The neighborhood wasn't luxurious by Jiangcheng standards, but it wasn't exactly low-end either, especially compared to Zhongpei's family background.
Fu Hanjiang parked the car, glanced at Sheng Xiangsi in the rearview mirror, and said lightly, "Let's go, he's inside."
As for him, he wouldn't go in.
"I'll wait here for you."
He added, "If you decide to stay, please give me a call or send a message."
Who knows, if they meet, they might find it hard to part?
It was quite possible.
As he said this, Fu Hanjiang almost bit his tongue. He glanced at Sheng Xiangsi and couldn't help feeling a bit irritable.
"Why aren't you going? Hurry up!"
If she didn't go now, he might regret it later!
"Okay."
Sheng Xiangsi didn't understand why he suddenly got angry again. His unpredictable temper...
She turned and opened the car door, getting out.
Following Fu Hanjiang's provided address, she found Zhongpei.
It was a single apartment rented by Zhongpei's college classmate, quite small. Zhongpei's card was frozen, and he wasn't allowed any help from relatives or friends.
Sheng Xiangsi took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Xiangsi? How did you..." Zhongpei opened the door, surprised and happy, "How did you know I'm here?"
Sheng Xiangsi didn't answer, just smiled gently. "Can I come in?"
"Oh, sure." Zhongpei quickly stepped aside. "Please come in."
"Xiangsi, please sit..." Zhongpei was flustered, going to the fridge to get some drinks. "What would you like to drink?"
"No need." Sheng Xiangsi shook her head. "Don't bother. I came here to talk to you."
"Okay."
Zhongpei still grabbed a bottle of mineral water and put it in front of Sheng Xiangsi. He seemed a bit nervous, embarrassedly smiling, "I'm living here temporarily."
He hadn't gone to see Xiangsi these past two days because he didn't want her to see him in such a destitute state.
But unexpectedly...
"Xiangsi," Zhongpei clasped his hands, trying to hide his nervousness, "Do you... know everything?"
"Yeah." Sheng Xiangsi looked at him and nodded. "Why didn't you tell your parents? We don't have anything between us."
"Xiangsi!" Zhongpei was shocked, his face turning pale. "Don't say that. Hearing you say that hurts me more than being kicked out of the house!"
Sheng Xiangsi closed her eyes, feeling guilty.
"Zhongpei."
Sheng Xiangsi pursed her lips and said gently, "Don't estrange yourself from your parents. Go back and talk to them. They only want what's best for you."
"Xiangsi..."
Zhongpei suddenly felt a sinking feeling in his heart. The pressure he had been under these past few days was immense.
But even so, he hadn't given up.
He wanted to wait a couple of days until he was settled before going to see Sheng Xiangsi.
"Are you worried about me?" Zhongpei hurriedly shook his head, explaining, "I'm fine. I just need some time to transition. With my qualifications, I'll find a job soon..."
"No." Sheng Xiangsi interrupted him, unable to listen further. "A good relationship should complement and support each other, not become a stumbling block for each other."
She looked into his clear eyes. "Zhongpei, I don't want to be your stumbling block. You're my only friend in Jiangcheng. I can't harm you..."
"Xiangsi..."
Sheng Xiangsi stood up abruptly, her eyes slightly moist. "Go home. It's not worth it for me. I won't associate with you anymore in the future!"
With that, she turned and ran out.
"Xiangsi!"
...
Sheng Xiangsi ran forward recklessly. She could hear Zhongpei's footsteps behind her.
"Xiangsi!"
In the car, Fu Hanjiang was absentmindedly playing with his phone. He looked up and saw Sheng Xiangsi and Zhongpei running towards them.
What's going on?
Before he could react, Sheng Xiangsi opened the front passenger door and got in.
"Xiang..."
"Drive!"
Sheng Xiangsi was emotional, shouting at him in a commanding tone.
"What's going on?"
Fu Hanjiang was stunned.
"Xiangsi!" Zhongpei caught up, pounding on the car window. "Xiangsi, don't leave..."
Through the car window, he said something, but Fu Hanjiang didn't quite catch it, just looking at Sheng Xiangsi with confusion.
"You, him, what's..."
"Drive faster!"
Sheng Xiangsi covered her ears, closing her eyes, and ordered in a low voice, "Didn't you hear me telling you to drive?"
"Oh. Okay."
Probably because he had never been 'commanded' like this before, Fu Hanjiang didn't react for a moment, feeling a strange sense of 'fear' and obediently started the car.
