Chapter 43: The Dark Horse Champion
After Lian Rui and the others say goodbye to Xiang Yang and her friends, Lian Rui sends a WeChat message to Fu Guanxian in the car. “Brother, I paid for the meal as you instructed!”
Fu Guanxian's reply is surprisingly fast this time. “Xiang Yang?”
Lian Rui sees these two words in his reply and continues, “No way. Your little plum blossom insisted that I shouldn't call her that, so I had to call her by name.”
After Lian Rui sends the message, he waits for several minutes, but Fu Guanxian doesn't reply. He sends another message. “Hey, brother, you're not going to get jealous about this, are you?”
Lian Rui witnessed his jealousy in Grade 8. Although Lian Rui also knows that Ban Shengkai isn't a good person and isn't sincere about being close to Xiang Yang. But the way Fu Guanxian dealt with him, he still feels a little terrified when he thinks back on it.
Who knew that Fu Guanxian would actually reply to this boring topic. He says, “Names are meant to be called.” The surface meaning is that he doesn't mind at all. But the deeper meaning that Lian Rui doesn't understand is: Anyway, I definitely won't have to call her that way like you.
Xiang Yang and her friends finish eating and don't seem to have any plans. Hou Xingrou suggests going to the mall, so they just wander around casually.
When she gets home, before she goes to bed at night, Fan Xiaoyu chats with Xiang Yang. After chatting about unimportant things for a while, Fan Xiaoyu gets to the point. “Xiang Yang, don't blame me for being nosy or stirring up trouble.”
This…
Xiang Yang stares at the screen for a moment and says directly, “Just say it, Xiaoyu.”
Fan Xiaoyu really says it directly. “How can I help but suspect that Xingrou likes Fu Guanxian!”
This…
Xiang Yang doesn't know how to respond, so she replies with a surprised emoji.
Fan Xiaoyu analyzes, “When your friend mentioned Fu Guanxian, she immediately changed her expression. She even questioned him. She said that she had already verified whether Fu Guanxian had returned. These unusual behaviors can only be explained if she's smitten with Fu Guanxian.”
Xiang Yang thinks for a moment. Does Xingrou like Fu Guanxian? When did this start?
Fan Xiaoyu asks in confusion, “You guys have known each other for at least six or seven years. Didn't you notice anything?”
Xiang Yang subconsciously shakes her head. Then she remembers that she can't see her actions. She says, “No.”
In junior high, it's like she praised Fu Guanxian a few times. But back then, Fu Guanxian was a shining star at school. There were countless girls who talked about him behind his back. Moreover, when she mentioned Fu Guanxian, she seemed pretty normal. She was much more normal than those fangirls.
Later in high school, she remembers going to the library one time in Year 1. She did ask me if Fu Guanxian had a girlfriend.
But at that time, Xiang Yang didn't have a clue about the answer. And, if Xiang Yang had to personally go to Fu Guanxian to verify, she wouldn't be that stupid. But if she had to make something up, she's afraid that if something really happened, Fu Guanxian would hold her accountable.
So, when Hou Xingrou asked again, Xiang Yang stammered and couldn't give a straight answer. After that, Hou Xingrou was considerate enough not to ask about this topic again. That makes Xiang Yang breathe a sigh of relief.
It's only now when Xiang Yang thinks back that she realizes that Hou Xingrou hasn't mentioned Fu Guanxian in front of her since then. Not even once.
Xiang Yang doesn't understand what's going on.
Fan Xiaoyu is a little worried. “What's going on here?”
Xiang Yang doesn't understand. “Although Xingrou might get hurt if she likes Fu Guanxian, she's also quite good-looking. Her personality and character are both great. Maybe Fu Guanxian likes her too? Why do you think it's a big deal?”
“But aren't you better than her in every way? What if Fu Guanxian likes you? What will you do then?” Fan Xiaoyu is worried. If it's really unfortunate and Xiang Yang also likes Fu Guanxian and Hou Xingrou also likes Fu Guanxian, then Xiang Yang will definitely be in a difficult position later. If she doesn't like him, then it's great for everyone. Otherwise, there will be one more heartbroken person, and it's Class Monitor!
Xiang Yang looks at the words “what if Fu Guanxian likes you,” hesitates, and then replies, “Okay, don't worry anymore. It's all impossible. Don't think so much.”
Fan Xiaoyu thinks she's overthinking things. She replies, “Maybe I've been reading too many novels recently and I'm overthinking things.”
