Chapter 14 (1/2)

Chapter 14

After that day in the library, there was an unspoken understanding between Yun Jin and Shen Ju An. Although neither had confessed their feelings, both were aware of how the other felt. They spent more time together and sometimes when they walked along the school’s forested pathways, Shen Ju An would smile and take her hand in his. Feeling his warm, dry palms, Yun Jin knew that her heart had found its harbour.

Although they did not display their affections publicly, their relations.h.i.+p was soon found out. Being such a compatible couple, the majority were envious but wished them well. Yun Jin’s hostel mates even teased her for having the good fortune to date such a perfect graduating senior.

When one is basking in happiness, time always speeds by. In the blink of an eye, the semester was coming to an end. Initially, Yun Jin had planned to give her tutee thorough lessons but the latter’s parents had informed her that they intended to go on a long vacation and thus tutoring was put on hold. This arrangement was also fine with Yun Jin; she was grateful for the sudden weeklong break. Besides, Shen Ju An had already graduated, now was an excellent opportunity for the two to spend quality time together.

Yun Jin and Shen Ju An made plans to visit the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees on Labour Day, which was also a National holiday. Yun Jin rose bright and early. She had just washed up and was eating takeaway breakfast when a hostel mate told her “Yun Jin, your boyfriend is waiting on the ground floor”. Yun Jin turned bright beetroot. She wasn’t yet accustomed to people referring to Shen Ju An in that manner.

Didn’t we agree on nine-thirty? Yun Jin looked at the time. It wasn’t even nine yet. He was rarely so enthusiastic. Yun Jin suppressed a grin as made her way down hurriedly. She failed to notice the quizzical expression on her hostel-mate’s face.

At the ground floor, Yun Jin looked everywhere but didn’t spot Shen Ju An. Just as she was feeling confused, her line of vision fell on the walkway opposite the hostel. She stared shocked and shook her head in disbelief. If she wasn’t dreaming then .., was he really standing there right now? She had poor sleep the night before, was it causing her to hallucinate? The “hallucination” before her was taller than she remembered.

This guy should be in Beijing or by his parents’ side or … basically anywhere but here. But if it wasn’t him, who else could it be? He was wearing a casual t-s.h.i.+rt paired with jeans and a duffel bag was slung across his back. His eyes were trained on her and casting aside the fatigued expression, he was exactly as she remembered him.

Seeing Yun Jin rooted to the spot, Cheng Zheng was in no hurry to go up to her. Thus, both looked at each other in this manner for a few seconds before Yun Jin broke out of her reverie and walked over.

“Um … How … Why are you here?” Yun Jin stood before him and forced out an opening.

Cheng Zheng raised his chin slightly “What, I’m not welcome?”

Yun Jin shook her head furiously “I didn’t mean that. I … It’s just that my friend told me my boyfriend was waiting.”

“Yeah I told her to pa.s.s on that message.” Cheng Zheng’s lips curled up. “So what? You don’t know how many people I had to stop to determine which block was yours. And why do the girls here react as though they’ve never seen a man before?”

“It’s not like that. Don’t utter nonsense.” Yun Jin lowered her gaze unconsciously.

Cheng Zheng folded his arms across his chest and said “Su Yun Jin. Have you noticed that you always wear this look of guilt when you see me? …”

His words p.r.i.c.ked Yun Jin’s conscience. She was also confused, why was it that whenever she saw him, all the cowardliness, confusion, low self-esteem would come surging back? And why should she feel guilt when she didn’t owe him anything?

“Could it be that deep down, you know you owe me.” He seemed to have read her thoughts as he leaned forward such that his face was mere inches away from hers.

Yun Jin was struck with a sliver of annoyance and shoved him away but this only produced a devious chuckle. She was about to speak when she noticed that Cheng Zheng was looking at something else. She followed his gaze and discovered Shen Ju An standing not too far off.

Yun Jin deftly took a few steps away from Cheng Zheng and tried to suppress her wildly beating heart.

“You’re here.”

Shen Ju An’s smile was as warm as usual and his eyes didn’t betray any shock. “I thought you would be early so I decided to be early too. You have a visitor?”

Cheng Zheng slowly straightened his back.  His eyes expressed guardedness as he faced this man who was well-matched in looks and confidence.

“Yun Jin, you should introduce us.” He said coldly.

“Oh.” Yun Jin came to her senses and hurried to introduce the both of them. “This is Shen Ju An … Ju An, this is my high school cla.s.smate Cheng Zheng. He is currently studying in Beijing.”

She addressed him so affectionately and was quick to deny any connection to him; it was the first time that her joy inspired such fear in him.

“He’s your boyfriend?” He hoped against hope that she would reply in the negative. Tell me it isn’t so, please, it isn’t so!

She didn’t reply but her staring at Shen Ju An red-faced was all the confirmation that Cheng Zheng needed.

Cheng Zheng always scoffed whenever people said a heart could literally shatter in sorrow. But now that his heart was being cruelly shredded piece by piece, he would very much rather it shattered. Then maybe he would not ache anymore.

He had wrestled with himself for such a long while and finally decided to give in to his heart’s desire and travelled halfway across the country to meet the woman he couldn’t stop thinking of yet now … now she belonged to someone else!

By right, he should take his leave immediately and forget this ridiculous trip and this hateful person. But his innate pride and stubbornness meant that he didn’t budge one bit. When Shen Ju An smiled politely at him, he even managed to force out a smile in return.