You Are Still Here

Chapter 16

The next morning, Yun Jin rose with a pounding head. She ached all over so she sat on the edge of her bed to gather her senses. Yesterday's memories slowly trickled in. She had overindulged in alcohol and it appeared that Ju An had sent her home.

She headed towards the ladies while massaging her temples. A hostel mate, Xiao Wen, smiled slyly "Yun Jin, how much did you actually drink? You were dead drunk."

"One glass of beer."

"What?! That was the result of only one measly cup?" Xiao Wen rolled her eyes. "But then again, if such a handsome guy were to send me home, I would also be drunk; drunk with flattery!"

Yun Jin smiled and washed up. However, Xiao Wen was so excited that she walked up to Yun Jin and nudged her "Oh do tell how you met that handsome guy!"

Yun Jin froze. Shen Ju An was someone every student recognized.

"The person who sent me home yesterday ... ?"

"Oh quit acting." Xiao Wen chided her. "That hottie isn't from our school right? I just know our school won't produce men with such an aura."

"What aura?" Yun Jin put down the towel in her hand.

"It's hard to describe; his build is flawless and he seemed so cool that I ... Aye, it's the same guy that Xiao Lu said was your boyfriend. The one waiting at the foot of our block. Wait, so who's the real ..."

Yun Jin couldn't care less about what Xiao Wen was saying as she changed hurriedly before making her way to Shen Ju An's hostel. Her confusion was increasing by the minute. She could have sworn her last memory was that of her leaning on Shen Ju An's shoulder. What reason could there be for Cheng Zheng to have sent her back? Could something have happened that she wasn't aware of?

When she reached Shen Ju An's hall, his hostel-mates informed her that he had already left. Without hesitation, Yun Jin dashed towards the library. She had never wanted to see Shen Ju An more desperately. She needed to know exactly what had happened the night before.

As expected, she found him in the usual spot. When she approached him, he was buried in a book. When he finally noted her presence, he didn't appear surprised but smiled as he usually did "You're here. How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

Yun Jin sat beside him and asked directly "How is it that he sent me home instead of you?"

Shen Ju An looked in her eyes "Is there anything wrong with that?"

"What do you mean?" Yun Jin's eyes widened.

Shen Ju An didn't reply. He thought for a while before slowly moving closer to her. Before she could react, he kissed her lightly on the lips before leaning back again. "Yun Jin I realise all this time we've been together, I have never once kissed you."

Yun Jin finally made sense of it "So you're bothered by his words. It's not like that. Back then ..."

"You don't have to explain." Shen Ju An gently cut her off. "I've previously mentioned that I won't give you up because of other people's interference, much less because of what happened in the past.

"Then why? I don't believe it's because he's Zhang Jin Meng's nephew."

Shen Ju An smiled and avoided the question "Yun Jin, I know you very well. You may be able to kid Cheng Zheng and even yourself but you can't hide it from me. I've not broken your cover because I thought you were able to let the past go. But I see now that it's not an easy thing to do."

"If I wanted to be with him, I wouldn't have waited till now." Yun Jin hated that she was the sort who couldn't express herself easily.

"Do you not want to be with him? Or do you not dare?" Shen Ju An was unusually cutting with his words.