Rejected by the Campus Belle, I Find My True Love-Chapter 115 - 114: It was like having a very long dream (Added 4)
Xue Yang took the cabbage out of the bag and placed it in a basket. "You can tear the cabbage by hand. Rip it up however you like; it doesn’t matter."
It was a simple task. Lin Xi took the basket and said, "Okay."
Xue Yang cut the eggplant while Lin Xi tore the cabbage. The two of them worked in perfect sync, as if they had done this countless times before.
Xue Yang cut the eggplants into strips and soaked them in water.
"Xue Yang, why do the eggplants need to be soaked in water after being washed?"
"Eggplants contain an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase, which oxidizes when it comes into contact with the air, causing the surface to turn black. Soaking them in water prevents oxidation and maintains their fresh color."
Lin Xi listened intently to Xue Yang’s explanation. There were so many things I would never have known if I hadn’t met him. Life, when boiled down to its essence, is about eating, drinking, and taking care of one’s basic needs. With eating placed at the forefront, its importance is clear. An ancient saying goes, "To the people, food is heaven." No matter the era, food is the most fundamental principle of survival. To lack an understanding of food is to miss out on one of life’s great pleasures. I feel incredibly fortunate to be learning so many things I’d never known before.
Preparing the fish-flavored eggplant was a bit more difficult than the dishes Xue Yang had cooked previously. As a result, this meal took them a full two hours to make before it was finally on the table.
There was a dish of fish-flavored eggplant, another of hand-torn cabbage, and a pot of lotus root and pork rib soup.
Two dishes and one soup. Although it was a world of difference from the restaurant meals they had eaten over the past two days, it had a wonderfully cozy, homemade feel.
Sitting at the dining table, Lin Xi couldn’t resist the alluring aroma. "It smells so good."
Xue Yang sat next to her. "Try it. See if you like it."
Lin Xi picked up a piece of eggplant with her chopsticks and popped it into her mouth. "Ouch, it’s hot!"
"Eat slowly. No one’s going to steal it from you."
Only in front of Xue Yang could she ignore table manners and be her truest self.
Lin Xi picked up the eggplant again. This time, she was smarter, blowing on it before taking a bite. "This is delicious."
She couldn’t help but reach for another piece. "This is the best eggplant I’ve ever had."
"I’ll take that as a compliment, thank you."
"It is a compliment. I’m not exaggerating at all."
The two of them thoroughly enjoyed the food, savoring the warm moment.
Unfortunately, happy times are always fleeting. After the meal, it was almost time for her to leave.
Her father had given her until twelve o’clock. If she wasn’t downstairs by then, he would come up to get her himself. If Dad comes up, the consequences will be severe. He’s already made his greatest concession by waiting for me this long, giving up time where every minute could mean tens of millions in earnings. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
After eating, they silently washed the dishes together, leaving the kitchen spotless.
Afterward, Lin Xi went to her room to start packing. There was so much to pack; the room was almost entirely filled with her belongings, while Xue Yang only had a few items of clothing there. Standing before the desk and facing it all, she didn’t know where to begin.
"You don’t need to take everything. Just pack the essentials," Xue Yang said, taking the initiative to help her.
His notes were a must-take, as they contained the most critical information for the college entrance exams. There were also some unfinished mock exam papers she could take back to continue working on. A few books Lin Xi had annotated also needed to be packed; otherwise, she’d have to start making notes all over again. Not that I couldn’t, but it would be a waste of time.
"I want to take this plum blossom with me." After waiting overnight, the plum blossoms had finally bloomed. Their red petals hung from the branches, proud and untamed.
"Take this set of practice tests back, too. Give it to Si Wen, as a New Year’s gift from me," Xue Yang said calmly.
"When Si Wen sees this, she’ll definitely be so touched she’ll cry."
"Just remember to hand her a tissue."
"Don’t worry, I will."
Xue Yang placed the materials in a box and tried to lift it. It was quite heavy. "Are you sure you don’t need me to walk you downstairs?"
"No, it’s okay. My family is waiting downstairs."
"Alright."
Having finally reached the door, Lin Xi stopped again. She put the box on the floor, turned back, and hugged Xue Yang tightly.
"Xue Yang, the stars never leave the moon, and I will never leave you. You have to wait for me to come back."
His voice hoarse, Xue Yang held her tightly and replied, "Okay."
"Once I’m gone, you should get some sleep. Don’t see me off, and don’t look downstairs. I’m afraid if I see you, I won’t be able to leave."
"Okay."
"When I’m not around, you have to eat well and sleep well."
"Okay."
"And one more thing, the most important one. You’re not allowed to casually talk to other girls. I never told you before, but I’m actually very petty and get jealous easily. If you’re nice to other girls, I’ll get jealous, I’ll be sad, and I’ll ignore you."
Xue Yang held her even tighter. "I won’t. I only like you, and I’ll only ever be good to you."
"Xue Yang..." Lin Xi murmured as silent tears streamed down her face. The more I say, the less I want to leave. What am I going to do? My heart hurts so much. But I can’t show it. I know that even though Xue Yang looks fine on the outside, his heart must be aching even more than mine.
At that moment, Xue Yang gently let go of her. "Go on, head back. I won’t see you off. I haven’t slept well for days, so I can finally get some proper rest."
Lin Xi pressed her lips together tightly. "...Okay."
"I’m closing the door now."
"Okay."
Lin Xi stood in the doorway, unable to even utter the word "goodbye."
Xue Yang gave her a faint smile as he gently shut the door. The moment it clicked shut, he leaned back against it as if all his strength had drained away. His body slowly slid down until he collapsed onto the floor, dejected. His knuckles had turned white from the force of his grip, and his body trembled faintly. His entire being screamed how much he hated to see her leave.
The feeling was like having his heart brutally torn open, a pain so sharp it was hard to breathe.
Outside, Lin Xi’s hand lightly touched the door. She didn’t cry, but holding it in was worse than letting it out. True heartbreak is never about loud wails or dramatic scenes.
"Miss, let’s go home." At some point, Auntie Shen had appeared beside her. She bent down and picked up the box from the ground.
"Okay."
Lin Xi stared at the door with deep affection, as if she could see the person she longed for on the other side, though she knew it was impossible.
「Lin Xi went home!」
After sitting by the door for a while, Xue Yang rose and walked toward the bedroom. The room was still filled with Lin Xi’s unique scent. He went to the bed, pulled back the covers, got in, and lay down to sleep.
...
P.S. A huge thank you to all my generous readers for the support!
