Misaligned Love - Chapter 1

Xiao Huai had a car accident, resulting in a fracture in his right leg, and he would need to stay in bed for at least a month. During this time, he couldn’t take care of himself and needed someone to attend to him.

Under my mother’s repeated urging, I brought a pot of congee to the hospital. Xiao Huai was indeed wealthy; he was staying in a private room. I couldn’t help but marvel at it.

He was reading a book, and upon hearing the noise, he slightly raised his head, his gaze meeting mine. Not long ago, I had confidently declared that I wouldn’t bother him anymore, yet here I was, standing at his door just days later, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

I’ve said similar things many times over the years, so much so that Xiao Huai had become immune to my so-called “resolve.” From initial indifference and anger to later apathy, that day, after I finished speaking, I even caught a hint of mocking disdain in his eyes.

In truth, although it felt like many times, it was only three times in total. Each failed compromise made him more certain that I couldn’t leave him. But he didn’t know that each time, I was genuinely disappointed, my sadness and frustration were real, and my desire to give up was real too.

This time, I truly realized that maybe I didn’t like him as much anymore. I hadn’t wanted to come. But my mom said, “You have flexible working hours, so you can take care of Xiao Huai. You’ve been neighbors for so many years, Xiao Huai is like an older brother to you, and you two should look out for each other outside.”

The words of refusal were still in my mouth when Xiao Huai’s mother took the phone, gently and gratefully asking me to look after her son. I said, “But Xiao Huai has a girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend? When did Xiao Huai get a girlfriend?” She sounded surprised on the other end.

A few minutes later, my mom called me again, “Your aunt asked, and Xiao Huai said he doesn’t have a girlfriend. You must be mistaken.”

I dieted rigorously, starving myself to the point of being pale and weak, finally dropping below 95 jin¹. Jiajia scolded me with distress, “Your skin is fairer than hers, your waist is slimmer, your chest is more shapely, and you have a beautiful swan neck. But no matter what, if a man doesn’t feel anything for you, he just doesn’t. Don’t you understand?”

I dieted rigorously, starving myself to the point of being pale and weak, finally dropping below 95 jin. Jiajia scolded me with distress, “Your skin is fairer than hers, your waist is slimmer, your chest is more shapely, and you have a beautiful swan neck. But no matter what, if a man doesn’t feel anything for you, he just doesn’t. Don’t you understand?”

“…” He just doesn’t want to tell you yet.

As I poured the Seafood Congee from the thermos, the aroma filled the entire room instantly. I handed the bowl to him; he glanced at me and took it silently. After just one taste, he noticed something was off, “Did you buy this from outside?”

I nodded, finding a chair to sit down, “I came in a hurry and didn’t have time to cook.”

Xiao Huai pursed his lips slightly. I said, “Just make do with it for now. I’ll make it for you next time.”

Xiao Huai didn’t like food from outside, thinking it was unclean and the seasoning too heavy. Making Seafood Congee was complicated, requiring four or five types of ingredients and cleaning shrimp whiskers and veins. In the past, I might have made it for him an hour or two in advance.

Before long, Chen Qi arrived. In the scorching summer, her cheeks were slightly pink from the sun, and she was panting slightly, smiling as she said, “Xiao Huai, I brought you congee that I made myself.”

I noticed she was wearing a denim bodycon skirt. The reason it caught my attention was that the first time we met, Xiao Huai had complimented her with admiration, “You look great in skirts.”

In stark contrast, when I wore a skirt in a similar situation, while other boys stared at my legs, Xiao Huai frowned and said, “Why are you dressed so strangely?”

Because of that comment, I rarely wore skirts since then. I pondered deeply afterward, trying to figure out what kind of girl would be deemed “suitable” by Xiao Huai. I concluded that Chen Qi was very slim, with a great waist-to-hip ratio, and her long, straight black hair made any skirt look elegant on her.

I dieted rigorously, starving myself to the point of being pale and weak, finally dropping below 95 jin. Jiajia scolded me with distress, “Your skin is fairer than hers, your waist is slimmer, your chest is more shapely, and you have a beautiful swan neck. But no matter what, if a man doesn’t feel anything for you, he just doesn’t. Don’t you understand?”

I understood, but I couldn’t help it. The skirt she was wearing now was very similar to the one Xiao Huai had criticized me for wearing. It was short, perfectly hugging her hips.

Seeing Chen Qi’s outfit, Xiao Huai’s expression didn’t change at all. Indeed, it wasn’t the skirt that was strange, just the person wearing it.

“Thanks, but I’ve just eaten,” Xiao Huai put down the bowl.

“Oh, I see,” Chen Qi seemed a bit disappointed.

I took the thermos, “No worries, you can heat it up for dinner.”

That way, I wouldn’t have to cook. I opened the lid and took a sniff, thinking happily.

Xiao Huai glanced at me. They chatted while I sat on the side, playing with my phone with my head down. Xiao Huai was noticeably more considerate to Chen Qi, even handing her a blanket to cover her legs.

I lay my head on the table and unknowingly fell asleep.

Footnote:

1. Jin(斤): A traditional Chinese unit of weight, equivalent to approximately 0.5 kilograms.