Xu Tao wasn’t fond of attending this sort of gathering. She was quiet and reserved, and didn’t like crowding in among people.
But now that they were together, she did have to consider her boyfriend’s feelings.
She nodded and agreed.
Shi Jin was delighted. He leaned in to kiss her, but Xu Tao blushed and dodged him, gently refusing, “We’re on campus. Don’t do that.”
She wasn’t used to being physically affectionate, so she could only come up with that excuse.
They had grown up together, and Xu Tao felt that what she felt for Shi Jin was more like the affection between siblings and friends. There had been a reason she’d accepted his pursuit.
She didn’t want to remember those things. She lowered her eyes and fell silent, her lashes trembling like the butterfly Shi Jin had chased for her back in their hometown, beside the little bridges and streams one summer.
Xu Tao was striking—not the bright, showy kind of beauty, but a gentle radiance no one could ignore.
She’d been beautiful ever since she was little. All it took was a smile, and plenty of boys were willing to lay their hearts at her feet.
But Shi Jin had won her over. They were childhood sweethearts, and their families were neighbors; he’d had no idea how much of a head start that gave him.
Besides, Xu Tao owed him.
Shi Jin gazed at his beautiful girlfriend, dazed. After all these years, he still couldn’t get enough of looking at her.
He could lose himself in her beauty at any time.
For a moment, his mind failed to catch up. “Peach, that’s all in the past. Try to let me get closer to you, okay? I’ll help you move on…”
Xu Tao’s face paled little by little as he spoke. Just moments ago, she’d been like a dewy white rose in full bloom; now she seemed to be withering petal by petal.
Her lips had gone almost colorless. As if forcing herself to endure it, she said, “Brother Shi Jin, please stop. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Only then did Shi Jin realize his mistake. After what happened back then, Peach had been despondent for a month. It had taken a long time for her to return to her old, gentle, smiling self.
He immediately raised his hand and slapped himself.
It was all his fault.
Xu Tao jumped and grabbed him to stop him. “What are you doing? It wasn’t your fault!”
She looked at Shi Jin’s left hand, feeling awful. He couldn’t use it properly, so even hitting himself wouldn’t hurt much—but it still hurt Xu Tao to see it.
Taking advantage of the moment, Shi Jin took her hand and kissed it, his eyes full of affection and delight. Xu Tao lowered her head and didn’t pull away.
Just as he had when they were children, he coaxed her as he apologized. “I’m sorry, Peach. Don’t be sad. I won’t bring it up again. How about I do a face-change trick right here?”
“Stop messing around! Who wants to see that?” Xu Tao slowly brightened again, laughing as she teased him.
By then they had reached the cafeteria. There wasn’t much food left, so they shared a bowl of noodles. Xu Tao watched Shi Jin leave before turning back to the dorm.
Only two of her roommates were in the room. They both greeted her when she came in.
There were four students in the dorm, all from different places. Yang Can was from Wancheng and went home during every break. The other two, Lu Yang and Lin Rui, were from Liao Province and Lu Province, respectively.
Xu Tao was the only one from the south.
“Peach, you’re back. Have you eaten?” Lu Yang asked first.
Xu Tao felt much more at ease with her roommates. She was gentle by nature, and all three of them liked her.
Hearing that Shi Jin had come by again, Lin Rui teased her. “Peach, do you know how many guys in our college just had their hearts broken? Tell us—how did you end up with a boyfriend?”
“Childhood sweethearts! How romantic.” Lu Yang pressed a hand to her chest. “I’m so jealous of people who grew up next door to each other.”
Xu Tao laughed at their exaggeration. “The gender ratio at the teachers’ college is so uneven. Who would even notice me?”
Lin Rui and Lu Yang shook their heads and sighed. Xu Tao had no idea how much she stood out. Even with so few men around, the first thing they’d do was look at a gorgeous girl!
“Seriously, Peach, other than having known you longer, Shi Jin doesn’t have any advantage. With your face, you could find yourself some rich, handsome guy!”
