Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
An Xiaxia turned to look at Su Xiaomo.
She looked as if her entire soul had been sucked out of her. Sitting there, she stopped reacting to anything.
They were sitting close enough to the stage to make out all the faces up there.
What the host said might have been able to fool the audience in the areas behind them, but not them.
That genteel teenager who had given Chi Yuanfeng a hand, but who was then forced off the stage by that terrible woman, could only have been him!
How could they possibly take him for anyone else?
Even so, An Xiaxia still didn’t want to believe it. She bit her lip and said, “We could have made a mistake…”
Her voice was trembling so much that she couldn’t even convince herself.
Su Xiaomo burst into tears.
The music of the concert thumped in her ears, but her world had just gone as quiet as a hopeless night.
–
The hospital.
When An Xiaxia arrived at the hospital with Su Xiaomo, He Jiayu was already undergoing an operation.
Su Xiaomo had only cried for a while during the concert. She was calm now and could even bring herself to console An Xiaxia. “It’s ok. He’s in great shape. That fall will give him a concussion or broken bones at most. Don’t worry.”
An Xiaxia was even sadder to see her like that. “Momo, I don’t want to see you like this… Just cry if you want to.”
Su Xiaomo curled her lips, indicating that she was fine.
Why should she cry? She didn’t want to act like a coward.
The people that would wipe her tears away were long gone, so her only choice was to be strong, until she could face everything.
Somewhere no one could see, her nails dug into her palms, making them all bloody.
–
Sheng Yize bought two cups of drinks for the two frightened girls.
Su Xiaomo thanked him and even smiled at him after taking her drink.
Sheng Yize tried to comfort her. “It’s just a small operation and nowhere near life-threatening. Do you need me to give you a ride home?”
“Thank you, but I want to wait here until he wakes up.” Su Xiaomo’s voice was quiet but decisive.
Sheng Yize didn’t press her. He then rubbed An Xiaxia’s hair. “It’s almost ten. Let me take you home.”
The An family had a curfew: home by half past ten.
An Xiaxia hesitated a little, then nodded.
She didn’t want to tell them about being kicked out. Su Xiaomo was distressed enough at He Jiayu’s accident. She didn’t want to add to her burden.
It was only after they walked out of the hospital and got into the car that An Xiaxia asked gingerly, “Can you not take me back home?
Sheng Yize tightened his grip on the wheel, then darted her a sidelong glance. “What’s wrong?”
“I just… don’t want to go back…”
“Then where do you want to go?”
“Anywhere but home…” An Xiaxia said stubbornly. Sheng Yize then gave her a teasing look. “Do you have any idea what your request means to a guy, especially when he’s your boyfriend?”
An Xiaxia shook her head honestly.
Sheng Yize sighed. “Dummy… a family row?”
“No…”
“Really?” Sheng Yize raised an eyebrow.
That question somehow made An Xiaxia feel diffident. She lowered her head and replied with a timid “hm.”
“If you don’t know where to take me, I can find somewhere to stay the night…” An Xiaxia then reached for the door handle, but Sheng Yize pulled her into his arms.
His face had turned dark. “You’re not going anywhere! Stay the night on your own? You’ll be sold by human traffickers!”
Seeing how dispirited An Xiaxia was, Sheng Yize smiled. “I know a place.”