Muzi might misunderstand… Muzi might misunderstand…
The same phrase was on repeat in Yan’s mind like a broken record. Something shocking flashed across her mind, but she denied it swiftly. How is that possible? I must be mistaken.
As Yan tried to reassure herself, Han Qing noticed that she turned ghostly pale in that instant, as if she had just received some horrible news. She didn’t look this bad even when I rejected her in the past. Upon considering the possibilities, Han Qing realized that Yan might have misunderstood what he said earlier. Just to make sure, he asked her while scowling, “What are you thinking?”
Yan looked fine before he asked, but now that he posed the question to her, she appeared sheepish and bit her lower lip while suppressing the intense emotions in her chest. “W-What did you mean w-when you said that M-Muzi might misunderstand?” she stammered before biting her lower lip.
Han Qing frowned when he heard that. She truly misunderstood what I meant. Fortunately, I asked her about it so that I can double confirm. He shifted the bag to his other hand before explaining calmly, “Muzi is my only family and I am the same for her. She will be extremely concerned about my relationship status. You, on the other hand, are her best friend, so I do not want her to think that there is any possibility between you and me and I don’t want her to try to matchmake us either.” I think my statement is clear enough.
After listening to Han Qing’s explanation, Yan let out a sigh of relief, but at the same time, she felt that her heart had been ripped apart with a gaping hole. Luckily it’s not what I thought it was. However… I didn’t expect him to dislike me so much that he was afraid that Muzi would try to matchmake us. She lowered her eyes, as though she was disheartened. “Alright, I understand. I will go ahead and buy a new coat and return this to you.” After that, she turned around swiftly and marched forward.
This time, Yan walked briskly and immediately entered the first women’s clothing store she saw at the side. Obviously, Han Qing did not enter the shop. Instead, he waited with an aloof expression at the entrance of the shop while holding his bag. After several minutes, the shop assistant walked out with a black coat in her hands. She looked left and right before finally focusing on Han Qing, as if to confirm something.
Han Qing approached her since he noticed that she was holding his coat. “What is the problem?”
“Sir, is this your coat?”
Han Qing nodded. “Yeah. Is she done with her purchase yet?”
The female shop assistant flashed him a smile with a slight embarrassment. “Well, the madam requested for us to return this coat to you, sir.”
Han Qing remained silent for a while before accepting the coat. However, the shop assistant must have realized how awkward it looked because she added, “Please wait for a while. Allow me to get you a bag to keep the coat.”
Han Qing did not reject her request and soon, the shop assistant placed his coat in a bag. However, Yan still hadn’t showed up at that point. The shop assistant looked conflicted, but she stammered after Han Qing shot her a look, “Well, sir, madam said that she would like to browse through some clothes here, and… you should head home first.”
Han Qing paused after accepting the bag, but he nodded in the end. “Sure.” He stated after a pause, “Ask her to head home soon. Otherwise, her friend would be worried about her too.”
“Sure, sir. I will convey your message to her.”
Soon, Han Qing left with his bags without glancing backward.
When the female shop assistant returned, Yan sat on the stool in her newly purchased coat while spacing out in the changing room and looked up in anticipation. The female shop assistant informed Yan in a chatty tone, “Madam, that mister just left.” She saw the last glimmer of hope in Yan’s eyes vanishing completely at those words.
The atmosphere suddenly felt gloomy all of a sudden. Since the female shop assistant had never encountered such a situation before, she felt rather helpless. In fact, she had no idea on how to console Yan or whether Yan would buy the coat she now wore. In any case, the man went overboard. I can’t believe he left just because she asked him to.
“So, are you two a couple?”
Yan snapped back to her senses when she heard the shop assistant’s question and she shook her head with a bitter smile. “No, we aren’t.”
The shop assistant’s interest was piqued when she heard that. In that case, she doesn’t have any right to blame that man if they aren’t a couple.
“I am in love with him, but he has no feelings for me.” With that, Yan took off her coat to return it to the shop assistant.
The female shop assistant looked slightly upset, but she did not comment further. She looks so sad. I’m sure she is not in the mood to shop for clothes.
“Please wrap it up for me.”
The shop assistant was shocked, but she nodded anyway. “Sure, please wait for a while.”
After paying for the purchase, Yan took the bag with the coat and she prepared to leave. The female shop assistant chased after her until they both arrived at the entrance. Seeing how listless Yan was, the shop assistant couldn’t help but advise Yan, “Madam, the weather is extremely cold today. It’s best for you to wear the coat now. I can help you remove the tags.”
Yan paused when she heard that and turned around to flash the shop assistant a friendly smile. “That’s not necessary. I’m not cold.”
“Madam, you aren’t cold now because there are heaters in the mall. You wouldn’t feel warm once you leave the shopping mall.”
“I know. I will put it on once I leave the shopping mall. I’d like to have a look around… for now.”
The shop assistant did not comment further since Yan said that, so she nodded at Yan while looking at Yan leaving.
Yan had the coat in the bag when she left the mall. Sure enough, as what the shop assistant had mentioned, it was no longer warm once Yan walked out of the mall. The bone-chilling wind attacked her body in all directions, but this time, Yan was not as cold as before. She had the coat in her bag, but she didn’t feel like wearing it. Maybe the chilly wind would knock some sense into me. Yan smiled bitterly when she thought of that. Once I’m more sensible, I don’t think I’ll be in love with Han Qing anymore. It’s been such a long time and my feelings for him might be deeply ingrained, but it’s not impossible to overcome it.
Yan walked forward aimlessly as her whole body felt numb due to the cold. Things had always been smooth sailing for her ever since she was a child. She always rose to the challenge whenever she faced difficulties, but the only expectation was matters related to relationships. Being secretly in love and pinning for someone with unrequited love are such horrible feelings. This feeling is terrible. Given the chance, I wish I could let things go. I can fall in love with someone else if Han Qing doesn’t love me. It’s not like I do not have any pursuers.
Yan smiled as she wiped her tears away. Passersby shot weary glances at her, as if she was a mad woman. She wasn’t sure how long this went on for, but a figure blocked Yan’s way eventually, forcing her to stop abruptly. Initially, she saw a pair of familiar shoes, which caused her heart to skip a beat. Did Han Qing return to look for me?
However, when she looked up, she saw Xiao Su with a deep frown etched across his forehead. He stood in front of her while staring at her and his scowl deepened when he saw her tear-streaked face.
“Xiao Su?” Yan cackled self-deprecatingly when she saw him.
