The Changing Phases - Chapter 33 - Memories of the Past

Inside, it was still that impenetrable silence, and Liu Yuxin could no longer bear it. She couldn’t control her emotions, nor could she express her anger in front of Yang Hongyi. Yang Hongyi smiled and said, “How about I go in and have a word with them for you?”

Liu Yuxin held back her urge to cry and looked calmly at Yang Hongyi, then slowly walked towards the elevator. Her surprising calmness stirred something in Yang Hongyi; maybe he shouldn’t add fuel to the fire next to her. Her lack of tears and complaints made it seem like she had given up entirely.

“Hey, how about I give you a ride?”

“No need, I have to go back. I need some serious self-reflection. I should find someone who’s never been in a relationship.”

Yang Hongyi shook his head and laughed. “Never been in a relationship? That’s nearly impossible.”

After the elevator doors slowly closed, Liu Yuxin could no longer hold it in. Tears burst forth like a breached dam. No woman could accept Zhao Junyang kissing another woman, even if it was just a farewell kiss.

A kiss, such an intimate touch. Liu Yuxin could almost feel the rekindled old flame between Xia Wanlu and Zhao Junyang. Even though past feelings could be set aside, Liu Yuxin couldn’t accept such a special farewell gesture.

Liu Yuxin walked out of the company, wandering aimlessly, her nose tingling and her eyes misty. A shiny luxury car stopped beside her, and Yang Hongyi stuck his head out. “Hey, get in. I’ll give you a ride.”

Since Zhao Junyang was busy having an appointment with Xia Wanlu, why couldn’t she let loose and spend some time with Yang Hongyi? Full of resentment, Liu Yuxin got into the car. The vehicle sped away, winds swirling chaotically inside, wildly tossing her dark hair just like her current mood.

Liu Yuxin looked at the bustling, glittering scene outside the car window, feeling sentimental. In the crowd of people who are all working hard, everyone has their own emotional troubles, known only to themselves. Among the coming and going, the meetings and partings, who succumbed to despair and who was bewitched by whom? Who won in love, and who lost miserably?

While driving, Yang Hongyi glanced at her with a small smile. “Don’t overthink it. Zhao Junyang treats you very well.”

Liu Yuxin replied coldly, “Hmph, what’s so great about that? Zhao Junyang is nice to everyone.”

Yang Hongyi continued, “Zhao Junyang isn’t the type to be casual with his feelings.”

Liu Yuxin retorted, “Compared to you?”

Yang Hongyi laughed heartily. “You don’t have to attack me. I’m on your side. From my perspective, you’re just jealous of Xia Wanlu, aren’t you? Don’t deny it.”

Liu Yuxin nodded and suddenly stuck her head out the window, yelling at a couple on the street who were being affectionate: “No hugging! I’m dying of jealousy!”

The couple was terrified by the sudden outburst. The girl asked her boyfriend, “Is she your ex-girlfriend? This is so scary. We should leave before it gets worse.”

The boy, holding the girl’s hand as they walked away, said, “I can’t believe she came back from overseas. Today I realized I’m actually quite attractive.”

Yang Hongyi, watching the scene from the car, chuckled. He turned to Liu Yuxin and said, “Want to vent? I know just the place where you can go wild.”

“Ah…!”

Liu Yuxin screamed out towards the ocean; this was the place Yang Hongyi had suggested.

But after that one scream, she stopped. Yang Hongyi asked, “Huh? Are you done venting already? Do you feel better?”

Liu Yuxin shook her head. “No, it just felt uncomfortable to scream like that.”

With his hands in his pockets and his short hair gently tousled by the sea breeze, Yang Hongyi’s face took on a playful smile. “Liu Yuxin, I now understand why my brother likes you. You really are an interesting woman.”

Liu Yuxin rolled her eyes at him. “Stop making fun of me.”

“Yes, Liu Yuxin is the kind of girl you cherish.”

Liu Yuxin yelled out, pounding the fine sand on the ground with her fists. “Yang Hongyi, now I know why I can’t die-I’m waiting for you to disgust me to death!”

Yang Hongyi laughed loudly, looking at the soft sand. “Back then, it was here that my brother celebrated Xia Wanlu’s birthday.”

