Chapter 033

After sending He Ye off, Lu Jin did not go home.

His parents were likely resting and watching TV in the living room. Lu Jin felt he couldn’t hide his emotions from them.

He rode his bike around the community and finally sat on a bench.

From there, he could see seven buildings in the distance, including the windows of He Ye’s house.

Lu Jin just sat there, staring blankly.

Before making that plan, all he thought about was wanting to be close to her, hoping He Ye would hold his shoulders and call his name softly. She would probably cry, and he would kiss her and comfort her. Once she overcame her shyness, he wanted her to feel how much he loved her.

He had seen the night view of the Huangpu River before, but Lu Jin wanted to take He Ye to see it again, just like when he accompanied her to visit the Jiaotong University campus. He thought that if she walked alone on the campus later and remembered the places they visited, she would miss him as her boyfriend.

Long-distance relationships can be tough, so he thought of ways to stay close.

Lu Jin imagined that on weekends, he would travel to see her, and she would greet him with a smile at the high-speed rail station. At first, she might feel awkward, but later, in their hotel room, she would hug him and cry, forgetting the distance between them.

He made many plans and considered a lot, but he underestimated her resistance to their relationship.

If he put himself in her shoes, he realized that a boyfriend who secretly brought inappropriate things in his backpack wouldn’t seem like a good person.

Suddenly, a message came in on his phone.

Mom: [Are you going home tonight?]

Lu Jin: [I’m going to a class reunion. I might be late. Don’t wait for me.]

Mom: [I don’t believe you. It’s normal to fall in love at this age, but you have to respect girls.]

Lu Jin looked up from his phone.

The sky in Ancheng is very high and far away. There aren’t many sunny days each year; it often seems foggy.

He saw more messages.

Lu Jin checked without hope.

It was from her.

Ye Ziyuanyuan: [Let’s break up. I don’t want to date you anymore.]

His breath caught in his throat, and he felt like there were more words after that, but he only saw this.

He read it once, then again, word by word.

How could she say that?

They had been together during the summer vacation.

He Ye’s message included a transfer note for a skirt, with the message: [The price of the skirt is 899×0.85=764.15.]

Lu Jin read the first few messages again and suddenly realized that she was serious about breaking up.

He stood up and called her.

He Ye looked at the caller ID and answered after a long pause.

His low, hoarse voice came through: “He Ye, don’t say things like this.”

He Ye looked out the window and replied calmly, “I’m not saying this in anger. I’ve thought it through. We’re really not suitable…”

“I’ll change. I promise not to touch you again unless you agree.” 

“Also, if you don’t want me to come to Shanghai to see you this weekend, I’ll listen and just send messages and videos.”

“He Ye, I was wrong, but I’m really not that bad. I’m not the kind of person who just wants to rush things because I have a girlfriend.”

Lu Jin felt nervous and uncertain whether He Ye understood him.

He Ye didn’t care about his explanations. She had already decided to end the relationship, and her only goal was to explain and break up amicably.

“You don’t need to change. I just don’t want to date anymore. I won’t be interested no matter what you change.” 

“Don’t worry; I know you’re not bad. You’ve helped me a lot, and I’ll always remember the good things.”

The more she acted like this, the more anxious Lu Jin became. He turned to her and said, “I’ll come over now. Can we talk in person?”

He Ye glanced at the necklace she was about to return to him, thought for a moment, and replied, “Okay, let’s talk at the badminton court there. You wait for me, but don’t pick me up again.”

Lu Jin: “Okay, I’ll wait.”

At this moment, he didn’t want to break up, so he agreed to everything He Ye said.

He put his phone away, glanced at the window of Building 7, and rode his bike.

When he arrived at the badminton court, Lu Jin parked his bike and stood under a tree outside.

The streetlights didn’t reach him, leaving him in darkness. Children ran by, playing, unaware of him standing there.

Lu Jin stared at the court across the street.

As he watched, he noticed a familiar figure looking around.

Lu Jin frowned and stepped out of the shadows.

Zhou Xiangming saw him and asked, “Just you? Where’s He Ye? She just called and asked me to find you.”

Zhou Xiangming noticed that Lu Jin seemed off and finally realized something was wrong: “Did you two have a fight?”

Lu Jin didn’t respond, unsure if he heard or wanted to answer.

Zhou Xiangming turned back toward the intersection where he came from.

Lu Jin followed his gaze and saw He Ye.

