Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
"Why aren't you coming home with us?" Simple asked, shaking An Shaojie's arm and looking up at him.
An Shaojie smiled but did not answer Simple.
"Come on, let's go home together. I'll give you my seat," Simple said, playfully tugging at An Shaojie's arm as she walked ahead.
He gently pulled his arm away from Simple's grasp and smiled again, saying, "No thanks, I'm waiting for someone."
Although An Shaojie was not known for having a bad temper, aside from when Qinglan used to playfully tug at him as a child, even Lin Xi rarely displayed overly intimate behavior with him. He was a reserved person, serious in demeanor, and his authority was subtle yet undeniable. Few could engage with him as freely as Simple did, who was not even an old friend.
But Simple had that ability; she could charm anyone or turn a situation into fun without conflict.
"You’re waiting for someone?" Simple asked with wide eyes. "Who are you waiting for?"
An Shaojie looked down, his toes scuffing the ground slightly. "You all go ahead."
He still did not answer Simple's question, his words remaining sparse.
Qinglan scrutinized him from head to toe.
He stood next to a Camphor Tree, a large travel bag at his feet. He remained thin and slender, the morning chill causing his clothes and hair to flutter slightly as he stood straight with his feet together.
He maintained that posture! Even in the biting cold wind, he would never slouch!
Yet his eyes lacked the hard loneliness they once held. Although he still gave off an air of solitude, there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes. The smile on his face was not the polite smile of social niceties; it was a genuine smile that radiated sweetness and happiness!
Indeed, when had An Shaojie ever understood the ways of the world? When had he ever smiled at someone because of social conventions? He had never been one to care about such matters.
He either didn’t smile or smiled sincerely.
So what was the reason behind this genuine, happy smile?
Qinglan bit her lip and lowered her head, her heart aching slightly.
No matter how much Simple tried to cling on, she could not overcome An Shaojie's stubbornness and resolve.
After insisting for a while, Simple finally gave up and waved goodbye to An Shaojie. "Well then, we’ll be going. Wishing you a happy New Year in advance. See you after the holidays."
It was rare that An Shaojie actually raised his hand, waving to Simple and the others. His gaze swept over everyone, but he deliberately skipped over Qinglan.
"Brother Shaojie, does it have to be this way? If you have someone you like, I wish you well. But could you please let go of the hatred you hold against me? Don't you already have someone you care about? Isn't it said that when a person finds true love, they become more forgiving and gentle towards the world and others? Aren't you showing sincere smiles to everyone else now? So I ask you, while I don't need your genuine smile, could you at least offer me the indifference of an ordinary classmate, or a fellow townsman, or even just a passerby?"
Yes, it was emotion, not feelings. Qinglan had never expected him to give her affection; it was merely resentment she felt.
Qinglan kept biting her lip as she walked silently through the bustling crowd.
Before An Shaojie's figure disappeared from her sight, Qinglan ultimately couldn't let go; she couldn't completely sever ties. She couldn't help but glance back at the silhouette standing in the wind.
Sure enough, another figure had appeared beside him.
In the thin morning mist, the two figures were no longer clearly visible, but it was obvious that one was male and the other female; that much was easy to discern.
"Hurry up, what are you looking at?" Simple urged from ahead, suddenly pulling on Qinglan.
The train had once carried Qinglan's hopes to Beijing City, but now it was slowly bringing her back with disappointment!
And what about An Shaojie? Did he come with hopes? Qinglan didn't know, but she did know that he was finally returning with his ideals and hopes!
The next morning, Qinglan and An Shaojie almost arrived home at the same time. It turned out they had taken the same train to the Provincial Capital and then the same bus back to their town.
When they got off in the Provincial Capital, Lin Xi invited An Shaojie to her home. To Lin Xi's surprise, he actually declined.
But Lin Xi had never questioned An Shaojie's decisions since childhood; she understood him well enough that such a decision must have its reasons.
Indeed, An Shaojie had his reasons.
As for Lin Xi's mother, Jia Zhilan, aside from his own mother Bai Cuifen, she was the woman who had given An Shaojie the most warmth and care during his childhood. How could he not want to see her?
However, at this moment, An Shaojie's feelings for Lin Xi were no longer just those of childhood friends.
He loved Lin Xi; he had already set her as an inseparable part of his life. So when Lin Xi suggested going to her house, he thought it over carefully for a moment before refusing without hesitation.
He needed to be fully prepared before going to Lin Xi's home.
Moreover, after so many years without seeing his mother, who was as loving and beautiful as a saint in his heart, and Uncle Lin, whom he regarded as knowledgeable and cultured.
They had always been figures of respect and admiration in An Shaojie's heart, especially Jia Zhilan. Her gentle demeanor had given him many definitions and expectations regarding the beauty of women.
He lowered his head, feeling unworthy to meet Lin Xi's Mother and Dad in his current disheveled state. Not only was An Shaojie dissatisfied with himself compared to his peers, but even standing before Lin Wenhui, he lacked the confidence to avoid feeling ashamed. The warmth and refined demeanor that Lin Wenhui displayed towards everyone was something An Shaojie could never possess.
Yet he had always hoped to become a person of such grace, especially in front of Lin Xi and Jia Zhilan. However, he could not let go of the hatred and resentment in his heart, which prevented him from being as magnanimous and kind as Lin Wenhui was to everyone.
It wasn't just their way of treating others that made An Shaojie admire them; it was also their love for each other.
Indeed, he envied the respectful yet affectionate relationship between Lin Wenhui and Jia Zhilan, or rather, he wished to have such a love himself.
This was probably also why he had always liked Lin Xi.
Because he liked Lin Xi, he believed he should take Lin Wenhui as a role model so that he could offer Lin Xi a love like Jia Zhilan's.
Thus, until he cultivated himself to the level of Lin Wenhui's grace and character, he dared not meet them.
In their presence, even if he approached them as a student from a prestigious university, he felt an overwhelming sense of self-deprecation.
Therefore, he needed to give himself ample time to shape himself into an image he would be satisfied with before visiting Lin Xi's Home.
So when Lin Xi invited him to her house out of childhood affection, he firmly declined. But in his heart, he vowed that one day he would meet them with a more admirable identity.
Comment 0 Comment Count