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At first glance, Lin Xi thought that Qinglan's departure from An Shaojie had not affected her much, especially since she had the attentive Xu Wen by her side. Therefore, Lin Xi believed that Qinglan was not taking An Shaojie's situation to heart, which was why she did not appear haggard. Not only that, but seeing that Qinglan had not lost weight but had actually gained some, Lin Xi secretly sighed in relief for her own overthinking and concern. She thought the situation was not as serious as she imagined and was even considering giving up on comforting her.
Little did she know that things were not as they seemed.
Lin Xi hesitated about whether to ask Xu Wen or to test how much he really understood about Qinglan. Did he only see her surface demeanor, or did he already know that she was not as carefree inside as she appeared?
After much deliberation, Lin Xi decided to find an opportunity to ask Xu Wen face-to-face the next day. After all, some conversations were difficult to discuss in depth over the phone. Moreover, everyone in the dormitory was aware of the rumors regarding Su Hailu and An Shaojie, which involved Lin Xi's good friend Qinglan. Discussing this matter in front of them would be like a Hong Kong tabloid catching a female celebrity in a secret rendezvous; gossip would spread like wildfire. In a university setting, romantic events could either make or break someone, depending on the severity of the situation.
Lin Xi still had no clear understanding of Qinglan's situation, so it was better to proceed with caution!
After a busy day, Lin Xi finally found a moment after dinner to call Xu Wen and arrange to meet him.
At that time, Qinglan was with Xu Wen, just coming out of the cafeteria after dinner. Xu Wen glanced at Qinglan while on the phone. Thinking it was a private call, Qinglan took a few steps forward to create some distance and stood by the roadside, casually kicking at a few blades of grass sprouting from the ground.
When Xu Wen received Lin Xi's call, he was momentarily taken aback. When she mentioned wanting to meet him, he guessed her intentions. He also wanted to talk to her about how such a significant issue concerning Qinglan weighed heavily on him. He felt immense pressure and needed someone to help share the burden; even if it was just to persuade Qinglan, it would be helpful. Lin Xi was the best candidate for this role, so Xu Wen readily agreed and said they could meet soon.
After confirming the meeting location, Xu Wen walked over to Qinglan and told her to head back to the dormitory to rest as he had some personal matters to attend to.
Qinglan did not say anything; she simply nodded and turned towards the dormitory.
She had become less talkative lately. When with Xu Wen, she often remained silent and rarely initiated conversation. Only when Xu Wen asked her something would she respond; sometimes they could go an entire morning or afternoon without exchanging words. She tried to conserve her words as much as possible, responding only with a faint smile.
When alone, it was even more pronounced; she would sit quietly all day long in silence, gazing at the white clouds and birds drifting across the sky.
Xu Wen stood by the roadside, watching her silhouette for a while. Her slightly plump figure and unsteady gait, illuminated by the golden rays of the setting sun, gave off a sense of twilight.
A wave of sadness surged within Xu Wen! Once, she was such a bright, intelligent girl full of youthful exuberance! It pained him.
The meeting place agreed upon with Lin Xi was a coffee shop at the school gate. This was the place that both Lin Xi and Xu Wen thought of simultaneously; they dared not meet in public areas on campus for fear of being seen by Qinglan. When there was nothing else to do, she might wander around the campus for a while.
Since it was shortly after a meal, there weren't many people in the coffee shop. In fact, without Lin Xi needing to ask, Xu Wen told her about Qinglan's situation. He knew the purpose of Lin Xi's meeting; otherwise, what other reason could there be for them to meet?
Lin Xi held a cup of milk tea and had just taken a sip when she heard Xu Wen's words. She gasped in surprise, nearly choking on her drink, and coughed several times, almost toppling backward from her seat.
"How could this happen?" Lin Xi exclaimed softly in disbelief.
Last night, she had thought of several possible reasons, such as Qinglan moving in with An Shaojie. Everyone in class knew about it; now that An Shaojie had abandoned her, classmates would gossip about it, which would be very humiliating for the girl.
Another possibility was that before leaving, An Shaojie wrote Qinglan a cold-hearted letter saying he never loved her. That would be devastating; to hear that from a boyfriend she lived with would be an utter disgrace—something no one could bear.
Or perhaps Su Hailu had humiliated Qinglan before leaving? That seemed unlikely! Lin Xi knew Su Hailu well enough—smart, enthusiastic, bold, open-minded, realistic—but still very cultured and principled; she wouldn't kick someone when they were down after taking their boyfriend.
Could it be that Su Hailu was pregnant with An Shaojie's child? Otherwise, why would they rush abroad? The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Before going abroad, Su Hailu had almost cut off contact with everyone in class and avoided her as well—there were strong suspicions in that regard.
These were some of the speculations Lin Xi had come up with last night, with the last one being the worst and the most certain conclusion she had drawn from various clues. She believed her guess was definitive.
Who would have thought that her speculation was exactly the opposite?
Xu Wen sat there in a daze, his tall figure resembling an immovable mountain, giving off a sense of oppression yet also a reassuring stability.
"Based on the timing, it was probably that night we went drinking," Xu Wen said as he took a sip of his coffee. "That night when I went to Qinglan's rental apartment, I saw An Shaojie there, and I..." Xu Wen put down his cup, clenching his fist and lightly tapping it on the table, expressing regret and remorse.
What was he regretting? Even if he could have predicted today's outcome back then, what could he have done to stop it? He stood outside the door, and inside was Qinglan's beloved boyfriend; wasn't it the most legitimate reason for them to be together? Could he have forced him out and walked through that door himself?
Clearly not! Yet, Xu Wen still felt a deep sense of regret. Irreversible events had occurred right within his reach, and he was powerless to intervene, only able to watch as they unfolded. This was perhaps the most painful aspect for Xu Wen. Love is the most helpless entrapment for both outsiders and those involved! Watching someone fall deeper into it step by step, even if others could reach out and touch her hand, they could not pull her up or save her.
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