How come you're also my ex-girlfriend?

Xu Yan opened his umbrella and walked into the rain, which had lessened considerably, with the other person.

The light drizzle now feels like a baptism after a great battle.

Although there was no war between them, there was only the quiet leisure of idly tapping chess pieces and watching the lamplight flicker.

But the waves in between, each one like a accumulating tsunami, are no longer just waves.

After all, it was the first time someone had left such a feeling on their cheek; how could it be meaningless? There are too many meaningless things in this world, as many as a grain of rice, a glass of water, a conversation, a glance...

In contrast, Xu Yan felt that instead of spending time thinking about what things were meaningless, it was better to use that time to truly experience the more meaningful content.

Hearing Xu Yan's words, Ye Shutong narrowed her eyes and stopped at the entrance of the pavilion. "If it doesn't work, you can return it."

Her cool, classically beautiful face was right before his eyes.

His eyes showed no fear or trembling.

Xu Yan immediately realized what the other person meant by those words, and he was stunned for a moment.

Can this be returned?

But the fact that the other party did not try to run away proves that either way is acceptable.

At this moment, it seems I should be thinking about other things, generating a bunch of messy thoughts, just like my old self, always daydreaming and indulging in self-pity, unable to distinguish boundaries, and mindlessly moving forward or backward.

"Clap."

Rainwater fell from the roof tiles of the pavilion and shattered on the ground.

The open umbrella spun around on the ground.

"boom."

When Ye Shutong felt the strength of the boy's embrace, she struggled to peek out from under his shoulder. Although she wasn't short, she did look rather petite in Xu Yan's arms.

However, the delicate face that peeked out revealed a smile that the boy couldn't see.

Three seconds, five seconds, ten seconds.

Xu Yan released his hands, feeling the warmth that had just cooled in his chest again, as if it had left a unique mark on his heart.

Seeing that Ye Shutong's eyes were still unwavering, he turned his head away first, "Give me back half, so you still owe me half. We'll talk about it next time."

Ye Shutong pursed her lips. "Next time what?"

Xu Yan shook his head and said, "What if you suddenly feel like setting up a bounty again next time... I don't know, I was just talking nonsense."

"I see."

"What kind of look is that? Let me make it clear beforehand, I didn't mean anything by it."

"I know."

"You have no idea! I think you're about to burst out laughing!"

Although Ye Shutong rarely smiled, at most her lips would curve slightly, but Xu Yan felt that he could understand her eyes.

He was clearly smiling, as if he completely understood what I was thinking.

"Don't you want to see me smile?" Ye Shutong retorted.

Xu Yan thought for a moment, and realized that the two of them were almost out of the park along this path, and it seemed that it was time to part ways.

I took a day off from evening self-study, but why do I feel like I've attended two evening self-study sessions and I'm still a bit tired?

It's anything but easy; the fact that my heart rate is still at a high level speaks volumes.

"You should smile more. Don't you know how many people in the class are afraid to come near you?"

As I stepped out of the park, I could already see the bustling traffic on the street outside.

The exit from the park wasn't the same gate we used at the beginning, so it led to a different, busier street. However, because of the rain, there were hardly any pedestrians on the road. But because of the rain, there were also many cars, which always splashed up a lot of water as they passed by.

So neither of them moved any closer to the edge of the sidewalk.

Gazing into the distance at the darkness, we stood side by side, as if we were on a train station platform.

"I actually hope no one gets close to me," she replied simply.

Xu Yan turned to look at her, then made a move to step back, "Then I'll stay away."

He met her deep eyes, "Besides you."

"So I'm the exception?" Xu Yan smiled.

Hearing such words still stirred up some emotions. Although I kept reminding myself to remember the lesson Lin Jia had taught me, I still reacted.

It turns out that people are just different.

Ye Shutong didn't answer that question. She took out her phone and looked at it. "You should take a taxi home first. Someone will come to pick me up later."

Xu Yan didn't care whether he would hear a follow-up answer or not. That's how some things are; they're interesting at first, but once you start to get hung up on them, they become tiresome.

