60
After Xu Yu left, Ji Shengsheng went to take a bath.
Previously, she only saw Xu Yu and not herself; she wasn't much better than Xu Yu.
Despite trying to rub those marks away, Ji Shengsheng couldn't make them disappear, so she simply gave up.
Lying in bed, she felt very uneasy.
Tears kept flowing uncontrollably.
It wasn't until Cheng Yu called her that Ji Shengsheng quickly wiped away her tears and stopped crying.
"Sheng Sheng, I've sent you the new samples of the merchandise that was redesigned before. Have you received them?"
Chengyu knew she definitely hadn't received it.
He just expected that Xu Yu and Ji Shengsheng should have met by now, and he wanted to know if they had made up.
"Not yet, I haven't been back to Lucheng recently."
"Sheng Sheng?" Cheng Yu asked uncertainly. "Are you sick? Why does your voice sound so nasal?"
"No, is there anything else?" She didn't want to talk to anyone right now.
"Sigh," Cheng Yu sighed, "Did you and Xu Yu have a fight?"
"I've said too much. Xu Yu hasn't been doing well lately. He can't find you or contact you, and even went to Linxia to look for you but couldn't find you there."
"If it's not a matter of principle, you should make up quickly. Torturing each other is painful for both of you, isn't it?"
Cheng Yu really couldn't understand it.
They were clearly two people in love, and even when they thought Ji Shengsheng had a boyfriend, they didn't separate. How come their relationship suddenly fell apart?
“Cheng Yu, thank you for your concern.” Ji Shengsheng thought for a moment, “However, there are some issues between Xu Yu and me that we cannot resolve for the time being.”
There was a lack of trust between them; to be precise, it was Xu Yu who didn't trust her.
"At least for now, it's best for everyone to calm down."
Sensing that Ji Shengsheng had made up her mind, Chengyu didn't press the matter further: "Alright, then Shengsheng, don't be sad, okay?"
“Even if you and Xu Yu break up, we’ll still be good friends,” Cheng Yu sighed.
"Chengyu, thank you."
After hanging up the phone, Ji Shengsheng saw a WeChat message from Siyu asking her to go to the suite where she would stay for the wedding pick-up tomorrow.
Ji Shengsheng got dressed, dried her hair, and went to meet up with all the girls.
There was still a lot to set up at the venue. Balloons, banners, wedding photos, bouquets—everyone participated in the setup in an orderly manner.
Ji Shengsheng was in charge of arranging the bouquets in the room.
Siyu watched Ji Shengsheng's busy figure.
Xu Yu has already expressed his feelings for Ji Shengsheng to her. Although she doesn't know how Xu Yu fell in love at first sight to this extent, Si Yu also reminded her younger brother to be careful and intentionally created opportunities for Xu Yu.
"Sheng Sheng, there are still some flowers that haven't been delivered. Could you please go downstairs and check what's going on?" Si Yu smiled gently at Ji Sheng Sheng.
"Okay." Ji Shengsheng nodded.
She arranged the existing bouquets according to the blueprints, then went downstairs in her slippers.
She didn't expect that there was only Xu Yu downstairs.
"Here to pick up the flowers?"
As if nothing had happened, Xu Yu spoke to her naturally.
Ji Shengsheng ignored him.
"We should wait a little longer." Xu Yu kept looking at her, and Ji Shengsheng could only look away, pretending not to notice.
Then, Xu Yu's gaze fell on her bare feet.
These feet had just been kicked and shoved at him several times, and he had grabbed them in his palms and hoisted them onto his shoulders.
Ji Shengsheng had no idea what Xu Yu was thinking, and she was currently reluctant to think about anything related to Xu Yu.
Hearing the car, Ji Shengsheng thought it was the flower delivery person and was pleasantly surprised that she didn't have to wait any longer. However, as the sound grew closer and then faded away, she realized it wasn't the flower delivery person and she would have to wait some more.
What had just happened eased her awkwardness and fear in front of Xu Yu. Now, she felt only anger, but also much more at ease.
Xu Yu didn't say anything more to her, and simply left alone.
It wasn't until Xu Yu had been gone for a long time that Ji Shengsheng turned around to look at his back.
They left without any intention of being stopped.
Xu Yu seems to have become a different person.
Just as Ji Shengsheng was wondering what to think, she received an email from her advisor.
She can only stay for another half a month at most before she has to go abroad, otherwise it will delay her progress.
Actually, she could have finished dealing with things here after returning to China, then spent some time with her parents before leaving. It was because Xu Yu was here that she wanted to spend more time with him…
Now... there is no reason to delay for another half a month.