So this was the place. It was indeed romantic. The moonlight that night must have been as beautiful as it is now, right? Did the gentle, tranquil breeze also blow like this? How brilliant were the fireworks that night? Was their love so intense that it couldn’t be dissolved?

Yang Hongyi and Liu Yuxin sat together on the fine sand. The sea was calm, the moonlight shining down, the soft breeze stirring tiny ripples, making everything seem so perfect. Liu Yuxin said, “I don’t want to hear about that night anymore. What happened afterwards?”

“Afterwards, Xia Wanlu went to participate in a design competition, where she met a top international designer from France, named Jean.”

“Oh, so it was Xia Wanlu who abandoned Zhao Junyang.”

Yang Hongyi smiled and asked, “Liu Yuxin, why are you suddenly so happy?”

“You’re right, I am happy.” Liu Yuxin laughed and asked, “What kind of skills does this Jean have to win her heart?”

“Confessing his true feelings in the midst of a crowd, having coffee in the most sentimental spots, walking through rustic flower gardens, viewing the grandest lavender fields, whispering sweet nothings by the Seine…”

Liu Yuxin shot Yang Hongyi a sideways glance and asked, “How do you know all this?”

A slight embarrassment washed over Yang Hongyi’s face. “Well, I always follow beauty updates on social media. Xia Wanlu openly flaunted her new romance there. I once thought, could all that be just for my brother to see?”

“Did Zhao Junyang say anything about it?”

Yang Hongyi sighed, “He didn’t say anything, not even the bare minimum of a farewell.”

The wind felt a bit chilly, and Liu Yuxin wrapped her clothes tighter around herself, slowly saying, “You do understand Zhao Junyang well. Even when love is gone, he wouldn’t want to see Xia Wanlu in a difficult position. Besides, he has his pride.”

Yang Hongyi smiled, “Maybe compared to Jean’s romantic methods, he felt somewhat overshadowed.”

“Are you talking about romance?” Liu Yuxin smiled. “If romance is just about obtaining something, what’s the meaning? True love is what makes something romantic. Zhao Junyang was always romantic,” she said, nudging Yang Hongyi’s shoulder. “Keep going, keep going. So why did Xia Wanlu come back to the country? Was their passionate love not enough to find a place to settle?”

Yang Hongyi nodded with a smile. Liu Yuxin used her hands to pile the sand into a heart shape, laughing as she said, “It’s like this. Xia Wanlu thought this was the love she wanted, but it collapsed at the slightest touch. A wave comes, and everything turns into nothing.”

Liu Yuxin brushed back her long, unruly hair and sighed, “I feel the same way.”

A light smile danced on Yang Hongyi’s lips, his eyes sparkling. Liu Yuxin suddenly realized that his smile was quite attractive; he could easily be considered a handsome man.

Unaware of Liu Yuxin’s thoughts, Yang Hongyi chuckled, “You don’t need to overthink things. We didn’t see anything ourselves, so maybe nothing happened. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions, don’t you agree?”

Liu Yuxin raised her voice, “I thought you were on my side!”

Yang Hongyi straightened his posture, looked up at the sky, and placed a hand over his heart, exuding a heroic aura, “I am the embodiment of justice and fairness.”

Liu Yuxin laughed out loud, “Oh, so you’re Ultraman now.”

Liu Yuxin stood up, letting the wind rustle her clothes. She sighed softly, “Since we didn’t see anything, anything could have happened. What if he agreed to Xia Wanlu’s request? What if… they made love?”

Yang Hongyi placed a hand on Liu Yuxin’s shoulder, “It’s simple: if you can’t get him, you’ll meet someone even better. Consider me! I’m the perfect type-high emotional intelligence, wealthy, talented, and incredibly handsome…”

Liu Yuxin gave him a playful punch, “Keep dreaming. You’re just scraping by like everyone else.”

Her phone rang, and from the sound, Liu Yuxin knew it was Zhao Junyang calling. She felt conflicted, unsure of what to say if she answered. Should she interrogate him? Their relationship hadn’t progressed to the point where discussing such private matters was appropriate.

Yang Hongyi asked, “Why aren’t you answering?”

Liu Yuxin took out her phone and turned it off. “I don’t want Junyang to hide things from me, and I don’t want to hear him lie.”