Long story short, that’s what happened.
After returning to the dorm, Xie Xue couldn’t hold back anymore and began to sob in an almost cathartic manner. He Yu had a crush on her, but he wasn’t particularly tactful and didn’t know how to comfort her properly. He actually said, “Go ahead and cry it out, then. I’ll go write in your study for a while. Once you feel better, I’ll come out and have dinner with you.”
“He Yu, do you know how to cheer people up at all?!”
“Do I have to finish the homework you assigned or not?”
“…Just go.”
But when He Yu came out after finishing the story, Xie Xue had already cried herself to sleep.
She didn’t wake when he called for her, but he wasn’t in a rush.
Xie Xue’s favorite activity was eating, with sleeping a close second. As long as you made her something yummy, she’d definitely crawl out of bed right away. Even as a university instructor, this trait wouldn’t change.
Fifteen minutes later, she was staring down at the food He Yu held before her.
“…What’s this?”
Looking down at the pathetically mushy “fried lumps of rice with egg and ham” in his hands, He Yu felt a little embarrassed. He told his teacher extremely loftily, “Can’t you tell? It’s Yangzhou fried rice.”
“You call this Yangzhou fried rice?”
“…Fine, don’t eat it then. I can order delivery.” The student picked up his phone with a deadpan expression and looked up the highest-rated restaurant. He was filling in the delivery address when the doorbell rang.
He Yu raised his almond eyes. “Who is it? A colleague here to see you?”
“Probably not, I haven’t gotten to know them yet.” Xie Xue put down her chopsticks and looked up at the clock. “Who would come at this hour…”
As she spoke, she shuffled over to the doorway in her slippers.
A few seconds later, Xie Xue’s excited voice came from the doorway. “Ge! Why are you here? You’re not working overtime today?”
The sound of the word “Ge” crashed down like thunder. He Yu’s original scoundrel aura and his careless lazy mood were instantly shattered. Countless dark memories flashed through his mind like a knee-jerk reaction.
Springing to his feet, he grabbed that appallingly disgraceful fried rice from the table and strode quickly toward the trash can in the kitchen.
But it was too late. Xie Xue had pulled her big brother into the room.
“Ge, I haven’t even told you yet. He Yu’s back from overseas, and he’s one of my students. He’s sitting inside right now. You two haven’t seen each other in a long time either, right? Hey, He Yu!” Xie Xue’s call stopped him midstride. “Where are you going with that plate?”
He Yu froze stock-still in silence.
Never mind.
Since he’d come back, he’d inevitably have to face him again.
He Yu stood with his back to them, wiping his genuine emotions from his face before slowly turning around, looking gentle and refined, elegant and poised.
Facing the elder brother of the Xie family who was a full thirteen years older than him, he actually seemed to match the man in his presence. He gazed toward the head of the Xie family, at the man who somewhat resembled Xie Xue. Then, he reached up to pinch his own nape, his eyes lingering momentarily on the man’s features. “Long time no see, Doctor Xie. You look…”
He Yu paused, assessing him.
This man hadn’t changed a bit. His features were indifferent and grim, while the planes of his face were sharp and hard, outlining a strong, combative face. His eyes were pretty—a pair of peach-blossoms similar to Xie Xue’s. Though they would appear alluring on anyone else, his eyes were a testament to what it meant to have your features align with your personality. On this extraordinary man, they could freeze even thousands of leagues of peach-blossom pools into dark ice. Despite the similarities to Xie Xue’s lovely eyes, his pupils were ice-cold. With his rigidly poised physique, he exuded an aura of absolute detachment.
Very tyrannical, very dictatorial. He resembled the big boss of an autocratic feudal clan—all he needed was an atmospheric black fur coat to contrast against his pale face and two of those silver cloak clasp chains worn by military warlords to complete the look.
In the end, He Yu smiled warmly, but there was no mirth in his eyes.
“You look the same as before. You haven’t aged a bit.”
✦ ✦ ✦
JOIN @ Ｄａｎｍｅｉpit~