Chapter Fifty-Five: Her Boyfriend

“Ke Wen?” I answered the phone.

“Little brother, why did you leave so quietly last night? Where did you run off to?” Zhao Ke Wen’s lazy voice slipped into my ear.

“Well… last night, I figured I’d finished my task, so I left early…” I felt awkward telling Zhao Ke Wen that I’d taken Luo Qing to the rooftop of my college campus and stayed there all night.

“Oh, Luo Qing is beside you, isn’t she?” Zhao Ke Wen asked naturally, as if she were close by, watching me.

“How… how did you know?” I glanced around, and my eyes met Luo Qing’s gaze, fixed on me.

“Do you think your Ke Wen is just anybody? Besides, I know you too well. Last night, after the bar event, I called everyone out for dinner, but you were nowhere to be seen. That odd girl Luo Qing also disappeared without a word. I guessed you must’ve lured her away.” Zhao Ke Wen teased me with a laugh.

I held my phone, lines of frustration crossing my forehead… Lured her away? I wasn’t some creepy uncle with candy tricking little girls, and if anyone was lured away, it was me, not her!

When I didn’t respond, Zhao Ke Wen’s voice came again: “Tell Miss Luo to hurry home. Her boyfriend is looking for her.”

The moment her words landed, I stood frozen. Did I hear that right? Her… boyfriend…

Seeing me stunned, Luo Qing approached curiously, tiptoeing to press her ear near the edge of the phone, trying to listen in.

“Hey? Little brother, are you still listening?” Zhao Ke Wen’s voice sounded anxious as she kept calling my name.

I just stood there, my heart aching faintly, my hand holding the phone trembling. Luo Qing already had a boyfriend? Why, then, did she share all these moments with me? Was it, as she said, just friendship?

“I understand,” I replied, crestfallen, ending the call and standing there at a loss, staring at Luo Qing, unable to utter a single word.

Luo Qing gently placed her hand on my forehead, muttering to herself, “No fever. Why are you acting so silly?”

I brushed her hand aside and finally managed to speak: “Let me take you home.”

“What?” Luo Qing seemed not to catch my words.

“I said I’ll take you home.” I grabbed the garbage bag and headed downstairs first.

“Yang Chen! Stop right there.” Luo Qing lifted her skirt and trotted in front of me, blocking my path. “Who just called you?”

I lowered my head, avoiding her gaze. I didn’t know why I felt compelled to dodge her eyes now. Was it because I’d foolishly intended to confess my feelings before, making me seem so pathetic? Or was it the disappointment of reality, freezing all my emotions into numbness?

“Answer me!” Luo Qing reached out to block me from passing, demanding loudly.

“Does it matter?” To my own surprise, I managed a laugh. Looking at Luo Qing’s stunning face, I felt ridiculous, like a fool played by others.

I shoved past Luo Qing’s outstretched arms and went downstairs.

She stood behind me, voice trembling with tears, shouting, “Yang Chen! Is this the birthday you promised me?”

Her words stopped me. I turned and saw the glimmer of tears in her eyes. I wanted to comfort her but couldn’t move closer, all my words stuck in my throat.

How desperately I wanted to walk up to you, wipe your tears away, and feel the warmth of holding you tight in my arms. But now, I finally understand I’m not that person… I also realize why you always avoided and rejected my feelings—because you already have someone, don’t you?

The thing I can never forgive is a woman’s deception. Am I, Yang Chen, destined to be fooled by women?

I ignored Luo Qing and strode out of the library. The campus was bright, but my heart throbbed with pain. This was reality—my unrequited longing.

Outside, I lit a cigarette and sat on the concrete steps, waiting. Luo Qing never came down, and I grew anxious.

Nothing could have happened… right?

I shook my head hard. Even if something did, what’s it to me? Who am I to her?

I forced myself not to turn back, quietly smoking as I watched students walking by, feeling nothing at all.

After another half cigarette, Luo Qing still hadn’t come down. I couldn’t sit still anymore, stood up, stomped out the butt, and hurried inside.

I ran up the stairs, truly afraid now, regret building within me. All of this was just my own emotional projection—love, deceit, none of it had been accepted by Luo Qing. What right did I have to unload my feelings onto her?