She wore the same casual outfit from high school, with her hair in an old ponytail. She looked calm and much more relaxed than when she first joined them for basketball.

But Lu Jin remembered that even when they were in love, she would feel a bit reserved whenever she first saw him.

He stared at He Ye while Zhou Xiangming moved between them.

Since Lu Jin was silent, Zhou Xiangming ran to He Ye, asking anxiously, “What’s going on with you two?”

He Ye looked at Zhou Xiangming, feeling relieved by his presence.

It was as if if she and the two boys were suddenly stranded on a deserted island, she would trust Zhou Xiangming more, even though Lu Jin was more capable.

Because Zhou Xiangming is straightforward and sincere, he helps her without expecting anything in return. However, Lu Jin might want something back for his help.

She prefers this simple relationship between classmates.

“Lu Jin and I are breaking up. Please be a witness,” He Ye said.

She was worried that Lu Jin might not handle the breakup well and would continue to bother her. With Zhou Xiangming there, Lu Jin would be more restrained.

Compared to these two boys, who are both over 1.85 cm tall, He Ye looks smaller, but she is the calmest one at that moment.

Lu Jin lowered his eyes and bit his lip.

Zhou Xiangming was surprised: “No, he was fine when we had dinner yesterday. How did it come to this?”

He Ye explained briefly to Lu Jin: “I just found out today that we have serious differences and are not suitable to be together anymore.”

Even though they were breaking up, He Ye didn’t want to make it awkward, so she tried to save face for Lu Jin in front of their friends.

Zhou Xiangming wasn’t foolish. Realizing what was happening, he pushed Lu Jin and asked, “Did you bully He Ye?”

He Ye is kind-hearted and good-tempered. How could there be any disagreement? Lu Jin must have made a big mistake.

Lu Jin finally accepted that He Ye was determined. He looked at her and said to Zhou Xiangming, “I want to talk to her alone.”

Zhou Xiangming replied, “What are you talking about? What did you do?”

Lu Jin continued looking at He Ye: “You don’t have to go, just stand far away so you can see us.”

This way, she wouldn’t have to worry about him acting out.

Zhou Xiangming understood how “determined” Lu Jin could be. The fact that he was willing to pursue a long-distance relationship before being with He Ye showed he was confident she would be his girlfriend. Now, with Lu Jin wanting to talk alone, Zhou Xiangming couldn’t change his mind.

He looked at He Ye.

He Ye agreed, feeling a bit guilty: “I’m sorry for bothering you so late.”

Zhou Xiangming almost exploded: “What is our relationship? How can you say that?”

He Ye looked down, feeling sad and regretful.

Because Lu Jin liked her, Zhou Xiangming had approached her enthusiastically to help them get together. Now that she was breaking up with Lu Jin, Zhou Xiangming’s friendship with her might end too.

“Still, I hope you’ll be okay.” Zhou Xiangming, who still didn’t have all the information, patted his head and glanced at his friend, who looked like he was about to be dumped and was unwilling to accept it. He finally said to He Ye, “Lu Jin really likes you, but he hides it well. If it’s not too late, can you give him another chance?”

He Ye turned her face away.

Zhou Xiangming understood and winked at Lu Jin before going to the other side of the court.

He Ye handed the necklace box in her hand to Lu Jin: “I’ll return the necklace.”

Lu Jin didn’t reply. Noticing she wouldn’t look him in the eye, he said, “Don’t break up, okay? I can’t handle it.”

He couldn’t stand the idea of the person he had liked for a year just saying they didn’t want him anymore, even with all the good memories they shared this summer.

“I’ll change anything you don’t like, and I’ll listen to you from now on.”

He really wanted to hug her and say these things, but he was afraid it would push her away more.

Even though He Ye didn’t look up, she could sense Lu Jin was hurting.

This was a boy who had secretly loved her for a year and had helped her sincerely many times.

He Ye didn’t want to make him sad, so after she explained everything, she hoped he would give up and stop thinking about her.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I like you.”

“Before the college entrance exam, I treated you as just an ordinary classmate, someone I didn’t know well. Later, when I found out you liked me, I was surprised.”

“You’re good-looking, have great grades, and take care of me. I don’t think I have a reason to reject you.”

“So when you confessed, I thought it would be okay to try it out, so I agreed.”

She didn’t hate Lu Jin; in fact, she had a good impression of him. This impression made her go along with his affectionate gestures even though she wasn’t comfortable with them.

