Chapter 123

When they arrived at school, Tang Huaijin was just like yesterday, still ignoring Xia Xinya, and Xia Xinya, as if sulking, didn’t even look at him, turning her little face away in a huff.

And for some reason, usually when she suffered a setback with Tang Huaijin, she would go to Bai Yuerou to complain, but this time she didn’t. It even seemed like she was a bit angry with Bai Yuerou too.

Before the last evening self-study session, Xia Xinya went to the restroom alone. When she came back, she saw the two of them chatting and laughing together, her expression grew even more displeased, and she angrily plopped down in her seat.

Ever since the two of them had a falling out, Tang Huaijin seemed too lazy to argue with her anymore, giving her more than half of his desk, sitting very close to Bai Yuerou. So now Xia Xinya had plenty of space, but she wasn’t happy at all, watching the two of them chatting and laughing with a sour look.

“Why so sudden? Are you leaving tomorrow?” Bai Yuerou asked with some concern.

“Yeah, I can’t help it. I’ll leave after lunch tomorrow,” Tang Huaijin smiled.

Leave? The rascal is leaving? Xia Xinya panicked a little. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke up, “Hey, rascal, where are you going?”

This time, Tang Huaijin didn’t ignore her. He turned to look at her and said calmly, “I’m going to Jingdu.”

“To Jingdu?” Xia Xinya bit her lip and asked, “What are you going to Jingdu for?”

“To live there. I’m not coming back.” Tang Huaijin smiled, as if calmly announcing the news. Under the desk, his hand gently touched Bai Yuerou’s, signaling her not to say anything.

Bai Yuerou stayed quiet, silently cooperating with Tang Huaijin. She knew about this, knew Tang Huaijin was trying to correct Xia Xinya, but…

Her own feelings were complicated too, and she sighed silently in her heart.

“What?” Xia Xinya stood up, her face full of disbelief, stammering, “Wh-why?”

“No reason.” Tang Huaijin shook his head, clearly not wanting to say more.

Xia Xinya sat back down in a daze, her mind in turmoil, all kinds of emotions tangled up inside her.

She clearly hated this guy, but the thought that the rascal would never appear in her life again made Xia Xinya unbearably sad.

Only now did she realize that the time spent with Tang Huaijin was the happiest of her life. Even though he often bullied her and took advantage of her, Tang Huaijin’s presence was like an axe, splitting open the emptiness in her heart, so her world wasn’t just moonlight anymore, but also had a sun.

Xia Xinya’s nose tingled, her eyes reddened. Why did the rascal have to leave? Was it because he was angry with her?

It’s just an apology. If apologizing could make the rascal stay, she’d do it. Xia Xinya stood up, grabbed Tang Huaijin’s sleeve, and pulled him outside, saying, “Y-you, come out with me for a bit.”

Tang Huaijin didn’t resist, letting her pull him out of the classroom, all the way to the deserted garden nearby.

Only then did Xia Xinya stop, turning around with a pitiful look and saying, “Can you not leave?”

Tang Huaijin pretended to be surprised and asked, “You don’t want me to go?”

“Mm…” Xia Xinya looked especially obedient, nodding quickly at his words.

“Why?” Tang Huaijin smiled and asked, “Even if I leave, you still have Rou, right? I’ll give Rou back to you, isn’t that fine? Anyway, in your heart, I’m not even worth Bai Yuerou’s little finger.”

Hearing this, Xia Xinya finally couldn’t hold back. She started to cry, throwing herself into Tang Huaijin’s arms and sobbing as she apologized, “I know I was wrong, I was just saying things out of anger, I didn’t mean it, please don’t go, okay?”

Tang Huaijin was stunned for a moment, then smiled helplessly, gently patting her shoulder to comfort her, “Alright, alright, don’t cry.”

But Xia Xinya only cried harder, her little hands tightly hugging his waist, rubbing her face against him, wiping her tears on him, and said aggrievedly, “Don’t go, I don’t want you to go.”

Seeing her crying so hard, Tang Huaijin, worried she’d be unable to speak, quickly said, “I’m not leaving, I’m not leaving, I was just kidding, I’m going to a competition this time.”

Hearing this, Xia Xinya immediately looked up, her tear-stained face like a pear blossom in the rain, and cautiously asked, “R-really?”

“Really.” Tang Huaijin smiled, reaching out to gently wipe the tears from her face.

“You’re not lying to me?” Xia Xinya sniffled, looking at him pitifully.

“I’m not lying. If you don’t believe me, I can show you the event materials.” Tang Huaijin nodded and smiled, “So don’t cry, okay?”

Hearing this, Xia Xinya finally relaxed, burying her head in his arms again, sobbing, “You scared me to death.”

“Now you know you were wrong, right? Will you still say things you don’t mean in the future?” Tang Huaijin scolded her while rubbing her little head.

Xia Xinya nuzzled obediently in his arms like a kitten. Ever since Tang Huaijin got together with Rou, she rarely got this close to the rascal. Smelling his scent, she replied softly and contentedly, “Mm…”

“Alright, stop hugging me. If someone comes, it’ll be bad.” Seeing she’d stopped crying, Tang Huaijin gently pushed Xia Xinya off him, pinched her little nose, and asked, “Do you still think you like Bai Yuerou now?”

Xia Xinya reluctantly left Tang Huaijin’s embrace. Hearing this, she blinked and got tangled up again. If she said she didn’t like her, she’d have no reason to stop the two of them from being together.

But she had just promised Tang Huaijin not to say things she didn’t mean. She opened her mouth, hesitated for a long time, then muttered, “I don’t know… I guess I like her…”

Tsk, what to do now? Tang Huaijin frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and said, “How about this, let’s do an experiment, okay?”

“Since I’m going to Jingdu tomorrow and won’t be back until Saturday, I’ll give Yuerou back to you for now. Take this chance to really feel what it’s like.”

“You have to understand your own heart, figure out what liking really means, whether you truly have feelings for her, whether you love her, and if you’re willing to give up everything for her.”

He looked at Xia Xinya earnestly as he finished, then sighed softly, “If you really feel you like Bai Yuerou, then I’ll never bring up this topic with you again, okay?”

Tang Huaijin really was out of options. He’d done all he could, talked himself hoarse, and couldn’t think of any other way. He could only take things one step at a time.

Besides, Xia Xinya’s attitude had already changed. She could accept him being with Bai Yuerou, but the key problem was that the system’s task still hadn’t shown as completed. That was what worried him most.

After hearing him out, Xia Xinya understood that before Saturday, she could have Rou all to herself, but she didn’t feel happy at all.

But why? Could it be…

She bit her lip and glanced at Tang Huaijin, didn’t say anything, just nodded gently.

Tang Huaijin didn’t say anything more and returned to the classroom.

After school, Tang Huaijin didn’t let Bai Yuerou take a detour to see him off. Instead, he got into the Xia Family’s car.

All the way, Xia Xinya sat silently beside him, not saying a word, just sneaking glances at Tang Huaijin from time to time.

When the car arrived at the neighborhood where Tang Huaijin lived, and she watched him open the door, Xia Xinya finally hesitated and spoke, “Um…”

“What?” Tang Huaijin turned to look at her.

“N-no, it’s nothing.” Xia Xinya looked into his eyes, her face inexplicably flushing red. What she wanted to say got stuck in her throat, and she stammered, “I just wanted to tell you to be careful on the road. You’re not familiar with Jingdu… Come back early.”

Tang Huaijin was taken aback, then smiled gently and said softly, “Okay, don’t worry. Don’t forget what I said.”