“Luo Qing!” When I reached the fourth-floor corner, I finally saw her, dressed in red, crouched on the steps, hugging her head.

Hearing me call, Luo Qing looked up, eyes glistening with tears.

I rushed over and gently embraced her frail body, murmuring at her ear, “I’m sorry.”

Suddenly, Luo Qing shoved me hard, knocking me to the floor, crying out, “Leave! Who needs you?”

I got up, went over again, and held her, feeling her trembling body, softly apologizing: “It’s my fault, I’m sorry…”

Luo Qing struggled and pushed me again, but this time I held her tight, unmoving no matter how she tried. After a moment, she stopped resisting, burying her head deep in my arms and crying loudly.

I held her close, gently patting her back, soothing, “Don’t be angry, Heroine Luo, I was wrong. I’ll never leave you again!”

“If you do it again?” Luo Qing raised her head, her pitiable face streaked with tears.

“If I do it again, then… you decide.” I fumbled for words, unable to come up with anything.

She didn’t say anything more, letting me hold her.

“Don’t be angry, you really shouldn’t waste it on someone like me.” I loosened my arms, stood up, and tried imitating her gesture, crooking my finger, “Come on, the floor’s cold.”

But Luo Qing didn’t follow. She remained seated, watching me, and finally spoke, “Shall we go to the amusement park?”

Hearing her, I instinctively wanted to nod, but remembered Zhao Ke Wen’s call and shook my head silently.

Only then did Luo Qing stand, step up to me, and ask, “Yang Chen… what’s wrong? Is it because of that phone call?”

Hearing her ask, I didn’t want to hide anymore. There was nothing to hide—the truth is the truth, unchangeable. Maybe I never said it only to save a bit of dignity for myself…

“Your boyfriend called you home.” I tried to phrase it calmly.

“Who?” Luo Qing seemed startled by my words.

“Your boyfriend!” I emphasized the word.

“I don’t have a boyfriend!” Luo Qing looked at me, surprised. “Who called?”

I didn’t answer, just gazed at her. Her eyes were clear, fixed straight on mine, without a hint of evasion.

A strange, indescribable joy began to take root in my heart, quickly growing into a towering tree!

“Really?” I stammered, unable to believe it.

“Why would I lie to you?” Luo Qing gave me an “as expected” look. “So because of that random call, you just threw me aside? Are you stupid?”

I was lost in my joy, but doubt gnawed at me… Ke Wen wouldn’t lie to me, and Luo Qing didn’t seem to be pretending, so what was going on?

“Wait, let me make a call.” I told Luo Qing—I wouldn’t be at ease until I got to the bottom of this.

As the call connected, my heart pounded. I didn’t know if I could handle the truth, whether it was Ke Wen or Luo Qing—anyone’s lie would break my heart.

“Little brother? What, feeling better now?” Zhao Ke Wen’s voice was tinged with displeasure—understandable, after my abrupt hang-up earlier.

“Sis, that boyfriend of Luo Qing you mentioned… have you met him?” I went straight to the point.

“Of course, I’m sitting with him in the café right now.” Ke Wen seemed to sense something. “What, does Miss Luo not believe, or do you not believe?”

I glanced at Luo Qing, dazed. “You say her boyfriend is right next to you?”

“Yes, you heard right.”

I was about to hang up, but Luo Qing snatched the phone from me.

“I’m Luo Qing. Put that so-called boyfriend on the line!” she demanded bluntly.

I didn’t know what Ke Wen said, but judging by Luo Qing’s waiting posture, she really handed the phone to the man.

“What’s your deal, huh?” Luo Qing’s tone was harsh right away, which cheered me up. I could imagine the man’s expression must be interesting.

“I don’t recognize you—are you going to say or not?” Luo Qing sounded impatient.

“Xia Tian?” Her tone turned surprised, and I guessed that “Xia Tian” must be the man’s name.

As soon as her tone shifted, my heart hung in suspense.

“Who told you to call yourself my boyfriend? Are we even close? Are you stupid?” Luo Qing’s tone grew angry again, mocking the man on the other end. “Don’t bring up my dad. I am me, you are you. If you keep talking nonsense, don’t blame me for being rude!”