The fight came unexpectedly, leaving Chi Shuo completely unprepared. Just like that, she and He Lindi were in a cold war.
That very night, He Lindi packed her suitcase and returned to Yunshang Garden. She left without a single shred of hesitation, leaving Chi Shuo feeling drained, collapsing onto the sofa.
Their views differed too much. He Lindi thought shielding Chi Shuo from everything was for her own good, while Chi Shuo insisted He Lindi shouldn’t have kept her in the dark.
Why? Chi Shuo couldn’t quite understand. She felt He Lindi was always like this.
Always doing things behind her back. Some were pleasant surprises, but others left her feeling hurt.
If He Lindi had told her earlier, she wouldn’t have felt so sad and disappointed.
But He Lindi never said anything. Only when Chi Shuo personally asked would He Lindi lift the veil of secrecy and reveal her true intentions.
He Lindi’s secret crush was both patient and stubborn. Her actions followed the same pattern. If this continued, the first to fall wouldn’t be Chi Shuo, but He Lindi herself.
Wasn’t it tiring? Chi Shuo repeatedly asked herself, not seeking an answer from He Lindi.
After He Lindi left, they hadn’t contacted each other. No interactions on Moments or Weibo either. Back at the company, Chi Shuo wore a stern expression, her face devoid of emotion.
Fang Xiuxiu asked about it, receiving a curt reply: “We fought.”
“Okay.” Fang Xiuxiu closed her mouth, saying nothing more, and continued working diligently.
Chi Shuo’s fingers, tapping on the keyboard, paused at the question, stopping for over ten seconds. She pursed her lips, her expression unreadable, before resuming her typing.
Fighting was torturous, and so was the cold war. Chi Shuo didn’t want to back down so quickly. She wanted He Lindi to realize her mistake. He Lindi clearly didn’t want to open up to her so soon either.
Yes, open up. Hadn’t He Lindi’s usual style always been to keep her closed off?
Did the person standing behind He Lindi ever see what she was like when facing forward?
This thought made Chi Shuo’s mood plummet. By Friday evening, she was listless, looking somewhat dejected.
Xia Zhou had also recently had a huge fight with Yue Ke; they still hadn’t made up.
Zeng Guai summarized their situation: “The Cold War Sisters, forever united.”
They both sighed: “Ai.”
Neither went home directly, instead stopping at the milk tea shop downstairs to sit for a while.
Chi Shuo was in low spirits. Even while drinking her milk tea, her unhappiness was evident. She opened the WeChat conversation with He Lindi. Their last exchange was the day He Lindi said she’d be back. Back then, Chi Shuo’s heart was filled with joy.
Now, it had been three days without contact.
Chi Shuo scrolled through their messages. Xia Zhou placed her hand over Chi Shuo’s phone screen. “Stop looking.”
Xia Zhou withdrew her hand. Chi Shuo locked her phone, its dark screen reflecting her face, but the details were unclear.
She unclenched her hand, her entire demeanor looking defeated. Zeng Guai patted the back of her hand. “Shuo Shuo, it’s okay. She’ll definitely come looking for you.”
Chi Shuo had briefly explained the reason for their fight. Both Zeng Guai and Xia Zhou felt the majority of the blame lay with He Lindi.
As Chi Shuo had said, love is a two-person affair. Some things could be kept private, but this matter concerned their future. Why hide it and act out this supposed “protection” based on self-proclaimed goodwill?
Had it really protected anyone? When He Lindi told Chi Shuo about the agreement, hadn’t she seen Chi Shuo freeze on the spot? Chi Shuo felt wronged but still cooperated, playing the role of a stranger for a month.
Thinking about this made Chi Shuo even more upset. She was holding He Lindi accountable, but she didn’t blame her.
She was willing to give He Lindi time. The key issue was that she didn’t know if He Lindi had realized her mistake, if she’d reflected during these three days of separation.
“She’s probably gone home,” Chi Shuo said to Zeng Guai. “We won’t be in contact for a while, at least not this week.”
He Lindi would face unknown punishment at home, whether kneeling or confinement. Either way, she likely couldn’t contact the outside world.
Zeng Guai’s expression fell. “So the cold war continues?”
Chi Shuo’s lips curved into a bitter smile. “What else can we do?”
Xia Zhou hummed. “When it comes to cold wars, I haven’t lost yet.”
