Misaligned Love - Chapter 12

During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, I brought Jiang Lin back to my hometown.

My mom was delighted. After all, Jiang Lin was, by any measure, a handsome and refined young man. On his first visit, he thoughtfully brought a few bottles of good liquor for my dad, gifted my mom a jade bracelet worth at least tens of thousands, and also a piece of jade Buddha with excellent translucency.

He didn’t mention the price, and at first I felt it was too expensive and hesitated to accept, but my mom was utterly enchanted with the gifts. Her gaze toward Jiang Lin grew impossibly kind.

Jiang Lin maintained his gentle smile throughout, and the family atmosphere was harmonious and warm.

I had no choice but to swallow my words.

What surprised me was that Xiao Huai also came back.

Beside him was Chen Wu. I glanced around but didn’t see Chen Qi get out of his car.

Bringing another man home–was he planning to come out of the closet?

Xiao Huai was always reserved, and even in front of elders, he never bothered with pleasantries. Maybe it was just my imagination, but he seemed preoccupied this time, even more silent than in the past.

Fortunately, Chen Wu was great at smoothing things over. He answered all the elders’ questions on Xiao Huai’s behalf, making them laugh heartily with just a few words.

Our two families had always been close. Since the two “kids” had both come back from out of town, we decided to have a big meal at my house, with Uncle Xiao and my mom sharing the cooking duties.

I went to the kitchen to join the fun, but my mom shooed me out after some half-hearted scolding, so I could only sulkily lean against Jiang Lin for comfort.

Jiang Lin laughed and fed me a slice of orange.

I obediently peeled another for him and split it in half to share.

The dishes were brought out one after another, and everyone gathered at the table. Jiang Lin wiped my sticky palm with a wet tissue, cleaning my fingers one by one. The sensation felt strange, my ears grew hot.

Jiang Lin noticed my discomfort, and after wiping my hand, he didn’t let go. Instead, he held my hand and kneaded it gently, his fingertips brushing my palm like a feather tickling my heart–soft and tingly, my whole face flushed with heat, and I quickly lowered my head.

Jiang Lin’s lips curved in a casual smile, but his eyes never left me, filled with quiet delight.

Suddenly, Xiao Huai got up from the table, his face ashen.

“Huh? What’s wrong with Xiao Huai?” My mom asked, holding a bowl of soup, confused.

In the evening, after Jiang Lin and I came back from a walk, my mom told me that Xiao Huai was waiting for me in the living room.

He stood up from the sofa and looked at me. “Let’s talk in your room.”

I didn’t move. “Let’s talk here.”

Xiao Huai pressed his lips together.

My mom, sharp as ever, called Jiang Lin away. “Let them talk. Xiao Jiang, help me wash the grapes in the kitchen.”

Jiang Lin agreed with his usual gentleness.

The living room was left with just the two of us. Xiao Huai spoke first, “Chen Qi isn’t my girlfriend.”

I nodded. “I know, you’ve told me before.”

“I never slept with her, either.” He frowned. “Is this why you’re angry with me, because of a misunderstanding?”

“I’m not angry with you,” I said, surprised myself at my own calmness. “I just realized, with or without Chen Qi, you would never choose me.”

“It took me so long to see things clearly.” I spoke softly. “I’ve been clinging to you all these years, it must have been hard on you. I never dared to speak up, afraid you’d reject me. But Xiao Huai, don’t worry–I won’t anymore.”

Xiao Huai’s face turned deathly pale.

Back in my room that night, I found a hairpin in my drawer.

Black, simple in style.

On my seventeenth birthday, I saw Xiao Huai coming out of an accessory shop, holding a hairpin–light purple, inlaid with pearls.

The next day, that hairpin appeared in another girl’s hair.

Not long ago, I even caught them kissing.

Since then, I never wore hairpins again.

As the three-day holiday was coming to an end, before heading back, Chen Wu asked if we could talk outside–he had something to tell me.

In the milk tea shop, he tried to explain for Xiao Huai: “You probably misunderstood. The shop was so busy during that time, I basically ate and slept at his place. When my sister was taking a shower, I was probably still asleep in his bedroom.”

“With me there, nothing could have happened between them.”

“That night we celebrated with some drinks; maybe I got too drunk and threw up on her. She was so out of it she didn’t notice, and only showered the next day because she couldn’t stand it anymore after sobering up.”

“Xiao Huai likes you. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have stayed single all these years,” Chen Wu said. “When a man likes a woman, he gets possessive–he doesn’t want you modeling, doesn’t want you wearing those clothes, doesn’t like other men looking at you.”

“My sister likes Xiao Huai too, but I know–even if Xiao Huai isn’t with you, you’re always in his heart.” Chen Wu fiddled with his cup. “I just don’t want my sister living in your shadow.”

I was silent for a long time.

“You say Xiao Huai likes me, but he never cares about my feelings,” I replied. “No matter if I’m sad or hurt, he always waits for me to get over it on my own, to heal myself before coming back to him. But when someone is neglected for so long, even the smallest kindness from someone else can sway them.”

“I know it sounds weak,” I admitted. “But once you’ve experienced gentleness, you can’t go back.”

As I left the milk tea shop, I saw Xiao Huai.

He watched me quietly, his face betraying no emotion.