Chapter 100 - What Exactly is Love?

Inside the Xia Family villa.

In the early morning, Xia Xinya’s eyelashes fluttered a few times as she slowly opened her somewhat drowsy eyes. She reached out to rub the corners of her eyes and stretched lazily with a sense of comfort.

Last week, Xia Xinya had been restless and hadn’t slept well. It had been a long time since she had slept so comfortably, feeling warm and cozy. There was also a pleasant scent around her that made her feel safe, as if she were being held by that rascal.

Half-asleep, Xia Xinya suddenly realized that what she had been hugging all night wasn’t her rabbit plushie but Tang Huaijin’s suit jacket.

Why was Tang Huaijin’s jacket here…?

Rascal…?

…

Xia Xinya slowly recalled the events of last night, her face quickly turning red. She covered her mouth in disbelief and then quickly realized that this hand had touched Tang Huaijin’s dirty things, so she spat a few times.

Had her brain gone bad?

She actually agreed to let that rascal be with Rou?

Thinking of this, she hurriedly got up, wanting to call Rou. But just then, there was a knock on the bedroom door, and the maid outside whispered, “Miss, Miss Bai is here to see you.”

Xia Xinya was overjoyed and quickly slipped on her slippers to go downstairs to greet Rou. But as she reached the bedroom door, she hesitated for a moment, then walked back, climbed onto the bed, and carefully hid Tang Huaijin’s jacket in the wardrobe before leaving the room.

Bai Yuerou had actually communicated with Tang Huaijin last night and knew that Xinya was fine, but she was still a bit worried. She came to the Xia Family early in the morning to find her and was chatting with Xia Yunzhu in the living room.

Seeing Xia Xinya bouncing over, Bai Yuerou smiled slightly and said, “Xinya, good morning.”

“Good morning, Rou, come on.” Xia Xinya cheerfully took her best friend’s hand and pulled her back to her room.

Back in her bedroom, Xia Xinya pulled her best friend to sit on the bed and asked, “Rou, why did you come to see me so early?”

“Because I’m worried about you.” Bai Yuerou gave her a reproachful look and said, “After what happened yesterday, how could I not be worried?”

“Oh…” Xia Xinya smiled a bit sheepishly.

Bai Yuerou smiled helplessly and asked, “Where did you go yesterday?”

“That rascal took me out for barbecue.” When Bai Yuerou mentioned last night, Xia Xinya felt inexplicably guilty and didn’t want to continue the topic. She held her best friend’s hand and softly asked, “Rou, why are you with that rascal?”

“Hmm?” Bai Yuerou was taken aback, then smiled gently and said, “Because I like Jin.”

Hearing her best friend’s words, Xia Xinya felt a bit uncomfortable and asked in confusion, “Why? What’s so good about that rascal? He’s always so fierce and just bullies people.”

“Jin isn’t as bad as you say.” Bai Yuerou looked at Xia Xinya with a mix of amusement and helplessness and said softly, “Liking someone is just liking them, there’s no reason.”

“…” Xia Xinya was silent for a while, unconsciously fiddling with her fingers, and softly asked, “Rou, what does it feel like to like someone?”

“Hmm…” Bai Yuerou’s eyes showed a hint of longing. Her lips parted slightly, and she said softly, “I think liking someone is a very complex thing, hard to describe with words.”

As she spoke, a blush gradually spread across her cheeks, and she said with a bit of sweetness in her voice, “You always think about that person, want to sneak a peek at their face, want to be with them. If you don’t see them for a day, you feel an emptiness in your heart.”

“You unconsciously want to be close to them, want to be near them, and you blush when you make eye contact.”

After speaking, a fleeting sadness passed through her eyes, and she said softly, “If the person you like happens to like you too, I think that’s the most beautiful thing in the world.”

Xia Xinya listened silently to Bai Yuerou’s words, her face inexplicably turning red, her eyes appearing somewhat unfocused, as if lost in thought.

Bai Yuerou sighed softly and asked with a smile, “Xinya, do you not want me and Jin to be together?”

Xia Xinya hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded and said softly, “Yes.”

Bai Yuerou’s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked into Xia Xinya’s eyes and asked softly, “Why?”

Facing Bai Yuerou’s gaze, Xia Xinya felt as if she were being seen through and said somewhat unnaturally, “Because if you two are together, that rascal will take you away, and I don’t want you to leave me.”

“…” After a moment of silence, Bai Yuerou smiled gently and said softly, “That won’t happen. Even if we’re together, we’ll still be friends and won’t drift apart from you.”

As she spoke, she looked at Xia Xinya with a hint of envy in her eyes and said softly, “And although Jin is usually fierce with you, he actually cares about you a lot.”

Xia Xinya knew this too. Although she was simple, she wasn’t stupid. It was precisely because Tang Huaijin genuinely cared for her that she accepted him and considered him an important friend.

Xia Xinya’s feelings were very complicated now. There were many things she couldn’t figure out. Although she felt sad, she knew it was unrealistic to separate them, and she had already agreed to the rascal, so it wouldn’t be right to go back on her word.

Suppressing the sourness in her heart, Xia Xinya forced a smile and said softly, “Then you have to promise me that wherever you go, you’ll take me with you, and we’ll still be best friends forever.”

“Yes.” Bai Yuerou nodded with a smile, gently holding her best friend’s hand.

…

That weekend, Tang Huaijin had an extremely sweet time. After his sister’s emotional knot was untied, she became much bolder, sometimes even taking the initiative to kiss Tang Huaijin. She was no longer as resistant as before when he teased her.

However, when Tang Huaijin wanted to take things further, his sister disagreed, blushing and saying it wasn’t the right time yet.

On Monday morning, since his sister had her own car, Tang Huaijin no longer needed to squeeze into the bus. He comfortably sat in the passenger seat as his sister drove him to school.

As they passed the bus stop he usually used, Tang Huaijin sighed silently in his heart.

Both of Tang Huaijin’s social media posts were liked instantly by Lin Ruoxi, yet she didn’t message him.

Tang Huaijin couldn’t figure out her thoughts. He thought Lin Ruoxi should hate him, but instead of minding his infidelity, she pursued him, only to be disappointed again.

But perhaps this was for the best. Tang Huaijin actually wanted Lin Ruoxi to despise him, to loathe him from the bottom of her heart as a player. That way, she could stay away from him and wouldn’t be hurt by him anymore. Call it selfish or hypocritical, or self-deception, it would at least lessen his guilt somewhat.

In his heart, he felt most indebted to Lin Ruoxi, but correspondingly, he also feared her the most. This sense of debt made him subconsciously want to be good to her. He kept his distance from her because he was afraid of making mistakes.

The BMW stopped steadily at the school gate. Tang Yaoyao looked at her brother, who was lost in thought, and curiously asked, “Jin, we’re here. What are you thinking about?”

“Hmm?” Tang Huaijin snapped back to reality, a fleeting unnaturalness in his eyes. He smiled and said, “Nothing. I’m off, sis.”

Tang Yaoyao looked at her beloved brother warmly and gently reminded him, “Alright, go ahead. Remember to watch for cars when crossing the street.”

“I know, I’m not a kid anymore. You’re starting with your ‘big sister is like a mother’ routine again.” Tang Huaijin rolled his eyes, gave his sister’s thigh a playful squeeze, and got out of the car with a mischievous smile after she playfully scolded him.

“Little rascal…” Tang Yaoyao muttered with some dissatisfaction, but as she watched his figure disappear, a sweet smile slowly curved her lips.