Chapter Twenty-Seven: Sunshine and Snow

Seeing her familiar features and smile, I stood there foolishly, at a complete loss. Then, the somewhat anxious voice of Yang Xiaoyu reached my ears: "Boss Yang, you need to go over and handle this, stop standing there like a statue. Your ex-girlfriend is being far too overbearing. She’s been sitting there all morning without eating, drinking, or even touching her phone. She’s just sitting there, and her aura is scaring away all the customers!"

Luo Qing’s attire today was more casual. Gone were her previous glamorous outfits; she wore a small red padded jacket, with large, plush red bear-ear earmuffs covering her ears. Her clean, beautiful face was devoid of makeup, yet she remained breathtakingly stunning. Her golden, wavy hair rested softly behind her shoulders. Even in this understated style, she was still the most noble princess from a fairy tale.

Following her gesture, I hurried over. Seeing Luo Qing so close, I actually felt an urge to pick her up and spin her around... Do you know how much I have missed you?

Luo Qing saw my anxious expression and smiled happily, her eyes curving into little crescent moons. She said softly, "Still so well-behaved... Have you quit smoking?"

I nodded vigorously. I don't know why, but her departures and arrivals always tugged at every emotion within me. Even though I didn't know how the path ahead would unfold, as long as I could see her standing before me, I felt content.

"Don't just stand there, sit." Luo Qing stood up, scooted inward, and pointed to the chair beside her. "Aren't you tired?"

Luo Qing was still the same as before—a bit bossy, her tone always carrying a touch of aggression, yet her words always revealed a hint of innocence and charm that made one love and hate her in equal measure. But no matter what, this was the girl I loved. I could give up everything for her, and I had been working hard all this time just to be with her.

Sitting beside Luo Qing, I couldn't help but smile. It had been so long since I felt this way.

"What are you grinning at?" Luo Qing looked at me and asked with a smile. "The little receptionist in your shop seems to have quite an opinion of me."

"You beat up her boss, of course she has an opinion of you."

Luo Qing tapped her lips with a finger, as if recalling the previous incident, then hit my shoulder with a small fist and said, "Don't spout nonsense, I didn't lay a hand on him!"

"That little girl holds a grudge!" Luo Qing pouted in dissatisfaction and shook her fist. "If she makes me angry, I’ll beat your boss up again!"

Listening to Luo Qing mutter to herself, I smiled awkwardly. "I heard you’ve been sitting here all morning without eating or drinking?"

Luo Qing loved cold drinks the most. Since she had come here, it wasn't like her "Cold Drink Witch" personality to not order a few specialty drinks.

"I tried to order, but that girl of yours wouldn't sell me anything!" Speaking of this, Luo Qing grew even more indignant and gave me a firm push. "I had almost forgotten about it, and now you bring it up!"

I groaned inwardly. How was I supposed to know there was such bad blood between her and Yang Xiaoyu? Otherwise, would I be foolish enough to bring up a sore subject?

"Then I must thank you... for not tearing my little shop apart..." I said with a smile. Given Luo Qing's past fiery temper, she would have usually channeled her inner martial heroine and unleashed her wrath.

"Talking nonsense again!" Luo Qing glared at me.

I laughed out loud, looking at her mix of annoyance and amusement. I felt that perhaps this was what happiness was.

"Luo Qing..." My expression grew serious. Gazing into her lovely eyes, I said, word for word, "I have missed you."

Unlike the scenario I had imagined, Luo Qing didn't seem surprised or happy. She merely gave a low "Oh," then turned her head to look at the snowy scenery outside the window, lost in thought, and ignored me further.

Seeing her behavior, I could no longer remain as calm as before. I reached out to touch her cheek, but the moment I made contact, she slapped my hand away sharply.

This seemingly reflexive action caused a new wave of panic in my heart. I hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"

Luo Qing finally turned her head, looked into my eyes, and said with a blank expression, "Don't go touching other women so casually."

"What did you say?" What could this possibly mean? Although it sounded perfectly reasonable, it stirred up a massive storm in my heart... Was she drawing a line between us?

Luo Qing acted as if she hadn't heard me and pulled out her phone, seemingly checking messages.

I sat beside her, restless, not knowing what to say or do. It wasn't until we had sat in silence for about five minutes that I finally found a topic to break the ice: "Let me treat you to a big meal at noon. Will you come?"

"No!" Luo Qing didn't even look at me; she refused flatly.

"Why?" I didn't know what was wrong with her. Her behavior since we met had been strange. Hadn't she come here to find me? Was all of this just my own wishful thinking?