Tonight, as they decided to break up, He Ye felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders, and she relaxed.

She realized she didn’t like Lu Jin.

If you like someone, you think about them often, want to see them, and wish to hug and kiss them, just like Lu Jin did with her.

But He Ye had no such feelings toward Lu Jin.

“I’m sorry, maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to your request in the first place. If I had said no, you might have been more open to it.”

He Ye held the necklace box tightly, feeling guilty for her mistake.

Lu Jin didn’t believe it. He would rather she scold him than hear her say that.

“If you really don’t like me. Why did you agree to kiss me?”

The man who had been holding back for a long time finally stepped closer, his dark eyes sharp, as if he wanted to expose her irritating lies.

He Ye felt embarrassed and looked down more: “I thought love would be like that. I agreed to be with you, so I should give it a try.”

Try again.

Lu Jin was so angry he laughed. He wanted to keep questioning her, but when he saw her shrinking away, he lost his temper.

Who should he blame? He was too impatient. She was still trying things out, but he had already planned for more.

Lu Jin took a deep breath, trying to sound calm and rational. He even smiled and lowered his voice to coax her: “I understand. Let’s think of it as a love experiment that failed because of my mistakes. He Ye, failure is part of experiments. Let’s try again. This time, you can guide me, and I promise to follow your lead.”

It didn’t matter if she didn’t like it. He wanted to try again, hoping this time she would warm up to dating him.

He Ye fluttered her eyelashes.

Lu Jin has always had the cool and distant vibe of a smart professor. His recent words reminded her of when he tutored her in programming, explaining things clearly and patiently.

However, love is different from doing experiments. Experiments are logical, while love is filled with emotions.

She knew Lu Jin really wanted and enjoyed being close to her, even traveling to Shanghai every week for that.

He could think about her feelings and adjust his actions, but He Ye didn’t want to pressure him into making compromises.

Besides, with so much homework in college, why bother with a relationship?

“No, I want to focus on my studies. I don’t have your high IQ, so I can’t manage both.” 

He Ye made a clear and firm choice.

She pushed the necklace box into Lu Jin’s arms, turned, and started to run away.

Lu Jin grabbed her hand.

He Ye had to stop and pleaded, “Lu Jin, just focus on your studies. I’m really not interested in dating.”

Lu Jin held her hand tightly, the one he had kissed before, and he begged, “It’s okay, I can wait for you to graduate. We don’t have to see each other for four years. I can still be your boyfriend, okay?”

He Ye shook her head: “I don’t want any burden.”

Lu Jin wanted to say more, but He Ye noticed Zhou Xiangming on the other side of the court and said, “Let go, or I’ll call him.”

If it came to that, everyone would feel awkward.

Lu Jin still held on to her.

During the pause, He Ye remembered something: “By the way, return the photos to me tomorrow.”

“No.”

His refusal was so decisive that it seemed unreasonable.

He Ye looked up in disbelief.

The streetlight cast a soft glow, and Lu Jin stood against it, appearing cold and distant as he looked down at her: “I gave them away, and I won’t ask for them back.”

After saying that, he shoved the necklace box back into He Ye’s hands and left with an angry expression.

She walked away quickly, even forgetting that her bike was parked nearby.

He Ye stared at his back, confused.

Zhou Xiangming ran over and asked worriedly, “Are you two still breaking up?”

He Ye bit her lip and wanted to ask him to give the necklace box back: “Please pass it on to me…”

“Zhou Xiangming quickly backed away, looking helpless: ‘Please don’t make me! If I give it back, he might get angry, and we could end up not being friends anymore.'”

He Ye was worried: “What should I do then?”

Things like the photos and keychains she gave him didn’t matter much, but this jade necklace was different. She felt it was too much to keep, but too precious to throw away. And what if Lu Jin asked her for it again someday?

Zhou Xiangming became curious: “What’s inside?”

He Ye opened it and showed it to him.

Zhou Xiangming gasped and said, “His grandfather’s family is in the jade business. I often go there with Lu Jin, so I’ve learned a lot.”

He Ye became even more worried: “Is it expensive?”

Zhou Xiangming replied: “At least five figures.” 

He Ye was about to give the box to Zhou Xiangming, but he jumped onto Lu Jin’s bike like a monkey and rode off, shouting back, “Keep it as a memory of your first love! Lu Jin is rich, and he won’t ask you to pay him back if you break the necklace!”

He Ye: …