Zhao ii was completely floored by Xu Xu’s sudden confession, staring at him blankly, unable to return to her senses for quite a while.
Xu Xu, with reddened eyes, said, "Zhao ii, I like you, I’ve always liked you."
Xu Xu growled lowly, "It’s wrong of to follow you around, but it’s because I care about you. I know you’ve liked Brother Yang since we were kids, but if you like him, does that an I can’t like you? I’ve liked you since we were kids too!"
As Zhao ii listened to Xu Xu’s heartfelt confession, her heart skipped a beat, feeling inexplicably guilty, and she subconsciously glanced at Shi Yang.
Shi Yang glared at her with a livid face, his eyes full of anger, making her feel as cold as ice.
Zhao ii felt the hairs on her back standing up and thought to herself, what a ss!
At such a crucial mont, she didn’t dare play dumb and hurriedly clarified her stance.
Zhao ii, frustrated, bit her lip, looking at the emotionally charged Xu Xu, feeling overwheld. She tried her best to look serious and said, "Xu Xu, I’ve always seen you as a good friend, a good buddy. You know, since I was a child, the person I’ve liked is Brother Yangyang, and I’ve never had a second thought about him. I can’t accept your feelings, you should stop liking ..."
Initially hesitant about how to phrase her rejection, once she spoke the words, Zhao ii suddenly realized that deep down, she was a typical person who prioritized love over friendship. To appease Shi Yang, she would do anything, even at the expense of Xu Xu or herself, without hesitation.
The color drained from Xu Xu’s face instantly, making his eyes red as if they were about to bleed. Zhao ii’s words, "I can’t accept," stabbed his heart like a knife.
Xu Xu felt utterly pathetic and deeply anguished, the love he had accumulated for Zhao ii over the years now consuming him like a backlash, causing him such pain that he couldn’t stop trembling.
He was like a drowning man who had finally grasped a slender straw, desperately wanting to hold onto it, clinging to his last breath, yearning for his only hope of survival.
Xu Xu’s hands hung by his sides, his voice sounded low, "ii, do you really not like at all? Can’t you give a chance..."
I can treat you as well as your brother does, I can make you happy in the future, would you wait for a few more years?
However, these last words never left Xu Xu’s lips. The little bit of dignity he had left held him back, preventing him from saying the words that would reveal all his inferiority and sorrow, words that would trample on the last line of his self-esteem.
Zhao ii didn’t pause for even a second, quickly responding, "I’m sorry, Xu Xu."
Her decisiveness made Xu Xu taste the bitterness of shattered dreams, and in that instant, he felt a surge of tears.
Shi Yang, who had remained silent all along, finally spoke. With a straight face, he said to Xu Xu, "Please stay away from my family’s ii in the future. As for the matters between ii and , they don’t concern you, and there’s no need for you to stalk us. This ends here. I don’t want ii to hear any rumors at school in the future, nor do I want these issues to affect her studies or cause any unnecessary trouble. Do you understand ?"
Xu Xu lowered his eyes without a word, his whole deanor deflated like a frostbitten eggplant, lacking the strength to muster any response.
Shi Yang coldly regarded Xu Xu, "Today, I could have threatened you by recording your confession on my phone, or gone to have a serious talk with your teachers and parents, or even hired a few guys to block you every day. But do you know why I didn’t do any of that?"
Xu Xu was shocked, his eyes slowly widening.
Zhao ii was equally surprised.
The thods Shi Yang ntioned were things they had never even considered. Shi Yang was soone with many years of experience in the real world, while they confided themselves within the campus, where they had only encountered small-ti characters in a small world focused solely on studying.
If Shi Yang truly wanted to sche against Xu Xu and give him a hard ti, there were many ways he could have gone about it. He could have co up with so underhanded tactics. With Shi Yang’s intelligence, dealing with Xu Xu would be child’s play, simple and easy.
Shi Yang looked at Xu Xu with undisguised contempt and scorn, speaking word by word, "The reason I’m not dealing with you is because you grew up playing with ii and were once her best friend. I’m sparing you out of respect for ii."
Zhao ii’s heart swelled with warmth at Shi Yang’s words, feeling that these words were sweeter than any sweet talk, making her want to throw herself into Shi Yang’s arms and give him a kiss, thinking to herself that Shi Yang was as dear as her husband...
Shi Yang put on his down jacket, reached out to wrap his arm around Zhao ii’s shoulders, and finally said to Xu Xu, "Xu Xu, if you’re still a man, stand tall and proud, and stop doing these behind-the-scenes, despicable things that bring you sha!"
Shi Yang’s words thoroughly crushed Xu Xu, settling old scores with him. He knew this blow would deeply wound Xu Xu’s pride and leave him demoralized for a while. Only then, satisfied, did Shi Yang leave with Zhao ii, picking up the takeout they had ordered from the counter earlier.
Xu Xu sat like a lifeless puppet in a chair, his head hanging low, motionless.
After a long ti, he finally stood up, silently put on his coat, and left the milk tea shop.
Xu Xu didn’t take a bus ho but instead wandered aimlessly along the road. As he walked, he suddenly stopped, then squatted down, burying his face in his arms, and burst into tears.
This ti, Xu Xu truly experienced unprecedented frustration and blow. His years of unrequited love for Zhao ii were utterly hopeless, and Shi Yang, whom he had always envied and resented, stood forever at a higher ground, looking down on him, making him feel even more insignificant.
The rejection from Zhao ii and the warning from Shi Yang left him unsure of which hurt more; he only knew that the pain was unbearable, pushing him to the brink of collapse.
At that mont, soone crouched in front of him, asking in a calm tone, "Hey, are you really crying? Is it worth it?"
Xu Xu, tears-stained face flushed red, struggled for breath as he looked up and saw Zhang Zhao’s face through his blurred vision.
He was montarily speechless, just staring at him in a daze.
Zhang Zhao reached out and pulled him up, the two of them standing face to face.
Zhang Zhao said, "Co on, let’s find a warr place to sit for a while."
Zhang Zhao said this and, without waiting for Xu Xu’s agreent, started walking ahead.
Zhang Zhao didn’t look back, but deliberately slowed his pace until he heard the rustling footsteps behind him, then resud his normal speed, walking unhurriedly along the road.
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