*Continued from Part 1*
A white garden villa.
A breeze, carrying the cool of light precipitation, rustled the window screen. Its ivory mesh lightly lifted, dancing soundlessly in the quiet hall. A series of ringtones travelled from the second storey, playing obstinately. Then, there was a crash of an object thrown, and the sounds instantly stopped.
Pei You was sitting on the sofa in the hall. He raised his head towards the ceiling, stroking his nose with a bitter smile. Three days ago, Yao said he would introduce him to a girl, and he ended up waiting in the café for an entire two hours to no avail. When he returned, he heard from Auntie Yi that he had locked himself in his room and refused to come out. He didn’t even touch dinner. That night, Yi Tang Yao fell sick. Director Ren rushed over, and Aunt Yi fell into a discussion with the former, their expressions worried. For the subsequent two days, she had not gone to the company.
“You.”
Yi Zhao Man stood by the window. Her shadow was engulfed amidst capering mesh, akin to smoke and fog. Her skin was so crystalline it seemed translucent; the light crow’s feet resembling ripples in the waters in autumn. Her voice was deep yet gentle, light as fog.
“Yes, Aunt Yi.” Pei You holds deep admiration for Yao’s mother. She lost her husband at 25, yet such a frail woman autonomously managed such a huge corporation. Many pointed fingers behind her back, but her resolution made her seem almost flawless.
“What happened to Yao recently?”
“......”
“You’re his closest confidante. Since young, he confides in you.” Yi Zhao Man stared at him.
“Mm......” Pei You grimaced. He didn’t have anything concrete that he could tell Aunt Yi.
“What kind of a girl is she?”
Pei You lifted his head in shock.
“Yao is in love, isn’t he?” Yi Zhao Man sighed. Only love could make someone frivolous towards studies like Yao abruptly serious in attending school every day. During dinner, he would suddenly s.p.a.ce out; sitting on the sofa, he would break into laughter. Every morning, before leaving, he would look into the mirror, a.s.sessing his hair and clothes. “Have you seen that girl, You?”
“No.”
“Have you heard of him mentioning it?”
Pei You hesitated. “Yes.”
“How is she like?”
“She seems like a pretty cute girl.” Pei You rubbed his nose, smiling. “Hearing from Yao, that girl does seem really cute.”
“Cute? ......”
Yi Zhao Man gazed at the pervading mist of rain from the window.
Yao is that kind of foolish child. When he was young, he took a liking to an adorable kitten, and would feed it every night, only willing to sleep after he had bided for the kitten to doze off. Subsequently, that cat wandered off, and the little Yao wailed incessantly for a long, long time. His heart disease flared for the first time then, and he had to be hospitalized for a whole month.
Is that girl very cute as well?
“Aunt Yi, I’ll go up and take a look at Yao.”
Pei You stood up worriedly. This is the first time Yao has been sick since his surgery. He had trusted that Yao shouldn't be falling sick again after a heart transplant.
“Okay.” Yi Zhao Man answered gently. “Ask him what he wants to eat. I’ll make it personally for him.”
Pei You walked up to the second storey, to Yao’s door. He turned the k.n.o.b, but it was locked. He knocked on the door.
“Yao, it’s me.”
“Scram!” From the other side of the door came a furstrated growl.
Pei You knocked again, chuckling lightly. “What happened? You should confide in your friends, if there’s anything upsetting you.”
“I told you to scram! You hear me!”
“Yao, there’s someone here to see you.” Pei You c.o.c.ked his brow. “Or is it that you don’t want to tell me, you want to talk to her.”
There was an odd silence.
“Hey, Yao, she said she’s your cla.s.smate, and that she must come in to visit you.” Pei You leaned on the wall, stroking his nose with a smile. “She’s now at the hall speaking to Aunt Yi.”
Continued silence.
Then—
“...... Who is it?” Divided by a door, Yi Tang Yao’s voice sounded strange.
“Seems to be something like ‘Xiao Mi’.”
The door flew open with a ‘bang’!
Yi Tang Yao’s hair was disheveled, his face sallow and livid. He glared at Pei You, agitated. “Make her leave! Tell her, I never want to see her again!”
“Tell her yourself.” Pei You sighed. “Such hurting words, I can’t bear to say them.”
Yi Tang Yao looked daggers at him, and strode with big steps towards the French ornamental banister, lowering his head to peer into the hall. The hall was empty, with only a drifting white sash as well as Mother’s figure by the window. Like h.e.l.l there’s any girl who visited!
“You lied to me!”
He turned around with a low vociferate, his anger turbulent. Because of You’s lie, and also the intolerable disappointment that surfaced from his heart.
Pei You walked into his room, settling onto the wide bed, as he spoke to the enraged Yi Tang Yao with a smile. “Didn’t you not want to see her? And the fact is, you didn’t, yet what’s with that expression that tells me you want to hit me?”
Yi Tang Yao’s expression hardened. He walked into the room dejectedly and threw himself onto the sofa. Facing upwards, his eyes closed, without a word.