Shi Jin was handsome enough in his own way, but standing beside Xu Tao, he still didn’t seem quite suited to her.
Lin Rui wholeheartedly agreed with Lu Yang, nodding over and over.
Xu Tao smiled. “Shi Jin’s really good. I know him inside and out, so I can trust him. He treats me very well.”
Well enough to risk his life for her.
They had grown up together. When she was little, after her parents died in a car accident, her uncle and aunt had fought over the compensation money and taken it all. That left Grandma and three-year-old Xiaotaozi to depend on each other.
Grandma made a living selling moon cakes.
All the neighbors had helped them, but Shi Jin had looked after Xu Tao especially well. He stood up for her and fought on her behalf—and at a crucial moment, he stepped in to protect her, losing the use of his left hand in the process.
Xu Tao owed him. She accepted that.
When Shi Jin confessed to her at the start of their first year, Xu Tao had thought about it all night before finally saying yes.
There wasn’t much she could do to repay him. If not for Shi Jin, Xu Tao felt she might have chosen to end her life rather than endure the humiliation.
The memories came flooding back. Xu Tao shut her eyes and quickly forced them away.
She took out a book and read for a while before washing up and going to bed.
She didn’t sleep well that night. In the middle of it, a nightmare jolted her awake.
Someone was on top of her, but she couldn’t make out who. Around her were sounds of crying, shouting, and laughter, scraping at her ears like sharp blades.
At last, a figure burst in, its left hand drenched in blood, splattering Xu Tao’s face. Then she woke.
Gasping, Xu Tao opened her eyes. Curled up inside her mosquito net, she silently shed tears. Across the room, Lin Rui murmured something in her sleep, then began to giggle.
Yang Can and Lu Yang often complained that Lin Rui talked in her sleep and liked to laugh. It was a little frightening to listen to at night.
But Xu Tao felt completely at ease.
She was in the dorm, not that abandoned warehouse.
Xu Tao covered her eyes. It was over. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it.
Never think about it again.
……
When she woke the next morning, her roommates had all gone to club activities. The room was empty.
Her phone was full of messages from Shi Jin. He’d shared some music and videos and asked if she was up.
Xu Tao wondered why Shi Jin had gotten up so unusually early, but didn’t think much of it. She replied, “Just got up,” then climbed out of bed to wash up and have breakfast.
She had to go to the Qin family’s home today.
Before leaving, Xu Tao video-called Grandma.
The call connected quickly. Grandma’s hair was all white, but she still looked like she must have been a beauty when she was young.
Xu Tao had inherited her parents’ best features. When she smiled, she looked a lot like her late father—and like Grandma, too.
As soon as Feng Xiuzhi saw her granddaughter, a warm smile spread across her face. “Sweetheart, why are you up so early today? It’s a holiday—you should sleep in!”
Xu Tao replied in Wu dialect, “It’s all right, Grandma. I’m going out to work a part-time job in a bit.”
“Our Sweetheart’s found a part-time job!” Feng Xiuzhi knew her granddaughter seemed delicate, but was actually determined. If she told her not to go, she probably wouldn’t listen anyway, so she decided not to dampen her spirits.
“Sweetheart, take good care of yourself, okay? Don’t make Grandma worry.”
Hearing the affection in her voice, Xu Tao’s smile softened. “You take care of yourself, too, Grandma. Don’t work too hard. I can support myself!”
“I can even earn enough to support you, Grandma. When I get paid, I’ll send you some. Remember to buy your medicine and take it on time!”
After reminding her a few more times not to worry too much and to take care of her health, Xu Tao ended the video call.
The autumn wind had picked up again outside. Xu Tao was still wearing yesterday’s clothes, but had changed into a slightly thicker cardigan. Its pale purple color was soft and gentle, making her look like a glowing pearl.
When she reached the dorm entrance, she realized Shi Jin had come again.
She had no idea how long he’d been waiting. He was kicking the curb by the roadside over and over.