CHAPTER 204: CHAPTER 204: A CHANCE ENCOUNTER IN THE DEEP OF NIGHT

Xiyan turned her head and saw that Ou Jue had also stood up, his deep-set eyes tense, with a rigid jawline taut with restraint.

He wore a black, high-collared shirt, the buttons meticulously fastened all the way to the top, exuding an air of asceticism.

Meanwhile, Yin Qianze still had on his hospital gown, casually draped with a camel-colored trench coat, giving off the vibe of a fragile yet alluring youth straight out of a novel.

The two boys stood there, one like the night, the other like the day.

When their gazes collided, it was as if shadow and light clashed, dividing instantly into opposing factions.

Xiyan awkwardly stood in the exact center, feeling vividly that all eyes in the coffee shop were fixed squarely on her.

Yin Qianze lowered his eyes, his face full of indulgence as he looked at Xiyan. "Will you come with me? Or... do you want to stay?"

"Uh, I want to leave," Xiyan quickly interjected.

Oh my god, she really couldn’t handle the gazes of the surrounding people anymore; she just wanted to escape from here as fast as possible, return home, lock the door, and shut herself away, refusing to see anyone!

Her thoughts were in utter chaos, and all she wanted was to find a quiet place to carefully sort everything out.

As Xiyan left with Yin Qianze, Ou Jue’s eyes churned like a brewing storm, his hand silently clenching into a fist.

*——*——*

Night fell.

The early summer weather brought cool breezes at night.

Xiyan felt like a piece of meat sizzling on a hot pan, tossing and turning on her bed, unable to fall asleep.

It was baffling—how could Qianze like her in her current bedraggled state?

And... so the reason Ou Jue had been avoiding her was Yin Qianze after all.

That guy wasn’t acting that way because he hated her.

But it had been hours since they parted at the coffee shop.

When she first got home, Qianze immediately called and showered her with words of concern.

And Ou Jue?

He had been like he’d vanished into thin air the entire time.

Truly, comparisons are the cruelest thing...

Xiyan couldn’t help but despise herself. "What exactly do I like about that cold, distant guy?"

Shaking her head, she wandered into the kitchen, opened the fridge, and—

Of course, there was absolutely nothing to eat.

Ever since Grandma Ou hired a caregiver to help Xiyan’s mom, Xiyan hadn’t needed to rush meals to the hospital every day anymore.

Gradually, her own eating habits had become irregular.

Her stomach growled unbearably, and Xiyan decided to splurge for once and buy herself something to eat!

Fifteen minutes later.

Xiyan held a freshly made egg-filled pancake with ham as she walked home.

Just reaching the alleyway, she noticed a familiar figure.

A white Lamborghini was quietly parked ahead, and a young man stood leaning against it, arms folded.

The light breeze tousled his jet-black hair, accentuating his unrestrained, striking demeanor.

His gaze was focused solely on Xiyan’s lit-up room, completely unaware of the movement behind him.

"Ou Jue?"

Upon hearing Xiyan’s voice, Ou Jue froze for a moment, then turned his handsome face toward her.

Xiyan walked closer in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

Ou Jue quickly masked his surprise, his expression calm as always. "Bored. Decided to take a stroll."

Right... such an Ou Jue answer.

She really didn’t expect this sharp-tongued guy to say anything remotely nice.

Xiyan nodded. "Oh, well, take your time wandering then."

She said this and stepped aside to bypass him.

Just as she passed, his hand reached out and grabbed her arm.

Xiyan didn’t turn back.

After a long pause, a low murmur rose behind her. "Xia Xiyan."

"I miss you."