CH 7

Xiao Qing lived alone in a big house. Loneliness was the feeling that this luxurious house gave her. Suddenly she heard that Ai Yan was coming over, and Xiao Qing was a little overwhelmed. Usually, she lives at school and rarely heads home. Although every day someone would come over to clean the house, the house did not have any warmth. The drinks in the refrigerator were recently purchased, and the fruits on the table also just arrived. There was nothing to entertain guests. There were only some snacks on the table. Xiao Qing quickly ran over to open the door and saw Ai Yan and Song Ling Xiao standing in front of her. Ai Yan held a gift in one hand and a big bag of snacks in the other, Song Ling Xiao carried the cake in his left hand and his right hand was empty.

“Xiao Qing, today is your birthday, I’m afraid you have forgotten about it. Look! This is the gift we have bought for you,” raising the gift in her hand.

How could she possibly have forgotten about her birthday? Xiao Qing smiled bitterly in her heart, it was because she did not have many friends. It seemed to be convenient to disturb Ai Yan, grandfather was not around. Let’s just forget about celebrating her birthday.

She looked at Song Ling Xiao in disbelief and asked, “What about him?” She asked this question just to understand the situation.

“Oh, it’s like this, I said I was coming over to celebrate your birthday today, and he wanted to come along with me, so…”

Song Ling Xiao wanted to celebrate Xiao Qing’s birthday with her. While she assumed he didn’t want to be apart from Ai Yan, and hence he tagged along with her.

Xiao Qing’s face was no longer smiling. She was silent. She turned around and left. Song Ling Xiao grabbed her arm, he tried with all his might to make her stay, but he can’t seem to find anything to say. Instead, she turned around, looked at him expressionlessly, and shook off his hand with force.

“Okay, in that case, I’ll go.” Song Ling Xiao helplessly squeezed out these words and turned around to hand the cake to Ai Yan. He didn’t know why Xiao Qing was angry with himself, but he knew he should leave.

He left so dashingly, Xiao Qing looked at his departing back, just like the first time she saw him. He was still so dazzling, with the same movement and pace, but the person watching was in a different mood. The first was appreciation, and now it is heartache. Xiao Qing forced herself to hold back her tears, and her heart silently wept: “I’m sorry; I do not want anyone to get hurt, but I really cannot afford to lose…”

Ai Yan put the things in the living room, and the expression on her face became stiff. She coldly said, “Xiao Qing, you are too much.”

“I was too much? How have I gone too far? If you are feeling heartbroken over this, you can leave with him.” Xiao Qing was worried that if Song Ling Xiao was around, she wouldn’t be able to control her temper, but now that he was gone, she still didn’t control it.

“Xiao Qing, are you out of your mind?” This was the first time Ai Yan spoke to Xiao Qing in a stern voice.

Xiao Qing was taken aback. Ai Yan had never been like this, but today she had lost her temper with Song Ling Xiao. She sneered, “You are a friend that prioritises your lover more than friends. After driving away Song Ling Xiao, you are going to treat me like this?”

“You are simply unbelievable.” Ai Yan did not understand what Xiao Qing meant by that, she only felt that the person in front of her was being unreasonable.

“You can say whatever you want. You leave, you can go with him, I bless you.” With that, she pushed Ai Yan towards the door and slammed it shut. She wanted to cry, but she could not. A breath seems to be stuck in her throat. The next moment, all her frustrations spilled out.

Only then did Ai Yan understand that Xiao Qing felt that she was dating Song Ling Xiao, and that’s why she was like this. She frowned, puffed out her breath, and tapped the door: “Xiao Qing, come out, and let’s speak of this clearly. I’ve known you for so long. Don’t you know what kind of person I am?” Ai Yan was equally frustrated. They have known each other for a long time, yet, Xiao Qing still does not trust her.

When Xiao Qing heard what Ai Yan said, she took a few deep breaths and tried to calm herself down. She leaned against the door and slowly stood up, tear marks were not even wiped, opened the door and saw Ai Yan standing at the door with a frown.

“If you want to know what happened, you…”, Xiao Qing opened the door before she finished speaking.

Ai Yan was still worried about Xiao Qing. After knowing each other for such a long time, she understood Xiao Qing’s character and her vulnerability. She entered the house and pulled Xiao Qing to the sofa, using tissue paper to help her wipe her tears.

“That day, when we found out that you were hospitalised, we rushed to the hospital. I went to the ward to look for you, and Song Ling Xiao rushed to the doctor to find out about your situation. Only when he knew that you were fine was he able to relax. But then…”

“He injured his arm, resulting in losing the competition against you the other day. To hide from you, he wore long sleeves. In this heat, it is easy to get infected, you know? To celebrate your birthday with you today, he started designing the cake a long time ago. This is your favourite flavour. He approached me several times to inquire about your preference. He has done so much for you, and instead of appreciating it, you have to break his heart. You not only break his heart but also my heart.” Ai Yan pretended to be angry, turned around, and sat with her back to Xiao Qing.

Xiao Qing took the tissue in her left hand and pulled Ai Yan with her right hand.