In all honesty, this feels alright. Let’s keep it this way. I will bury my feelings for him deep down in my heart, and I will suppress it to make sure that it will never see the light of day.
The phone rang again and Yan realized that it was a text message from Xiao Su. ‘I am out of the hospital now. Where are you?’
Yan’s expression changed slightly because she forgot about his earlier instructions since she had been in a state of panic, hence, she answered his message hastily. ‘I’m already on my way to the hospital. You don’t have to come all the way to pick me up. Thank you!’
Xiao Su felt an inexplicable bitterness at the tip of his tongue when he received the message. Is she not even giving me the chance to prove myself? Even if that’s true, I’m still worried about her safety. Thus, Xiao Su replied to her message. ‘Send me the car number plate. Be careful.’
Car number plate? Yan scowled when she read his message. Xiao Su must have assumed that I am either in a private car or a cab. That must be the reason why he’s asking for a car number plate. She answered his text directly. ‘That’s not necessary. I’m in President Han’s car. He is heading back to the hospital to see Muzi.’
Xiao Su read the message several times suspiciously as if he tried to confirm something. After a moment, he chuckled to himself while staring at his phone. I see.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Yan saw a familiar figure standing nearby the moment she exited the car. Initially, she thought that she was mistaken, but she realized soon enough that it was Xiao Su indeed. Is it really him? I remember him saying that he was out of the hospital earlier in his message just now. I figured he must have gone inside after that. I didn’t expect him to be still downstairs.
Xiao Su flashed Yan a tender smile when he saw her. Under the warm light, his horrible scar across his face softened significantly. “You’re here.”
Upon seeing Xiao Su, Yan was unsure how she felt because she had a mixture of emotions. She nodded at him. “Why didn’t you go in?”
“Why would I go back in? Did you not say you were coming over? I’m just waiting for you here while I am at it.” If someone else is conveniently driving her back to the hospital, why shouldn’t I wait for her here while I’m at it?
Yan was rendered speechless by his reaction. She blushed slightly when she heard Xiao Su’s blatant statement. Her ears were now in the color of deep red. If memory serves me right, I recall telling him before that I’ve yet to come to terms with my feelings. Hence, I told him not to bother me first. However, right now, he is… Did he assume that I’ve come to terms with my feelings? In all honesty, my mood has calmed down significantly for quite some time, but it is in a state of mess once again after seeing Han Qing.
“President Han.” Just when Yan was deep in her thoughts, Xiao Su greeted Han Qing, who was behind her, before smiling. “Young Lady Ye is waiting for you upstairs.”
Han Qing glanced swiftly at him before mumbling in acknowledgement and made his way upstairs.
As Han Qing left, Yan’s gaze automatically followed his disappearing figure, but Xiao Su approached her from the front to block her view of Han Qing suddenly. “Are you cold? Are you hungry? Since the two siblings have things to discuss, why don’t I take you out for some food?”
Despite his inquiry, Yan felt as if he had decided for her. Nevertheless, she knew that he wouldn’t be able to force her to go with him if she were to reject him. However, Yan wasn’t an ignorant person. As an outsider, why would I want to interrupt when both siblings are chatting with each other? Hence, she nodded. “Sure, I think I’m slightly hungry.”
Apart from the residential area around the hospital, there were mostly large pharmacies around—one after another and occasionally, there were a few clothing stores. There were also quite a number of restaurants since the hospital received quite a large number of visitors. The two of them entered once of the eateries nearby.
Yan did not have an appetite at all, but she was only here because she didn’t intend to head into the hospital immediately. She and Xiao Su each ordered a bowl of noodles before sitting across each other. Xiao Su must be famished because he took a large gulp of soup once he sat down and focused on eating his noodles after that. His serious attitude made Yan self-conscious if she did not eat her food. Thus, she had a few spoonfuls of soup before tackling the noodles slowly.
The restaurant owner was an honest man. There were less customers in the restaurant—most probably since it was getting late at night. Hence, there were extra pieces of meat in their bowls of noodles.
Would I be able to sleep if I were to finish all this? Yan ate her bowl of noodle soup in silence.
“Is it not to your liking?” Xiao Su asked while staring at her almost untouched bowl of food.
Yan snapped back to her senses when she heard that before shaking her head. “N-No. It suddenly struck me that I might not be able to fall asleep tonight if I were to eat too much right now. That is why I’m just having some soup.”
Xiao Su did not have a comeback for that, so he merely responded with a faint smile and did not comment further. In all honesty, he wanted to express his mind, but he wasn’t quite sure on what to say because he was afraid that Yan would find him annoying if he said too much.
When they were almost done with their meal, Yan finally put her spoon down whereas Xiao Su rose to his full height to pick up the tab at the counter. Yan chased after him when she saw that. “Let me.”
However, Xiao Su paid the bill swiftly and urged her to leave the restaurant together. She was astounded, but she followed suit, suggesting, “Why don’t we go Dutch?”
Xiao Su stopped dead in his tracks when he heard that. Then, he turned to look at her helplessly. “It is just a bowl of noodles. You do not have to feel pressured at all.”
Yan was at a loss for words because Xiao Su read her mind.
“I might be in love with you, but you couldn’t have assumed that I was trying to treat you to noodles on purpose, could you? I was just afraid that I might be hungry and I did not want to eat alone. That’s why I asked you to come along.”
Is that so? Yan blinked several times.
“That’s why you don’t have to feel pressured at all. I still remember what you told me, so don’t worry.”
Yan wasn’t sure what got into her, but she felt relieved after Xiao Su’s explanation. I know that Xiao Su is in love with me, of course. In fact, he has been in love with me for a very long time. I know the heartache accompanying unrequited love since I’ve experienced it before. That’s why I don’t want to hurt him. However, I can’t give him anything in return as well and that’s the reason why I’m feeling conflicted.
The two of them made their way back to the hospital’s main building. They waited for the elevator in silence and the only thing that was heard was their breathing.
”Xiao Su?” Yan called his name suddenly.
Xiao Su turned his face sideways to look at her. “Yes?”
“You… should not waste your time and effort on me. It is not worth it.” Yan looked up and their eyes met. She chose an indirect way to reject him. “You know my heart belongs to someone else, so you would just be wasting your time on me. I have known you for so many years and I know the kind of person you are. You are outstanding, and I am sure you would find a—”
Before she could complete her sentence, Xiao Su interrupted, “Yan, you think that… I am outstanding. Why don’t you give it a go with me since you think I am outstanding?”
Yan’s breath caught in her throat. I just wanted to reject him indirectly. I didn’t expect him to back me into a corner.
Xiao Su took a few steps forward to close the gap between him and Yan. His presence was now palpable. “Maybe we should give ourselves a chance. We might be a match made in heaven.”