"Why do you need so many whys?" Luo Qing put her phone back in her pocket, turned to look at me, and hidden depths seemed to dwell in her beautiful eyes. "There aren't so many reasons in the world. Once you know something, you just do it. There is no reason, and there is no answer."

I buried my head in my arms on the table. My eyes felt sore, but it was that kind of dryness where no tears would come, for I had few tears left—saved for her, and for myself.

"Do you really want to know the reason?" Luo Qing leaned sideways, propping her head with one hand, and whispered.

I nodded quickly. I wanted to know. I couldn't let go of you, couldn't let go of this relationship that kept me up at night.

"Because..." Luo Qing lightly bit her lip, pondered for a moment, and said, "I'm going to have a meal with my boyfriend."

"What did you say!" I was stunned into silence by her answer. A boyfriend? Luo Qing had a new boyfriend? Who was it? That Xia Tian? My mind was in complete chaos. I didn't even know what I was feeling at that moment—panic or anger, emptiness or pain...

"You're lying to me, aren't you?" I grabbed her frail shoulders. "You must have made this up just to make me give up!"

"Let go!" Luo Qing slapped my hand, but she couldn't make me release my grip, which felt like iron clamps.

"Luo Qing, tell me this is all a lie. You have your own plan, right?" I babbled on like a madman. I saw her expression shift from initial anger to subsequent calm, and I knew it was too late, because I saw disgust in her eyes.

"I'll say it again, Yang Chen. Let go, okay?" Luo Qing tried to stand up, but I pressed her down firmly. I shook my head vigorously because I didn't know how else to hold onto this relationship... but was this even a relationship anymore? The sense of estrangement and the disgust in her eyes were so incredibly real...

"Smack!" A crisp sound rang out, and the somewhat noisy shop fell instantly silent.

I felt a burning sensation on my face, but I felt no pain. Looking at Luo Qing’s icy gaze, I slowly released her, nodded, stood up, turned around, and walked away.

This was the answer she gave me: a stinging slap.

I silently grabbed my coat and walked down the aisle toward the door. I heard the whispering of the elderly and children around me; I felt the gazes of couples at nearby tables watching the show... Only now did I realize that I was a failure, a complete and utter fool.

"Yang Chen!" I heard Su Xuefei’s voice, but I had no face to look up and see anyone. A failure in love, having lost my personality and, even more, my dignity.

I hurriedly quickened my pace, ignoring the chaotic sounds behind me, and rushed out the door.

What kind of bullshit is love? What "growing old together"? It was all empty talk, and I was the fool kept in the dark by all these lies. Being scolded, being hit, being dumped—it was all my own damn fault!

Walking down the cold street, I felt a tightness in my chest. I wanted a cigarette—I had never wanted one so badly!

I looked left and right, searching for a convenience store. Just as I was about to dash toward one, someone pulled me back. I turned around and saw Su Xuefei’s anxious face.

"Did you and your girlfriend have a fight?" Su Xuefei asked softly, holding my arm.

"Where is Xiaoya?" I asked, ignoring her question.

Seeing my somewhat neurotic state, Su Xuefei sighed slightly. "Xiaoya is sitting in the shop. She’ll be fine."

"Oh. Come with me to buy a pack of cigarettes." I felt as if my mind was on the verge of collapse; my thoughts were in disarray, and all logic had turned into a mess.

Without waiting for Su Xuefei to reply, I turned and headed toward the store. I reached up and gently touched my face, which had gone stiff from the cold. Everything felt so surreal. The love I thought was indestructible had been severed just like that, in the span of a few simple words.

What exactly is love? Wealth in the eyes of the poor, a plaything in the eyes of the rich!

I walked into the store, bought a pack of cigarettes and a lighter with practiced ease, and hurried out after paying.

At this moment, I felt like a rat scurrying across the street, as if countless eyes were watching me wherever I went, mocking my every move.

"Give me one."

I looked up in astonishment at Su Xuefei, who had followed me. "The goddess smokes too?"

"No, but if I take one, you’ll smoke one less, right?" Su Xuefei smiled embarrassedly and held out her fair, small hand.

"You don't even know how to ask for a cigarette properly. You're not allowed to smoke!" A gentle warmth flowed through my broken heart, but I lit one for myself and shoved the pack into my pocket.

"Then tell me, how do you ask properly?" Su Xuefei persisted.

"To ask for a cigarette, at the very least you need to make a 'V' sign, not stick out your little paw." I looked at Goddess Su, speechless, and took a deep drag of the cigarette, feeling the coldness and numbness in my lungs.

"Like this?"

I looked up at the sound and saw Su Xuefei posing like she was about to have her picture taken, shaking her 'V' sign back and forth. I couldn't help but be amused. "Goddess, you're not asking for a cigarette; you're just being cute!"