“Lovelorn?” Pei You teased him, fingering his nose. Probably only a broken heart could make Yao this difficult and depressed.
“Just tell me if you’re itching for a fight!” A snarl escaped from Yi Tang Yao’s clenched teeth.
“You’re indeed out of love.” Pei You shook his head, with a chuckle. “For a girl, you would even hit a friend.”
“You--!” Yi Tang Yao tightened his fist, the veins on his forehead bulging. “I’ve not fallen out of love! Hear that?!”
“Okay, okay, you’re not. You’re just upset over a girl.” Pei You caught sight of a handphone, its battery dislodged from the throw, on the marble floor. He picked it up. “Upset to the point that you didn’t even want to hear her voice?”
“Pei, You.” Yi Tang Yao’s eyes burned with rage. “Have you had enough!”
Pei You inserted the battery back into the phone, and switched it on. Then, he was amused to find over twenty messages and a dozen missed calls on its display screen. Upon inspection, these messages and calls were from the same person—‘Xiao Mi’.
He stared at Yi Tang Yao.
“Why didn’t you pick up her calls? It might be a misunderstanding.”
“No.”
“It isn’t?”
“...... Mm.”
The chill from the rain outside percolated into the room. Within the sofa, Yi Tang Yao was expressionless. The diamond on his nose was dim, as if his entire being was sheathed in darkness. He could feel a biting acerbity in the depths of his heart, as if it were masticated. His fingers were clenched; lips tight with the cold of marble.
★ ★ ★
Yi Tang Yao stood there, forlorn.
The sun casted a slanted shadow on the floor.
The diamond on his nose radiated a frigid glow.
He stared at her emotionlessly.
“If you leave with him, don’t ever talk to me again.”
His voice is even more chilling than the glow of his diamond.
But—
She still left with that b.a.s.t.a.r.d......
★ ★ ★
There’s no mistaking it, and thus no need for explanation. In front of him, she left with another guy just like that. There wasn’t even any sign of hesitation, when she left without turning back.
Yi Tang Yao’s face paled.
He took a deep breath. Okay, since she chose to leave with that b.a.s.t.a.r.d, then, she should never speak to him again. Why is she still calling him!
Just them, the phone abruptly rang!
Pei You lowered his head with a look, and couldn’t help but smile. The caller ID, to his surprise, once again indicated ‘Xiao Mi’.
“Switch it off!”
Yi Tang Yao shot his hand out, with an attempt to s.n.a.t.c.h and break it apart!
♥ ♥ ♥
In the dormitory, Xiao Mi listened to the vibrations of the phone, in a daze.
Is he still angry?
Not returning her messages, not picking up her calls, he is probably really angry. That day, when she was pulled out of cla.s.s by Zheng Hao Yang, she caught Yi Tang Yao’s infuriated, yet disappointed expression.
The vibrations continued.
This is the thirtieth, or fortieth call she had made in three days. She knew Yi Tang Yao wouldn’t pick it up, but, she just wanted to call him. As long as she could hear the vibrations, hearing him cut off the call, seemed like she was by his side.
“h.e.l.lo.”
From the other end carried a melodious voice belonging to a male.
“......” Xiao Mi was accustomed to having her calls cut off. To suddenly have it connect, she actually couldn’t come up with anything to say and froze into a daze.
“h.e.l.lo, is this Xiao Mi?” That voice was patient and gentle. “I’m Yao’s friend.”
Just like a flash of lightning! Her mind reverberated! That voice...... that voice..... she strained to hear it clearly, and gave a disconcerted response. “...... Cough, h.e.l.lo, this is Xiao Mi.”
“Do you need something from Yao?”
“He...... he hasn’t come to cla.s.s for three days, I want to know......” Xiao Mi’s tone was fl.u.s.tered. The reason is, she didn’t know if it’s the indistinctness of a voice over the phone, that she found it very familiar. Really, really familiar...... akin to her own breathing, it was something she would never forget even when dreaming......
“Yao is sick, so he couldn’t go.” That voice bore a smile, like the sunshine in the beginning of summer lingering through scented leaves, trickling gently. “I’ll thank you for your concern on behalf of Yao.”
“......”
“h.e.l.lo?”
“......”
“Xiao Mi, are you still there?” A concerned question.
She shook her head vigorously. No, it’s impossible. It must be the phone that gave her the delusion. She couldn’t have heard Yi’s voice. That is definitely, for sure impossible!
She inhaled deeply, and spoke. “...... Here, I’m here...... Sorry, can I ask you something?”
“Yeah.”
“Can you tell me Yao’s address? I.....” So he is sick, there’s no knowing if it’s serious, and when he would return to school again. He wouldn’t pick up her calls and listen to her explanation, then, there was only this method left.”
A voice with a smile. “Okay, I’ll tell you.” He gave her a detailed description of the address, and then. “But—“
“What is it?”
“You aren’t preparing to come now, are you?”
“I......” Xiao Mi bit her lip, she did intend to rush over after ending the call.
“It’s raining outside, come when it stops. You’ll fall sick if you’re drenched, so just come when it’s over. I’ll also persuade Yao, and simmer his temper, okay?”
