Shu He hadn’t expected this man to have another side to him.
She sat back casually, her slender white fingers slowly tapping at the keyboard. When she finished typing, she looked up to see him eagerly clutching his phone. Noticing her gaze, he gave her an innocent smile.
Shu He simply put away her phone and walked over to sit across from him.
He hadn’t expected her to come directly to him. A hint of joy flashed through his dark eyes as he controlled the upward curve of his lips. “Why did you come over? Aren’t you busy?”
Shu He rested her chin on one hand. She lazily hummed in response before asking, “Weren’t you supposed to be writing lyrics?”
“Yes.” He nodded, obediently opening his notebook. Then, thinking of something, he passed it to her. “Would you like to see?”
Shu He looked at him flatly. “Why show me? I’m not your boss.”
Jing Yi’s lips parted slightly. Whatever he wanted to say died on his lips. His thick curly hair visibly drooped.
Shu He observed him without hiding her gaze. The man quietly took a sip of coffee, his already red lips glistening. He casually flicked his tongue across them. Noticing her watching, he lifted his pale, harmless face and curved his lips. “What is it?”
Shu He swallowed dryly. She shook her head, her clear gaze seeming to see through him. “Why did you suddenly come here?”
His smile remained. “Like I said, I—”
“Liang Xu said you never used to go out.”
“…..”
Jing Yi didn’t know someone had already sold him out in their social media group. His smile faded as he carefully watched her expression.
Once he confirmed she wasn’t angry, he slowly answered, “I wanted to be with you.”
Shu He frowned slightly, realising “being with her” meant exactly that – literally being together.
“I won’t disturb you, is that okay?”
Shu He couldn’t stand his cautious gaze. She stood up and tossed out a few words, “Whatever you want.”
Suddenly her wrist was caught. Jing Yi looked up at her. “You haven’t replied to my message.”
“Can I go home with you tonight?”
Shu He paused. “Could I stop you if I wanted to?”
Hearing she wasn’t refusing, the man’s eyes behind his glasses filled with joy. He released her hand. “Then we’ll go back together.”
“…..”
Shu He didn’t really focus on him. The shop stayed busy throughout the afternoon, and she hardly had a moment’s rest.
By seven in the evening, there were almost no customers left—just Jing Yi and a girl sitting by the window.
Shu He let the other staff go home. She brought over a chair and began decorating the Christmas tree.
A slight movement came from below. Looking down, she saw the man in the wheelchair had approached. He tilted his head up at her. “Let me help you.”
Shu He looked down at him from her perch on the stool. Everything she wanted to say was in those amber eyes. He seemed to realise he couldn’t do much, visibly deflating.
“Fine.”
A resigned sigh fell from above as she jerked her chin and bluntly instructed him, “Put the ornaments on the lower part.”
Given something to do, he immediately brightened. “Okay.”
Seeing his undisguised happiness, this heartless boss continued, “Decorate it properly. If it’s not beautiful, you’ll have to redo it.”
“Okay.”
“Be careful of my stool. Don’t bump into me.”
“Okay.”
He agreed to everything she said. Shu He couldn’t be bothered with him anymore. She didn’t even consider that he was in a wheelchair and might find things difficult, occasionally ordering him to fetch things.
He seemed delighted by it all.
The bell tinkled as the glass door opened from outside. A tall young man walked in, frowning. His gaze quickly landed on the girl by the window.
Shu He hadn’t expected anyone else at this hour. Standing on the stool, she turned to say “Welcome,” but the young man ignored her and walked straight to the girl.
Her eyes met those of the man below. His dark gaze showed no confusion, as if he hadn’t noticed the newcomer at all. Seeing her look his way, he smiled. “What is it?”
“…..”
Shu He didn’t answer. With the shop empty, the conversation by the window carried clearly to them both.
“When will you stop? Can’t you just leave me alone?” The girl’s voice was clearly choked with tears.
“But you still came, didn’t you? I don’t believe you don’t have feelings for me anymore. If you don’t, why did you come?”
From Shu He’s angle, she could clearly see the young man lean back with an impatient expression.
“Have you forgotten we’ve broken up? If your friend hadn’t kept messaging me, I wouldn’t have come at all.”
The girl shook her head, sobbing as she grabbed his hand. “But why? You clearly… you clearly…”
He yanked his hand away and suddenly stood up, looking down at her. “Because I don’t have feelings for you anymore.”
“Xiao Nian, I hope you won’t look for me again. Let’s part on good terms, okay?”
“…..”
The young man didn’t wait for her answer before coldly walking away.
The bell’s tinkling echoed in the air. Shu He glanced at the girl covering her face by the window. She climbed down from the stool.
Jing Yi instinctively steadied her. He’d clearly heard what the young man said, his dark eyes complex.
When Shu He returned, she carried a cup of hot milk. Jing Yi didn’t follow her but silently picked up an ornament and continued decorating the tree.
Shu He sat across from the girl, who looked up with a sob. Her face was wet with tears, her eyes terribly red.
Perhaps realising she’d stayed too long and was delaying their closing time, she choked out an apology. “I’m sorry, Miss… I—I…”
Shu He shook her head and handed over the milk, her voice gentle. “Have some hot milk.”
