Misaligned Love - Chapter 13

Xiao Huai had always been a rational and self-aware person.

He had never strived hard for anything–academics, career, resources–everything seemed to come to him naturally, as if by fate, effortlessly within reach.

I thought that after that day, Xiao Huai would no longer pay any attention to me.

He had always been proud.

So when I received a call from Chen Wu that day, I was actually a little surprised. He said that ever since Xiao Huai returned from South City, he hadn’t been in a good state. Somehow, he’d been sick for two days, refusing to eat or drink, and in the middle of the night he suddenly got up and tried to cook himself a bowl of Seafood Congee, only to end up scalding his hand with boiling water, scattering the ingredients all over the floor.

Chen Wu said Xiao Huai stood in the kitchen for a long time that night.

I understood what Chen Wu meant. He wanted to tell me just how much Xiao Huai still cared about me, deep down.

When a girl has cherished a boy close to her heart for ten years, even if he doesn’t love her enough, there’s always some feeling left.

He just needed to get used to life without me.

This matter didn’t linger in my mind for long. I quickly refocused on my own life.

Jiang Lin made me realize that love didn’t need to be earned by striving to please. When someone truly cares about you, they’ll fear your grievances even more than you do.

It turned out all my forbearance and pretense could be so easily seen through.

That day, Jiang Lin and I were taking a walk by the river. It was a gloomy, cold day, the wind blowing so hard that my hair was in a complete mess. Jiang Lin had just recovered from a cold, and I was worried he’d get chilled, so I moved him to the outside and took off my shawl, wanting to wrap it around him.

Jiang Lin took my hand. “Xiao Jin, you seem so used to taking care of others.”

He helped me put the shawl back on, then gently arranged my hair and tied it up. “You’re just a girl in your early twenties, you know. At least in front of me, you don’t have to be like this.”

A few close college friends contacted me wanting to get together. When I arrived, I saw Xiao Huai. In the noisy KTV, he was sitting alone in a corner, drinking quietly, and when he heard I’d arrived, he only lifted his head slightly.

By his nature, he had no interest in these kinds of gatherings. There wasn’t anyone there he was particularly close to.

Two female classmates, not knowing I was seeing someone, joked around and pushed me over to sit beside him. Someone bumped me, and I accidentally ended up sitting on his lap. Xiao Huai steadied my waist.

I hurriedly stood up, saying I already had a boyfriend–he’d be coming soon to pick me up.

Everyone froze for a moment. Even the singing stopped.

Xiao Huai lowered his head, his expression unreadable.

After that, we didn’t talk again.

It wasn’t until the end of the night, when I went to the bathroom, that I saw him standing at the door of the private room. Just as I was about to push the door open, he grabbed my hand.

“How long are you going to stay mad?” His voice was very soft; I couldn’t tell if he was drunk or not. “When are you coming back?”

I said nothing, just pulled my hand away.

Only later did I find out that after I left, Chen Qi didn’t move in. Xiao Huai bought that apartment.

When Jiang Lin came to pick me up, he saw Xiao Huai among the group, and clearly tensed up.

But he didn’t show anything, just calmly put his arm around my shoulders, smiling as he accepted the teasing and scrutiny from my two female friends.

“Now I finally believe you really have a boyfriend,” my lower bunkmate whispered in my ear. “Do you think Xiao Huai regrets it?”

In the car, I explained to Jiang Lin in a small voice that I really didn’t know Xiao Huai would be there–no one had told me.

Jiang Lin just replied, “Mm.”

When we got home, I held his hand and repeated it once more.

“Did you drink?” Jiang Lin asked.

I shook my head.

He took off his coat and kissed me.

Jiang Lin was usually a very gentle person. I’d almost never seen him angry.

But when he kissed me, he liked to bite. The first time, it caught me off guard–I couldn’t help but let out a hiss. I opened my eyes wanting to ask him why, but he only kissed me more fiercely, wordless and intense.

Later, I gradually realized he only did this when he was especially happy or especially angry.

So, which was it this time?

Late at night, I received a call from Xiao Huai.

“Chen Qi said you liked me, asked me if I’d ever thought about being with you. At the time, I just found it awkward.” His voice was hoarse. “Since we were little, everyone called you my little sister. I got used to our relationship being like that–never thought about changing it.”

“So now you’ve become someone else’s girlfriend.”

…

I found out the reason for the car accident from Chen Wu later.

That day, I told Xiao Huai I wouldn’t keep clinging to him anymore–I’d try being with someone else.

Xiao Huai’s response was cold, indifferent.

I was heartbroken, so for once, I went out drinking with a few friends.

Afterwards, one of the guys offered to take me home.

I could hold my liquor, and seemed sober enough. But halfway across the parking lot, I suddenly felt so wronged I couldn’t hold it in anymore, squatted down and cried my heart out, not caring about appearances.

My friend, embarrassed and helpless, saw me sobbing uncontrollably, and out of sympathy, gave me a hug.

Xiao Huai couldn’t reach me by phone, so he asked Jiajia. Jiajia, worried something might happen to me, gave him my location.

And that was how he happened to catch that scene.

Xiao Huai’s gaze froze–he didn’t notice the turn ahead, and crashed straight into a parked car by the roadside. Chen Wu, who was in the passenger seat, got hurt too.

If I’d known all this earlier, maybe I wouldn’t have been so discouraged.

But after all, it was already too late.

(The End)