Chapter 22: To Make You Smile

Su Xuefei and I sat facing each other. By this time, Li Xiaoya had finished washing up and joined us.

"Xiaoya, how about I take you to find your parents tomorrow?" Su Xuefei said, gently stroking Li Xiaoya’s cheek. Although clean, it felt slightly rough from long exposure to the elements.

"Thank you, sister." Li Xiaoya nodded vigorously, but she dared not sit down, as if afraid of dirtying the clean, tidy sheets.

Noticing her discomfort, Su Xuefei stood up, picked her up, and placed her on the bed beside her. "Just pretend this is your home; don't be so restrained."

"Okay," Li Xiaoya murmured, keeping her head low and avoiding Su Xuefei's eyes.

"Goddess Su, your natural aura is so overwhelming that she finds it hard to adjust," I said with a deliberate pout. "I'm more down-to-earth; it’s much easier for me to connect with them." I crouched in front of Li Xiaoya and whispered, "Xiaoya, how about I take you to an amusement park tomorrow and then we’ll have a big feast?"

Sure enough, Li Xiaoya looked up, her eyes sparkling with disbelief. "Really?"

"Of course, though your 'Goddess Sister' will be footing the bill!" I laughed, playing the rogue.

Su Xuefei hugged Li Xiaoya, looking slightly sullen. "Look, he's bullying your sister again. Xiaoya, you have to help me; we can't let this bad guy win!"

Li Xiaoya looked at me for help. I smiled, patted her cute little head, and said to Su Xuefei, "Alright, you two should grab something to eat downstairs and get some rest early. Remember to lock the door."

"Where are you going?" Seeing me stand up, Su Xuefei released her hold on Li Xiaoya and followed me to the door.

"Heading home. Where else would I go? I'm not like you, Goddess Su, living a life of luxury where everything is handed to you; I have to hustle for myself." I grabbed my down jacket from the rack and put it on. "Take Xiaoya back tomorrow morning, then go find Qin Xiaomo. Let her show you around. Of course, if you want a cold drink, our little shop is always open!"

Su Xuefei looked at me as if she wanted to say something, but hesitated and stayed silent. I took the opportunity to open the door and leave.

Walking out into the cold, windy street, I tried to empty my mind. Every time I subconsciously grew closer to Su Xuefei, the image of Luo Qing would surface. The look in her eyes when she left—as if she had let go of everything—felt both hauntingly familiar and terrifying. Was it really the last time we would ever meet?

The wind and snow seemed to intensify. I walked quickly with my head down, the snowflakes stinging my face. Shivering, I stood by the roadside, scanning for an empty taxi. Despite my best efforts to hold it back, I broke into a fit of violent coughing. *Great*, I thought, *I’ve truly caught a cold.*

"Yang Chen!"

Hm? I thought I heard someone calling me through the storm. I glanced back toward the hotel and saw Su Xuefei jogging toward me, waving.

"Huff..." Su Xuefei finally reached me, leaning forward to catch her breath.

"It's so far, why not just call? Why run all the way here?" I asked, slightly chiding her for being so careless with herself, and gently patted her back to help her breathe.

Once she recovered, she straightened up and hurriedly pulled a bag from her pocket containing the cold medicine she had bought earlier.

"A phone call wouldn't have done the trick," Su Xuefei laughed. Her waist-length hair danced in the wind, and her fair cheeks were flushed from the run.

I took the bag, feeling a wave of emotion. I turned away, coughed, and smiled. "You could have just brought it tomorrow."

"That wouldn't do. You'd be miserable all night. You'll feel much better after taking the medicine." She stepped in front of me, flashing a pure, bright smile. "Let's go have dinner together!"

Though I wanted to say yes, for some reason, I felt as if doing so would be a betrayal—a betrayal of the love I had always believed in, and a betrayal of her. I wondered, *If it were Qin Xiaomo asking me to dinner, would I have agreed automatically?*

"I'll treat you when I have more time. Let's skip it today; I have a mountain of work to deal with when I get home." I instinctively fabricated a seamless excuse.