Ji Shengsheng calculated that her artwork was basically finished and could be organized and given to the editor after she went abroad. If she went abroad now, she could return on time and make it to Xiao Qi's graduation ceremony.
Everything seems to have fallen into place naturally...
Ji Shengsheng looked back in the direction Xu Yu had left. Was everything really going to happen naturally?
Perhaps they were just not meant to be, and always faced necessary separations at such moments, forcibly severing their connection.
Having booked a flight with available tickets for the earliest possible date, Ji Shengsheng took out her phone and posted on Weibo.
"There will be fewer updates recently, we need to save some inventory to release slowly in countries with different time zones."
She rarely posted about her personal life on Weibo before.
She saw many fans at the autograph session and knew they wanted to know about her and how she was doing, so she decided to update them on her situation.
In order to prevent friends who have only met a few times or have never met from worrying if they lose contact due to time difference.
Ji Shengsheng was busy looking at her phone and didn't notice that Xu Yu was already beside her.
Seeing Xu Yu squat down, she was about to dodge, but Xu Yu grabbed her ankle again.
"...Are you crazy?" She thought Xu Yu was about to do something again.
"You only realized this today?" Xu Yu gestured for her to sit on the stone bench behind him, then took off her slippers and helped her put on her socks. "Sheng Sheng, you've realized this way far too late."
Ji Shengsheng: "..."
He was just worried that she would catch a cold.
"Why are you picking your fingers again?" After putting her socks on, Xu Yu grabbed her wrist and smoothed out her fingers to stop her from picking at the pad of her index finger.
Ji Shengsheng withdrew her hand and put it behind her back, preventing him from touching her.
"Don't be angry anymore, okay?"
Ji Shengsheng didn't look at him.
As soon as the flower delivery truck arrived, she immediately took the flowers and went upstairs. Then she went abroad and never saw him again.
“I went to Taoyuan to look for you. The old lady next door said that you and Xing Xing left together.”
"I went to your house to look for you again."
"I brought your favorite toast and steak, but it's a pity you're not here." Xu Yu raised his hand to show her the blisters on it.
"I've called you so many times, but your phone is off, and I can't reach you."
"You said you liked Linxia. I've been there by myself a few times and thought I knew Linxia very well. Looking at the postcards you drew that Xulin sent me, I searched for you by the sea many times, but I couldn't find you."
"Sheng Sheng, are you angry with me?" Xu Yu's patience seemed inexhaustible. No matter how unresponsive she was, Xu Yu continued to coax her tirelessly.
"Or are you angry that I won't let you be friends with Xing Xing?"
"Come back to Lucheng with me. I won't interfere in your affairs anymore. I agree to let you maintain your previous relationship, okay?"
Xu Yu looked at Ji Shengsheng's expression.
They were as indifferent as if they were complete strangers.
She's always been like that.
He remained unmoved by his pleas.
"The flowers have arrived."
Ji Shengsheng quickly stood up, leaving him behind.
Ji Shengsheng carried the newly arrived bouquet of flowers for quite a distance before turning around and realizing that Xu Yu was no longer there.
She didn't see Xu Yu again until everything was set up and everyone went out for a late-night snack.
Si Ning observed her for a long time and, noticing that she was alone, came closer.
"Sister, did you know Brother Xu Yu before?"
Ji Shengsheng: "..."
She had really wanted to eat something, but for some reason, she couldn't swallow half a shrimp that was stuck in her throat.
"So you didn't know me before?" Si Ning asked in surprise.
So tonight...
“We know each other.” Ji Shengsheng thought for a moment and decided to make things clear with Si Ning at this moment to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings. “We just had a fight and are in a cold war.”
"So, you're boyfriend and girlfriend?" Si Ning stood up in shock, almost knocking over her plate.
"Yes," Ji Shengsheng admitted. "I'm sorry, it's a bit difficult to tell outsiders about this, so I kept it a secret."
"Oh, it's nothing." Si Ning waved her hand. "Then enjoy your meal, sister. I'll go to another table first."
Ji Shengsheng never saw Xu Yu.
Later, when Siyu met her, she was able to clear up her doubts.
It turns out that Xu Yu wasn't actually the best man at the wedding; he had only agreed to fill in for the best man who was busy that night to take the group photo.
Then, she learned from Siyu that Xu Yu's flight back to Lucheng was in the early morning.
He was pressed for time; his flight arrived in the early morning, and he was scheduled to leave for the airport in about two hours.
Ji Shengsheng nodded without saying anything.
She remembered what Xu Yu had said earlier.
They went to see her and contacted her, but they kept missing each other.
It seems fate really wasn't on their side.
Then, Ji Shengsheng received a message from Xing Xing.