A few days after the New Year, Xing Zhaoyan calls her. He says that he's come back from his hometown. He didn't have time to get together with her before the New Year because he was busy with things. He invites her to eat before he's busy again the day after tomorrow.
Xiang Yang thinks about it. It's not easy for him to be here alone during the New Year, so she agrees.
The two of them meet and have dinner. Xiang Yang finds out that he got a part-time job during the holiday.
Xiang Yang asks him, “How does it feel?”
Xing Zhaoyan says, “It's pretty good. The company is just starting out. So mostly young people. We have common topics and can talk. And in the company, I'm also among the best in terms of skills. The boss is also quite appreciative of me.”
Xiang Yang smiles. “Wow, you're amazing.”
“It's nothing compared to you. I've watched your competition video many times. It's fantastic!”
“Thanks.”
They have nothing to do, so they just walk around the street casually.
It's the Spring Festival, so there are red lanterns hanging everywhere, and there are lots of people coming and going, which makes it very lively.
They walk and talk, Xiang Yang looks at the time and says with a smile, “I have things to do at home. I'll go back now.”
“I'll walk you home.”
“No need. The bus stop is just a short walk ahead. My house is only a few stops away.”
But Xing Zhaoyan is still worried, so he gets on the bus with her.
There are a lot of people on the bus. Xing Zhaoyan stands behind her, carefully protecting her, but he doesn't dare to touch her.
Halfway through the ride, the driver suddenly slams on the brakes. Seeing that she leans forward, Xing Zhaoyan instinctively reaches out to grab her waist and pulls her into his arms.
She's soft and warm in his arms. Xing Zhaoyan clearly feels Xiang Yang stiffening.
When the bus becomes steady, Xing Zhaoyan immediately lets go with a gentlemanly manner. He says softly in her ear, “Sorry, I didn't mean to. I was just afraid you'd bump into something.”
Xiang Yang's body is still stiff. The hot breath from his words blows on her sensitive ears, and she unconsciously shrinks her shoulders. She says in a low voice, “It's okay.”
When they arrive at the station, Xing Zhaoyan doesn't have time to talk to her. Xiang Yang quickly says, “I'm getting off here. See you. Thanks.” Then she runs off like she's escaping.
Xing Zhaoyan wants to stop her, but there's nothing he can do.
After arriving home, he gazes at his phone, his countenance visibly agitated. Did my abrupt actions unsettle her? Was I too impulsive? Yet, it has been numerous years. Even a stone would have thawed by now. Xiang Yang possesses a demeanor akin to that of a turtle. She recoils at the slightest touch. When will I be able to eradicate this ingrained tendency in her?
Xing Zhaoyan thinks about it carefully and decides to give her time. He wants her to gradually forget what happened on the bus.
After returning home, Xiang Yang is actually absent-minded for two days. After all, she's never been this close to any boy before. The most intimate contact was when Fu Guanxian angrily grabbed her wrist.
On the third day, Xiang Yang figures it out. He really didn't mean to. He was doing it for her. She shouldn't be so petty. But soon, she completely forgets about this matter. The performance is coming up soon. She needs to focus all her attention on it.
*****
On the eleventh day of the first lunar month, a piano concert featuring more than a dozen young people who stood out in the competition is held in the city's art hall. The scene is grand, and the hall is almost full.
The elders of the Fu and Xiang families have all received invitations and are seated in the front row, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Xiang Yang. The seats to the right of the center of the first row remain conspicuously unoccupied.
Fu Guanxian had made arrangements for a flight to attend the performance. However, due to an unexpected mishap involving a crucial deal he was finalizing, he finds himself in a predicament.
Fu Guanxian returns to his residence and pulls his tie irritably. He unlocks his phone password. His phone screen prompts him that there are new WeChat messages. He clicks on it and sees several photos that Kong Yiyue sent him. The photos show Xiang Yang, maintaining her elegance and grace with a faint smile.
She's wearing a white halter-neck dress, and the skin exposed seems fair and delicate. Fu Guanxian's gaze lingers on her smile for a long time.
It seems like he hasn't seen her smile so genuinely in a long time.
Fu Guanxian suddenly realizes that she seems to be doing very well when he's not in the country.
So, should he be happy? Or should he be sad?
Fu Guanxian takes another look at the photos and ignores Kong Yiyue's question at the bottom: “How is it? Isn't our little Xiang Yang beautiful?”
He throws himself onto the couch and mutters a curse. “Heartless little thing!”
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