Unlike Shu He, Jing Yi recognised Cheng Shu immediately.
During those dull, monotonous high school days, he liked Shu He as much as he despised Cheng Shu.
But he enviously realised that Cheng Shu had more right to stand beside her.
Cheng Shu and she were competitors, classmates – they had legitimate roles in each other’s lives.
While he was just Shu He’s junior.
But what did being her junior really amount to?
Opposite teaching buildings, different classes. During flag-raising, he could only see her from behind, listening as others praised how well-matched she was with the boy discussing future and ideals beside her.
After university entrance exams, they might pursue the same goals. Yet despite his efforts to catch up, he was always a step behind.
He was merely a shadow, never noticed by Shu He.
Shu He sat in the car, clearly sensing the mood shift of the person beside her.
The man turned his head to look out the window, jaw clenched, lips pressed into a line. Gone was the innocent expression from minutes earlier, and no explanation for his vague concept of “going home.”
But Shu He ignored him. Liang Xu had heard her say she needed to return to the shop, and the car had barely left the hospital when he sensed something wasn’t right.
Looking at the rearview mirror at the two sitting on opposite sides, practically separated by a galaxy between them, he felt puzzled.
How had he become their driver?
Wasn’t he supposed to be Jing Yi’s boss?
What boss had to ferry people around and tolerate such moody behaviour?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly turned the steering wheel, catching both passengers off guard—
Shu He’s body instinctively tilted right. She reflexively reached out to grab something as screeching sounds mixed with honking, and a familiar groan came from above.
Beneath her palm was the man’s tense thigh.
And covering the back of her hand was a pale, wide hand with plasters wrapped around all five fingers.
Shu He came to her senses and pulled away from his grasp, her heart still racing.
“People these days really love overtaking, don’t they?” Liang Xu explained leisurely, though without a trace of apology.
Shu He fixed her hair, glancing instinctively at the person beside her. His dark eyes were fixed on her.
Deep and somewhat… hurt?
Shu He blinked, noticing his clenched hand, and a question slipped out: “Why are you still wearing plasters?”
It was just a glass cut – was it really that serious?
Jing Yi looked silently at his hand before muttering, “It still hurts.”
Shu He’s heart felt like glass had sliced through it. She’d heard this phrase countless times.
When they were together, he truly embodied being “spoiled by affection.”
Sometimes when she annoyed him, she’d grab a nearby pillow and throw it at him.
The man would dramatically wince, pouting and teasing as he came to kiss her.
“That hurts, Shu He. Don’t you feel sorry for me?”
“Such a handsome boyfriend, bruised by your pillow.”
She’d laugh despite herself, dodging his kisses, but unable to suppress her smile.
“Have you no shame? I barely used any force.”
This man, with his flashy good looks, would appear especially innocent: “Then get used to it.”
Shu He pushed away his head as he leaned in to kiss her. “To what?”
“Your boyfriend is quite sensitive to pain.” His tone was casual, as if commenting on nice weather. Catching her speechless gaze, he pulled her into his arms, resting his chin in the crook of her neck, clingy yet unabashed: “Sister, spoil me a little more.”
Later, Shu He learned how to spoil and love someone.
Then he suddenly withdrew from their passionate relationship.
Leaving her alone.
But now, however much pain he felt had nothing to do with her.
Shu He pushed these thoughts away and calmly said, “Oh.”
Seeing her reaction, jealousy and hurt mingling, Jing Yi turned to look out the window, unusually not fixing his gaze on her. Yet his eyes suddenly stung.
But Shu He seemed to remember something. She looked at his leg, recalling the sensation beneath her palm.
“Your leg – can you feel it?”
Liang Xu glanced at the rear-view mirror, unsure why the man was upset, his jaw tense as he stubbornly grunted affirmatively.
Shu He noticed his strange behaviour, but she couldn’t be bothered to guess the reason for his inexplicable mood.
At the coffee shop, Shu He got out to fetch something.
The two men waited in the car.
Jing Yi’s gaze traced her figure inch by inch until she returned five minutes later. He shifted his eyes away, turning toward the window, his sullenness obvious to anyone.
“Liang Xu, thanks for giving me a lift back today.” Shu He handed him a bag. “These are new products from the shop. You can take them back for Ni Sui.”
He accepted graciously, “Thanks.”
After speaking, they noticed Shu He still held another bag, and the man beside her looked even more displeased.
All the way to the apartment complex, neither spoke a word.
Liang Xu dropped them off and left. Jing Yi’s gaze secretly fell on her, seeing she had no intention of speaking to him. He glumly called out to her.
Shu He turned to look at him. He pressed his lips together, reluctantly asking, “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
She casually placed the bag on the coffee table, tilting her head in confusion: “What?”
