Chapter 7: You Were Worried About Me

Ruan Qingqing nodded. She had no intention of giving up.

“I’ll start by being his friend. If I visit my brother often, that’ll be a good beginning.”

Instead of taking Xu Sui’an back to Nanda, Shi Yubai drove to an apartment near the university.

The elevator climbed floor by floor. Xu Sui’an narrowed her eyes sleepily, her voice light and teasing.

“Boyfriend, where are you taking me?”

A smile too deep to conceal spread across Shi Yubai’s face.

“I prepared our home over the past two years. Every single thing inside was chosen carefully by me.”

“After waiting for so long…”

“…its mistress has finally arrived.”

The apartment complex, Qingcheng Zhilian (“Love in a Fallen City”), was less than a hundred meters from Nanda.

Shi Yubai had secretly bought and furnished the apartment during his first year at the university.

Building Nine. Ninth floor. Apartment Nine.

Three nines—symbolizing a love that would last forever.

Yet in the original novel, Xu Sui’an had never once set foot inside.

The apartment eventually became a forbidden place in Shi Yubai’s heart, burying the purest and most sincere memories of his youth.

Even after he later fell in love with Ruan Qingqing, he had never brought her here.

A pang of bitterness tightened Xu Sui’an’s chest.

She rubbed her cheek gently against the hollow of Shi Yubai’s neck.

Her muffled voice couldn’t hide the heartache she felt, and tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Xiaobai… I made you wait for so long.”

“In all the places I couldn’t see… were you hurting?”

Her lips brushed lightly across the side of his neck in silent comfort.

Shi Yubai’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

His arms tightened around her.

His heart pounded wildly, and when he spoke, his voice had turned slightly hoarse.

“Suisui…”

“Were you… worried about me?”

The elevator stopped on the ninth floor.

He strode out, unlocked the apartment with his fingerprint in one fluid motion, movements so practiced it was as though he’d done them thousands of times.

He carefully set her down on the sofa before crouching in front of her, quietly gazing into the concern filling her eyes.

Did it hurt?

It did.

The moment she rejected his confession…

His heart had truly ached.

Every time, it took him a long while to heal the invisible wounds inside.

He kept trying to stay by her side, afraid that if he ever turned away…

…he would lose all connection to her forever.

If someone asked him—

If loving her hurts so much, why can’t you let go?

Shi Yubai would answer without hesitation.

Because letting go would be like carving out his own heart.

More than ten years of guarding her… of loving her…

Those feelings had long since become part of his very bones.

Seeing her every day had become a habit.

Without her, his heart felt unbearably empty, as though it no longer belonged anywhere.

Her smile.

Every word she spoke.

Every little thing she did.

All of it tugged at his heart.

For over ten years they had been inseparable.

Xu Sui’an was his entire youth—

an irreplaceable part of his life.

A love engraved into his soul.

To let go would be like losing half his life.

But…

If that love ever became a burden to Xu Sui’an…

Then no matter how unwilling he was…

He would force himself to let go.

Because he loved her.

He couldn’t bear to see her cry.

Even if he had to swallow his own tears…

He would still choose her happiness.

Time healed all wounds.

One day…

He believed he would eventually move on.

Fortunately…

Xu Sui’an had reached out and taken his hand.

They hadn’t lost each other along life’s journey.

“Shi Yubai…”

“I like you.”

“I really, really like you.”

“Long before I understood my own feelings…”

“…you were already the only one for me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I was a little foolish, and that’s why I hurt you.”

“Thank you…”

“…for not giving up on me.”

“Even after I rejected your confession…”

“…you still held on to my hand.”

She placed one gentle kiss after another—

on his forehead…

the corner of his eyes…

the edge of his lips.

Shi Yubai’s eyes slowly reddened.

The invisible wounds inside him…

Healed quietly with every kiss she gave him.

“It hurts…”

A tear slipped from the corner of his crimson eyes and landed in Xu Sui’an’s palm.

That single tear was scorching hot.

Its warmth burned against her skin.

Pain spread through Xu Sui’an’s heart.

She gently wiped away the moisture at the corner of his eyes.

Then she lowered her head and pressed a kiss over his heart.

Even through his shirt, Shi Yubai could feel the soft warmth of her lips.

“Do you want me to kiss it better?”

Without waiting for an answer, she leaned closer and gently blew over the spot where his heart was.

Shi Yubai’s heartbeat thundered.

