Chapter 111 - Brother-sister Little Talk (1/2)
The morning turned into night, but Zhiyuan couldn't sleep. He shifted in his bed for a long time, but the restlessness in his heart didn't let him rest at all. He turned to look at Xinyi who was sleeping by his side. They didn't talk much after they returned. Xinyi had no idea what to say to him and neither did Zhiyuan understand what to ask.
Zhiyuan sighed and got up. He quietly walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Xinyi slowly opened her eyes and stared at the empty space ahead. She turned and saw the other side of the bed empty.
”If he just sees you as your friend then why would he be affected or shocked so much?”
Xinyi faintly smiled. She knew Zhiyuan more than herself. What Caihong implied could never be true. That sad reality was already etched into her heart.
”He doesn't want you back, Caihong, I know that. But he doesn't want me either. Not the way that I wish…”
---
Zhiyuan stepped into the garden, and the night's cold breeze kissed his cheek, washing away some of his fatigue. At a distance, he saw a figure sitting on the bench. He slowly walked towards her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
”Zizi?”
Zizi was slightly startled, and as she raised her head, she was surprised to see Zhiyuan. ”Bro. You are here so late at night?”
”Aren't you here too?”
”Ah hehe…” she awkwardly smiled.
”Is Siying asleep?”
”Yup. Oh and don't worry. I have stuffed pillows at his sides so that he doesn't fall off the bed.”
He chuckled. ”It's alright. I trust you.”
Zhiyuan sat beside her and said, ”Nice weather, isn't it?”
”En.”
”Is something bothering you?”
Zizi slightly stiffened, but she quickly said, ”Of course not, bro. I couldn't get any sleep so thought to come out for some fresh air.”
Zhiyuan smiled and patted her head. ”You know you cannot hide anything from me, right? I am your brother after all. I have watched you grow since you were just a baby.”
She smiled.
How can I say that seeing Shuang with Yunru is bothering me?
Ever since she saw them together this morning, she couldn't take it out of her mind. Yunru was in a good mood when she left, but when he talked to Shuang, he seemed really grave and serious. The atmosphere between them seemed tense. Somehow, that didn't sit well with her.
Zizi said, ”Nothing. I was just thinking about Diu.”
”Your friend, right?”
”En,” she cleared her throat, ”Actually she called me today because she was really upset about something. There is this g-guy she is thinking about these days. But today she saw him with another woman. She didn't hear what they talked about, but ever since that, Diu is feeling uncomfortable...so I was just wondering…”
Zhiyuan curiously asked, ”Thinking about him? That means she likes him, right?”
Zizi froze. She rapidly blinked her eyes. ”Of course not! I-I mean Diu says that. She doesn't like him.” She quickly averted her eyes.
How could I like that lowly man!?
”Then why does she think about him? And why does that other woman's presence affect her?”
She trembled. She felt choked and as if words failed to come out of her mouth.
”Umm…”
”Does the guy know about her feelings?”
”No...” Her heart sped.
Zhiyuan touched his chin. ”Does Diu know that woman?”
She nodded. ”Actually, Diu and that woman were classmates back in college…”
”And that guy?”
”No. But they both still knew him through a common friend.”
Of course that common friend was Xinyi.
”I see. Maybe, just maybe, that guy and woman are dating?”
Zizi froze.
”They could be friends and maybe fell for each other.”
Zizi looked at him with disbelief etched on her face. Her heart raced further in trepidation.