The girl’s emotions seemed to suddenly spiral out of control. Holding the cup with both hands, tears dropped down as her shoulders shook in devastation.
She used Shu He as an emotional outlet. “I’ve been dumped, Miss.”
Shu He listened quietly.
“I don’t understand. Just recently, our relationship was still so good.”
“Why did he suddenly stop loving me?”
The young girl looked at her with swollen, teary eyes, as if begging for an answer.
Shu He’s throat tightened. She didn’t know the answer to this question either.
“I waited for him all day here. When he came, I was so happy. I thought… he still cared about me, otherwise why would he come?”
“But…” She suddenly choked up. Shu He remained silent, having heard what the young man said when he arrived.
“I’m sorry, Miss…” She wiped her red eyes, trying to steady herself, but the tears wouldn’t stop. “I don’t know why I’m so upset…”
“I’m sorry for keeping you from closing.”
Shu He looked at the devastated, red-eyed girl before her and felt a pang of sympathy.
For a moment, she seemed to see herself from two years ago.
She once couldn’t believe that one person could cause such powerful emotions in another.
Honestly, she never thought someone’s affection could run so deep.
After all, even birth parents might easily abandon you. How could someone who briefly appeared in your life be any different?
But later, she found herself unable to resist that exception.
When surrounded by love, you feel so happy that the world seems beautiful. Everything tastes sweet, almost sickeningly so, with dopamine rising like bread dough.
But when sad, even medication can’t control your emotions. Your heart shatters into pieces too small to gather up. Though your hands bleed from trying, you still can’t bear to let go.
Just then, music played in the shop:
“No one person Needs another person To get through life…”
Shu He looked at the young girl before her. Though never one to meddle in others’ affairs, she found herself speaking:
“No one is irreplaceable.”
As her words fell, the man nearby froze. Under the bright light, his face turned pale white, as if plunged into an icy pit.
The young girl wiped away her tears. With swollen eyes, she thanked Shu He.
Before sending her out, Shu He chose a small rabbit ornament from a bag and gave it to her.
“Head home now. Be careful.”
“Thank you, Miss.”
The coffee shop fell back into empty silence. Shu He turned around to see the Christmas tree fully decorated.
Red stockings hung alongside colourful bells and bows. A string of lights wrapped around it. She tested the switch—bright and sparkling, instantly creating a Christmas atmosphere.
Shu He put her hands in her pockets, nodding with satisfaction. “Not bad.”
Jing Yi smiled weakly. She went to turn off the Bluetooth and noticed two small Christmas trees in the corner. After thinking, she decided to take them home.
But carrying them would be inconvenient. Her gaze drifted to the man in the wheelchair.
Jing Yi seemed lost in thought.
When he noticed her looking, he blinked slowly. “What is it?”
“Do you want a Christmas tree?” she suddenly asked, tilting her head.
Jing Yi paused, finally noticing the two mini trees.
He seemed uncertain. “Are you giving them to me?”
She didn’t answer, instead asking, “Do you want them?”
The man immediately smiled. “If you’re giving them to me, then yes.”
“Fine.” Shu He wasn’t shy about it. She wrapped up both Christmas trees and placed them on his lap.
He bewilderedly hugged the items she’d given him. Shu He found it somewhat amusing but kept a straight face. “I’ve given them to you. You don’t mind carrying them, right?”
“…No, I don’t mind.”
Shu He locked up the shop. By now it was dark. With her hands in her coat pockets, she looked at him. “Do you want to walk back or take a taxi?”
Instead of answering directly, he asked, “How do you usually go back?”
“Walk.”
It wasn’t far from here to the complex—about fifteen minutes on foot.
Jing Yi nodded, seemingly very compliant. “Okay, let’s walk back.”
Shu He tightened the scarf around her neck, her voice muffled. “I didn’t ask you to come with me.”
“Mm.” He smiled gently, his tone strangely docile. “I decided to come myself.”
“……”
His wheelchair moved forward automatically. Shu He didn’t push him, walking empty-handed beside him, drawing second glances from passersby.
Since injuring his legs, Jing Yi rarely appeared on the streets like this.
He didn’t go out much, especially since Liang Xu would drive him around.
“Are you hungry?”
After walking a while, she suddenly turned to ask.
Jing Yi slowly registered the emptiness in his stomach, but he wasn’t sure if she was hungry.
Seeing his hesitation, Shu He already knew the answer.
Without waiting for his reply, she moved behind the wheelchair. “Let’s buy something to eat at the convenience store.”
She took the initiative to push him. Jing Yi suddenly felt that even if he ate nothing today, it would be fine.
He tilted his head up to look at her, his eyes bright behind his glasses. “Okay, whatever you say.”
“…..”
Entering the convenience store to the sound of a chime, Shu He stared at his fluffy head and deliberately said, “Whatever I say? Are you sure?”
“Mm.” He turned to look at her again, his gaze so intense it made her heart flutter.
When Shu He came to her senses, she had already reached out and coldly pushed his head away.
“Then don’t eat.”
“Just starve.”
“……”
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