"I see..." Su Xuefei stood in the snow, looking disappointed. Her eyes held an indescribable sadness.

"Yeah. You should head back, too. It’s freezing out here, and I've already caught a cold—don't you get sick, too." I patted her shoulder with a smile. "There will be plenty of chances to eat together later. Be good, go back now."

Su Xuefei nodded and turned to leave, looking back at me occasionally. I couldn't bring myself to meet her eyes; I felt guilty for her concern. Facing someone as pure as her, I was still lying.

Five minutes later, I caught a taxi and headed home. I sighed, staring blankly at the snow outside the window... *Yang Chen, what have you done to deserve the favor of Goddess Su?*

Just as I was self-deprecating, my phone rang. It was from Su Xuefei. I hesitated, then answered; I couldn't help but worry about her being alone in this cold city.

"Xuefei?"

"Big Brother, it's me, Xiaoya..."

Hearing Li Xiaoya’s voice, I asked, "Xiaoya? What's wrong? Where's your big sister?"

"Big Brother, did you bully my sister?" Li Xiaoya's voice was weak, but I could detect a note of panic.

"I bullied her? What do you mean? Tell me clearly, what happened to Xuefei?" I grew anxious and told the driver to pull over.

"Big Sister said she was going to bring you medicine, but she came back looking upset. She's sitting on the bed, staring into space. Even when I call her, she doesn't seem to hear me... I thought, I thought you must have bullied her." Her voice made my heart tremble. Could she be upset just because I refused dinner? *That’s impossible...*

"Alright, Xiaoya, try to comfort her. I’m coming back." I hung up and told the driver to turn around. I didn't know exactly what was going on, but she was a girl alone in this cold city; I had a responsibility to take care of her and ensure she came to no harm.

Arriving back at her room, I took a deep breath and knocked hard.

When the door opened, I saw Su Xuefei in her pajamas, her eyes red, staring at me in disbelief.

"Why open the door without asking who it is? What if it were a bad guy?" I hadn't taken the elevator and was panting heavily.

"Let it be a bad guy, at least you wouldn't come to save me anyway..." She stepped aside. Despite the complaint in her tone, I clearly saw a sweet smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

I walked in and sat on the sofa out of habit, blinking at Li Xiaoya to let her know everything was fine.

"Didn't you say you had work to do? Why are you back?" Su Xuefei asked as she poured me a glass of hot water.

I looked down to take the cup and caught a glimpse of her long, slender legs. Her smooth skin, gleaming under the lights, was blindingly fair—a lethal sight for a guy like me.

"You... you pervert!" Noticing my fixated gaze, she scurried onto the bed, hiding under the covers, leaving only her upper body visible with a flushed face.

I sheepishly scratched my head, laughing it off. "Well... it's only natural, only natural..."

"You haven't answered me yet, why are you back?" she asked from behind the quilt.

"I figured, since I have to treat you to dinner sooner or later, why not today?" I said, feigning seriousness.

"I don't believe that..." Su Xuefei wasn't easily fooled. She turned to Li Xiaoya and asked, "Xiaoya, did you call him?"

"That..." Li Xiaoya stammered before finally nodding.

I couldn't help but slap my forehead. *This child is too honest.* If you hadn't admitted it, she couldn't have done anything to you—you've sold me out completely!

"Why did you call him? I told you to call that handsome guy instead!" She pouted at Li Xiaoya, then crawled out from under the covers to gently stroke her cheek, showing no sign of blame.

"What? Am I not handsome?" I stood up and did a vain spin. "Don't you think I'm handsome?"

Su Xuefei stuck out her tongue and laughed. "If you're handsome, then there isn't an ugly man left in the world!"

"Tch!" I didn't bother arguing. I knew my own worth, but I said it just to make her smile and forget the earlier unpleasantness.

Seeing me go quiet, she seemed to feel she’d gone too far. "Actually, Yang Chen, you are very handsome. Ever since that time in high school, I've thought you were the most handsome of all..."

"That time?" I felt a surge of joy, but I was curious. "Which time?"