Shen Yue's gaze was fixed on the man's handsome face and the intimate smile on his lips, feeling a dull ache in her chest as her heart pounded.
As if hearing a good joke, she retorted, "Girlfriend?"
Qi Rui nodded, "Yes."
The snow outside had stopped, and the warm sunlight streamed down, casting a golden glow. It was a bright day, and the birds chirped merrily.
Shen Yue clenched the hand hanging by her side, her knuckles turning white with the force, "She's very beautiful."
Young and beautiful, she looked very suitable with Qi Rui.
Dazed and confused, her mind was like a tangled mess. Her temples throbbed painfully.
She pressed her forehead, her face pale.
Tong Xue appeared very young, her eyes full of innocence. She was quiet and didn't talk much to strangers, silently peeling an orange on the table.
After eating a few, Qi Rui gently admonished, "Don't eat too many. Oranges are cold, and you're not feeling well."
Tong Xue put the orange back, pouted, and her voice, sweet like a spoiled child, said, "Alright, but you have to accompany me out for dinner later!"
Qi Rui smiled helplessly, "Okay."
In this moment, Shen Yue felt like an eyesore.
The way Qi Rui and Tong Xue interacted now was just like how they used to be. Only now, the young boy had grown up, taking on the responsibilities of a man, becoming more mature and more caring.
Qi Rui hadn't changed; he had simply forgotten her.
No wonder he had never looked for her. So that's why, so that's why.
She just couldn't accept it.
The boy who rolled up his trouser legs to cut wheat in the fields, the boy who constantly pestered her for kisses, the boy who swore he loved her and would come looking for her, could so easily fall for someone else.
He had been so devoted and made such solemn vows back then.
Shen Yue believed him, and that belief lasted for four years.
A few warm rays of light fell on the woman's plain, pale face. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her delicate eyelashes trembled, like autumn leaves detaching from a branch.
She tried to force a smile, but it felt so strained. In the end, she awkwardly stood up and said hastily, "I'm not feeling well, I'm going up."
Qi Rui called out worriedly from behind, "Do you want to see a doctor?"
Shen Yue didn't hear him clearly. She fled the living room as if escaping, went upstairs, entered her room, and locked the door.
Warm liquid flowed down. The woman with gentle eyes seemed oblivious, her dark pupils vacant and lifeless.
---
Shen Yue didn't come down for lunch. When Qi Rui returned in the evening, he saw the housekeeper busy in the kitchen.
He had spent the day with Tong Xue outside, his usually cold and handsome face still softened with gentleness. He casually asked, "Has Miss Shen eaten?"
The housekeeper, washing dishes, replied, "No, I prepared the meal, but Miss Shen said she had no appetite, so I had to throw it away. Oh my, Miss Shen hasn't eaten all day, how can she manage?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Rui instinctively frowned. A layer of frost appeared on his face, and his slightly pursed lips showed a hint of unspoken anxiety.
He looked at the woman's thin, frail figure upstairs, who looked like she could be blown away by a slight gust of wind. She was already so thin, and now she wasn't eating properly.
He loosened his tie and said in a slightly deeper voice, "Make a bowl of porridge. I'll take it up later."
The housekeeper looked at him with surprise. Meeting his cold, somber gaze, she didn't dare to look further and quickly said, "Okay," before bustling to cook the porridge.
The porridge was ready in a short while.
Qi Rui carried the porridge upstairs and knocked on the tightly closed door.
After half a minute, the door was opened.
The lights in the room were off. Her posture was too distant, as if she had completely blended into the dim darkness. Wearing a black high-necked sweater, it made her face appear even more pale, her figure slender and frail.
Qi Rui looked at her, his eyes unreadable.
After a pause, he finally said slowly, "I heard the aunt say you haven't eaten all day. This isn't good for your health, you should eat something."
Hearing this, Shen Yue's gaze remained fixed on Qi Rui. The concern on his face seemed purely perfunctory, lacking any excessive intimacy.
It was as if he were treating a guest.
"No, thank you," the woman replied, her voice very soft, sounding particularly cold and clear in the silent corridor.
Qi Rui frowned, "Are you feeling unwell, or..."
"I said no, thank you!"
She interrupted him with a sharp tone, and he froze, holding the steaming porridge, appearing a little lost.
Shen Yue knew her reaction had been too strong. After all, Qi Rui was offering help out of good intentions. But Shen Yue truly, truly didn't know how to face him.
She averted her eyes with difficulty, her voice hoarse, "I'm sorry..."
Perhaps it was the man's silent, pursed-lip look that seemed too wronged, but Shen Yue's heart softened, and she opened the door, letting him in.
The light switch was flicked on, and the blinding light illuminated the entire room.
Qi Rui placed the porridge on the table and didn't leave immediately. Instead, he sat down, picking up a book at random.
Shen Yue glanced at him and sat silently, eating the porridge. After eating half of it, she couldn't eat anymore and even felt nauseous.
Qi Rui, who had been watching Shen Yue from the corner of his eye, saw her put down the spoon. He noticed there was still half a bowl of porridge left and frowned, "Wasting food is not a good habit."
The familiar words struck Shen Yue's heart fiercely.
She had said these same words to the young boy before. Back then, the boy was a picky eater, especially disliking vegetables, and often left a lot of food on his plate. Shen Yue would lecture him, saying, "Wasting food is not a good habit."
Now, those words were being thrown back at her.
Shen Yue lowered her head and slowly finished the porridge in the bowl. Her eyebrows softened, giving her a pure and gentle aura.
After finishing the porridge, Shen Yue's stomach churned. She suppressed the urge to vomit, wiped her mouth, and then looked up at the man.
Qi Rui happened to look up at the same time. Their eyes met. Perhaps it was the lighting, but suddenly, she felt as if this handsome, mature man's image was overlapping with the image of the unruly boy.
Her heart pounded like a drum, and her fingers trembled uncontrollably.
After a long moment, Qi Rui stood up.
He was tall, with a perfect physique, and walked towards her gracefully, getting closer and closer.
Finally, he stopped in front of her. Qi Rui sat down beside her. They were very close. He looked at Shen Yue, "I'll take you out tomorrow. You must be bored staying at home these days."
Shen Yue blinked in surprise. Besides disbelief, a flicker of joy surged within her.
Just as she was about to speak, the man's thin lips parted.
"My mother might not be back for a while. If you need anything, you can tell me, and I'll try my best to satisfy it."