“I’ve thought it through over this period of time. I never really wanted to be with you that much in the first place. The reason I impulsively said those things was because Xu Yu provoked me and he fueled the flames. If you don’t believe me, then you don’t need to reply. Just continue to break off all contact.”
Did Xu Yu fuel the fire?
Ji Shengsheng deleted the message.
There's nothing to believe or disbelieve about it; she doesn't care about such things.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yang, who had just bumped into Xing Xing and was having dinner with him, saw what he posted and snatched his phone away: "Are you stupid? You should keep this to yourself, don't say it out loud, understand?!"
"And didn't you delete her contact information? How can you still send her messages?" Xiao Yang didn't understand.
"That's how it is with childhood sweethearts. Even if you delete all her contact information, you can still remember it and contact her again."
Xiao Yang: "...Disgusting."
I originally thought that meeting an ex would be especially bitter.
But after experiencing another heartbreak, Xiao Yang matured a lot. In addition, he had completely let go of Xing Xing, and the two confided in each other about their recent experiences like friends.
Xiao Yang listened to Xing Xing complain for over an hour.
She also complained about Ji Shengsheng's heartlessness.
"Logically speaking, why would Xu Yu mind you so much...?" Xiao Yang thought for a moment. Although Ji Shengsheng hadn't done anything wrong, she still minded. "Did you do something excessive?"
In front of Xiao Yang, Xing Xing didn't hide anything: "Yes, I did. Back in school, when I knew they were alone outside, I would go to find Ji Shengsheng."
He's a man, and he understands men's psychology.
Xu Yu's expression was always unpleasant when he saw him; sometimes he even enjoyed the feeling of competition.
Just like back in high school, boys who wanted to pursue Ji Shengsheng looked at him with this kind of gaze.
Perhaps Ji Shengsheng really likes Xu Yu, but he is more important to her than Xu Yu.
Therefore, he always acted in a way that was very familiar and intimate with Ji Shengsheng, so that all the men who got close to Ji Shengsheng could see clearly that even if they might become lovers with Ji Shengsheng, it wouldn't be as good as his relationship with Ji Shengsheng.
There was no other way; in his mind, his relationship with Ji Shengsheng was unique, and he had to ensure that no one could interfere and become more important than him.
"No wonder," Xiao Yang sighed. "Xu Yu's actions against you were entirely deserved."
"He went too far, didn't he?" He hadn't gone so far as to threaten to break them up, yet Xu Yu wouldn't even let them be friends.
"What's so great about that? You deserve it." Xiao Yang spat. "I hate people like you who are clearly having an ambiguous relationship but pretend to be friends and hurt other people."
"If you had even a shred of conscience, you would explain to Ji Shengsheng what you've done. Who knows, maybe one day you could restore your friendship by giving Yu Dafang a generous gift."
Xing Xing wouldn't say it; saying it would make it even harder to restore their friendship.
...
Xing Xing originally didn't intend to say anything, until he discovered that Ji Shengsheng hadn't replied to the text message at all.
I really want to break off all contact with him...
Thinking about it, Xing Xing sent her the story of what happened on Ji Shengsheng's birthday.
Ji Shengsheng was already lying in her room when she received the text message.
She never imagined that she would learn the whole story from Xing Xing.
It turns out that Xu Yu really did go to see her that day.
He even arrived at the station early to wait for her.
“I saw him follow us out. The straw and spoon you brought were in my bag. I told you I forgot to bring them so that I could get you out of the way to go to the supermarket to buy these things.”
"And a few times before in the cafeteria, I noticed Xu Yu looking this way, so I deliberately ate the chicken leg you hadn't finished."
"I'm sorry, Sheng Sheng, have I caused you any trouble?"
When Xing Xing tried to send another message, she found that Ji Shengsheng had rejected it.
Ji Shengsheng glanced at the time; Xu Yu was leaving in two hours. She had just finished communicating with her mentor, and luckily, there was a flight available for the day after tomorrow, which she had already changed to departing the day after tomorrow.
She thought they still had time to talk before she left.
Now……
Who knows when they'll meet again? Perhaps, in three months... they'll be strangers again.
Thinking about it, Ji Shengsheng opened Xu Yu's WeChat.
Which room are you in?
"Want to see me?" A few seconds later, Xu Yu sent another message, "Unfortunately, I've already left."
Upon seeing Xu Yu's reply, Ji Shengsheng immediately stood up, walked out of the room, and stood in front of the elevator to go downstairs and hail a taxi.
Where are you?
She immediately realized that Xu Yu might have already gone to the airport while she was arranging the bouquet.
"You don't want me to leave?"
Compared to her anxiety, Xu Yu seemed far too relaxed.
