As they returned to the private room, the noise of their classmates resumed, but that was it.
Han Yi Xuan walked in with her head down, her eyes red and filled with a hint of grievance. Wang Heng, on the other hand, was calm, so calm that he appeared a bit grim. Seeing this, the teasing crowd gradually quieted down.
"What happened, did she confess to you?"
Xiao Jian pulled Wang Heng to sit down, asking in a low but eager voice.
Wang Heng nodded, glancing at Han Yi Xuan. She was surrounded by two girls, who also seemed to be questioning her...
Xiao Jian continued, "So, what exactly happened? It doesn't seem to be going well between you two."
"Yeah, because I rejected her."
Wang Heng's tone was indifferent, but Xiao Jian was taken aback.
"Why!"
"There's not always a 'why'," Wang Heng responded, slightly impatient, "Haven't I always said I'm not interested in that stuff? It's as simple as that."
Xiao Jian raised his eyebrows and then focused on his food. The other students had already shifted their attention away.
The enthusiasm of young boys and girls fades as quickly as it comes. The matter between Wang Heng and Han Yi Xuan was soon forgotten, and everyone started discussing their own topics in groups.
An hour later, the farewell dinner ended. A few lively students were planning to go to a KTV, but Wang Heng intended to head straight home. However, he was stopped at the entrance of the restaurant.
Blocking his way were three girls, Han Yi Xuan and her two best friends. From their expressions, it was clear that Han Yi Xuan didn't want to make a fuss, but her friends seemed ready to confront him. They stood on either side of her, blocking Wang Heng's path.
The girl on the left asked, "What's wrong with our Xiao Xuan? Why isn't she good enough for you?"
Hearing this, Wang Heng calmly countered, "Did she tell you why I rejected her?"
The girl on the right, with her arms crossed, scoffed, "She said you were talking nonsense."
"Nonsense, huh... Before we talk about my reasons, I want to ask you, isn't love supposed to be between two people? Only the individuals involved, right?" Wang Heng started.
"Yes, that's true, but—" one of the friends began.
Wang Heng interrupted, "There's no right or wrong in feelings. Refusing a confession could be because of seriousness, not wanting to be frivolous. And agreeing could be not out of affection, but just for fun. There are only two choices, but many reasons behind them. So don't oversimplify things. I absolutely don't think Han Yi Xuan is not good enough for me; in fact, I feel like I'm not good enough for her."
"You..." the friend started.
"In the end, love is a matter for two people. I understand your concern, but concern doesn't always lead to good results. Suppose I'm actually a scumbag, and Han Yi Xuan finds out I'm seeing multiple people only after we start a relationship. Wouldn't your pushing us together then be pushing her into a pit of fire?"
Wang Heng spoke calmly and clearly. His words left the previously indignant friends at a loss for how to respond.
Han Yi Xuan, however, stared at him and asked in a low voice, "Are you that kind of person? A scumbag who plays with people's feelings?"
"Honestly, I don't know. Was Wang Mang intent on usurping the throne when he was young? Was Hitler obviously evil when he was in school? Nobody can tell before things happen. You can think I'm talking nonsense, but I want to tell you, it's not about your charm or anything; I simply don't want to start a relationship, that's all."
Seeing the memories he had as her boyfriend, Wang Heng found it hard to be harsher.
"If I really could be heartless, I wouldn't have ended up in such a mess in my previous life," he thought to himself.
Han Yi Xuan bit her lip, gazing at him, "Did you ever like me?"
Facing her gaze, Wang Heng felt a headache. Girls looking at him with tearful eyes, filled with sorrow and reluctance, were always the most troublesome for him.
He sighed, "How about this, can you come with me for a moment? I have something I want to say to you alone."
Then Han Yi Xuan followed Wang Heng.
The two friends didn't follow, standing and watching their retreating figures.
Suddenly, one of them commented, "Why do I feel like Wang Heng is on a high level here?"
"What level? A love level?" the other friend joked.
"Yeah, don't you think? The way he talks, it's like he's some kind of relationship guru... Has he really never dated? I feel like he's been through a lot."
"You're thinking too much," the other friend scoffed, "Didn't you notice during the three years of high school? He's just a pure otaku! Apart from his looks, what's the difference between him and a nerd like Xiao Jian?"
"Really..."
"Definitely. Don't be fooled by his demeanor just now. When he's alone with Xiao Xuan, he probably won't be as eloquent."
After walking in silence for a while, Han Yi Xuan finally couldn't hold back and asked, "Where are we going?"
Wang Heng didn't stop or turn around as he replied, "To my place."
"What?" she exclaimed.
"No joke. But we won't go inside, just near my house."
Confused, the girl followed him. After about fifteen minutes, they arrived near Wang Heng's home.
It was an old residential area, with barely any greenery in the gardens, cracked floor tiles, and peeling walls revealing the bricks underneath.
Wang Heng led her to sit on a bench, which, though missing a few nails, could still support them.
"Honestly, during these three years of high school, the classmate I paid the most attention to was you. You asked if I ever liked you... It was more than like, I had a crush on you."
As he spoke, Wang Heng recalled his high school memories, with Han Yi Xuan being the most prominent. He remembered sneaking glances at her, accidentally meeting her gaze, sharing a smile and a nod, then both quickly looking away.
This repeated countless times during breaks, before and after classes, which is why she confidently confessed.
"Why then..." she started tremblingly.
"The worst part is meeting the right person at the wrong time," Wang Heng pointed to an old apartment building, "See that fourth-floor apartment without the burglar bars? That's my home. We don't need burglar bars; there's nothing valuable for a thief to take. My dad is just a regular employee, with average income, and he's been divorced from my mom for years. This place, an old second-hand apartment, wasn't expensive, but with his salary, paying the mortgage and raising me has been tough."
Han Yi Xuan blinked, seeming a bit overwhelmed.
"So, you see?" Wang Heng continued, "No matter what I want, I can't afford to be in a relationship, nor do I have the mindset for it."