【43.】

  Before, I never asked Liu Xin what school she was going to take the exam for. Occasionally when we touched on this topic, Liu Xin would just gloss over it, seemingly not wanting to discuss it. I thought it was because of the anxiety of being in her third year of high school, and some topics were sensitive and taboo, so I didn't ask again.

  It wasn't until later when I received the admission letter that I felt like I had been struck by a thunderbolt on a sunny day.

  It's clear that only I am anxious, while my family is very happy about Liu Xin being admitted to a university in Beijing. After all, in the eyes of most people, if your grades are not ideal, there are two golden rules for going to college: 1. A good university in a bad location. 2. A bad university in a good location.

  I think about it every day, whether or not to make public my relationship with Shen Dong to Liu Xin. Some people might say I'm selfish, that I knew my sister liked Shen Dong and yet I still did this. Yes, of course I know Liu Xin has the right to know about this. But at the same time, as Shen Dong's girlfriend, I also have a duty to protect my love. Just like how we can know about celebrities' gossip, but celebrities also have a duty to protect their loved ones outside of the spotlight.

  Although such a metaphor is not appropriate, I have always felt that hiding this thing from Liu Xian is half my fault. I've been thinking, maybe when she's older and no longer so childish, I'll tell her then.

  It's just that I didn't think it through, in matters of love, there is no such thing as rationality and fairness. Liu Xian isn't young anymore. She understands the things she should understand, no need for me to say anything. But when facing Shen Zhuo, even I, someone three years older than her, can't control my emotions, how could I expect her to be so naive?

  I also asked Shen Duan, he seemed to be not very concerned: "Whatever you like. If you think it's necessary to say, then I'll say it, this is not your fault after all. If you don't want to say, I definitely won't tell her. It's up to you."

  He said that and I was even more at a loss, so I might as well be a turtle retracting its head, the longer the better.

  This holiday was meaningless to me, Shendong returned to his old house in Beijing early, on the day of farewell we had dinner together at his house, Su's mother also followed him. During dinner I felt a bit downhearted, after all we would be apart for so long.

  A year, long or short, everything has yet to begin. Short or long, everything can start anew.

  He stretched out his hand to hold mine: "Otherwise I won't go back. This holiday will stay here with you."

  I was just about to agree when I saw Old Lady Su clear her throat and say, "Young Master, you've already had a falling out with the old man over going to college. If you go back any later now, he's definitely going to be angry with you."

  Shen Dang didn't care much: "Whatever."

  Su's mother gave me a faint glance.

  Alright... Every time it's just me who comes out.

  "I pouted: 'Actually, it's not necessary, I'm also very busy during this holiday. And Liu Xian is going to school too, I need to accompany her to buy things. Even if you stay here, you won't necessarily be able to see each other often.'"

  He looked up at me and sighed after a long time: "You're just an old good man."

  *sigh*...

  I handed him a dish of stir-fried vegetables with chopsticks: "Once you're in Beijing, it's your own territory. Although you have a strong background, don't casually show it off, it's better to keep a low profile."

  Su's mother put down her chopsticks and said seriously: "Jiajia is right."

  "I'm telling you again, you must study hard and not let people say that you're a spoiled rich kid. Those indecent things that are popular in your circle of friends, don't even think about touching them. You'd better control your temper, always being so arrogant and domineering, who knows how many people are secretly jealous of you... maybe someone is already plotting against you behind your back... Don't say you're not afraid, a small person or a gentleman, you must be on guard."

  He looked at me, but didn't seem to be listening to what I was saying. Instead, he seemed to be carefully examining my appearance. My ears turned bright red from his gaze, but with Su's mother present, I didn't dare to flirt back with him. So I continued in a serious tone: "And the most important thing is that normally you can eat, play basketball, drink wine, and go shopping. But the one thing you're not allowed to do is hit on young girls..."

  He smiled and patted my hair: "You're so fierce, who else would I dare to provoke?"

  I slapped his hand away: "Talk seriously!"

  "Susu's mom... look at her, just like a housekeeper."

  Su's mother pouted: "You deserve someone like that to discipline you. I've said these words countless times before, but you never listen."

  Shen Dang shrugged: "Even you're helping her. This little girl is quite formidable now!"

  "Don't interrupt, you're not allowed to flirt with others, remember?"

  He stretched his face over: "Otherwise, you bite a mouthful, leave a scar, and no one will look at me."

  I looked at him with disdain: "You think you've got a scar and I'll still want you?"

  As soon as he finished speaking, he bit down on my wrist. I cried out in pain and flung the chopsticks in my hand far away: "Ow ow ow ow ow!"

  He didn't stop until a thread of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

  My aching eyes were brimming with tears, and I didn't even bother to settle the score with him. I rushed straight to the kitchen and splashed cold water on my face. Shen Zhong followed me over and stood behind me: "This is the mark left by Young Master, this life, next life, and the life after that, don't even think about escaping."

  "My aching teeth and cracked lips, I said with grievance: 'Who are you to be like this...'"

  It's all said and done, but deep down it still feels sweet. Su's mom sat there looking at us like she was looking at her own newlywed son and daughter-in-law. This moment made me feel infinitely warm and fuzzy, as if the happiness I've been longing for wasn't far away after all.

  I ate a lot and the warm sunshine in the afternoon made me feel drowsy. I was reading Shen Dong's textbooks from his school days on my bed, but the content was so boring that I fell asleep while reading.

  When I woke up, the sky was already dark. My back was leaning against his chest, with one hand on my waist and even breathing warmly by my ear. The ticklish feeling made me shrink my body involuntarily. He seemed to have noticed it and moved slightly.

  I don't know what I'm thinking about, but it feels like there's a lot to say. My hand unconsciously strokes his hand, and before I realize it, he's already holding my hand in his.

  "Are you awake?"

  He let out a low "hmm" and was apparently still not fully awake.

  "Tomorrow you're leaving... can I not see you off at the airport?"

  Shen Duan didn't say anything, I thought he had fallen asleep again. So I stopped talking, after a while, he suddenly held me tighter: "As long as you're happy."

  "I'm not joking today, you're not allowed to flirt with girls when you go over there."

  He burst out laughing: "You're just like a little daughter-in-law."

  "You're looking at me... I already said I wasn't joking."

  "Great!" His hand stroked the spot on my wrist where he had bitten me. "I'd rather have you fill my heart and mind, leaving no time to think of anyone else."

  "I replied with a sigh: 'Who knows...'"

  "Hmm." He was surprisingly calm "You'll know everything slowly."

  "Don't rush... Liu Jia, I still have so much time to love you."

  My heart is infinitely satisfied, it turns out we are still so young. The years may be long, but they have the most beautiful expectations.