A gift?
Chufeng brought me a gift?
In a split second, Tang Yuanyuan recalled her conversations with the group of boys yesterday. Subconsciously, she lifted her head and looked Zhong Chufeng in the eye.
To her surprise, she noticed that the way Zhong Chufeng looked at her today was different—it was more passionate than what she could remember; this was not how he used to look at her.
Was it only different today?
“Yuanyuan?”
Seeing that she was not saying anything while staring at him, Zhong Chufeng was confused. He looked her in the eye. “What’s going on?”
At this point, Tang Yuanyuan began to look downcast and remained silent.
The smile on Zhong Chufeng’s face wore off as he worriedly looked at her. “Are you feeling unwell? Would you like me to bring you to the hospital?”
Contrary to her daily routine, Tang Yuanyuan did not run today. This, coupled with the sad look on her face, made Zhong Chufeng wonder if she was feeling ill.
“I’m not, and I don’t need to go to the hospital,” Tang Yuanyuan responded softly as she contemplated how to put her words in a way that would hurt Zhong Chufeng the least.
“So you aren’t feeling unwell? Then, did you have a bad day?”
After a while, Zhong Chufeng decided to just let her know what he brought her today. Right away, he took out the hairpin. “This is a hairpin for you. Please cheer up. Take a look and see if you like it or not.”
Ever since she went on a diet, Zhong Chufeng had stopped buying snacks for her. Furthermore, every time Zhong Chufeng passed a jewelry shop he would be reminded of the bracelet he gave her that she had never worn before.
In the end, he decided to get her a hairpin, which he figured would be a safer choice.
Tang Yuanyuan took a look at the hairpin: it was a playful pink, and it had some glimmering diamond glitters as well as an adorable cartoon; it looked exquisite and modern. He must have put in a lot of thought into choosing it.
However, she did not take it from him.
“Don’t you like it?”
Tang Yuanyuan shook her head. “I can’t accept it.”
“Why not?” Zhong Chufeng was nonplussed. What’s wrong with Yuanyuan today? “Yuanyuan, what’s the matter?”
Finally, Tang Yuanyuan looked up and asked, after a long pause, “Chufeng, I have a question for you.”
“What’s that?”
For reasons unbeknownst to him, Zhong Chufeng began to have an ominous feeling. Is this an illusion? Where is this feeling coming from?
Tightening his fist that was holding the hairpin, Zhong Chufeng was contemplating whether or not to jump in and say something. Before he could do that, Tang Yuanyuan continued, “Chufeng, do you… have feelings for me?”
At that moment, Zhong Chufeng’s heart was shaken. It was as if something had just rammed into his heart and given it a big jolt, rendering his brain slightly numb and unreactive.
A moment later, Zhong Chufeng had finally come back to his senses.
Why did she ask him about this? Zhong Chufeng became downcast. Instead of letting me see the sad look on her face, she might as well tell me that she doesn’t like me, or that my feelings for her have given her a lot of headaches.
I was still planning on waiting for her to turn eighteen before expressing my feelings to her, but it seems like I no longer need to do that. How can she reject me even before I confess my feelings to her?
So, do I admit it or not?
If I do, will she become disgusted with me and never want to see me again? But if I don’t admit it, I may never have the chance to do so anymore.
Looking at the serious look on her face, Zhong Chufeng tightened his fist that held the hairpin. No one knew how flustered he felt.
“Chufeng?”
Tang Yuanyuan had not heard an answer from him. As the doubts and uneasiness within her increased, she called him out softly.
Zhong Chufeng’s heart was softened and he smiled. “What are you talking about?”
He placed his big hand on her head and rubbed her hair. “You’re still a minor. Are you thinking about dating already?”
Tang Yuanyuan was confused.
“Just because I give you a hairpin you think that I like you? How will I still dare to give you anything in the future?”
His last sentence sent Tang Yuanyuan an important message.
“Are you saying that you don’t have feelings for me?”
“As siblings, I do. But other than that, there’s nothing for you to worry about. Yishu is my close friend; that’s why I’ve been treating you nicely. If this is what caused you to have doubts about my intentions, how am I supposed to find a girlfriend in the future?”
Tang Yuanyuan let out a sigh of relief.
I was right. Chufeng sees me as his little sister. It’s nothing like what they said.
She felt relieved and started to relax as a big smile washed over her face.
Conversely, Zhong Chufeng was devastated. It was a hot day, but he was feeling chilly and could not seem to warm up.
But what else could he do since he had been coddling her? As he was afraid that he would scare her off by telling her the truth, he reckoned that choosing to not tell her the truth at this point was the best decision, even if this was his last opportunity to let her know about how he really felt. He would not regret this decision as seeing the smile on her face was what mattered the most.
“Chufeng, I may have overthought it, so please don’t be mad at me. I’m truly sorry. I’ll never think this way again, and I’m sure you can find a pretty girlfriend in the future. You can hold me responsible if you cannot find a girlfriend in the future.”
The word ‘responsible’ instantly gave Zhong Chufeng a little hope.
“How can I hold you responsible?”
“I’ll definitely try my best to help you find a girlfriend!”
Oh well. So this is what she meant. I thought she was going to be held responsible by being my girlfriend. What wishful thinking. Zhong Chufeng exhaled. “Fine. You’re still a little girl, so what do you know? And you’re still underaged. Please stop talking about dating and relationships. Don’t worry about me. Just be happy.”
“Alright.”
Tang Yuanyuan turned to the hairpin in his hand. “Chufeng, this is for me, isn’t it?”
However, Zhong Chufeng put it back in his pocket.
“It was, but because you misunderstood me, I won’t give it to you anymore. I might as well give it to some other girl.”
Tang Yuanyuan pouted. “I’m sorry, Chufeng. I didn’t mean it.”
“Alright. I’m not blaming you, and this is just a joke.” Zhong Chufeng tapped the tip of her nose. “I feel like this hairpin might not fit you; it’s meant for someone older. How about I get you a better one tomorrow?”
“Sure!”
“Chufeng, I’ll hit the tracks now.”
“Sure.”
After Tang Yuanyuan left, Zhong Chufeng took the hairpin out of his pocket—the hairpin that he might have accidentally broken earlier.
