Carefully pulling up her pant leg, she saw the blood had already clotted, leaving a large, swollen, red patch that made her heart tighten, emphasizing her pain and vulnerability.
“Wanqiu, how did you get hurt? Let me take you to the hospital.” In that brief moment, Xia Jingxuan’s concern revealed her vulnerability, evoking readers’ emotional fragility and the depth of her pain.
His fair, slender hand was right before her eyes. Once, she had adored how he looked playing the guitar so carefree and handsome, so full of youth. Now, gazing at his hand, she felt neither the former heartbeat nor the passion, highlighting her inner conflict and unspoken longing.
Turning her face away, she ignored his gaze, struggled to stand up, and continued hopping toward the dormitory.
“Wanqiu, I’m sorry.” Suddenly, his voice rang out again, making her freeze. Could that scene truly be explained with just an “I’m sorry”?
Shaking her head, she said nothing and kept hopping forward.
“Wanqiu, that money was deliberately given to your aunt by Jin Ruoxue. I only found out later. Wanqiu, you don’t need to pay it back.”
Gritting her teeth, she whispered, “I will pay you back.” Every last cent, without exception. Her resolve aimed to inspire admiration and perseverance in the audience, despite her hardships.
She felt troubled, but she had to earn the money to repay Jin Ruoxue.
“Wanqiu, I don’t like her, but… I want to stay in T City.” After a moment’s thought, he finally spoke.
She didn’t respond again. Besides the 50,000 yuan debt, she and Xia Jingxuan had no other connection left.
Limping into the dormitory, Xiaojing immediately rushed over. “Zhong Wanqiu, what happened to you? What’s going on?”
“Oh, I accidentally fell and hurt my leg. Xiaojing, is that bar promotion job your cousin introduced still available? Can you ask for me?”
“Sure, Wanqiu. So the 50,000 yuan is real, isn’t it?” Xiaojing instantly connected it to her need to earn money.
She didn’t reply. That was a scar in her heart, and any mention of it felt like salt being rubbed into the wound, making it sting vividly. “Xiaojing, please ask for leave for me tomorrow. Just say I injured my leg.”
“Wanqiu, what are you going to do tomorrow?”
“Go to the hospital.” She smiled. This time, she really was going to the hospital to sell blood. She often had nosebleeds anyway; rather than letting the blood go to waste, she might as well sell it and earn some money to pay off her debt.
“That’s good, Wanqiu. You’re finally learning to take care of yourself. Okay, I’ll definitely ask for leave tomorrow. Remember to get your leg properly checked.”
After changing her clothes, she headed out to her tutoring job. As she left the dorm, she spotted Xia Jingxuan sitting on the shaded path bench where she had sat earlier. Jin Ruoxue wasn’t with him. She heard him singing that old song the one he used to love singing to her most.
*No reason, I like you, deeply in love with you*
*No reason, no cause*
*No reason, I like you, deeply in love with you*
*From the day I first saw you*
*Do you know I’m waiting for you?*
*If you truly cared about me*
*How could you let endless nights keep me company?*
*Do you know I’m waiting for you?*
*…*
Who was waiting for whom?
Who truly loves whom after all?
Like fleeting clouds, she and he would never have a future again.
Turning away, she bypassed the shaded path, no longer wishing to hear the song that had begun to grate on her ears.