He didn't bother asking who would pick her up. Given her family's wealth, she certainly wouldn't lack people to help her with chores. For example, during the last National Day holiday, she could stay in the most expensive room whenever she wanted, and her own change of clothes would come to her whenever she wanted. It's impossible for her to arrange everything herself.

"Couldn't you have picked me up on your way? You came all this way late at night and then made me walk alone. You have no conscience."

Xu Yan said with a hint of complaint, "It was just a little stunt."

After all, having Ye Shutong in front of him still gives people a strong desire to 'challenge' him.

"I'm fine with it, are you sure you want it?"

Ye Shutong smiled faintly again.

Xu Yan noticed that this girl seemed to be showing her emotions more and more easily now, which was much better than in the first month after he was promoted.

I don't know when it started or what caused it.

I don't know, but it doesn't seem to matter. Some beautiful scenes are enough for you to see; you don't need to figure out why they came into being.

"Never mind, I won't bother your friend."

"Not friends, but family."

"Oh."

Was this some kind of explanation for him? Xu Yan narrowed his eyes and observed Ye Shutong; the girl was also looking at him.

Okay, it doesn't matter anymore, family.

Xu Yan walked to the roadside, reached out, and flagged down a car.

Before getting into the car, Xu Yan glanced back at the girl who had moved closer to the curb. "Do you want me to wait with you a little longer?"

It was a very gentlemanly concern; he just felt it wasn't safe for a girl to be on the roadside so late at night.

In the dim light and shadow, she revealed an unreal smile.

It's a genuine smile, not just a simple upturn of the corners of the mouth.

"Get some rest, I'm fine."

"Oh."

Xu Yan got into the car and didn't try to persuade her further. He looked out the car window at Ye Shutong, who was standing by the roadside.

Then I saw in the rearview mirror that the car headlights seemed to be stopped next to the other car, but it was too far away to see the car model or the license plate clearly.

There's no point in looking at these things. I'm not a private investigator, why would I investigate these trivial matters?

Go home! Go to sleep!

"What are you doing here? I thought you were at the school gate, I've been looking for you all the way here..."

The cherry-red Panamera glowed eerily under the lights on a rainy night.

He opened the car door and let Ye Shutong sit in the passenger seat.

Looking at her aunt, who was only wearing a striped shirt, Ye Shutong nodded gently, "I was originally at the school gate, but I was afraid there would be too many people and you wouldn't be able to find me, so I came here."

"Is that so..." As she started the car, Shu Ying glanced behind where the other person had just been standing; it was the familiar park gate.

She also graduated from this school, so she is very familiar with the terrain here. She used to stroll around this park often when she was in high school, but back then there weren't as many things to do for leisure as there are now.

But it made her think of a possibility.

"You just came from the park?"

"Yeah, I'll take a walk while I'm at it."

Ye Shutong did not choose to lie or cover it up.

But this statement also aroused Shu Ying's suspicion. The car started, and the engine roared.

"Are you taking a walk alone? Not with classmates or anything..."

"There is a classmate."

She answered expressionlessly, leaning quietly against the back of the passenger seat, seemingly somewhat tired.

It really wasn't just one person?

Shu Ying immediately became alert.

This kind of thing doesn't seem to happen to Ye Shutong often, and combined with the strange feeling she had a few days ago, she became seriously suspicious.

"If you don't mind, Auntie might ask a question, is it a boy... or a girl?"

The girl in the passenger seat didn't react much; she just stared at the windshield. "Will my aunt believe anything I say?"

What did that mean? Shu Ying was completely baffled.

Could it really be...?

"Um... Shutong. You're not a child anymore, and you've always been very sensible. So your aunt believes you understand the priorities at each stage of life, and I won't interfere with any of your choices. But since you're living with me now, I have to ensure your safety and health, and that's all. As for the rest, you can decide for yourself."

The meaning is quite obvious.

Ye Shutong certainly understood what Shuying meant.

She answered softly, "I know, Auntie."

Shu Ying didn't press the matter further.

In situations like this, it's better to trust her, but the problem is, this answer doesn't directly explain the previous sentence... Doesn't that imply something?

Although she said she wouldn't interfere with the other person's life and choices... Shu Ying really wanted to know who this person was that she was willing to keep hidden from her.