Chapter Nine Can't Leave

  Ye Chen stood blankly outside Xiaoyan's building after leaving the coffee shop, pondering whether or not to go upstairs. The sunlight grew weaker and weaker until it was covered by clouds, and the sky gradually darkened.

  Xiao Yan slowly walked back home along the original path, stepping on a few dry leaves by the roadside, making a few soft rustling sounds.

  Ye Chen turned back unintentionally along the sound, and the person he was worried about appeared in front of him. He couldn't help but be surprised and delighted, and ran to Xiao Yan's side with a smile that was both joyful and worried, asking Xiao Yan:

  "Where did you go? Why aren't you answering your phone?"

  Until Ye Chen spoke up, Xiao Yan only realized he was right in front of her, pretending not to hear, without any expression, without leaving a hint of warmth, and walked straight past him.

  Ye Chen's radiant smile froze on her face, and after a moment of distress, she hurriedly chased after him.

  "Xiao Yan, listen to me."

  Xiao Yan remained silent and tried to sidestep, but was caught by Ye Chen's hand on her elbow, unable to break free. Her expressionless face seemed to reveal a hint of pain.

  "I don't care what anyone says, or whether you're a ghost or not. I don't care if I'll die or if there will be a bloodbath. All I know is that without you, living is worse than death! Don't only think about your own thoughts, I don't want you to leave, and I know you don't want to leave either. Can't we just go along with me this once, like before, without any changes? Don't let anything shake our feelings. Okay?" Ye Chen knew that at this moment, she couldn't hear anything else, all she wanted was to escape, but she had to say something, she didn't want to give up on this relationship, and let go of the hand of the fragile person in front of her.

  If there was no Ye Chen, who would protect her, who would water her already shattered heart?

  Xiao Yan swallowed her emotions and said firmly without looking back:

  "Let's break up."

  "I don't want to." Ye Chen blurted out without any thought, his voice filled with a choking sob that was hard to bear.

  "Break up!" Xiaoyan repeated again in a louder voice, her eyes wide open to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.

  "I said I don't want to! Can't you understand? Turn around and look at me, look at me and say it!" Ye Chen also raised his voice, his tone more choked, openly expressing the emotions in his heart.

  Xiao Yan had no words, tears couldn't help but fall, she quickly wiped them away with her hand and restored that icy expression. Unbeknownst to her, that movement was swiftly captured by Ye Chen.

  Ye Chen turned his strength to hold Xiao Yan in his arms, looking at the tear marks that had dried but were still visible, and gently stroking Xiao Yan's cheeks with both hands, softly saying in her ear:

  "I can't leave you, and you can't leave me either. Don't cry anymore, whatever happens I'll face it with you."

  Xiao Yan stopped struggling and no longer pretended to be cold, still being held by Ye Chen for a long time, warming her body and also warming that heart which was about to freeze.

  "I want to go home and have dinner." Xiao Yan said softly in Ye Chen's arms.

  Ye Chen finally let go of Xiao Yan, rubbing her hair, "Mm-hmm, let's go. I'll send you off."

  As soon as he turned around, he saw Tong Xuan not far away. Ye Chen panicked and looked like a thief caught in the act. He didn't know whether to greet her or not, and stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

  Tong Xuan was just thinking about how Xiao Yan hadn't returned home yet, worried and went downstairs to take a look, but unexpectedly saw this scene. Ye Chen, this child, she had seen before, very much liked him, and he was also good to her own daughter, so she didn't interfere with the children's affairs.

  Ye Chen remained unmoved, Xiao Yan also stood there dazed, while Tong Xuan smiled and walked up to Ye Chen, saying:

  "Kid, I remember you, your name is... Ye Chen, right? Have you eaten yet? Why don't we go upstairs and eat together?"

  Ye Chen was somewhat astonished and shocked for a moment before hastily nodding his head in excitement.

  Xiao Yan was also frightened by Tong Xuan's actions, never thinking that her mother would be so open-minded. Turning back to think about it, since her mother had acquiesced, there was no need to hide and conceal herself in the future.

  "Hurry up and go, it's getting cool at night. You're wearing so little, aren't you worried about Xiaoyan? It seems like I've already sent my daughter off to get married." Tong Xuan said with concern to Ye Chen, as if she had already pushed her daughter out the door.

