Stepping out of Dream High, Guiying was surprised by the sight of Zixin leaning against his car and waiting for her. He became a spectacle in no time and women passing by began gushing at his charming appearance that housed a sincere, patient expression.
With a light blush appearing on her cheeks, she walked quickly towards him. "Why did you come here? Aren't you supposed to be at the office?"
For the first few seconds, a beam of cheery light lit up in his gaze. It was a simple happiness of seeing her again, which deepened the redness on her cheeks.
"The meeting ended earlier," he nodded. "So I thought to pick you up."
"Oh. Okay. Thank you."
Zixin felt something odd and bent closer. Guiying rapidly blinked her eyes and with that lessening distance, her thoughts flew to a whole different world which assumed that Zixin was leaning to kiss her.
T-That cannot be true! We are in public!
Zixin lifted his hand towards her, making her breath stuck in her throat. She was at a threshold of taking a big step back to avoid the public display of affection. Her mind raced with several, jumbled up thoughts and she closed her eyes shut.
She felt the tip of his index finger pressing at the corner of her eye instead of the kiss that she was assuming to happen.
She blinkingly opened her eyes to notice the contours of his face marred with worry and concern.
"Your eyes are redder," his seriousness increased ten fold.
"O-Oh!" She stammered to speak with the warmth of his fingertips brushing on her cheek. "It's nothing. I came to talk to Yating about…about my writing future. We talked about a different editor but…I am not sure I am ready. I went to Zhan Yahui's office and stayed there for some time. It reminded me of all the times I spent with her."
Embarrassment filled her heart and she quickly said, "I am sorry. I know you will be disappointed with me. Zhan Yahui…" her gaze lowered, "she made you go through such a horrible accident that you lost your memories. You don't remember anything about your family. I know you must resent her. I too…feel betrayed. After Bro Lingyun, I looked up to her as the wise figure in my life. But she wanted to use me. Yet…I strangely cannot despise her so much. I know it doesn't make sense, but I really-"
He placed his finger on her lips, hushing her endless onslaught of confusion.
"Why are you explaining this to me? I never said that you must hate Zhan Yahui. If you cannot hate her for the things she has done, then it means that somewhere or the other, there might have been a little hint of genuinity in her heart for you. Otherwise, you wouldn't feel this way."
"Do you…Do you really think that?" She clasped her hands together, wanting to cling onto that hope. "Did she think of me, even if for a little bit, other than somebody who she could use for her plans?"
Zixin nodded. He glanced aside for a moment and said, "Let's go."
Guiying stared at Zhan Yahui's house which lay empty after her death. There was a discussion going on about what to do with the house as she didn't have family or next of kin.
They stepped in with the melancholy and memories hitting her immediately as soon as the living room view greeted their view. Last time, it was 'Guiying' who had come here to confront Zhan Yahui of the ugly truth. That was certainly the most bitter meeting but Guiying also remembered the previous other meetings that she held in her house for work.
"I have come here a very few times…" Guiying whispered, brushing her hand against the headrest of the couch. "She didn't really like inviting people home. But sometimes, she did. I think only me though? I don't recall anybody else from Dream High ever coming here. She used to torture me in completing the drafts until I did. Till then no sleep. I was always scared of her glare."
"She used to sit there and work through her files as she waited for me. She had the habit of continuously tapping her finger on the armrest as she did so."
There were tons of books placed in the shelves and small cupboards, but the house looked well-maintained and organized. Standing inside her home, she softly breathed in the lonely air which was devoid of the owner's scent. She looked back and asked, "Why did you bring me here?"
Zixin replied. "I just thought you might like it here. You might find here something that would say that Zhan Yahui perhaps liked you in a way."
Guiying smiled. She walked into the bedroom and met with the familiar reclusive silence. She glanced across the room and randomly opened her cupboard. At the third last shelf, Guiying was taken aback to see many gift-wrapped boxes neatly stacked inside.
When she read the notes over them, she realized that those gifts were meant for Guiying on her birthday.
'Happy Birthday Guiying.'
'Happy Birthday Guiying.'
'Happy Birthday Guiying.'
Guiying tremblingly held one. She opened it and in it, there was a small, adorable musical piece with the figurines of two girls standing at the center. It would light up and play music when you switched it on.
'Look, look here Zhan Yahui! Isn't it so pretty?' Guiying had asked one day as they passed by a store.
Zhan Yahui scoffed. 'Childish.'
Guiying pursed her lips for a moment and then burst into a smile. 'It's childish but cute. The two girls are you and me and we are singing a song together. Isn't it adorable?'
Zhan Yahui had only responded with a dry expression. 'I don't melody. How about we sing a horror tune instead? This music makes me puke.'
Guiying let out a shudder. 'It's supposed to be a cute piece of art and music.'
'There is nothing cute in this world. Only war and blood.'
'...' ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novelꞁire.net
Guiying chuckled, remembering the small clash of their ideals outside that shop.
I never knew she bought this as a gift to me.
Not just that but many other piles of gifts too which never made her way to Guiying's side on her birthdays.
Why... wouldn't you give them to me?