"...Didn't you say you wanted me to go back with you?"
How could he just leave without a word, abandoning her like that?
Xu Yu had never left her so easily before.
Having been in her comfort zone for too long, she realized how terrifying it was to be abandoned by Xu Yu.
"So, you'll come back with me?"
Before she could reply, Xu Yu sent another message: "Then come find me, I'm at 531."
Ji Shengsheng ran upstairs and was about to knock on the door when Xu Yu opened it.
"Didn't you know I was crazy? How dare you come here?" Xu Yu's expression was like a fox easily catching a rabbit.
"I have something to make clear to you."
Xu Yu stepped aside to let her through the door.
She immediately spotted the image playing on the projector.
"Hmm?" Xu Yu didn't give her time to think further. "Speak."
Ji Shengsheng immediately turned to look at the door: "Why are you watching a horror movie..."
She absolutely cannot watch any horror movies.
After watching it, I can't sleep alone anymore.
Xu Yu was aware of this.
"Sheng Sheng, if you don't tell me soon, I'm leaving," Xu Yu coaxed her. "We're running out of time."
“I…” Hearing footsteps from a horror movie, Ji Shengsheng grabbed Xu Yu’s arm. “I’m scared.”
Her mind went blank; she wanted to leave.
"Don't be afraid." Xu Yu hugged her naturally.
The screen in the guest room was huge, and Ji Shengsheng turned around and made eye contact with the people in the movie.
Ji Shengsheng was so frightened that she shrank into his arms.
Xu Yu seemed to enjoy the moment as well, and for a long time, they remained silent.
"Xu Yu, I will not be friends with Xing Xing anymore."
"Um?"
Although it was expected, Xu Yu was still surprised by Ji Shengsheng's relieved tone.
I thought she would be heartbroken to lose this friend.
"Xu Yu..." Ji pleaded, "Could you please turn off this movie? I don't want to hear this music."
"Don't be afraid." Xu Yu covered her eyes and gently kissed her cheek. "Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
"...You erase my fingerprints so I can't go back."
"You haven't sent me a single message in all these days."
"...You still haven't apologized to me."
"I'm sorry, I won't do it again." Xu Yu kissed her tear-streaked eyes. "Anything else?"
He enjoyed hearing about Ji Shengsheng's dedication to him.
"And you? Did you also do many things I didn't know about?"
"Well, compared to what you've done, it's all insignificant."
"Xu Yu..." Ji Shengsheng pleaded again, "I'm scared..."
She was terrified by the screams in the empty space and the footsteps in the deserted place.
Xu Yu turned off the television, and the dark room returned to silence.
"Are you leaving?" Ji Shengsheng touched a mark she had made earlier and carefully caressed it. "When will we meet again?... I can't bear to part with you."
She didn't know when she ended up on top of Xu Yu.
"To make amends for the crime I just committed against you."
Ji Shengsheng: "..."
It was indeed an attempt to atone for a crime, because Xu Yu hadn't booked any early morning flights at all.
This was a complete trap to lure her to their door!
Before realizing this, she kept urging Xu Yu to finish quickly so as not to miss her flight, but Xu Yu remained unconcerned.
Realizing this, Ji Shengsheng angrily punched Xu Yu's back: "Liar, bastard!"
...
Everything went more smoothly than Xu Yu had imagined, yet not quite as smoothly as he had imagined.
After it was over, he hugged Ji Shengsheng from behind and asked, "Have you decided on a time?"
"Um."
The reason she insisted on seeing Xu Yu again today was because she had already booked a plane ticket for the day after tomorrow.
Making a decision takes only a moment; she was afraid that if she delayed any longer, she might become less and less willing to leave.
"I'll adjust my work schedule and then I'll come find you."
Ji Shengsheng turned to face Xu Yu: "It's only been three months... you don't need to come see me."
"Xu Yu, trust me. Just live your own life during this time and let me focus on my work. Maybe I can come back earlier. I'll try my best to come back sooner."
"...What if I miss you?" Xu Yu stroked her smooth back. "Sheng Sheng, why are you never by my side?"
"...Three months is a very short time."
"Yes, much shorter than three years." Xu Yu kissed the back of her ear, then kissed her hair. "Do you want me to see you off?"
"No, thank you. I don't want to cry on the plane."
Xu Yu closed his eyes and tightened his arms.
Accepting this at such a moment is retribution for his crimes.
If one didn't know that Ji Shengsheng was innocent and kind, yet harbored a dark heart, one would think that this easy and proactive reconciliation was a deception.
The purpose was to make him face a more painful and profound longing and separation.
Then, I will atone for my sins with a hundred days of solitude.
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