As the car moved forward, Fu Hanjiang saw Zhongpei running after them.
"Tsk." He frowned, clicking his tongue, "Are you really not going to care about him? What did you two talk about?"
"Drive faster!"
Fu Hanjiang:...
Fine.
He pressed on the accelerator, and the car gradually sped up until Zhongpei's figure became smaller and smaller, eventually disappearing from sight.
Beside him, Sheng Xiangsi suddenly raised her hand, covering her face.
Fu Hanjiang's heart skipped a beat. Was she... crying?
Crying meant she really liked, really couldn't bear to part with Zhongpei, right?
This thought made Fu Hanjiang instantly become irritable, his bad temper flaring up again.
"Why are you crying? If you like him so much, you should cling to him. Why run away?"
"Stop the car!"
"Stop what?" Fu Hanjiang refused, "It's not safe to stop here!"
"I told you to stop!" Sheng Xiangsi grabbed the door handle, pulling forcefully, "Stop the car! I want to get off!"
"Hey!"
Fu Hanjiang was worried. He followed her out of the car. She had just cried, and now she was acting so recklessly. What if something happened...
Was he a jinx, or did he have a big mouth?
As soon as Sheng Xiangsi stepped out, a car came speeding towards her.
"Xiangsi!"
In that moment, Fu Hanjiang's heart almost stopped. He flew to her side, grabbed her shoulder, pulled her into his arms, and backed away, leaning against the car.
As they leaned against it, afraid she might hit her head, he held the back of her head with one hand and her back with the other.
The car rushed past them.
The driver stuck his head out of the car window, cursing, "Are you trying to die? Don't harm others! Damn it! Bad luck!"
Sheng Xiangsi, still trembling, looked up, meeting Fu Hanjiang's shocked and angry eyes.
"Do you want to die?"
Fu Hanjiang's face turned blue. "Can't be with Zhongpei, so you want to die? If that's the case, why did you want to leave just now? Where did the persistence you had with me go?"
"Stop the car!"
She was so agitated that Fu Hanjiang had no choice but to comply. He turned the steering wheel, parked the car by the roadside, and stopped.
Without a moment's hesitation, Sheng Xiangsi pushed open the car door and got out.
"Xiangsi!"
Fu Hanjiang was worried. She had just cried and was now acting so recklessly. What if something happened...
He followed her out of the car.
"Xiangsi!"
Sheng Xiangsi, however, was unmoved. She had just cried, and now she was acting so recklessly. What if something happened...
She stepped forward, and a car came rushing towards her.
"Xiangsi!"
Fu Hanjiang's heart almost stopped. He rushed to her side, grabbed her shoulder, pulled her into his arms, and backed away, leaning against the car.
As they leaned against it, he held the back of her head with one hand and her back with the other.
The car rushed past them.
Sheng Xiangsi, still trembling, looked up, meeting Fu Hanjiang's shocked and angry eyes.
"Do you want to die?"
Fu Hanjiang's face turned blue. "Can't be with Zhongpei, so you want to die? If that's the case, why did you want to leave just now? Where did the persistence you had with me go?"
"Stop the car!"
She was so agitated that Fu Hanjiang had no choice but to comply. He turned the steering wheel, parked the car by the roadside, and stopped.
Without a moment's hesitation, Sheng Xiangsi pushed open the car door and got out.
"Sheng Xiangsi!"
Fu Hanjiang, worried, followed her out of the car. She had just cried, and now she was acting so recklessly. What if something happened...
He wondered if he had a jinx, or if his big mouth had caused this.
As Sheng Xiangsi stepped forward, a car approached the intersection, seemingly about to collide with her.
"Sheng Xiangsi!"
In that instant, Fu Hanjiang's eyes widened in alarm. He almost flew to her side, grabbing her shoulder, pulling her into his arms, and stepping back, leaning against the car.
As they leaned against it, he held the back of her head with one hand and her back with the other.
The car rushed past them.
The driver stuck his head out of the car window, cursing, "Are you trying to die? Don't harm others! Damn it! Bad luck!"
Sheng Xiangsi, still trembling, looked up, meeting Fu Hanjiang's shocked and angry eyes.
"Do you want to die?"
Fu Hanjiang's face turned pale. "Can't be with Zhongpei, so you want to die? If that's the case, why did you want to leave just now? Where did the persistence you had with me go?"
"!"
Sheng Xiangsi's eyes narrowed, becoming sharp.
"Why did I want to leave? Don't you know? Do you really not know?"