  "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." Ye Chen scratched the back of his head with a smile, and the three of them walked towards home laughing. Xiaoyan felt warmth in her heart, feeling that this house finally felt like a home after a long time.

  Went upstairs, Tong Xuan invited Ye Chen to sit down, hurriedly heated up the meal, and smiled at Ye Chen while putting it on the table:

  "There aren't many good dishes, just make do with what you have. You must be hungry, hurry up and eat."

  Xiao Yan complained in her heart that Tong Xuan was biased, and when would she be so enthusiastic about herself.

  Ye Chen's heart was filled with joy, and he ate the dishes wolfishly, his cheeks bulging as he said:

  "Auntie's cooking is really delicious."

  Tong Xue smiled with her mouth open, and even Xiao Yan couldn't help but curve up the corners of her mouth when she saw this scene, her dimples deepening, so beautiful.

  A family of three, joyful and harmonious, laughter filled the table. It's been a long time since Xiaoyan had laughed so sincerely. It's been a long time since Tongxuan had felt so relaxed. As if they had forgotten all their sorrows, sadness, and melancholy.

  Just after dinner, Xiaoyan and Ye Chen sat in the living room watching TV, giggling. Tong Xuan was washing dishes, her phone rang, she wiped off the water on her hands and answered the call:

  "Hello...... Ah, Zhao brother...... Yeah, yeah, right...... Where is the location...... Okay, okay...... Yeah, good...... At night? Can do, can do...... Not far from my daughter's school, right?...... Yeah, yeah, that's great...... Thanks a lot...... Bye."

  "Zhao Gege" is the security guard of the family that Tong Xuan does housekeeping for. He's a kind and enthusiastic person. A few days ago, he overheard Tong Xuan mention wanting to move to a new place, so he secretly helped her find an affordable and suitable apartment. He was planning to tell her when she came back to work, but she took a few days off and couldn't be found anywhere. So he had to ask around for her phone number and call her instead.

  After hanging up the phone, Tong Xuan quickly washed the dishes and walked into the living room to say to Xiao Yan:

  "Mom will go out to see a house later. You stay at home and be good, don't go out when it gets cool at night, I'll be back soon."

  Xiao Yan nodded and said "uh-huh", then Tong Xuan hastily took the bundle of cloth and went out the door.

  It wasn't until Tong Xuan left the house that Ye Chen spoke up and said:

  "Auntie is quite nice, didn't expect her to be so open-minded."

  "It's okay." Xiaoyan replied perfunctorily.

  "Does that mean I can come to your house anytime from now on?" Ye Chen asked with a sly smile, leaning in closer to Xiaoyan.

  "You wish." Xiaoyan didn't show any sympathy and continued watching TV, ignoring his feigned pitiful look.

  "If you need to move, call me. And don't turn off your phone from now on." Ye Chen saw that his teasing wasn't working and sullenly put away the expression that made people's skin crawl.

  "Alright, alright, it's already past eight, aren't you going back?" Xiaoyan asked, turning her head.

  "Can't I stay with you until mom comes back? Forget it, someone wants me to leave and I don't want to be too presumptuous."

  "Don't be so poor-mouthed." Xiaoyan looked at Ye Chen with a disgusted expression on the surface, but she was actually suppressing her laughter.

  "Alright, I'm leaving. You stay home and take care of yourself. Call me if you need anything, I'll head down myself." As he spoke, Ye Chen stood up, gave Xiao Yan a gentle kiss on the forehead as usual, and reluctantly let go.

  "Be careful." Xiaoyan's heart was filled with a sense of happiness that had reached its peak.

  Xiao Yan stood quietly at the door until she couldn't hear Ye Chen's footsteps anymore, then she went back to her room, got changed and took a shower.

  The bathroom was filled with hot water vapor, and the mirror was also foggy, as if covered in a layer of white mist.

  Xiao Yan stared at herself in the mirror, lost in thought as she pondered Master's words. What was true and what was false? Who knew?

  Xiao Yan was lost in thought when she suddenly saw a white figure behind her in the mirror. She blinked and looked again, but it had disappeared. Thinking carefully, she realized that the figure was very similar to the one in her dream. Maybe she just made a mistake for a moment. Lifting her head again, a face magnified several times appeared in the center of the mirror, with rotten eyeballs embedded in red eyes, and a mouth open as if laughing loudly:

  "Hahaha... " seemed to come from the mirror again, a burst of unbelievable and eerie laughter.

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