The sky outside had darkened, and the streetlights gradually flickered on.
Remembering something, Su Qing stood up when a pair of wide hands grabbed her fingers.
"Are you leaving?"
The boy's voice was indescribably low and lost, leaving Su Qing stunned.
Is he afraid she'll leave?
Su Qing was certain she could hear the apprehension in his voice.
"No."
He was afraid she'd leave. Su Qing didn't know what it felt like, but it felt like a jolt of pain deep inside her, a wave of pain, both uncomfortable and comforting.
It was hard to describe.
"I'm not leaving. Someone call you that time. I'll get your phone."
Su Qing thought back to when she'd secretly muted his phone, wanting him to rest a little longer. Now that they'd been delayed for so long, she went to get his phone.
She wasn't leaving; she was going to get his phone. This signal reached Jiang Sui.
Jiang Sui slowly loosened his grip and sat on the sofa, looking at the girl who had handed him the phone. Her school uniform was loose today, and her small face, typically expressionless, was expressionless.
Her fingers gently twirled the garment beside her.
This nervous gesture made Jiang Sui's lips curl. He took the phone. The numbers inside were from the court, Jiang Chenghua, and a few text messages from Hu Yifan.
He read them and set the phone aside. He saw the girl at the other end of the coffee table, sorting through her textbooks, some of which she had taken out and placed on the table.
She was focused on something, her mind fixed on it, and she would occasionally tilt her head.
After a long moment, Su Qing finished organizing and realized Jiang Sui had been watching her. Unable to resist, she handed the things she had sorted over to Jiang Sui.
"These are recent class notes."
"And these are recent homework and papers. Finish them this week, and I'll check them for you."
She looked at him intently, her eyes clear of any trace of skepticism.
"Qing Qing, do you want to reconcile with me, or do you pity me?"
Jiang Sui tightened his grip around his side as he thought about all the concern he'd received today and Hu Yifan's text message. He pondered inwardly, a self-deprecating thought.
She took care of him because she liked him.
Or something else…
He likes her care, but whether or not she really liked it… Jiang Sui himself didn't know.
Pitiable?
His words sounded a little aggrieved, and even his expression seemed aggrieved, which made Su Qing a little worried. A young man full of heroic spirit now looked a little embarrassed, his eyes filled with a sadness that he deliberately showed her.
"No, Jiang Sui, I'm not pitying you."
She even wanted to say, how could he need her pity?
The boy's beautiful, bony fingertips flipped through the notebooks she'd given him, picking up one at random, its contents neatly arranged. Su Qing's seriousness was evident.
Just the boy's actions sobered Su Qing up instantly.
Her actions today had completely transcended her own will and her own capacity for action.
Coming to his house alone, caring for him, being close to him, not rejecting him...
Su Qing pursed her lips, unsure of what to do.
"Jiang Sui..."
Jiang Sui, who had been waiting for the girl to speak, raised his head when he heard her call.
Su Qing wondered if his attachment today might also indicate something. In that case, could she ask about that girl?
But the words were so hard to bring up, unsure how to begin.
After waiting for a long time, Jiang Sui still received no response from the girl.
He couldn't help but sigh softly, placing the notebook on the table. He stood up, his clothes half-covering him falling off, and walked over to Su Qing's side.
Barefoot, he squatted down, looking the girl in the eye.
"Su Qing, I'm not good enough."
That day, Hu Yifan had called him and told him that his brother wife-in-law had asked him whether he should call the police. She'd expressed concern, a silent concern.
He'd misunderstood her.
Su Qing didn't understand why Jiang Sui had suddenly said that, and her heart instantly turned cold... She looked at Jiang Sui with a cold gaze.
These words sounded like an apology from a scumbag.
Su Qing didn't want to hear them, and even wanted to leave immediately.
She tried to struggle away from Jiang Sui's hand, feeling somewhat repulsive.
But the young man didn't seem to give her a chance, almost forcefully and domineeringly pulling her into his arms.
"Qing Qing."
His voice was heavy, his breathing deep, the sound rustling against her ears, the warmth of his body impossible for her to ignore.
Her head buried against his beautiful collarbone.
Her eyes instantly reddened.
She had told him more than once that she disliked such a forceful attitude and tactics.
Su Qing gave up, too lazy to struggle.
She only heard the gradual increase of voices beside her.
"Qing Qing, I'm not tired. You said you were tired the other day, but I'm not tired at all. If you're tired, then just stand still. I'll walk towards you, and you can stand still. But I have only one request: that you look at me."
"When you're not looking at me, I feel like there's an abyss in front my eyes, my life is stagnant, and I don't know which step to take next."
"You've been cold to me since last week, and I know it's because I've neglected you."
The boy's voice, which had been a little hurried at first, gradually slowed, causing Su Qing's eyes to calm down. Her eyes, which had been nearly red, slowly returned to normal.
Su Qing's heart was tormented and irritated.
Her mind was filled with that photo, and with anger at herself for having been seduced by his beauty while he was ill.
Now, she was being held in someone's arms again.
"So, why are you ignoring me? Is it because of someone else?"
As her sanity returned, the girl's voice was clear yet cold.
At that moment, Jiang Sui frowned. In this moment, Su Qing emerged from Jiang Sui's arms.
"What?"
The boy's puzzled eyes met the girl's cold expression.
Seeing she had misunderstood, Jiang Sui grew anxious. She was referring to someone else, and for a moment, he grasped her shoulder, forcing her to look directly at him.
"Qing Qing, what someone else? Explain clearly!!"
Jiang Sui was extremely anxious, and the coldness in her eyes made his own darken and darken.
Su Qing shook her head indifferently.
"Nothing. Let me go. I need to go home."
Su Qing didn't want to explain or argue too much, as this was a cooling-off solution.
She didn't want to seem jealous again, as if it was because of that photo...
The thought that had entered her mind startled even Su Qing herself...
She seemed jealous?
Because it was definitely because of the photo...
Su Qing went crazy, lowering her head, her heart a tangled mess. She wanted to escape, to burrow underground...