Article 6

  Ai Qing still maintained a sculptural sitting posture Liu Qing began a new round of introduction: "This is my best friend..."

  Yue Ran interrupted Liu Qing and continued, "Wei Ru Xue." When Wei Ru Xue heard her name being spoken by him, she didn't know why but her heart suddenly started racing. He hadn't mispronounced her surname, even though she had only written it to him and not read it aloud. But he hadn't called her "Ei Ru Xue" like most people did, no, her surname was pronounced "Yue". She blushed and lowered her head, her mind a complete blank. Alas, how useless she was! Why did this always happen? Why couldn't she speak up when she should? How could others do it so effortlessly?

  Liu Qing didn't hide her surprise: "You've known each other for a long time." She blushed and quickly looked up to clarify, while Ye Canran sitting next to her said to her: "I'm Ye Canran, do you still remember me?"

  Accidentally, their eyes met. His eyes were filled with a warm smile, as if he wasn't teasing her. He clearly knew she would remember him, after all, it had only been half a day, and such a change in expression from annoyance to joy wouldn't be forgotten.

  She said with an excuse, facing Liu Qing instead of Ye Cang Ran, unable to face his bright smile and blue shirt like the sea: "I saw him at noon..." Before she finished speaking, he interrupted her again: "Yes, I was sleeping soundly at noon when Ruo Frost came knocking on my door. Tonight's performance is a loss, can't blame me, all because of her." As he spoke, he also made a ghost face.

  After hearing his words, even the always calm Ai Qing couldn't help but burst out laughing. Liu Qing also started laughing. Her face, which had turned red like frost, immediately turned white. She tried her best to stabilize her emotions and not splash the water in her cup towards that handsome face. She also tried to put the cup on the table as gently as possible, then turned to the boy and said: "Mr. Ye, are we very familiar? I'm not used to this kind of joke, and I don't like it one bit. This afternoon, I did think about renting that house with you, but now I'm formally telling you, I won't rent it."

  After finishing, she picked up her own bag and didn't even glance at Liu Qing, getting up to leave. When she reached the door, she felt a bit desolate and also somewhat self-reproachful - why couldn't she learn to handle things smoothly? In fact, she could have just gone along with him, made a joke, and then explained clearly, but now the atmosphere was awkward, and her house was gone. Her only good friend would probably think she was a freak too.

  Three people in the hall saw Ruo Xue walking out quickly and were stunned for a moment. Ye Cang suddenly got up and chased after her, while Liu Qing was about to get up but was gently stopped by Ai Qing. Liu Qing was stunned for a moment before sitting back down.

  She knew that turning this corner was the taxi stop, she slowed down a bit, hoping Liu Qing could catch up with her. She didn't ask any of the things she wanted to ask, and everything was ruined by Ye Cangran's appearance. She no longer blamed herself, but in her heart, she resented that boy wearing a blue shirt.

  Suddenly, she felt a warmth in her arm and was pulled back strongly from behind. She was so scared that her heart almost stopped beating, thinking she had encountered a pervert. Just as she was about to shout loudly, someone jumped in front of her: "Rouruoshuang, don't go!" It was Ye Xuanran.

  She didn't say a word, nor did she look at him. He stood in front of her, chattering incessantly: "Are you angry? Are you really angry? Don't walk away like that, I'm going to get skinned alive by Liu Qing's best friend! She'll definitely flay me alive! You know Liu Qing's temperament, don't you?"

  She couldn't help but defend her friend: "Don't talk nonsense, Liu Qing is not that kind of person." Unexpectedly, he suddenly smiled and grabbed her two hands, shaking them as he said: "Now that you're speaking, it means you're not angry anymore. Since you're not angry, let's go back and watch the performance. I'll sing a song for you to make up for it, okay?"

  She was deceived again and got angry, but this anger had a somewhat false tone: "Sorry, I'm not interested in your song. It's late, I want to go back."

  His hand was still holding hers, she wanted to pull it out but he grasped it tightly, still smiling at her with a carefree expression.

  The streetlights were dim, casting fragmented shapes of leaves on them. The gentle summer breeze carried the faint scent of osmanthus flowers. Passersby saw them holding hands and thought they were a loving couple sharing their innermost thoughts. She had troubles she couldn't express, but wouldn't make a scene. Her hands were being held by this man she had just met a few hours ago, making her feel both shy and anxious. She abruptly lifted her head to stare at him, but her eyes misted up with tears.

  His fingers touched her eyes, his heart skipped a beat, and he hastily let go. She lowered her head to look at the faint red mark on her wrist, and in that instant, two tears fell onto the dusty ground.

  He apologized again with a more sincere and flustered tone: "I'm really sorry, is your hand hurting?"

  She walked around him and hailed a taxi at the corner, leaving. On the taxi, she silently shed tears thinking of her mom after a tiring night.