Chi Shuo glanced at her, and they both sighed again. “Ai.”
Many people feel like they have multiple personalities when they’re in love. One second they might be blissfully happy, the next plunged into an icy abyss.
This feeling… wasn’t pleasant.
But Chi Shuo felt a perpetually sweet relationship was unrealistic. A relationship without arguments or conflicts lacked soul.
This didn’t mean she enjoyed fighting or conflict. She just hoped any issues could be handled properly. Arguments were fine, but not huge blowouts. Otherwise, in the end, it would only hurt their relationship.
Love wasn’t a guarantee of forever. There would be periods of weariness. It depended on how the couple managed and maintained it to make it last.
Three more days passed. He Lindi still hadn’t messaged or come to work. Chi Shuo’s initial frustration gradually turned into worry.
She stopped waiting. Once home that evening, she immediately called He Lindi.
To her surprise, after just one ring, He Lindi answered. “You…”
“…” Chi Shuo immediately hung up.
Something was wrong. Shouldn’t He Lindi be unable to contact the outside world at this point? But she had answered instantly.
Chi Shuo’s heart raced. He Lindi had only said one word, but it was enough to make her incredibly nervous.
She exhaled, covering her phone, no longer looking at its blank screen.
He Lindi had been waiting for her call. Chi Shuo reached this conclusion.
She was still calming her breathing, holding onto a sliver of hope that He Lindi would call back.
But she didn’t.
Five, ten, thirty minutes passed. The sky had completely darkened. He Lindi still hadn’t called.
Chi Shuo couldn’t describe her feelings, just felt an overwhelming sense of sadness and disappointment filling her mind, making her head buzz.
She had already showered. Her phone remained silent. Sitting on the bed, Chi Shuo stared at the call log, carefully checking the one-second call she had made, wondering if it had been a hallucination.
No, the record was right there.
Chi Shuo tossed and turned, feeling incredibly irritated. She opened her calendar; it had been a week since they last contacted each other.
The last time they went this long without contact was months ago. Chi Shuo’s eyes reddened. She decided to call He Lindi again.
This time too, He Lindi answered instantly, her voice slightly nasal. “Shuo Shuo Jie Jie…”
Chi Shuo’s nose also started to tingle. Then she heard He Lindi say, “Without you teaching me, I can’t learn to roller skate.”
“If you can’t learn, why don’t you come find me?” Chi Shuo forced herself to sound calm.
“I don’t dare.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know.”
Chi Shuo ran a hand through her hair. “Where are you now?”
“At…” He Lindi paused. “…your complex entrance.”
A few minutes later, Chi Shuo saw He Lindi sitting on the bench outside the complex gate.
He Lindi looked pitiful, wearing her hoodie, her eyes fixed on Chi Shuo as she approached.
Chi Shuo didn’t extend her hand. She asked first, “What time did you get here?”
“Seven o’clock,” He Lindi replied honestly, her head slightly lowered.
Chi Shuo pressed her lips together, her hands still in her pockets. She maintained her cold tone. “Go back.”
He Lindi hummed softly and started to get up, as if preparing to leave. Chi Shuo didn’t stop her, just turned and started walking towards the complex.
After about five seconds, Chi Shuo felt her wrist being grabbed. She swallowed, turned her head slightly to look at He Lindi, who had returned, but didn’t soften her heart. “Is there something?”
“I miss you.” He Lindi released her hand. “I miss you very much.”
Chi Shuo chuckled. “Really? If you miss me so much, why haven’t you contacted me for a week?”
“I said, I don’t dare.”
Chi Shuo just said, “Okay.”
She hesitated no longer and continued walking. He Lindi followed behind her. Chi Shuo knew, but she was so angry she didn’t want to acknowledge her.
He Lindi trailed her all the way to her apartment door.
Chi Shuo hardened her heart. “Are you here to pack your things? I can lend you my suitcase.”
They lived in each other’s apartments; both had belongings in the other’s place.
He Lindi shook her head. “No.”
“Then why are you following me?”
“You didn’t want to see me, so why come and tell me? Wasn’t saying it on the phone enough?”
“He Lindi, don’t you think you’re being a bit much?”
“For a week, have you reflected at all? Do you think you were wrong?”
Chi Shuo grew angrier the more she spoke. He Lindi leaned forward and hugged her. “I came to apologize, don’t be mad.”
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