Qiao Xi could no longer hear the voices behind her.
She glanced at her phone. Zhou Yi's call was still connected.
Which meant he had heard everything that had just happened.
Qiao Xi closed her eyes in sorrow.
"Xiao Xi, are you okay?" Zhou Yi asked softly, concern evident in his voice.
He hadn't expected Qiao Xi's family to be so suffocating.
Just listening to it made his heart ache for her.
Qiao Xi didn't know how to respond. She didn't want Zhou Yi to see her in such a pitiful state.
"Yi-Gege, you should go home. I... I don't know how to face you right now."
Qiao Yu had said such cruel things to him, and she felt deeply ashamed.
"I want to see you. I don't want you to be alone and upset. No matter what, just come outside first."
"Okay."
Qiao Xi wiped her tears and mustered the courage to leave the neighborhood.
Zhou Yi stood under the streetlamp, watching her approach. The concern in his eyes made the tears she had been holding back spill over once more.
The girl rushed over and hugged him tightly.
He gently patted her back, soothing her.
"It's alright. Cry if you need to. I'm here."
Qiao Xi sobbed bitterly in his arms.
Her thin shoulders trembled slightly, and her soft cries were as fragile and sorrowful as a kitten's.
Under the streetlamp, the young couple embracing each other looked beautiful from afar.
But the atmosphere was undeniably heavy with sadness.
After crying for a while, Qiao Xi grew tired. She tilted her head up slightly, her eyes still glistening with tears, her delicate face pale.
The girl lowered her thick, curly lashes and whispered, "I'm sorry, Yi-Gege. I couldn't hold back my emotions in front of you again."
Her tear-stained eyes were as innocent and adorable as a rabbit's, and the tip of her nose was red, as if brushed with rouge.
Qiao Xi's disheveled hair was gently tousled by the wind, and the soft glow of the streetlamp made her appear even more fragile and broken.
Zhou Yi tenderly stroked her head. "It's okay. If you don't mind, you can stay at my place tonight."
Qiao Xi knew she couldn't return home tonight. She didn't have many friends, and she certainly couldn't sleep on the streets.
She sniffled and said, "Th-thank you, Yi-Gege."
"It's nothing. I was planning to invite you over anyway. Let's go. We'll buy some toiletries first. The supermarket will close soon."
"Okay."
Zhou Yi didn't mention her family or ask any questions.
Now wasn't the time to stir up her emotions.
On the way to the supermarket, Zhou Yi kept trying to make her laugh.
Before long, Qiao Xi was smiling, temporarily setting aside her sorrow.
She didn't want to burden Zhou Yi with her negative emotions, and gradually, her mood began to calm down.
The two arrived at the supermarket together.
"This brand of toothpaste is better. I've used it before."
"How about this towel? It feels softer."
...
Qiao Xi seemed quite experienced in daily life. She carefully picked out items, squatting in front of the shelves to select toothpaste, towels, and other necessities.
"Yi-Gege, is there anything else we need to buy for your place?"
"My place... well, it's pretty empty for now."
"Then it's perfect. I'll help you pick everything out today."
"That'll be a lot of work for you, Xiao Xi."
Just then, Zhou Yi's stomach growled.
He chuckled awkwardly.
Qiao Xi blinked. "Yi-Gege, haven't you had dinner yet?"
Zhou Yi nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, I've been too busy today. Didn't have time to eat."
"Then let's buy some kitchenware later. I'll cook for you."
"Xiao Xi, you can cook?"
"Of course! And it's pretty good too. You'll see."
Qiao Xi was quite confident in her cooking skills.
After picking out the toiletries, the girl piled the items into the shopping cart.
Zhou Yi pushed the cart while Qiao Xi selected the items. The two of them looked like a couple.
When they reached a certain section, the girl stopped.
"Hey, this is the bedding section. Let's get some sheets first."
Zhou Yi smiled and teased her.
"Xiao Xi, I forgot to tell you. My place only has one bed. How are we going to handle sleeping arrangements tonight?"