“....... Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” The endearing hints of a smile in his voice. “Oh yeah, Yao may be more difficult and shy, if there’s a misunderstanding, I’ll have to trouble you to communicate with him more. He does like you a lot, he told me about you, that you’re a really adorable girl......”
He hadn’t finished his words, before a shocking roar came from the receiver.
“Shut up!!”
What a loud voice, Xiao Mi’s eardrums rang with what seemed like a detonation. She don’t need to think to know, that furious person must be Yi Tang Yao.
A seeming fist and evasion streamed endlessly from the receiver. She listened intently, biting on her lip, till she heard someone s.n.a.t.c.h the phone over.
“Is that you? This is Xiao Mi!”
The voice was hurried, hoping that Yi Tang Yao wouldn’t cut off her call so quickly.
A series of curses.
“Are you sick? Are you feeling better now?”
“f.u.c.k you!”
To have been able to scold and fight, his condition should have improved. Xiao Mi took a deep breath, and, in a whisper. “I’m sorry, that day, I didn’t actually want to leave with him.”
“Shut up! I told you I never wanted to hear your voice again!”
“But haven’t you already heard it?”
“You—!”
She pulled out a smile. “Are you still angry with me?”
“......”
“What can I do before you’ll stop being angry with me?” She was willing to do anything, as long as he’s happy, as long as she could stay by his side.
“....... You want to die?! I said, I never want to hear your voice!” With that, a deafening sound, it seemed as if the phone was completely smashed. Then, there was only the ‘du du’ of an ended call.
Xiao Mi stared at the phone, in a trance.
The shower of precipitation outside the windows brought in a chill, after a long while, she lightly sighed.
♥ ♥ ♥
The second day, the rain stopped.
Summer is just like that, with every rainfall, the weather would slap on a layer of heat. The blazing sun scorched unrelentingly in the clear sky, even the leaves sparkled. Amidst the dense branches, a chorus of cricket sounds. On the road, on both sides, every residence’s garden would bloom with all kinds of vibrant fauna.
Noon, the gust of wind carried warmth. The mountain road was built to be straight and wide, but pedestrians were little, and the cars that drove along were few.
Only Xiao Mi treaded, alone.
Public transport stopped at the foot of the mountain; it’s said that in this district of villas, everyone owns a private car. Having walked on this road for an entire forty minutes, her back was soaked with a thin coat of sweat. The voice over the phone had told her, Yi Tang Yao lived in the white villa at the highest point of the hill.
She could indistinctly see that white European architecture. Set off by lush green trees, it appeared especially dignified and elegant.
Wiping sweat off her brow, she continued, shielding her eyes from the piercing sunlight with a hand as she breathed the fresh air. As she turned round the mountain path, a white Benz drove towards her. Shadowed amidst trees and sunlight, its white coat was tasteful without flamboyance. The speed of the car wasn’t fast, instead cruising gently.
The white BMW drove past Xiao Mi.
A melody meandered from within the car. Its music was mellifluous and smooth, following the wind into her ear.
She was abruptly dazed—
That tune......
Is a song by Enya, which Yi had loved since High School. No matter if he’s revising or before sleep, he would always listen to it.
The white BMW slowly brushed past her.
She spun her head around in shock—
Behind the windows, there seemed to be a familiar figure; lips that carried a gentle smile, luscious hair, a prominent nose, elegant yet modest features......
The scintillating rays of sunlight blazed like a ball of fire!
Crickets chirped, “chi—“ “chi—“, incessantly in an uproar, while the incoming wind was so warm it was dizzying and suffocating. Before her eyes, a flash of black and red. Her head felt as if it was abruptly burst open, her ears resonating!
The white BMW cruised past.
The white BMW cruised past the paralyzed Xiao Mi.
For her to restrain the compulsion of fainting, so that she could once again take a clear glimpse at who exactly was the person inside it—
The tail of the mountain road was only left with a white figure.
Wind, blows across branches. The earth was so silent, all that remained was her weak, chaotic breathing and a surge of adrenaline in her blood.
She wanted to chase.
But, she was as stiff as a marionette without its string.
She wanted to call out that name.
But, her voice stifled in her throat, crackling, as if she could cough up blood in the next second.
The BMW vanished without a trace.
She shut her eyes, her legs weakened, and even the last ounce of strength was instantly drained from her body. She collapsed onto the ground, and buried her head between her knees.
The quiet road.
Empty; not a figure present. The leaves lightly rustled; crickets tirelessly cried till they were possibly hoa.r.s.e; the piercing sunlight was dizzying.
Xiao Mi’s shoulders shook slightly.
Within the mountains, her tiny figure made her resemble a lost child.
Dusk gradually rose.
The road was stained with crimson.
The volume of cars on the road increased, yet she was still estranged at the side, crumpled into a tiny ball. Every car that sped past would honk at her, but she seemed not to hear, as if her world no longer had sound.
For G.o.d knows how long.
At the moment when the sun almost completely set.
An affronted voice reverberated in front of her—
“Why the h.e.l.l are you here?!”