Chapter 95: Behind the Door
“Ding-dong…”
The crisp sound of the doorbell was ringing in his ear. Su Yu had never felt that the monotonous and mechanical sound of the doorbell would be so pleasant at this moment.
The long and tormenting wait did not last too long this time. When the click of the lock turning sounded, his heart almost stopped. He faced the person behind the door with a prepared expression. No one could guess the ecstatic expression and the pounding heart that was hidden under the calm mask on his face.
The woman was holding the doorknob. She looked at the visitor behind the door with the vigilance that a single woman should have. So much so that Su Yu only saw an expressionless face at first. Her eyes were slightly lowered, and she frowned, with a deep weariness in them. Half of her face was in the shadows, and her makeup was still on. Even without a smile, she was still delicate and bright.
Before the woman could speak, Su Yu had already handed over the scarf in his hand as if he were surrendering. He was afraid of causing a misunderstanding and hoped that the other party would not misunderstand his late-night visit.
“Su Yu… why are you here? Didn’t I tell you not to run around when you have a fever? And it’s so late…”
Xia Qiange had just struggled out of her fatigue. She seemed to have suddenly remembered something. She rubbed her soft and fluffy hair and said with some regret, “I’m sorry. I had something urgent at work and was busy until so late. I forgot to go to your place.”
Forgot? How could she forget? He really didn’t like this answer, but it was so perfect that it was impeccable, and he couldn’t find a single flaw. She was not lying to him. The truth was even more sad to him. A bellyful of grievances was stuck in his throat, and he couldn’t say anything. He was so choked that he wanted to cry.
If you really care about someone, how can you forget? He wouldn’t forget. He had been waiting from the evening until late at night, staring at the hands of the clock as they turned tirelessly for who knows how long.
That’s right. He reluctantly accepted the fact. After he could no longer use the heavy physical labor at the construction site to exchange for a moment of peace, no one was as idle as him all day, wandering around like a lonely ghost. He used to just sit in the bedroom in a daze, and now there were some other things. He was just sitting there, thinking of her.
“It’s okay. I just came to return the scarf.”
Su Yu smiled, his voice hoarse with a grainy texture.
“Thank you. I thought I had left it at your house.”
Xia Qiange took the thing casually. Her entire soft and boneless body was leaning against the door. Her eyes were half-closed, and her gaze was a little lazy and tired. Her dark pupils were slowly turning in her eye sockets, and she was staring at his lips, as if she had nothing to say, and she was waiting for him to say something first.
Was he too boring? So she didn’t want to spend a single second with him.
His originally scarce imagination was particularly rich at this moment. He even forgot that they were just friends who had helped each other now. He couldn’t help but think of things in a bad way. He didn’t know what to say to break the deadlock, and the atmosphere suddenly fell into a silent trap.
The white incandescent light above his head was so bright that it made his head dizzy, and a feeling of weightlessness that made him want to vomit arose. The woman’s gaze on him was like a sharp bayonet, which had cut through his body, and his flesh and bones were separated, and he was analyzed clearly.
“Oh, then… it’s not early. I’ll go back first.”
Su Yu finally couldn’t stand this silence. If it wasn’t for the fact that he was reluctant, he would rather jump out of the window behind him. But he thought that the way he would be smashed to a bloody mess would be a little too ugly. He clearly wouldn’t even show the patheticness of bending his spine in front of her.
“Um… wait a minute.”
Su Yu’s deliberately slowed pace was quickly caught up by Xia Qiange from behind. She grabbed the corner of his clothes, and the alluring gardenia fragrance was entangled with his sense of smell, and it had touched his nerves.
“Have you had dinner? If not…”
“No.”
The answer was firm, even though he had lied.
…
“It’s a temporary rental. There’s really nothing. Just make yourself at home.”
Xia Qiange took out a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet for him. She deliberately explained, “They’re spare. They’ve never been worn. They’re still new.”
Of course, Su Yu wouldn’t care about these things. He secretly looked around. As Xia Qiange had said, it was empty, but it was filled with the happiness and joy that he had been longing for.
He thought that the other party was also living alone in this house, which had no human presence. She was working alone until late at night, and she was facing loneliness and fatigue alone… they had something in common in some ways.
He had drawn happiness from it. It would be great if they could live together. There was only one bed in his room… one bed…
He couldn’t think about it anymore. Su Yu clenched his palm, and the pain drew a period to the absurd thoughts in his mind.
The chestnut-colored coat was folded and placed on the sofa. The woman was only wearing a thin half-skirt, and her slender and long calves were bare, and they were shining with a soft and translucent luster under the light… the other party seemed to be a little unguarded.
Su Yu lowered his head in a fluster.
“What do you want to eat?”
Xia Qiange suddenly found that he was standing at the entryway and had not followed. She turned her head and glanced at him, the corners of her lips curved, and a faint smile could be vaguely seen.
“Anything is fine. As long as it’s not too much trouble.”
“Alright then. There are still some vegetables left in the refrigerator. I’ll cook some noodles.”
“Is… is there no food at home?” Su Yu thought of his refrigerator, which was full of ingredients. He couldn’t finish it all by himself, and he didn’t have that kind of interest. A life without color was enough as long as he could fill his stomach. Now there was still the dry bread he hadn’t finished on the dining table.
“Yes. I saw your refrigerator was empty that day, so I bought a lot for you.”
Xia Qiange tilted her head and thought for a while. She clapped her hands as if she had a whim. “Then I’ll go to your house to cook in the future.”
“To my house?”
Su Yu was stunned for a moment, and his fingertips trembled as he pointed to himself. He stared at the full and moist red lips, which were slightly parted, and he said such sweet words.
He felt as if he were stepping on a cloud, and his whole body was light and airy, as if he were in a dream.
“Okay.”
He nodded quickly, as if he were afraid the other party would go back on her word.
Xia Qiange smiled and walked into the kitchen. The sound of washing vegetables soon came from inside. He pretended to be unintentional and walked to the kitchen door and peeked a few times. He was unlucky and happened to meet Xia Qiange, who had turned around to get some scallions and garlic from the refrigerator. Their eyes met.
He was startled, and a cold sweat broke out on his back. He couldn’t explain anything to cover up his guilt. His brain was turning faster than ever before.
“Do… do you need my help?” he said, making up a temporary excuse.
“No need. It will be quick. You can go and sit on the sofa for a while.”
Xia Qiange took the things and quickly went back to the kitchen, and he could only obediently sit on the sofa.
He watched as she was busy in the kitchen. His fingertips suddenly touched the neatly folded coat on the sofa. On it was a rolled-up scarf, which was like a living person, a living… Xia Qiange.
Su Yu felt that he was really crazy. What was he hoping for?
But desire was still greater than reason.
He quietly held one end of the coat’s sleeve, as if he were holding the girl’s always-cold hand. The heart in his chest was pounding wildly, and the huge amount of heat made his ears red.
Loneliness and solitude were all driven away. He was really lingering in the world behind the door. Here was all the happiness he could not get.
…
So cute.
She was peeking at the boy in the reflection of the knife in the kitchen. The tip of her pink tongue licked her canine teeth, and she smiled silently.
How could he be so cute?
What was he hesitating about? How could he not love him?
She really wanted to tear off the mask on her face now, rush out and hug him tightly, kiss his earlobe, and then tell him with great sincerity.
I love you.
