheng saw Xu Yu, her eyes lit up like little stars.
If it's just routiu... then Xu Yu probably really provides excellent service.
"I'm leaving now. Let's have lunch together on the second day of the Lunar New Year." With that, Ji Shengsheng got into the passenger seat.
Qi Jue watched as Xu Yu bent down and naturally fastened Ji Shengsheng's seatbelt... This was so cloying, it was unbearable to watch.
He coughed lightly, and Ji Shengsheng noticed him, startled like a little rabbit.
"Qi Jue, a high school classmate. We went swimming together this afternoon, and I'm giving him a ride home on the way."
Xu Yu gave him a very concise introduction.
"Hello," Ji Shengsheng greeted him in a friendly manner.
Even though he had begged and pleaded with Xu Yu to give him a ride, a wicked idea still popped into Qi Jue's mind after he got in the car.
"Hello, Sheng Sheng! It's a pleasure to meet you. May I invite you and Xu Yu to have dinner together?"
In the rearview mirror, Xu Yu's gaze could kill.
Ji Shengsheng looked at the oversized coat and pants she was wearing: "...Okay."
Qi Jue: "That's awesome!"
Ji Shengsheng took out her phone and texted Xu Yu: "I suddenly remembered that I forgot to bring my dress."
Although the air conditioning was on in the car and the restaurants and hotels were warm, the weather was still cold, and she wasn't prepared to walk around in public wearing a low-cut dress.
"It's okay," Xu Yu replied quickly. "Is there a curfew tonight?"
Ji Shengsheng: "..."
There really isn't one tonight.
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