Rose in No-Man's Land

41 I want you to stay with me

After returning to the country, just in time for the end of the exam week at Jining University.

Zhou Xifan was exhausted from the exams, and before she could lie down for two hours, she was pulled up by a call from Xia Xingmian, who had just landed. Xia wanted to meet her at the milk tea shop at the school gate in half an hour.

"Ancestor, you must have had a great time abroad while I've been grilled to a crisp by exam papers."

Instead of responding playfully, Xia Xingmian simply muttered an apology.

Hearing this, Zhou Xifan instantly sensed that something might be wrong. She quickly rolled out of bed and put on her pants.

The recent cold wave had passed, and the weather was gradually getting better.

The sun was out today.

As Zhou Xifan pushed open the door to the milk tea shop, she saw Xia Xingmian sitting at a tall stool by the side, resting her chin on her hand, staring blankly into space.

The sunlight seeped in through the window, filling the shop with a warm glow. But Xia Xingmian's face was frozen, and the light did not reach her eyes.

It seemed like she was the only one who had not emerged from that severe cold wave. Zhou Xifan walked over and sat down beside her. Before she could even greet her, she heard Xia softly ask as if to herself:

"How do you think the likelihood is for someone who only believes in love at first sight to develop feelings for another person over time?"

"What's wrong with you? You look like you've suffered a heartbreak."

"I'm asking you a question."

"Tsk..." Zhou Xifan pondered for a moment. "Actually, it's not completely impossible. People who believe in love at first sight usually care a lot about chemistry, but if they've developed a habit of being with someone they have no chemistry with and can't let go, the ending might be the same."

"Is that so..." Only then did Xia Xingmian smile, clearly satisfied with Zhou Xifan's response.

Zhou Xifan felt some concern: "You don't seem quite right."

"That's true. But what can I do?" Xia Xingmian wearily rested her head on the narrow table, her chin resting on her arm.

"She's so obvious in disliking me. Aside from finding a possibility to numb myself, what else can I do to keep going?"

Zhou Xifan knew Xia was talking about Tao Ye and bluntly said: "If she doesn't like you, just find someone else to like. I warn you though, there's a saying, 'A dog that licks won't end well.'"

Xia Xingmian immediately recalled the shameless words she had said that night. She buried her face in her dark hair, lowered her gaze, but smiled.

Tao Ye did say "like," after all.

If it can't end well, so be it.

"Zhou Zhou, do you know how much I love her?" Xia Xingmian buried her face in the crook of her arm.

Zhou Xifan rarely heard Xia Xingmian call her "Zhou Zhou," especially after they became adults. They mostly used direct pronouns like "you" and "I."

In her memory, the last time Xia Xingmian had called her "Zhou Zhou" was after Xia Huaimeng had left for half a year. That year, when Xia Xingmian was 11, she said, "Zhou Zhou, I really miss my sister."

The last time was on the day that both of Xia's parents died when Xia Xingmian was 18. Standing in front of her parents' tombstones, her face pale and expression calm, her gaze like a stagnant pool, she had said in a flat voice, "Zhou Zhou, do you think there's anyone in this world who will never abandon me?"