Rejected by the Campus Belle, I Find My True Love-Chapter 64: Do not advise others to be good without understanding their struggles.
As he passed through the snack aisle, Xue Yang saw the spicy strips he used to love as a kid and, without thinking, grabbed a few bags.
"Xue Yang, what are you getting?"
Xue Yang held up what was in his hand. "Spicy strips."
Lin Xi looked bewildered. "What are spicy strips?"
"A super tasty snack that no one can resist. Once you’ve tried them, you’re sure to fall in love."
Lin Xi’s eyes flickered, internally debating whether to try them.
"You can have a little taste first."
"But we haven’t paid yet. Isn’t that bad?"
"Just a little bite is okay. We’ll keep the wrappers and pay for them at the checkout like usual."
"Oh, you can do that."
Lin Xi had just learned something new.
With Xue Yang’s go-ahead, she picked up a bag of spicy strips, tore it open, and cautiously took a bite. The spice caught her off guard, but the flavor was surprisingly good. She took another bite, and after that, she couldn’t stop.
At the checkout, the cashier was taken aback to see Xue Yang pull a pile of empty spicy strip packages from the cart.
It was common to see kids in the supermarket who couldn’t resist temptation and opened snacks before paying, but this was the first time she had seen an adult devour so many.
Her boyfriend really spoils her, and he’s so handsome, too.
Xue Yang rubbed his nose while the real culprit hid behind him, feigning innocence. She had no idea that the chili flakes still clinging to her clothes had already given her away.
Few people could snack on spicy strips and get away with it scot-free.
When Xue Yang was a kid, no matter how many times he rinsed his mouth after secretly buying spicy strips, his mother always found out. He never understood how she found out back then, but now, he thought he finally knew why.
Lin Xi subconsciously licked her lips. Mmm, spicy strips are so good!
After leaving the checkout, Lin Xi said she needed to go to the restroom, so Xue Yang waited for her with the bags.
Suddenly, a surprised voice came from behind him. He turned and saw Wu Xiaoya walking toward him, her expression one of disbelief.
"Xue Yang? Is it really you? I saw you at the checkout just now and thought I had the wrong person. It’s only been a few days, but you’ve changed so much. You’re even more handsome."
"Senior Xiao Ya, you’re at the supermarket too?"
"I came to buy some daily necessities. Are you alone?"
She was sure she had seen another girl standing with him just now. If not for that, she wouldn’t have been so hesitant to approach him. Just last week, she had seen Xue Yang at school. Although he seemed a bit different then, the change wasn’t this dramatic. Seeing him again today, she barely recognized him.
Xue Yang smiled and calmly replied, "No, I’m here with my girlfriend."
Wu Xiaoya was startled. "Girlfriend?"
Xue Yang looked up just in time to see Lin Xi coming out of the restroom. The restroom was right next to a game area, and Lin Xi spotted a kiddie ride and curiously wandered over to it.
A child was already on the ride, having the time of their life and giggling away.
"Pleasant Goat, Beautiful Goat, Warm Goat... Big Big Wolf, don’t just see me as a goat..."
Wu Xiaoya followed Xue Yang’s gaze, which had landed on Lin Xi.
That was the girl she had seen standing by Xue Yang’s side. Although she couldn’t see her face clearly, she could tell from her figure that she must be a very beautiful and cute girl.
Looking back at Xue Yang, she saw his gaze was full of tenderness. The moment the girl appeared, she captured all of his attention.
Wu Xiaoya had never seen Xue Yang look at Chen Ying with that kind of gaze before.
"No wonder you stopped pursuing Ying Ying. It turns out you have a girlfriend. How long has it been? Xue Yang, you’ve disappointed me so much."
Among Chen Ying’s circle of close friends, Wu Xiaoya had always thought the most highly of Xue Yang. She felt that a boy who could get into his crush’s university and remain devoted to her for six years was truly remarkable.
If it wasn’t true love, how could he possibly have done it?
She had once envied Chen Ying for having such a steadfast boy in love with her. At times, she even thought Chen Ying was unappreciative. If she didn’t like him, why did she keep stringing him along?
Now, reality had slapped her in the face. In that moment, she felt relieved that Chen Ying’s decision had been the right one.
Xue Yang wasn’t someone who cared about others’ opinions. If he did, he would have backed down long ago, after his confession to Chen Ying failed and people mocked him. But he hadn’t. He only did what he believed was right.
But now, six years of sincere feelings were being dismissed as worthless. He felt a pang of sorrow for himself.
"Senior Xiao Ya, if you pursued someone for six years, and in all that time they never gave you a second glance and even found you annoying, would you keep going? I doubt you could last six years; even lasting one would be impressive. You’ve never experienced my pain, so what right do you have to judge my actions? Just because I liked Chen Ying, does that mean I have to wait for her forever, even when I know she doesn’t like me back? Without having endured another’s suffering, don’t preach morality to them. I haven’t wronged Chen Ying, and I haven’t wronged anyone else. I have the right to choose my own life."
Wu Xiaoya’s face flushed red from his retort, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words.
"Even so, that’s no reason for you to find another girl so quickly after being rejected by Ying Ying. Unless you had other targets all along, and Ying Ying was just one of them."
Xue Yang laughed with exasperation. "To a person with a dirty mind, everything looks dirty. There’s nothing more to say when we can’t see eye to eye. I, Xue Yang, have wronged no one, and I don’t need to explain myself to any of you."
With that, Xue Yang turned and walked toward Lin Xi without a single glance back.
Lin Xi, who had been engrossed in watching the ride, saw Xue Yang approaching and immediately ran over. She naturally looped her arm through his, her eyes still showing she hadn’t had her fill of watching.
"Want to ride it?"
"Huh? Can I?"
"Of course."
Lin Xi held up one finger. "Then... just one ride?"
"Sure."
Xue Yang set their things aside and went to the front desk to exchange for some Game Coins. Lin Xi chose a pink HLKT kiddie ride and climbed on.
"What do you call your father’s dad? Your father’s dad is called grandpa. What do you call your father’s mom? Your father’s mom is called grandma..."
Wu Xiaoya stood not far away, watching as Xue Yang walked over to Lin Xi. He spoke with her for a moment before going to get Game Coins. Then she watched Lin Xi climb onto the kiddie ride, with Xue Yang standing off to the side, smiling as she rode.
It didn’t look like a boyfriend with his girlfriend, but more like a father with his daughter. With that girl, he was a completely different Xue Yang.
The phrase echoed in her mind once again: *Without having endured another’s suffering, don’t preach morality to them.*
Was I wrong? All I felt was that Xue Yang shouldn’t have gotten with another girl right after Ying Ying rejected him.
She took out her phone and captured the scene of Xue Yang with Lin Xi at the kiddie ride. Then, she turned and left the supermarket.
