Yan Xu felt a bit lost. "I remember you used to love Blue Mountain. You always insisted that only Blue Mountain had the most mellow taste in coffee. I remember we even had an argument about it, and you were upset for the whole night. Xiaoye, when did your taste change?"
Han Xiaoye took a sip of lemon water and placed the cup down calmly. "It's been a long time. Blue Mountain is too bitter, and I didn't know it was bitter until I tried something else. After that, I didn't enjoy drinking overly bitter things."
So, was he her Blue Mountain?
Yan Xu felt a bitter sensation in his heart, and his hand resting by his side couldn't help but tighten.
The waitress quickly brought the cappuccino, and Han Xiaoye stirred it with a spoon, breaking the silence. "Why did you call me here?"
Yan Xu felt even more bitter in his heart. When did it become necessary for him to have a reason to meet her?
Was he wrong about the decision he made two years ago?
"I heard that there was some trouble at your uncle's house, and it made Grandpa Han so angry that he ended up in the hospital. Are you... are you okay?"
Han Xiaoye looked at him with surprise. "Is that the reason why you came to see me?"
Before Yan Xu could reply, she grinned and said nonchalantly, "I'm not okay."
She knew what Yan Xu wanted to hear, but why should she lie just because he wanted to hear it?
"After finding out that my boyfriend and best friend slept together, I was wrongly accused and kicked out of my own home. I had to rely on others and endure the bullying from my aunt and cousin. I thought that was already miserable enough, but unexpectedly, more unforeseen misfortunes happened. My uncle went to an underground casino and accumulated a mountain of debt. The creditors came knocking, and my beloved grandfather ended up in the hospital. See, a hapless girl with no way out, living a life of despair... Do you think I'm doing well? Or do you want to hear me say that I'm doing great? That I'm living a sunny and beautiful life with birds singing and flowers blooming?"
Han Xiaoye calmly recounted her experiences over the past two years. She spoke calmly, but her tone carried a deep mockery.
Yan Xu's face turned pale as if drained of all color.
"I thought Han Uncle would at least take care of you..." He thought a tiger wouldn't eat its cubs. No matter how ruthless Han Chengming was, he couldn't possibly ignore Xiaoye. That was why he felt relieved to go abroad. But when he returned, she told him that he was completely wrong.
"You can still think that now." The steam from the coffee enveloped her face as she lowered her eyes, hiding the various emotions in her eyes.
The two fell into silence for a while, and then Yan Xu spoke again. "Xiaoye, if I tell you that nothing happened between Gu Qingshen and me, would you believe me?"
"Believe him? Or not believe him?" Han Xiaoye thought for a while.
Then, Han Xiaoye gave him a cheeky smile and looked straight into his eyes. "Brother-in-law, does it matter?"
Yan Xu's body trembled!
She called him Brother-in-Law.
"I don't know why you came to see me today, Brother-in-Law, but if you only want me to give you peace of mind, I can say everything you want to hear. But if you want to catch up with me, there's no need. There's nothing between us worth catching up on." Han Xiaoye pushed the coffee cup away and stood up.
"Don't go!" Yan Xu had never known that his heart could ache to this extent. Tearing one's heart open wouldn't be as painful as this. He lost all color in his lips and grabbed the person who was about to leave.
Han Xiaoye turned around to look at him but didn't struggle.
"As long as I want to hear it, can you really tell me everything?" Yan Xu's voice trembled, and the once warm eyes were filled with indissoluble melancholy.
Han Xiaoye paused for a moment and clenched her teeth. "Yes."
Yan Xu's hand trembled, and he lowered his lashes. "Xiaoye, can I ask you to call me Brother Xu again, please?"
She heard the voice from the past. "Brother Xu, look, these are the gloves Mom bought for me. Do you like them?"
"Brother Xu, I heard from Dandan that you like the prettiest girl in the neighboring class. Is that true?"
"Brother Xu, my mom fell asleep, and I'm scared."
"Brother Xu, so are you my boyfriend now?"
"Brother Xu, why are you lying on the same bed with Shenshen?"
"Brother Xu, I didn't do it. Believe me."
"Brother Xu, don't go. I beg you. Don't go."
...
Han Xiaoye's throat felt like it was being blocked, and the once small joys and sorrows, along with overwhelming despair, instantly engulfed her.
She tried to move her mouth, but found that no sound could come out.
"Sorry, but this is the one thing I can't do."
Yan Xu's eyes dimmed instantly. He let go of her hand and managed to force a gentle smile. "I'm sorry, I've put you in a difficult position."
Han Xiaoye resisted the impulse to say it was okay, shouldered her bag, and turned away. "Goodbye."
"Xiaoye, wait." Yan Xu rose with disappointment. "It should be me who leaves, not you."
He picked up his coat and walked away with a desolate figure...
Han Xiaoye felt as if her feet were nailed to the ground, standing there watching the person from her memories walk out of the cafe, enter the crowd, and then disappear. It was as if he had walked out of her turbulent youth, never to return.
...
"Miss, your coffee is cold. Do you need me to replace it with another cup?" After a while, the waiter walked over with an impeccable smile.
Han Xiaoye sat back down at the table and looked at the empty seat opposite her. She was in a daze for a moment and suddenly blurted out, "May I have a cup of Blue Mountain."
"Alright, Miss, please wait a moment."
Soon, the waitress brought the Blue Mountain. Unlike the cappuccino adorned with coffee art, the Blue Mountain coffee cup exuded a cold and aloof elegance. She took a sip, and it tasted completely different from her memory. It was bitter, so bitter that she almost spat it out.
But considering the painful price she saw on the menu a moment ago, she tilted her head back and downed the coffee in one gulp! She casually wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, in high spirits, and said, "Waiter, the bill!"
"Hello, you have a total expenditure of 534 yuan. Will you be paying by card or cash?"
"Can I pay by person?"
She glanced around and took three steps toward the table where Fu Zhiyan was sitting. Roughly pulling a chair over, she sat between Fu Zhiyan and Gu Qingshen. With an innocent smile directed at the petrified waitress, she pointed at Fu Zhiyan and said, "Beauty, charge him."
"Xiaoye? What are you doing here?" Gu Qingshen never expected to see her and wore a look of profound embarrassment, as if swallowing a fly but unable to spit it out.
Han Xiaoye rolled her eyes and completely ignored her. She reached out and playfully held the man's arm, acting coquettishly. "Uncle, it's 534 yuan. Pay up."
Fu Zhiyan's temple twitched, and his thin lips tightened. He couldn't get angry at the suddenly appeared little girl with a sunshine-looking smile. Somewhat helplessly, he took out a card from his bag.
"Thank you, Uncle."
Han Xiaoye beamed and snatched the card, handing it to the waitress.
The dazed waitress completed the transaction and returned the card, preparing to leave.
"Wait."
Han Xiaoye suddenly called her.
"Miss, do you have any other requests?"
"What expensive items do you have here? Give me one of everything." She slyly winked, "Put it on this... um... Auntie's tab."