The wheelchair slowly moved forward. His dark eyes held a trace of hurt: “My brownie.”
Shu He responded leisurely, shrugging with feigned innocence: “I thought you were upset with me and didn’t want it.”
His pupils contracted slightly. He picked at the plasters on his fingers anxiously, causing the wheelchair to accidentally bump the coffee table as he moved forward.
“I’m not,” he explained frantically.
Shu He’s gaze moved from his legs up to his agitated face.
“Shu He.” He softly called her name, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Though looking up at her, he somehow resembled a drooping puppy as he mumbled dejectedly: “You can’t think of me that way.”
Shu He’s red lips parted as she clenched her hand. “Why not? I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
She leaned back on the sofa. Jing Yi gazed at her beautiful, cold features, his heart aching.
“You added him on WeChat,” he said gloomily, making Shu He pause, clearly not seeing any issue.
She tilted her head and asked, “So?”
“And it was his personal account.”
Now Shu He was puzzled. “You noticed that?”
She didn’t deny it. Jing Yi stared at her glumly, his dark eyes mixed with unhappy resentment.
“You added me using your shop account and don’t reply to my messages.”
“…”
Shu He seemed to grasp his questioning tone and found it amusing. “Is that not allowed?”
“…”
“It’s perfectly normal for me to decide who to add on my WeChat and whose messages I ignore, isn’t it?”
Jing Yi was rendered speechless by her question. After watching him for a moment, Shu He changed the subject: “Since we have time now, shall we discuss our flatshare arrangements?”
“…Mm.”
Shu He couldn’t find any paper and was about to give up when Jing Yi silently entered the recording room, returning with a stack of paper for her.
“First point—” Shu He was about to speak when her gaze fell on the mint leaf in the bottom left corner. She paused, looking up at him: “You stole my design?”
This was a mint leaf she’d sketched casually before – the logo for “Tian Tian.”
She flipped through the pages. Every sheet had mint leaves in the bottom left corner.
He liked writing songs on paper, and she’d glimpsed this when she entered his studio before.
This meant he’d been “stealing” her design for quite some time.
She expected him to explain, but he just looked at it silently before glumly responding, as if giving up: “Then I’ll pay you for it.”
“?”
Jing Yi’s dark eyes met hers. “I’ll transfer money to buy the rights. Alright?”
“…”
The man’s wealthy attitude left Shu He wondering where his confidence came from that she’d agree. She silently thought, “Do you even have money?”
“We’ll settle that account later,” she said, picking up a pen. “Let me state my requirements first.”
Jing Yi nodded. Shu He’s requirements weren’t many: keep things clean, don’t disturb her, and preferably minimal interaction.
“…”
Shu He handed him the paper: “Your turn.”
He seemed upset about something but still took the pen.
“First condition: tell me what time you’ll be home each day.”
Shu He narrowed her eyes, leaning back with folded arms: “Why should I?”
The man looked at her with dark eyes, his reason surprisingly sensible: “A flatmate’s safety is important.”
“?”
Shu He maintained her patience: “I don’t need your concern.”
Jing Yi shook his head, calmly countering: “I’m talking about my safety.”
“?”
Shu He restrained her temper: “You stay home all day. What danger could you face?”
Besides, why should she care about his safety?
“What if I fall at home and nobody knows?”
Shu He didn’t indulge him. She smiled slightly: “If you fall, get up.”
“…”
Hearing her particularly cold and heartless answer, Jing Yi’s long eyelashes trembled, his heart crumpling with hurt: “If I’m hurt, I won’t be able to write songs.”
“…So?”
“Could you bear to see the Chinese music industry lose such an outstanding songwriter?”
“…?”
Shu He almost laughed from frustration. “Are you emotionally blackmailing me? And weren’t you reluctant to mention your legs before?”
“…”
The man drooped his head, his thick curls slightly arched, looking dejected. After a long while, he squeezed out a sentence: “I was in a car accident.”
His sudden explanation made Shu He’s heart skip a beat.
Jing Yi looked up. She realised that, somehow, his eyes had reddened, black pupils behind his glasses seemingly misty, as if tears might fall any moment.
“I…” He hesitated painfully, “I went back to find you…”
Unable to bear her calm gaze, he lowered his wet lashes, his hoarse voice falling to a whisper.
“But I got into an accident.”
“My legs were injured.”
In an instant, Shu He’s throat tightened. Her fingertips dug into her palm as he raised his eyes, seemingly gathering courage before silently moving forward, his wheelchair lightly touching her toes.
Under her unmoving gaze, his nose tingled as he extended his pale hand wrapped in plasters, carefully pinching the edge of her skirt.
“I’ll be able to stand soon.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he pleaded with reddened, moist eyes: “Will you wait for me a little longer?”
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