Misaligned Love - Chapter 10

He took a step forward, “So, you’ve already reached that stage with him?”

I pressed my lips together, saying nothing.

“What do you like about him?” Xiao Huai seemed even angrier, leaning closer to me, his tone cold to the point of sarcasm. “Just because he touches you?”

I had no choice but to step back a few paces, my face flushed red with embarrassment and anger.

Suddenly, I remembered that year, when I was holding onto a bitter secret crush, unsure whether to confess to him. After painstakingly gathering a bit of courage, I witnessed Xiao Huai, who in my heart was clean and indifferent to everyone, lowering his head to kiss a girl under the sycamore tree outside the school.

At that moment, my world collapsed.

His hand rested on the girl’s shoulder, eyes closed, his expression relaxed yet gentle.

For the first time, I tasted the emotion called jealousy, and for the first time, I felt ashamed.

He might not have liked that girl much; it was probably just the curiosity of a rebellious phase about relationships. But that scene made me realize he would never treat me like that.

In his eyes, I wasn’t even considered a woman.

If that’s the case, then why does he have the right to be angry because another man kissed me?

I looked up at him, “Yes, I like him, and I’m willing to let him kiss me.”

In the sweltering summer, I wore a loose T-shirt, with gray shorts barely covered by the hem of the shirt.

Xiao Huai grabbed my shoulders, his palm slid into my shirt against my back, causing a shiver.

I’m a very sensitive person; even a slight squeeze of my hand can make my face flush and heart race. At this moment, my breath stopped entirely.

He placed his hand on the clasp of my bra, staring into my eyes, “Yao Jin, is this what you want?”

I couldn’t believe it, and I pushed him away abruptly, “Xiao Huai, you’re crazy.”

Xiao Huai looked at me silently, his gaze gradually turning gray.

…

Things were mostly packed, and on moving day, Jiang Lin came to help me.

Seeing him pick up my middle school photo to examine, I hurriedly hid it away.

“Jiajia showed me your middle school photos.” He smiled, “Hmm, short hair looks quite dashing.”

“Nonsense, if I looked like that, would you still like me?”

He pondered for a moment, “As long as the gender doesn’t change.”

“…”

The movers gradually cleared out the luggage, and I took one last look around the empty room.

I had come to this city for Xiao Huai, and now I was staying for Jiang Lin.

As we were about to leave, Xiao Huai’s door opened.

His eyes had dark circles, as if he hadn’t rested well all night, and he slowly spoke my name, “Yao Jin.”

He didn’t pay attention to Jiang Lin behind me, reaching out to hold my wrist, “Don’t move away, can you?”

It was a rare plea.

I couldn’t describe my feelings.