There was a short silence on the other end of the phone.
Even though it was only two or three seconds, it felt like throwing a handful of ice onto a flickering flame.
The warmth vanished, leaving only a wisp of embarrassed white smoke escaping.
Qiao Yimian's eyes dimmed, but before she could say anything, Shi Yan's confident assurance echoed in her ears again.
"It won't be like that! My parents only have me as a son, they'll definitely prioritize my feelings! As long as I'm firm, they'll eventually agree! It's just a matter of time!"
It was an answer that avoided the main points, she didn't know if he was too confident in himself or if he understood his parents very well.
But Qiao Yimian didn't want to waste any more energy on their family.
"I'm tired, don't say anymore."
"Yimian…" Shi Yan still wanted to plead, but Qiao Yimian was completely out of patience.
"I don't have time to play this melodramatic act with you, and you're not worth my time. I've made up my mind, don't call again."
The second before she hung up, she seemed to hear Shi Yan blurt out, "How can you be so cold-blooded…"
Qiao Yimian tossed her phone onto the bed, her emotions fluctuating, making it difficult to calm down.
Was she cold-blooded?
Maybe.
That's why she let a "good man" in everyone's eyes pursue her for two years before she reluctantly agreed to be with him.
The room was quiet, and the phone didn't ring again.
Qiao Yimian slowly walked over to the window.
She didn't know when, but snowflakes had begun to drift down from the sky again, swirling and fluttering.
Street lights flickered on one by one, outlining the dim, lonely night.
Shi Yan transferred to their school in his third year of university.
Transferring universities is generally difficult, but there are always exceptions.
No one knew how the Shi family had managed it. They only heard that on the day he reported to the school, a luxury car drove directly to the administrative building, and the principal himself received them.
And this young master of the Shi family, who was the center of attention, became a prominent figure in the school as soon as he arrived.
Not only did he easily obtain the title of the School of Management's campus heartthrob, but after meeting her at a club activity, he suddenly started pursuing her, very publicly.
The School of Management's campus heartthrob and the School of Journalism's campus beauty – what a perfect match, everyone thought.
It wasn't exactly common knowledge throughout the entire university, but at least most people knew about his "devotion" to her:
He'd wait for her every morning outside the girls' dorm, bringing her breakfast in various forms, even though she never accepted his offerings.
When he didn't have classes in the School of Management, he'd specifically go to the School of Journalism to sit in on her classes, sitting right behind her, even though she never looked at him.
He'd send her flowers and gifts every holiday, though she never accepted them.
He even befriended her classmates and roommates, buying them snacks and milk tea, treating them to meals, just hoping they'd look out for her.
He acted like he was so in love with her, and he was so humble, almost devout, that many people willingly became his wingmen.
During that time, Qiao Yimian had clearly told him several times, "I don't like you, and I don't want to be in a relationship."
Shi Yan still looked sincere. "Qiao Yimian, I really like you. I'll wait until you want to be in a relationship. If you still don't like me then, I won't bother you anymore."
He'd said everything he could, but the other person was still persistent.
Qiao Yimian couldn't bring herself to slap him and tell him to leave, so she was at a loss. In the end, she could only let him be.
Fortunately, it was only a year until her senior year.
She left school and went to the newspaper to intern.
She thought that being far away would make Shi Yan's feelings for her slowly fade.
Unexpectedly, he actually chased her to the newspaper and was once again very attentive to her.
Not only did he often pick her up at the newspaper's entrance, but he also treated her entire department to afternoon tea, just like he did in school.
He was handsome and had a great personality, with a witty and humorous way of speaking that made it easy for people to like him.
Over time, he actually became friends with his colleagues.
Even the usually stern and rigid Editor-in-Chief rarely spoke up for him: "Shi Yan is a pretty good guy. I heard he's been pursuing you for over a year. If you're not that averse to it, why not try going out with him? Give him a chance, and give yourself a chance too."
Averse?
Qiao Yimian asked herself. She probably wasn't that averse. At the very least, he was really good-looking, although she wasn't moved, she didn't find him annoying either.
Shi Yan was outstanding, with a flawless celebrity face, and he was always amiable, which always added a few points in her mental score.
Furthermore, although he was persistent in pursuing her, he knew how to behave, and he wouldn't cross her boundaries.
He often came to pick her up after work, but he never made her feel embarrassed.
When there were many people around, he would just wave and say hello to everyone, flashing her a goofy smile.
Only when she was alone would he come forward, holding flowers, to ask how she was doing. After receiving a few cold words from her, he would silently put away the flowers and wave goodbye with a hopeful look.
He was like a large dog, always waiting for its master's call. As long as you gave him a smile, he would immediately grin and come running over, his tail wagging like a propeller.
Perhaps, her solid heart wall was slowly worn down by him, revealing a little bit of light.
And their relationship finally reached a turning point a year ago.
That day, Shi Yan had too much to drink. He went downstairs to her apartment building, emboldened by the alcohol, and called her.
The snow that night was also heavy, falling in flurries and covering his shoulders.
She looked out the window. In the wind and snow of the night, he was squatting under the dim yellow streetlights, like a stray dog that had been abandoned.
He was rambling on the phone, his voice laced with a sob.
"Qiao Yimian, why are you so hard to pursue…"
"Am I really that bad? Why don't you like me…"
"No, you just don't see me at all…"
The snow was too heavy, a vast expanse of white that almost blocked his view.
Qiao Yimian couldn't make out his figure, but his voice, transmitted through the phone, fell into her ears, each word crystal clear.
"Look at me, will you? I really like you, I like you so, so much…"
"I know I'm annoying. You must be so sick of me, right?"
"I've thought about giving up on chasing you, it was really exhausting…"
"But when I think about it, if I really gave up, I probably wouldn't have anyone I wanted in my life anymore. It would be completely meaningless, like someone had ripped out my heart…"
He'd never said these words.
If he hadn't been drunk, he probably wouldn't have dared to say them to her face.
Perhaps it was the heavy snow that blurred her vision, but that day, she surprisingly felt a rare moment of pity for him.
She held up her umbrella and went downstairs, walking over to the man almost covered in snow. She bent down and gently brushed the snow off his head.
"Shi Yan, let's try dating."
She always remembered his eyes, which had suddenly lit up in the wind and snow.
So bright, so clear, so beautiful, like a pure, crystal-clear gemstone, it made her heartstrings flutter.
After a few seconds of bewilderment, he practically leaped up from the ground and rushed forward, embracing her directly.
He held her tightly, the force so great that the umbrella in her hand was knocked away. His voice was choked with emotion:
"Qiao Yimian, thank you! I will use all of my life to love you from now on..."
It was strange, that night, the swirling snowflakes falling on her face didn't feel cold at all.
Unlike last night, when the cold seemed to seep into her bones, making her internal organs tremble.
And that man who once said he loved her as his life, in the next chilly snowy night, embraced another woman in his warm arms, and personally put an engagement ring on her finger...
Three years.
It had been three whole years since he first appeared in her world.
Day after day, without tiring, he chipped away at her closed-off heart.
He was like a bonfire in winter, burning wildly, devout and passionate.
Eventually, the ice and snow melted, and she opened her heart to him.
But just when she accepted him, wanting to overcome their difficulties and reach the end together, he closed that door himself.
The heavy door slammed shut with a deafening crash.
Dust settled, and everything returned to peace.
But in one corner, it was impossible to regain the former tranquility.
Only ashes remained.
Since he couldn't give her a future, why had he bothered to disrupt her world in the first place?
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