His Adam’s apple rolled as though he were desperately suppressing something.

“Suisui…”

“Does it feel any better now?”

Her small hand rested over his chest, rubbing gently.

Her eyes overflowed with tenderness as she looked at him.

Unable to hold back any longer, Shi Yubai kissed her.

He lingered, unwilling to part.

His heart felt soft and numb.

Where her little hand had caressed him…

Everything felt sweet and ticklish.

Xu Sui’an obediently returned his kiss.

Their lips sought each other again and again,

like butterflies dancing among blossoms—

carefree…

gentle…

and sweet.

In that moment…

Shi Yubai forgot every ounce of pain he had ever endured.

All that remained was the intoxicating warmth of her lips.

Every day he had waited…

had been for this single moment.

No one knew how much time had passed before Shi Yubai finally let her go.

The living room was silent.

Only their breathing could be heard.

Nestled in his embrace, Xu Sui’an found a comfortable position and curled up against him.

Listening to his heartbeat, the corners of her lips lifted secretly.

The lights were still off.

Moonlight streamed in through the balcony.

Shi Yubai held her gently, his eyes full of warmth and contentment.

He rubbed his chin lightly against the top of her head, his voice lazy and relaxed.

“Suisui…”

“I’m really not dreaming… am I?”

He was almost afraid of being this happy.

Afraid it was only a beautiful dream.

That when the sun rose tomorrow…

He would wake up alone in this apartment.

Xu Sui’an reached for his hand and placed it over her heart.

“Xiaobai…”

“Can you feel it?”

“My heartbeat is telling you…”

“…how much I like you.”

A smile slowly spread across Shi Yubai’s eyes.

He gently kissed her forehead.

“Suisui…”

“Do you want to see our home?”

“I do.”

She was genuinely curious what it looked like.

Shi Yubai stood up and held her hand.

The moment he switched on the lights, the living room brightened.

As Xu Sui’an walked around, she quietly looked over every corner.

Everything had been decorated exactly according to her tastes.

Especially her bedroom.

It was an almost perfect replica of the bedroom she had back home.

Her eyes stung.

She suddenly wanted to cry.

How could anyone ever let go of someone as wonderful as Shi Yubai?

“Suisui…”

“Do you like it here?”

“I do.”

“Then…”

“Would you live here with me?”

“I want to eat breakfast with you every morning.”

“And tell you goodnight every night.”

He looked at her expectantly, unable to hide the nervousness in his eyes.

People were greedy.

Once they had a little happiness…

They always wanted more.

Xu Sui’an saw the unease hidden deep within his gaze.

“That works perfectly.”

“I want to tell you goodnight every day too.”

Joy instantly filled Shi Yubai’s peach blossom eyes.

The faint dimple on his cheek stole Xu Sui’an’s attention.

She agreed.

I’ll get to see Suisui every single day.

If this is a dream…

Please never let me wake up.

“Suisui, all the clothes in the wardrobe have already been washed.”

“You go take a shower first.”

“I’ll dry your hair afterward.”

Xu Sui’an nodded before heading to the bathroom.

It felt as though time had turned back.

After showering, Shi Yubai changed into a white set of pajamas.

His hair had grown a little longer, falling softly over his forehead, making him look every bit the youthful college boy.

He picked up his phone.

“Mom, could you ask Aunt Zhang to come over tomorrow?”

“Suisui likes her cooking.”

A delighted voice immediately came from the other end.

“Xiaoshi, tell me honestly.”

“Did Suisui finally agree to be your girlfriend?”

Ever since they were children, Mrs. Shi had adored Xu Sui’an.

She had often wished she could secretly bring the little girl home to raise herself.

“Mom.”

“When the holidays come…”

“I’ll bring your future daughter-in-law home.”

Leaning lazily against the sofa, Shi Yubai absentmindedly played with a pair of rings woven from dogtail grass between his long, fair fingers.

“That’s wonderful!”

Mrs. Shi’s excited voice rang through the phone.

“You brat.”

“You’re both still young.”

“You’d better not bully Suisui.”

“Otherwise…”

“Your father’s fists—and Uncle Xu’s—aren’t just for decoration.”

Shi Yubai chuckled softly.

“Don’t worry, Mom.”

“How could I ever bear to bully Suisui?”

“She could scold me and I’d never talk back.”

“She could hit me and I wouldn’t fight back.”

“I’d gladly let her bully me for the rest of my life.”

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