"In love, we were separated by an entire adolescence, but I am willing to walk through your youthful years again." -- Ye Feiye "A Billion Stars Can't Amount to You"
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"That night... was it you?"
At the age of eighteen, Ji Yi fantasized a thousand different ways—a million ways, even—to confess to the guy she liked, but she never imagined that when she finally summoned all her courage to stand in front of him, her first words would be, "The man, that night... was you, wasn't it?"
He Jichen lowered his eyes and leaned casually against the lamppost. When he heard Ji Yi's question, he didn't even raise his eyelids but he furrowed his brows. His eyelashes quivered. With that, his clean and bright complexion returned to its usual flatness and dullness.
If Ji Yi hadn't caught on to his change in expression, she would've assumed he hadn't heard her question. She stared unwaveringly at the young man in front of her for a moment in silence. Seeing as he had no intention of replying, she gently pursed her lips and asked again but this time with hints of certainty, "That night, it was you, am I right?"
After Ji Yi asked twice, He Jichen finally looked up and slowly swept a look over Ji Yi with his dark, emotionless eyes. Then, he straightened up and turned around to leave without any warning at all.
Ji Yi stared at He Jichen's back and instinctively balled her hands into tight fists.
The person that night must've been him. There's no mistake about it...
That night, the way he kissed me was so gentle. There's no way I'm wrong...
Even though she didn't know why he seemed a completely different man from that night, she had summoned her courage to confess to him with great difficulty, so she couldn't just give up halfway like that! She was afraid she would never have the guts and confidence to do it a second time around...
At that thought, Ji Yi chased after He Jichen. "I know the person that night was you, I..."
Before Ji Yi could finish, He Jichen sped up.
The distance between them grew further.
Ji Yi jogged and drew a little closer, "A long time ago, I... I noticed you. I..."
He Jichen, who already made it to the side of the road, raised his arms to hail a taxi.
Before He Jichen opened the taxi door, Ji Yi quickly reached her hand out and grabbed onto He Jichen's sleeve.
He Jichen was a lot taller than Ji Yi was, so when he turned his head to look down at her, it felt a little patronizing.
At his glance, the words tumbling out of Ji Yi's mouth stopped. She nervously looked into He Jichen's eyes and gulped. Eventually, she fearlessly said, "I've always liked you. I've liked you for a long time now. Do you..."
He Jichen suddenly raised his arm and forcefully grabbed Ji Yi's little hand on his sleeve.
As Ji Yi strengthened her grip, she finished her thought, "... like me?"
Just as He Jichen was about to tear away from Ji Yi's fingertips, he suddenly trembled and relaxed his muscles.
His slight loss of control made Ji Yi feel like she heard flowers bloom.
So he must feel something for me! Otherwise, why would he touch me that night? Otherwise, why was he so stunned tonight after I told him I liked him?
Ji Yi raised her head and stared at He Jichen's eyes filled with radiance and surprise. She held her breath, then with a serious expression on her face, she said while emphasizing each word, "Will you be my boyfriend..."