The door opened with a soft chi from the wind chis. Xie Yunkai paused, his gaze eting Zhong Keke’s eyes as she looked up from the window seat.
The thought that all the entanglents of the past six months would end today made Xie Yunkai feel an indescribable sense of relief.
Stepping forward, he handed her the bag he was carrying, and said in a deep voice, "Your things, returning them to you!"
Zhong Keke curled her lips into a smirk, "Sit down."
"No..." he started but did not finish.
"Xie Yunkai!"
Zhong Keke lifted her gaze. "Over these six months, I’ve treated you to coffee, wine, western als, concerts... Don’t say I did it to pursue you—if nothing else, as re friends, wouldn’t it be reasonable for you to repay with one cup of coffee before we part ways?"
His expression froze montarily, and Xie Yunkai sat down.
An hour ago, when Zhong Keke had called to say she had run out of patience with him, and that their goodbye would finally start on amicable terms, Xie Yunkai had felt a wave of unprecedented relief.
The thought that Zhong Keke would no longer threaten him with Xiaoxiao’s recomndation for postgraduate research, that he wouldn’t have to deal with Zhong Keke anymore, brought a newfound warmth and brightness even to the sun’s fiery light.
No more agitation.
No more pretending.
There would only be studying and Lu Xiaoxiao.
His life, at last, had returned to its proper course.
"What do you want to drink?"
"Cappuccino."
"Would you like sothing to eat?"
"A piece of chocolate brownie."
"Alright."
After ordering, the waiter brought the coffee. Watching Zhong Keke pick up her cup, Xie Yunkai pulled out his phone and sent a ssage to Lu Xiaoxiao.
Even with just his profile visible, the sharp angles of his face radiated elegance and charm. Thinking of his steadfast passion and unwavering dedication, Zhong Keke turned her gaze aside, but the dissatisfaction simring in her eyes overflowed uncontrollably.
They say that deep love never lasts,
and her circle of girlfriends was the best testant to that.
So relied on wealth, so relied on power—others didn’t even reach the stage of spending money or wielding authority, managing instead with nothing but a flirtatious glance or a casual date to lure n into compliance.
But not Xie Yunkai—a man with a heart as impenetrable as stone, impossible to crack open.
If not for Lu Xiaoxiao, she wouldn’t have even had the chance to chase him relentlessly for these past six months.
And still, her efforts yielded nothing.
Those dates, be it concerts or art galleries—he would show faint reluctance every ti. All she had to do was bring up Lu Xiaoxiao’s postgraduate recomndation as leverage, and he would comply.
But the mont she asked Xie Yunkai to et her at the hotel, whether she had struck his bottom line or he had finally grown weary enough to give up entirely, he didn’t show up. Instead, he blocked her on both WeChat and calls, leaving behind only the words: "Do whatever you want."
The implication was clear—he wasn’t playing her ga anymore.
Ha.
Whether to play or quit, it should have been up to her to decide when the ga began or ended. What right did he have?
If it was truly over, wouldn’t it be her calling for the break?
"Xie Yunkai, let tell you a little secret before we part..."
With a pleased smile tugging at her lips, Zhong Keke looked at Xie Yunkai, who sat upright like soone attending an interview, and said, "The matter of canceling Lu Xiaoxiao’s scholarship had nothing to do with my father. Furthermore, whether or not you or Lu Xiaoxiao can secure your postgraduate qualifications—that’s not sothing I can decide either. Honestly, I was just ssing with you! I never expected you to scare so easily, so instantly shaken!"
Xie Yunkai’s expression subtly shifted.
Zhong Keke laughed and continued, "In a way, Xie Yunkai, I kind of admire you! Do you know why? Thirty years ago, there were two talented people who got this kind of opportunity. One seized it, and now he’s a physics professor at Imperial University—your ntor, my dad. The other..."
Zhong Keke shrugged mockingly and went on, "Xie Yunkai, soone like you could be praised as principled, but described bluntly, you’re just a stubborn fool clinging to your pride, unable to grasp the chances handed to you. But Xie Yunkai, opportunities don’t wait. When the future shows you what you’ve missed out on, by then, there won’t be soone like offering you a path to ascension."
"A path to ascension?"
With a faint smile, Xie Yunkai replied, "If your so-called path to ascension relies on borrowed money and power, then I truly don’t care. Zhong Keke, don’t you always think that Professor Zhong married above his station when he married your mother—marrying into the Qin family?"
Zhong Keke’s expression shifted slightly.
Xie Yunkai said resolutely, "If not for the Qin family, with Professor Zhong’s talent, he would already be at the Huake Institute by now, becoming a renowned academician—just like that Professor Luo whom you look down upon. Yet Professor Luo has already gained international acclaim as a scientist. You disdain his humble background, but you don’t even have the qualifications to stand before him."
Zhong Keke’s smile vanished entirely.
"Xie Yunkai, you’re nothing more than a promising undergraduate in my father’s eyes. Where do you find the confidence to think you could beco another Professor Luo, huh?"
She chuckled coldly, her gaze laden with scorn.
Her eyes wandered briefly over the view outside the window before fixing back on Xie Yunkai. Sweetly, she smiled once more, "Xie Yunkai, between and Lu Xiaoxiao, you chose Lu Xiaoxiao. So then... I wish you two the best! May you... remain sweet as ever!"
A mont ago, her anger had burned fiercely as though she was ready to explode.
In the blink of an eye, she was all charm and laughter.
Even though he had seen Zhong Keke change faces countless tis before, Xie Yunkai was still left speechless.
But thankfully, it was all over.
He watched as Zhong Keke walked away.
Xie Yunkai pulled out his phone and glanced at the ssage he had sent to Lu Xiaoxiao—still no reply.
He got up and left the café.
As he stepped outside, he imdiately saw Lu Xiaoxiao standing a few ters away. Xie Yunkai froze, the panic in his eyes flashing briefly.
He quickly closed the distance between them, reaching out to grab her hand, "Xiaoxiao, there’s nothing between and Zhong Keke—you must believe ."
"I believe you!"
Lu Xiaoxiao’s answer made Xie Yunkai instinctively let out a breath of relief.
But the smile she gave him was tinged with sorrow, her eyes hollow and glistening, "But Xie Yunkai, have you ever believed in ?"
Xie Yunkai was taken aback.
Tears welled up in Lu Xiaoxiao’s eyes, "All those tis you told you were going out with your ntor, staying late at the lab, or handling sudden plans—they were all lies, weren’t they?"
"Xiaoxiao, let ..." explain.
"Xie Yunkai!"
Lu Xiaoxiao shook her head, "I believe you truly love and are sincerely planning our future together. So am I. I worked hard, doing part-ti jobs, translating docunts—I wanted to save enough money for next year’s tuition fees, maybe even enough for graduate school by the ti we graduate next year. But you? What about you?"
"Yunkai, if you had just told that soone was pestering you, threatening my scholarship, or anything else, do you think I would have left you? Or would I have fought alongside you? Even if we failed, even without the scholarship—I still made it this far. Or were you afraid your ntor would abandon you? That you’d lose your guaranteed recomndation for postgraduate research?"
"No, Xiaoxiao, no..."
He reached out to grab her, but she pulled back. Xie Yunkai’s eyes turned red.
Lu Xiaoxiao stepped further away, "Xie Yunkai, let’s break up!"
"Xiaoxiao!"
"If, in your mind, I’m just a girlfriend who can share riches but not hardships, who can do nothing but bring doubt and drag you down—then let’s part ways!"
Under the blazing sun, Xie Yunkai’s heart felt barren and desolate.
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